Hit the boat ramp early Saturday, I had seen more birds on the spot I hunted last weekend and knew everyone else had seen them too.
Woke up to a stiff north wind and complete cloud cover, temps around 50. Perfect diver hunting weather.
Got to my spot and no one was there yet. Stuck the cane for the blind and then put out the decoys. 3 dzn coots and 1/2 dzn gadwalls on the east side, dzn buffies on the south side and 2 dzn cans, redheads & bluebills on the west, with 3 GEs thrown in. Got back into the boat and put the netting blind up. About then, two other boats came out onto the grass flat. One to the northeast of me, the other went to the west. Good thing I got there early.
Shooting time was at 6:13am. At 6:20 a single redhead dropped into the diver spread and one shot later I was walking out to pick it up. While out getting that bird, a flock of around 6 redheads landed in the coots on the east side. I started walking towards them to try to get closer for a shot but they got up and went to the blind to the NE. Thosee guys got one.
Got back in the boat and 1 minute later, another small group of redheads comes cruising in, feet down. Hit a drake on the 2nd shot and anchored him with the 3rd. Not even 6:30 and I have a limit of redheads.
View attachment 12-17-11Redheads1.jpg
Then it was a waiting game. Two more groups of redheads cruised the decoys and a pile of hen/immature drake buffies landed & swam out. At about 7:00, two birds came in low from the SE, drake bluebills! When they get over the coots decoys, I stand up and take the shot. Dang they are hauling ass, I missed the first two shots and then completely fold him on the 3rd shot. Went out and picked him up. Its an absolute STUD greater scaup. Biggest one I have ever seen. Has a cool white chin spot under his bill too.
View attachment 12-17-11GrtrScaup1.jpg
View attachment 12-17-11GrtrScaupChin.jpg
About 15 minutes later, a lone bluebill comes into the diver side of the spread. One shot and he's feet up. Turns out to be a mature lesser. So now I am done with bluebills.
Not many birds flying for the next hour other than some high gadwalls coming to take a look and then head north. And more hen/immature drake buffies.
About 8:15, a drake buffy drops in and its one shot followed by pink feet up. 30 minutes later, another one drops in and its a repeat performance, pink feet paddling air.
Its not even 9:00 and I am done with a great limit of divers. Can't beat that.
View attachment 12-17-11Limit1.jpg
I shot much better this weekend, killed every bird I shot at. Had a lot to do with the birds actually decoying, so I cant take all the credit.
But while I had a great morning, I did not see a lot of birds (other than hen/immature drake buffies). We dont have a lot of bluebills yet, normally by this time, this spot is covered in lessers. And the birds here are getting a ton of pressure. Talked to the guys in the blind to the NE back at the dock and they also commented that the number of birds has dropped off. I wont get back out until after the holidays, but I sure hope we get some weather to push in some new birds or things will get slim here quick.
Woke up to a stiff north wind and complete cloud cover, temps around 50. Perfect diver hunting weather.
Got to my spot and no one was there yet. Stuck the cane for the blind and then put out the decoys. 3 dzn coots and 1/2 dzn gadwalls on the east side, dzn buffies on the south side and 2 dzn cans, redheads & bluebills on the west, with 3 GEs thrown in. Got back into the boat and put the netting blind up. About then, two other boats came out onto the grass flat. One to the northeast of me, the other went to the west. Good thing I got there early.
Shooting time was at 6:13am. At 6:20 a single redhead dropped into the diver spread and one shot later I was walking out to pick it up. While out getting that bird, a flock of around 6 redheads landed in the coots on the east side. I started walking towards them to try to get closer for a shot but they got up and went to the blind to the NE. Thosee guys got one.
Got back in the boat and 1 minute later, another small group of redheads comes cruising in, feet down. Hit a drake on the 2nd shot and anchored him with the 3rd. Not even 6:30 and I have a limit of redheads.
View attachment 12-17-11Redheads1.jpg
Then it was a waiting game. Two more groups of redheads cruised the decoys and a pile of hen/immature drake buffies landed & swam out. At about 7:00, two birds came in low from the SE, drake bluebills! When they get over the coots decoys, I stand up and take the shot. Dang they are hauling ass, I missed the first two shots and then completely fold him on the 3rd shot. Went out and picked him up. Its an absolute STUD greater scaup. Biggest one I have ever seen. Has a cool white chin spot under his bill too.
View attachment 12-17-11GrtrScaup1.jpg
View attachment 12-17-11GrtrScaupChin.jpg
About 15 minutes later, a lone bluebill comes into the diver side of the spread. One shot and he's feet up. Turns out to be a mature lesser. So now I am done with bluebills.
Not many birds flying for the next hour other than some high gadwalls coming to take a look and then head north. And more hen/immature drake buffies.
About 8:15, a drake buffy drops in and its one shot followed by pink feet up. 30 minutes later, another one drops in and its a repeat performance, pink feet paddling air.
Its not even 9:00 and I am done with a great limit of divers. Can't beat that.
View attachment 12-17-11Limit1.jpg
I shot much better this weekend, killed every bird I shot at. Had a lot to do with the birds actually decoying, so I cant take all the credit.
But while I had a great morning, I did not see a lot of birds (other than hen/immature drake buffies). We dont have a lot of bluebills yet, normally by this time, this spot is covered in lessers. And the birds here are getting a ton of pressure. Talked to the guys in the blind to the NE back at the dock and they also commented that the number of birds has dropped off. I wont get back out until after the holidays, but I sure hope we get some weather to push in some new birds or things will get slim here quick.
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