Some NJ first split action

jode hillman

jode hillman

Well-known member
Normally I completely skip the early split in NJ. Warm weather and lack of birds are the general rule. This year has been the exception. With a nice cold snap in late September, than a warm up, a lot of birds came down and stayed. So I decided to make the best of it. I am glad I tried.

Pics will tell the highs and lows.


Early week jewelry! Banded in Easton Maine. I Added two more for a good dinner.
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Mallards and a hybrid
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Pretty hen
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Some of the rig

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The price of admission

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Red sky in morning.......
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Hey Jode,
I shot a hybrid that looked just like yours on our opener. Drake mallard body and the head of a black duck. Also had to try and walk in the mud to pick birds up it sucks.
Pete
 

Jode,

The banded Wood Duck drake is the epitome IMO.

The muckidy - muck a fair price paid.

Shinny Decoys Work.

All waterfowling bases covered. [cool]

Two thumbs way up.


Best regards
Vince
 
Dang Jode, that mud picture brings back memories of hunting the salt marshes in Jacksonville. That stuff is no joke!!!!

Looks like a great season so far! Congratulations on the band

Dani
 
Mr Hillman
Great way to start the season. Beautiful stud woodie with a leg iron.
That looks more like quick sand than mud. Is that because of the rising and falling tide?
The last picture is my favorite, the New Jersey shore along with the eastern shore of MD and VA are just beautiful.
 
P. Revicki said:
Hey Jode,
I shot a hybrid that looked just like yours on our opener. Drake mallard body and the head of a black duck. Also had to try and walk in the mud to pick birds up it sucks.
Pete
Click to expand...
Yes, the variety of hybrids is really quite astounding. He was twice as big as the other typical Drake Mallard.
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Jode,

The banded Wood Duck drake is the epitome IMO.

The muckidy - muck a fair price paid.

Shinny Decoys Work.

All waterfowling bases covered. [cool]

Two thumbs way up.


Best regards
Vince
Click to expand...
Thank you Vince.

Mud is the price of admission, Decoys shiny or not, in the right spot, pay dividends.

But yes I think the aversion to shine is greatly exaggerated.
 
Dani said:
Dang Jode, that mud picture brings back memories of hunting the salt marshes in Jacksonville. That stuff is no joke!!!!

Looks like a great season so far! Congratulations on the band

Dani
Click to expand...
Thank you Dani. That Jacksonville reference , brings back some good memories. I had a friend from Jacksonville that said he was used to hunting in mud. He came up one winter to shoot Teal. The first volley dropped a teal on the mud flat. I told him to leave it in the tide came up and we can take the hell bender to get it. Long story short he had a crawl right out of his waiters laugh out loud!
 
patrick mccarthy said:
Mr Hillman
Great way to start the season. Beautiful stud woodie with a leg iron.
That looks more like quick sand than mud. Is that because of the rising and falling tide?
The last picture is my favorite, the New Jersey shore along with the eastern shore of MD and VA are just beautiful.
Click to expand...

Patrick, thank you. Yes this is tidal silt mud. It's in areas of low current that it gets deposited. It is just these areas that the ducks like to feed.

The southern Jersey Marsh bears a striking resemblance to those of the Eastern shore. The one thing we lack, that they have, is those wonderful tasty sika deer.
 
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