Quite the run of luck

Craig F

Craig F

Well-known member
I've been trying to take advantage of the shots of cold weather we have been finally getting here on the East Coast over the past week or so, using vacation days and finagling early departures from work to try to get on birds. The plan has been working well with some fun shoots and today was no different. Cold and blowing a gale I took a vacation day and my dad joined me.

I'm not sure what I did lately, but luck must be on my side. In the last week between the two of us we've shot four banded birds, each in a completely different area and three in completely different counties. Three mallards and a hybrid mallard/black.

Three out of four have been local birds and the fourth was from Ontario.

My father has been duck hunting for 50 years or so and it took him decades to shoot his first banded duck making this run lately completely amazing. For what had been a sub-par season it's really turned into something special.

411ec0d2-7928-4f43-a642-b3ec79130c9c.jpg


IMG_4834.jpg


1CBD572F-4455-4AD5-9F3E-BBB31081737B.jpg


IMG_4852.jpg


IMG_4868.jpg

 
Last edited:
STOP! You and Carl are killing me with all of your photos and succes!

I've been Duck hunting for about 42 years without ever shooting a banded duck, so maybe there's hope for me yet?

Thanks for taking the time to post the photos and story. I always look forward to your threads, and yes, it is nice you are getting into some good shooting. Congratulations.

Jon
 
Last edited:
I'm sitting on a lot of pictures and video I'll get up eventually. Been very busy at work, which is a good thing, but not good for hobbies!
 
No spot burning Craig!! Save those pictures for after the season or you might find me in your spot. Good for you guys. Nice trip. Tell the old man I said hey. Catch you out there one of these days.

Phil
 
Good morning, Craig~

Congratulations! AndI really like that vessel!

I'm headed to Long Island early next week - let's hope all the birds haven't left Great South Bay to spend the winter in the Jersey marshes.....

All the best,

SJS
 
Maybe it's the matching sweaters :) Just kiddin'

That is an incredible run! I've never even seen a banded duck get killed, let alone killed one myself.
 
Awesome hunting! And congrats on the bountiful bands. I'm still waiting for my first as well. It seems its always the guy I'm hunting next too that downs the banded birds. Maybe next year?

Steve
 
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]
No spot burning Craig!! Save those pictures for after the season or you might find me in your spot. Good for you guys. Nice trip. Tell the old man I said hey. Catch you out there one of these days.

Phil
Click to expand...
[/font]
Delaware river and parkertown have been really good to us for the past week.

:)
 
Last edited:
I would say. That is the exact opposite of my season.

I am jealous beyond words.

Drop me a gps point, I'll be there Saturday! Lol.
 
I think we have a matching set of just about everything by now. The side effect that goes along with sharing all the same past times...

Plus you want to look good for those northern mallards fresh into town...

12485979_10100607497048022_1579609877081569558_o.jpg

 
At this point I don't even know what to say anymore. Gunned for an hour before work this morning. One bird pitched in picture perfect 15 min after legal. That's five on the season now.

Nine year old bird.

FullSizeRender1.jpg


FullSizeRender5.jpg

 
Well as I have said before, if you are going to shoot just one bird, that was the one to shoot!
 
__________________________________________________
Good for you Man! Interesting this late in the year that old Bird still has a few eclipse feathers left...
Click to expand...

It's been a weird year. Buddy of mine shot a limit of greenwings the other day...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top