Question

Huntindave McCann said:
Jay K said:
I can tell you that a couple weeks ago, a buddy had an absolute world-class hunt. Shot 2 boxes of shells in under an hour.
Click to expand...

So that is some where around 8 shells per bird for a 6 duck limit? How is that even possible? or is the more to the story?
Click to expand...

We can all speculate, but that's all it is, speculation.

I asked a couple questions, that I am still curious to have answered. I will refrain from asking more, until Jay K has a chance to expand on his statement, if he chooses to do so.
 
I've never figured this question out. But I've only been doing 45 years, so maybe soon! But I do know my absolute favorite days to hunt when I generally have my best success. Bright sun, 30's or 40's, 5-10 mph wind.The other condition is some spotty snow with a 5-15 mph wind. Can't hunt strong NW wind in my area, tide goes out, never comes back in. Last place you want to be, no matter how many ducks are flying.

James Woods, love your photo.
 
Thanks Greg:
With the tides on the North Shore of LI never had to worry much about no water; on a NEaster the tide came higher, and if you were hoofing it in the salt marsh as I did as a kid on the low tide, had to be careful when it turned. You can tell by the pic, that was a day with a NW wind, maybe during a front--and it was likely December with the mismatched gloves which I just noticed. Typically did not need them in November. All just too long ago to remember.
Stay well.
 
I do most all of my hunting at the end of the Miss. flyway. Photoperiod ducks are the norm during early season. Short sleeves, sun screen and bug spray are the norm many days with frequent limits of Greys, Pintail, Teal and Wigeon. As season progresses I love to hunt the backside of big fronts. A South wind blows water back into the marsh along with ducks that were loafing out in the Gulf.

Last year the week before Thanksgiving 1000's of Coots showed up like they just got off the Coot Express. They were "in the street" so to speak. We finished a hunt and were running back to camp dodging 100's and 100's of them in every main run.
 
The late Clint Jesse who frequently led this site and worked for USGS, did research on coot migration. They only migrate at night.
THey will literally drop out of the sky at daylight, sometimes on fields, golf courses, etc., to avoid being in the air during the day.
So they will suddenly show up in huge numbers after a front, especially around a full moon.
None today, thousands the next morning.
 
Last edited:
Huntindave McCann said:
Huntindave McCann said:
Jay K said:
I can tell you that a couple weeks ago, a buddy had an absolute world-class hunt. Shot 2 boxes of shells in under an hour.
Click to expand...

So that is some where around 8 shells per bird for a 6 duck limit? How is that even possible? or is the more to the story?
Click to expand...

We can all speculate, but that's all it is, speculation.

I asked a couple questions, that I am still curious to have answered. I will refrain from asking more, until Jay K has a chance to expand on his statement, if he chooses to do so.
Click to expand...

From what I understand, lots of teal being kept up by sheer amount of other hunters. I wasn't there but that was his statement to me. I saw pics from that day. There were 20 rigs where he was and another 25 just down the road. Just the nature of the area. Not a tongue in cheek comment but not everyone sees birds committing perfectly here, especially this area. That's why I never hunt openers, especially there. It's an absolute three ring circus. Now lets just keep this in perspective:

20 rigs, in an area that is less than a mile north to south, and just over a 1/4 mile east to west. Let's just figure 50% of those rigs are crappy camo, terrible decoy spreads, and guys messing about. They just trade back and forth, bounce in and out, get shot at, etc.

To clarify:

- He said he shot his shotgun hot for the first time in a long time.
- Shot about two boxes of shells
- Said the hunt was over in about an hour.

I'm just repeating his statement to me.
 
I wonder if the ones moving with the front "riding the wave" so to speak are the older birds that have made the trip before?

They probably watch other birds in their environment that are migratory in order to get out before the conditions are too harsh for them to get by.

In the PNW, we say that as soon as we see big groups of vultures wheeling up high (like groups of 20 and up) that the migration is just about to start.

As soon as we start seeing them come back from the South, then you can bet that winter is just about done.






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Jay,

It boils down to one issue. Taking ethical, high kill percentage shots. Doesn't matter how many rigs were in the area. Doesn't how many times ducks buzzed the spread. Doesn't matter the ducks were not going to commit. Some days a person never pulls the trigger when the ducks don't present a good shot.

The only thing that matters is how many times the trigger was pulled, and resulted with something other than a dead duck. If the ducks were not presenting a good clean shot, then a little restraint is in order. Nobody (I assume) was forcing him to pull the trigger. The shooter is not shooting clay ducks at a carnival game. Our resources deserve better than that.

Thank about what was said; 50 shots from one gun in an hour, with only 6 hits. Let that sink in, when you ponder on how many cripples flew away. In your words "I can tell you that a couple weeks ago, a buddy had an absolute world-class hunt. " Again, our resources deserve better than that.

Just my opinion. I'll not say another word about it.
 
I have high shell days with diver hunting. But it's not just shooting 6 ducks. Some divers are knocked down with two or more follow ups. But this is diver hunting puddle ducks I never have this issue. Also diver hunting I can shoot 5 mergansers 6 ducks and two Brant.
 
Huntindave McCann said:
Jay,

It boils down to one issue. Taking ethical, high kill percentage shots. Doesn't matter how many rigs were in the area. Doesn't how many times ducks buzzed the spread. Doesn't matter the ducks were not going to commit. Some days a person never pulls the trigger when the ducks don't present a good shot.

The only thing that matters is how many times the trigger was pulled, and resulted with something other than a dead duck. If the ducks were not presenting a good clean shot, then a little restraint is in order. Nobody (I assume) was forcing him to pull the trigger. The shooter is not shooting clay ducks at a carnival game. Our resources deserve better than that.

Thank about what was said; 50 shots from one gun in an hour, with only 6 hits. Let that sink in, when you ponder on how many cripples flew away. In your words "I can tell you that a couple weeks ago, a buddy had an absolute world-class hunt. " Again, our resources deserve better than that.

Just my opinion. I'll not say another word about it.
Click to expand...

We've somewhat lost sight of the topic here. First off, it's not mine or your position to comment based on anecdotal stories. My point was (and should have been taken as such) that there were a lot of birds there, then there wasn't 3 days later.

Maybe he missed? Maybe he crippled them? Who knows? Until you're sitting in a boat or blind with someone, its armchair quarterbacking at best.

I'm trying not to be argumentative here. With that being said, if I guy gets out 3x a season, shoots his gun a lot...is it better or worse than someone who goes out 12x a season and shoots limits 95% of the time? I don't personally know. I think we've unnecessarily derailed a thread here. I personally have mentored 2 new hunters over the last 2 years. I preach "Don't shoot at a bird that you're not willing to go waist deep into mud to get." But that's just me. I also now no longer shoot garbage steel. I shoot ONLY bismuth through an IM or full choke.
 
Lots to unpack in this post!

In regards to shooting the barrel hot, we've all had those days, I can't speak for other hunters and anecdotal internet postings. For me it's dealing with cripples that I start to see my shell counts dwindle, not as much of an issue since I switched to shooting bismuth. Also as a puddle duck hunter I carry 25 shells with me, that's it. If I can't kill six puddle ducks, two brant, maybe two geese in the perfect limit out scenario in our great state with 25 shells then I'm doing something wrong.

I realized a year or so ago that I'm shooting all my birds over the decoys, I get my kicks out of duck hunting by getting the birds as close as possible, not making the long shots. So I switched to shooting a 20 gauge. My first season shooting a 20 I limited out more times than ever in a season prior. Was it luck of the draw or the fact that I was focusing on decoying birds in tight? Probably a little bit of both.

Anyway, back on topic I've always had my best success on the cold, northwest blows the day after a snowstorm. Tie those conditions to a dropping tide and you're in business.
 
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