Al Hansen
Well-known member
I have been looking for the "X" for some time now and as of yesterday, I think I might have found something unique. Not too long ago I made a decision to move to another spot on the Rio just because my old area just wasn't producing any ducks.
This one took a while to prepare and so yesterday morning was the first time I was able to hunt it. Did it help that there was an impending snow storm about to hit Colorado? There was no doubt about it.
The first thing that I didn't do this morning was look at the thermometer. I knew the forecast was for 10F but I'm afraid it was much colder. I found myself saying, "Lord, just a few degrees warmer." Unfortunately, that didn't help. By the time I carried the bag of decoys, my camera case, dragged the sled with the shells, folding chair, coffee, and burlap in it, plus my Nova, I realized my time was running short before the opener. Making those two trips, the length of a football field through the willows, was a challenge. I might have to widen the trail after the season is over.
Chili and Habi were at my side as I began breaking through river ice to get to the moving slush. Things sure looked different from the time I first started to build my blind. (That is breaking down some willows for a shooting window) I finally got to the point of the sand island and set up my lucky 7 decoys. Today, that consisted of 4 floaters and 3 oversized full bodies. I knew that the floaters would soon be frozen in their space as it always gets colder before it begins to warm up. I was banking on the full bodies to react to the good breeze that was coming out of the north. They did not disappoint me at all.
As with almost every hunt I go on, I decided to try two other experiments. The first one was putting a hen's head on the body of a drake mallard. Not one duck flared because of that! Secondly, I have read much about inanimate objects and ducks besides listening to waterfowl biologists, so I decided to leave my decoy bag, with decoys in it, on the point right next to the spread. It's color did not blend in with the environment, so I thought that might prove interesting but it didn't. It was no big deal.
I about was freezing to death after the first 90 minutes went by without seeing one duck. All I could hear was the grinding of ice as it hit the shore to the south of me and or was moving through the main channel. Coffee didn't even help. Finally I spotted a flock of gadwalls heading upstream. I got on my call and was able to coax two hens to come by my spot. I thought that they would come in to the south of me and then swing north over the island and the spread but not so. My first shot missed big time because they were right on top of me. As they headed south, I dumped the bird I missed on the first shot. She sailed out into the main channel which was about 60 yards to the south of me. Without hesitation, Habi was on a perfect line to get her. It is truly amazing how much she hated ice just a month earlier. Now she seemed like a different retriever. Well, I can't begin to tell you how much warmer it got---almost instantly!
Maybe ten minutes went by when a small flock of widgeons came by to look things over. I was once again engrossed in cold temps and evidently had that dreaded "frozen brain syndrome". That is when you say to yourself, "Hey, there are some widgeons" and forget to pick up your shotgun and shoot at them. They made another swing but to the outside and headed some place else. Chili did give me "the look".
The activity did pick up because within minutes a single hen widgeon came in and I was able to dump her. Habi made quick work of that.
I just had time enough to put in another shell when a small flock of mallards/widgeons came by. I picked out the greenhead and he, too, went crashing down into the icy rio. I thought I was pretty lucky to have taken three ducks in 3 hours.
Well, the best was yet to come and it didn't take too long for it to happen. Another small flock of widgeons came winging by heading for some other destination but after a few calls I noticed that they decided to look things over at the island. They came straight in giving me some good light to pick out a great looking drake. This guy was one that I have been trying to get for some time. Every once in a while you will see an adult drake widgeon that has an extremely white looking chuck. I have taken pictures of them at the Country Club at New Mexico Tech, but in all my years of duck hunting have never shot one, that is until today. What a gorgeous specimen. Habi and Chili had to go out beyond the island so I had time to grab my camera and make my way to the rio for some pictures that didn't have twigs in them. I have already made a mental note to trim twigs wherever possible.
I didn't worry about my 2 soft mouthed girls and this beautiful drake. I knew that Chili would give it her best fake but that in the long run, Habi would end up with the bird. She did. No ruffled feathers at all.
As for the last two drakes, the first of them was in a group of five. They saw my spread, made a nice swing to the north and I was able to dump one of the 3 drakes in the group. He fell north along the edge of the shore. As you can see, the willows are rather thick in this area.
Only what seemed to be seconds later, I had a pair of widgeons come in. There was no hesitancy in them what so ever. While they were back pedaling in I took out the drake and my girls were once again doing what they like to do best.
The sun broke through just for a second but it was worth it!
It was a great hunt. I didn't mind freezing at all. I just hope that it will be a touch warmer the next time I go hunting.
Al
I have thought about this before but what is amazing when I shoot ducks, is that I consciously have never remembered looking at the sight on the barrel. It seems as if the gun when put up to my shoulder becomes an extension of my body. Seems strange but true. More about this later.
Time to head home.
This one took a while to prepare and so yesterday morning was the first time I was able to hunt it. Did it help that there was an impending snow storm about to hit Colorado? There was no doubt about it.
The first thing that I didn't do this morning was look at the thermometer. I knew the forecast was for 10F but I'm afraid it was much colder. I found myself saying, "Lord, just a few degrees warmer." Unfortunately, that didn't help. By the time I carried the bag of decoys, my camera case, dragged the sled with the shells, folding chair, coffee, and burlap in it, plus my Nova, I realized my time was running short before the opener. Making those two trips, the length of a football field through the willows, was a challenge. I might have to widen the trail after the season is over.
Chili and Habi were at my side as I began breaking through river ice to get to the moving slush. Things sure looked different from the time I first started to build my blind. (That is breaking down some willows for a shooting window) I finally got to the point of the sand island and set up my lucky 7 decoys. Today, that consisted of 4 floaters and 3 oversized full bodies. I knew that the floaters would soon be frozen in their space as it always gets colder before it begins to warm up. I was banking on the full bodies to react to the good breeze that was coming out of the north. They did not disappoint me at all.
As with almost every hunt I go on, I decided to try two other experiments. The first one was putting a hen's head on the body of a drake mallard. Not one duck flared because of that! Secondly, I have read much about inanimate objects and ducks besides listening to waterfowl biologists, so I decided to leave my decoy bag, with decoys in it, on the point right next to the spread. It's color did not blend in with the environment, so I thought that might prove interesting but it didn't. It was no big deal.
I about was freezing to death after the first 90 minutes went by without seeing one duck. All I could hear was the grinding of ice as it hit the shore to the south of me and or was moving through the main channel. Coffee didn't even help. Finally I spotted a flock of gadwalls heading upstream. I got on my call and was able to coax two hens to come by my spot. I thought that they would come in to the south of me and then swing north over the island and the spread but not so. My first shot missed big time because they were right on top of me. As they headed south, I dumped the bird I missed on the first shot. She sailed out into the main channel which was about 60 yards to the south of me. Without hesitation, Habi was on a perfect line to get her. It is truly amazing how much she hated ice just a month earlier. Now she seemed like a different retriever. Well, I can't begin to tell you how much warmer it got---almost instantly!
Maybe ten minutes went by when a small flock of widgeons came by to look things over. I was once again engrossed in cold temps and evidently had that dreaded "frozen brain syndrome". That is when you say to yourself, "Hey, there are some widgeons" and forget to pick up your shotgun and shoot at them. They made another swing but to the outside and headed some place else. Chili did give me "the look".
The activity did pick up because within minutes a single hen widgeon came in and I was able to dump her. Habi made quick work of that.
I just had time enough to put in another shell when a small flock of mallards/widgeons came by. I picked out the greenhead and he, too, went crashing down into the icy rio. I thought I was pretty lucky to have taken three ducks in 3 hours.
Well, the best was yet to come and it didn't take too long for it to happen. Another small flock of widgeons came winging by heading for some other destination but after a few calls I noticed that they decided to look things over at the island. They came straight in giving me some good light to pick out a great looking drake. This guy was one that I have been trying to get for some time. Every once in a while you will see an adult drake widgeon that has an extremely white looking chuck. I have taken pictures of them at the Country Club at New Mexico Tech, but in all my years of duck hunting have never shot one, that is until today. What a gorgeous specimen. Habi and Chili had to go out beyond the island so I had time to grab my camera and make my way to the rio for some pictures that didn't have twigs in them. I have already made a mental note to trim twigs wherever possible.
I didn't worry about my 2 soft mouthed girls and this beautiful drake. I knew that Chili would give it her best fake but that in the long run, Habi would end up with the bird. She did. No ruffled feathers at all.
As for the last two drakes, the first of them was in a group of five. They saw my spread, made a nice swing to the north and I was able to dump one of the 3 drakes in the group. He fell north along the edge of the shore. As you can see, the willows are rather thick in this area.
Only what seemed to be seconds later, I had a pair of widgeons come in. There was no hesitancy in them what so ever. While they were back pedaling in I took out the drake and my girls were once again doing what they like to do best.
The sun broke through just for a second but it was worth it!
It was a great hunt. I didn't mind freezing at all. I just hope that it will be a touch warmer the next time I go hunting.
Al
I have thought about this before but what is amazing when I shoot ducks, is that I consciously have never remembered looking at the sight on the barrel. It seems as if the gun when put up to my shoulder becomes an extension of my body. Seems strange but true. More about this later.
Time to head home.
