Craig F
Well-known member
Now that the boats and decoys have been put away for their offseason slumber I figured I'd do my typical photo post from some season highlights. Many of these have been posted before I believe, but who doesn't like looking at more pics.
As most hunters on the east coast became painfully aware of, it was an El Nino year, causing mild temperatures for most of the season. That worked out well for early season wood ducks and it did provide many opportunities at greenwings late into the season. Unfortunately the main byproduct of the weather was slow gunning for most, with long stretches of hunting over the same educated birds. While many guys hung it up early or switched to goose and sea duck hunting, being a stubborn sort I continued to target the continually absent puddle ducks.
I don't want to calculate how much I spent between October and January on fuel and tolls riding all over the state, but it was way too much. I did get to learn some new areas, re-learn some old areas and hunt with some good friends so it wasn't all for naught. As previously covered midway through the season I decided to buy another boat to make traveling and two man trips a little easier and couldn't be happier with my decision. I hadn't gunned out of the same boat with my dad since I was in high school so it was fun to come full circle and run the boat for him vs. the other way around.
By January we finally got a little more seasonable weather and a few pushes of new birds. Between sneaking out of work early, coming in late and some leftover vacation days I was able to take advantage a few times and had some memorable hunts with my dad.
The biggest highlight of the season was the incredible run of luck I had going for the second half of January. In the span of a couple weeks I harvested five banded birds, all in completely different areas and most in completely different counties. Quite the run of luck that I don't think I will be duplicating anytime soon.
I didn't do as much video work this season as in years past and most of my better hunts were not recorded, but I am trying to put a little something together with what is left over.
https://vimeo.com/154266803
All in all it was another great season on the salt marshes of NJ and I'm already counting down the days until next October.
As most hunters on the east coast became painfully aware of, it was an El Nino year, causing mild temperatures for most of the season. That worked out well for early season wood ducks and it did provide many opportunities at greenwings late into the season. Unfortunately the main byproduct of the weather was slow gunning for most, with long stretches of hunting over the same educated birds. While many guys hung it up early or switched to goose and sea duck hunting, being a stubborn sort I continued to target the continually absent puddle ducks.
I don't want to calculate how much I spent between October and January on fuel and tolls riding all over the state, but it was way too much. I did get to learn some new areas, re-learn some old areas and hunt with some good friends so it wasn't all for naught. As previously covered midway through the season I decided to buy another boat to make traveling and two man trips a little easier and couldn't be happier with my decision. I hadn't gunned out of the same boat with my dad since I was in high school so it was fun to come full circle and run the boat for him vs. the other way around.
By January we finally got a little more seasonable weather and a few pushes of new birds. Between sneaking out of work early, coming in late and some leftover vacation days I was able to take advantage a few times and had some memorable hunts with my dad.
The biggest highlight of the season was the incredible run of luck I had going for the second half of January. In the span of a couple weeks I harvested five banded birds, all in completely different areas and most in completely different counties. Quite the run of luck that I don't think I will be duplicating anytime soon.
I didn't do as much video work this season as in years past and most of my better hunts were not recorded, but I am trying to put a little something together with what is left over.
https://vimeo.com/154266803
All in all it was another great season on the salt marshes of NJ and I'm already counting down the days until next October.
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