Opening day of snipe season

Dani

Dani

Well-known member
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As yesterday was the opening day of snipe season, I took the day off work to go chase those wily birds. With water low, low, low, low in the St. Johns River south of me, I decided I would try Orange Lake as I have heard that snipe hunting can be very good, though the walking can sometimes be difficult. The water levels were low there as well, but I was able to get out to the lake from the launch and off I went in search of an airboat trail to walk or an island to walk. There are lots of coots about and it sure is nice to see them in some numbers. With the wind in my hair, day off from work, I am off for an adventure. The islands I see have vegetation that are too high for someone to find a bird in if they were to actually shoot one, so I keep looking for a mud flat or edge or airboat trail. And I found one, AND flush snipe from it…nice dark mud, green grass, dollar weed…looks like it ought to have some degree of walkability. After shutting off the motor I begin rowing myself over to the mud flat, trying to get as close to the grass as possible, and I keep rowing through the mud. Hmmmmmm this could be interesting but I keep at it and then SCHLUCK I am STUCK. Airboat trail is about 8 ft in front of me, the water I just came out of, 15 ft.

As I sat there reminding myself what a most genius move that was on my part, looking at the mud, remembering about the woman who this past summer fell face first in some mud and couldn’t get back up and ended up drowning I realized I would have to get OUT into the stuff. After testing the mud depth with the oar and determining that this isn’t the “sticky” mud I’m used to from the salt marsh, I find it won’t be over my head, though it is deep, and I’ll be able to move around in it. While I’m standing there, waist deep in some of the richest mud that I’d love to put on my garden, a snipe comes barreling straight at me, so to protect myself from bombardment I shoot him.

I try pulling the boat…that doesn’t work much. I try pushing the boat. That doesn’t work at all b/c I kept remembering the woman who fell face first and I didn’t want to slip and do the same thing. I get back in the boat and try dragging myself with the anchor…that is useless. In the end I’m able to wiggle the boat out with a loop tied into the anchor line and then a loop tied onto each grass rail and I wiggle and walk it side to side and forward…pick up my snipe and off I go to get back to the water. There won’t be walking in that stuff for me.

So, instead I ride around, see the lake, take some pictures, watch the ducks and enjoy the rest of the opening day of snipe season. It was at least a gorgeous day to be muddy.

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Some ringnecks from a long way off...but sure is nice to see them

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And the OH SO CUTE ruddy ducks...

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a Great Blue from my fishing trip the day before

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The end of another great day...

I sure do love fall

Dani
 
Dani,

It appears that you are not driving your foam boat. That snipe appears to be laying on the rear deck of a sneak box.

What did I miss while being stuck in the Alaskan wilderness all summer?
 
Dani,

It is a good thing you are a strong young lady. I remember running my jon boat up on a mud flat in the middle of the night. I thought I was going to have a heart attack by the time I finally inched it back into the water. What a work out!

Congrats on running across a suicidal snipe.
 
Dani, How could you go snipe hunting without a gunny sack, baseball bat and during the day??? Thats not how we used to send younger kids out snipe hunting;^) Good to see you have priorities straight and didn't drown. Have fun.
 
Y'all are correct, it is a sneak box. It was built by Bud Miles (gawd I hope I have that name correct...I know the builder's first name is Bud) and I have been fixing it up, doing minor cosmetic repairs. Once they are complete to my satisfaction (should happen this weekend), the boat will be on the market. It's a sweet boat and I'd love to have one, but sadly it's not in my budget. BUT I am getting to use it until it's sold.

Tom-

I've been known to be gullible, but I am happy to say that when my first "snipe hunting" trip was suggested, I wasn't so gullible that I spent the night in the marsh with a gunny sack and a flashlight. hahahahahahah

Kris-

I love pirogues...I need to build another one...I built a sweet little one and gave it away as a Christmas gift, though at least I killed the first bird out of it...but they sure are sweet little boats

Dave-

Since I wasn't in a hurry I was in no mood to "kill myself" trying to get out...hahahahahah so other than being extremely dirty, I wasn't so bad off. And I would've had no problem calling FWC to come out with an airboat to get my silly self unstuck...I just preferred to try everything first, then call them. Luckily I didn't have to.

Dani
 
Dani
I think we should have a new name for you Darling and that is the Mud Queen. HeHeHe. Glad you managed to get out of it safely and enjoyed your day.
Take care and God Bless
Eddie and Amber
Its all about Building that Bond.
 
It is always fun to read your tales Dani. I can not imagine hunting in gator country.
We have had a hell of a snipe run up here in the Pac NW this season.

There are usually a few around in the early season (now) but this year there are many more than I can ever recall seeing so early.

We used to hunt them over the hounds after the morning blast, Was a good way for everyone to get their dogs out and warm up some after a few fetches in the water.

I hope to have a new dog in tow soon and would like to get it out to snipe hunt.


Keep on doing your thing, Because it is enjoyed by folks all over the place on this forum.

Best,
t
 
hahahahahahah Eddie, that will go along quite nicely with the Scum Queen title....

thanks.....

Dani
 
Todd-

Thank you...glad folk enjoy reading my stories. Gators aren't so bad...at least I've only had them roll under my canoe a couple of times...no biggie as long as you stay in the boat hahahahah

Lots of snipe up in WA eh? That would be a great day of hunting....sitting in the blind with good friends and walking up snipe after with good friends. I do enjoy the days when i can do both of those...

Good luck in finding your next dog...it'll be a lucky mutt for sure if your pictures are to judge by anything....

Dani
 
Dani! Dani !
You are special in our books but---damn it, you keep us on edge with your pushing the envelope--easy does it--OKAY
wis boz
 
Now that was quite an experience. I think you could have held that camera for a good mud shot! Glad all ended well. I really like your pictures, Dani.
Al
 
Boz-

I do try to be careful...AND you can guarantee I won't do that willingly again.....

How ya been doing? How was your trip with your son and grandson?

Dani
 
Thanks Al. And I considered getting my camera out for my "stuck in the mud" pictures...I've got all the ones of my truck stuck pasted on my photo wall at work and figgered it would go well if I had the boat picture too. But I was soooooooo muddy that I was afraid the camera would be broke forever after. And I was too chicken to step that far away from the boat. hahahahahahah

Dani
 
Nice Dowitcher. :-) Have to say that on the first snipe post of the fall.

Remember to take a whistle with you at night snipe hunting....snipe love whistles in the dark.

Tim
 
Tim, I can't believe you would get a blue heron mixed up for a dowitcher...AAAAAMAZING....

and will this whistle work?

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Dani
 
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