Road Trippin

T

tgentry

Well-known member
While the season is fresh in your mind, what kinda trips do you guys regularly take and what time do you have to roll outta bed????? The older I get the harder it is. Anyway, here is what I do - just got back from the Cache River in east AR with my 16 yr old son. For those not familiar with it, it is where they supposedly rediscovered the ivory bill woodpecker several years back. Lotsa ducks flying, but not much working. 57F is not duck weather. Anyway, rolled outta bed at 2:30, left the house at 3:00, launched at 4:30, 20 min boat ride, set up by 5:30, 1 hour wait or so til shoot. Have to do that to get a spot.

About the same for a run to Bayou Meto, though the crowds really suck. Most hunting is closer to home with a usual roll out at 4:00.

So what do you guys do and is it getting harder???? Trip.
 
What ramp did you put in on? Next time you want to hunt there get with me. I will show you how we do it and we don't launch at no 0430 either to get a spot and we don't fight any crowds. I live 2 miles from the Cache River and leave the house around 15 til 0600. We never have a problem getting in a spot. It's actually easier now than it used to be and it's a lot less crowded.
 
Launch at Broadwater and run down to Dagmar. Have hunted that area since the mid 70s. My Dad and brothers had a house for years in Buelah they leased. We used to hunt the Plunkett farm in the days before the Refuge. Had some unbelievable shoots back in the day. Haven't done much exploring as the private property is so prevalent and there aren't any good detailed maps of the refuge. You hunt up river, Lee? Would be interested to get with you.

I was curious as to how our friends up north do it and can't believe no one else will fess up to how hard they go at it. Trip
 
I hunt up in Black Swamp. Get with me when you get ready to come over this way and I will show you how we hunt this area of the Cache.
 
Trip:

My most common early season hunt is literally across the street. It's about a 1/3 mile walk in, and I carry a canoe in there before the season and leave it there to be dragged out on the snow come winter.

Although other folks hunt in there, most of them are friends so we tend to hunt together if we end up in there at the same time. If I see a strange truck at the trailhead I leave it to them.

It varies a lot as sunrise times change and Daylight Savings kicks in (or is it out?), but I am typically awake 90 minutes before sunup, walking in by an hour before, and set up just in time for legal shooting.

My other regular hunt is a 40 minute drive from home, so add those 40 minutes to the times above. I keep a boat moored there, decoys loaded and ready to go, so I don't have to mess around with loading and launching a boat, and my travel time in the boat to my hunting spots is generally under 30 minutes, more often 15.

I'm rarely up earlier than 3:30, more often 4-4:30.
 
Lee, would love to set up a hunt with you. Went to the Black Swamp once about 1990 or so. Didn't see much of obviously. I'll send you a pm.

Jeff, walk across the street? Wow, that would be sweet. Is it a lake, pond or river? Though maybe not this year, I bet you freeze up pretty early.

I was thinking most duck hunters get up in the 4-4:30 range. Trip
 
I always prepare boat, decoys , lights, guns , ammo, food and truck night before. Double check everything before I leave the house.
My 4 options:

1. Marsh, Awake at 2:30 AM From Baton Rouge drive 45 minutes to Pass Manchac, launch boat around 4:00 AM one hour boat ride to cross Manchac pass then down Long canal into small canal dodging stumps, setting up decoys for 5:30. Waiting for shooting time.

2. Flooded Timber, Awake at 3:30 AM from Baton Rouge drive 45 minutes to Sherburne WMA, launch boat around 4:30 AM short 10 or 15 minute boat ride to spot set up by 5:30.

Flooded fields , go to Sherburne South Farm Lottery at 4:30 AM on Tues and Thurs - put ticket in hat and they pull numbers there to see who gets a blind. If you get selected the WMA Game Warden drives you to blind drop off, walk in 100 to 200 yards. When ready to leave you walk back out and Game Warden picks you up and brings you back to parking lot.

3. NO BOAT, Drive 2.5 hours to Welsh LA, either night before and rent a hotel room or leave around 3:00 AM. Walk 150 yards to pit blind on rice field set up at 6:20 AM.

4. Drive night before 3.25 hrs to Marsh Club in Vinton LA on TX border. Stay in luxury and go on guided hunt in the marsh. Nice when invited.

It is a chore and a sacrifice to make a duck hunt. But that is part of the adventure. The weather has been ridiculously hot here finally cooling off again. Only gone once and limited on GWT and a goose. Hope to make several hunts this month.
 
Hey Trip,
Since we only live 1 1/2 miles from the Rio Grande, normally I don't have to get up very early. I am an early riser and always seem to get up at 4AM and have for years. When ready to go hunting, I either will have my four wheeler packed and ready in the truck the night before. Normally during duck season it stays in the back of the truck for three and a half months. The only time I take it out is if I have to deliver a cord of wood. Some days I will drive my four wheeler to my spot and that takes about a half hour longer but it is fun if it isn't too cold out. Two of my favorite spots are where I have a key to unlock a gate to a ranch. The pups and I don't mind having cattle around where we hunt. Those hunts, if hunting season opens at 6:30AM, I'll leave the house by 5:15AM to make sure I have plenty of time to drive to the ranch, then four wheel to my spot, set up decoys, and finally enjoy that first cup of hot coffee before the season opens. It is a great routine.
Al
 
Mark and Al:
I always try to get as much ready ahead of time, but usually can't load up as my river boat is too big to fit in garage and our stuff would disappear over night. I live in a decent neighborhood, but the PIA rules say I cant "store" my boat out of the garage (have to keep it at a storage unit). I do keep it in the driveway at home during my usual 10 day Christmas season hunt. I save up vacation all year so I can hunt with my kids for 10 days straight when they are out of school. Still have to load up before I rocket outta the drive. I envy you guys that can keep your stuff loaded and just climb into the truck and go. Trip
 
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