Teal

Al:

We don't get an early teal season, but as Frank knows, we often have good numbers of both bluewings and greenwings when our season first opens. Some of my favorite moments of the duck season come every year just before the opener, when I'm out scouting or poling the boat after Sora rails and we can hear those big flocks of teal that aren't too wary of boats yet gabbling away in the rice.

Five years ago, I went out for a sunrise scout on the day before the opener. I was the only boat on the lake until a few bass fishermen showed up around 6:30. Just as it got light enough to see, I poke my kayak out of a stream into the main part of the lake and spooked an eagle out of a tall pine. As the eagle dropped over the lake it pushed a wave of teal out of the rice ahead of it all the way to the far shore. I have no way to count, but it had to be a thousand birds. Maybe more. By far the most I've ever seen in the air at one time. The eagle landed in another tall pine on the other side of the lake, and the teal all circled back and landed on either side of me.


I wish I had video, but the memory is enough.
 
Al, I made it past the snake picts,,,, , the rest of the pictures were great, we don't get an early teal season here but, my oldest son Hunter got to hunt in Nebraska a couple years ago and shot some blue wings.

Oh well we do get to make up for it the rest of the season!

Fred
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I was just thinking about that statement, Fred, and realized that it was last year about this time that you were saying that it wasn't too much longer until you would retire. There is no doubt that you will make up for it with the rest (ALL) of the season this year! I'll bet you can hardly wait.
Al
 
Al, my favorite way to describe teal to people is that they fly like a handful of checkers being thrown into the wind. I love to be staring into the darkness of the background when all of a sudden they appear in front of you going in numerous directions as they climb and silhouette themselves against the morning sky.

dc
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Dave, that was a great description. Thanks for taking the time to write that. I can just picture them doing exactly what you said.
Al
 
Dang Al! You're killing me. I love those little speed rockets! Nothing like a group of blue wings setting their wings into your decoys while the sun is hitting them.

Only 51 days til early teal season here in Illinois. Can't wait...

Thanks for sharing your goodness brother! Pat
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Hi Pat,
I did have an idea that you just might take a peek at this. I know how much you love teal hunting. You just gave me another name to use for them. I liked that. Glad you liked the thread. I, too, can hardly wait for that time to get here. The days are getting shorter, Pat!
Al
 
Al:

We don't get an early teal season, but as Frank knows, we often have good numbers of both bluewings and greenwings when our season first opens. Some of my favorite moments of the duck season come every year just before the opener, when I'm out scouting or poling the boat after Sora rails and we can hear those big flocks of teal that aren't too wary of boats yet gabbling away in the rice.

Five years ago, I went out for a sunrise scout on the day before the opener. I was the only boat on the lake until a few bass fishermen showed up around 6:30. Just as it got light enough to see, I poke my kayak out of a stream into the main part of the lake and spooked an eagle out of a tall pine. As the eagle dropped over the lake it pushed a wave of teal out of the rice ahead of it all the way to the far shore. I have no way to count, but it had to be a thousand birds. Maybe more. By far the most I've ever seen in the air at one time. The eagle landed in another tall pine on the other side of the lake, and the teal all circled back and landed on either side of me.


I wish I had video, but the memory is enough.
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Jeff, I sure enjoyed reading what you had to say. I can just see that Bald eagle swing by and those ducks lifting into the air to get the heck out of its way. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the ability to be able to glance at a flock of ducks, like those biologist that do this for a living when counting birds, and say, "That was a good thousand of them." While sitting in my duck blind on the Rio Grande, sometimes I am entertained by huge flocks of high flying snow geese heading out to feed when they leave Bosque del Apache NWR. I find it a challenge to look up and count them as they fly by in those massive waves. I always try not to over estimate.
By the way, Jeff, when you spoke of wild rice, that did make me hungry. I really enjoy eating it just as much as the ducks do. That has to give you some wonderful hunting opportunities when the season has been a good one for this plant.
Al
 
Al, I retired last Jan and I am loving it, getting lots of projects done at home, headed to the mountains tomorrow with the horses for a few days of riding. I can't wait for duck season to open this fall!!
 
Best BW teal hunts/pass shoots, I EVER had were in Sask. in Sept. Thousands (for real), eight bird limit, and many banded birds. Then early Oct. in the fields, GW Teal.........like bumble bees on Crack. For me, it don't get much better than that. Yum-Yum Eatem Up!
Who needs "Flyin' Pig" mallards when ya got TEAL..........
 
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