George Goodsell
Active member
Today was the last day of MNs season so of course we have to go. Partner and I have had what we thought was a pretty poor season this year, just never seemed to be where the birds wanted to be. We'd scratch out 2 or 3 most times but not always. Anyway, SE MN pool 7, high today was 34degs @ 3:00 AM and went down from there,15mph N wind. We were the 5th boat in at the landing so we took a slow ride out, as we turned into the channel toward the spot we wanted we could see boat lights right about where we wanted to go, Damn!!! Figured we'd go past and out the other side but as we got close he fires up and heads back past us into a different bay. I don't know who he was but I sure would like to thank him. Dropped the goose dekes a little up wind and slightly away from the puddle duck dekes (thanks guys). flipped up the MudBuddy quick flip (thanks Charlie S.) fired up the (2) Mr. Heaters, poured some coffee into the "plug in" coffee cups (thanks Daughter) and sat back. By 8:30 we've got 2 gaddys and a drake Mallard. Tween there and about 11:00 we saw a few more, maybe even missed 1 or 2 but pretty slow, kinda like usual. Right after 11:00 a drake Mallard tried to sneak by and I managed to break a wing and drop him by some cattails, thought he was pretty lively so better get moving, took the boat over and swatted him when he tried to sneak out the back side. About that time there was some discussion between us as to "we have 4 birds, you want to stay or should we call it a day?" "Well, we still have heat, not all the dekes are frozen in yet, might as well stay". Gentlemen, the next 2 hrs were absolutely unbelievable, we had 2s, 3s, 5s dropping in like that was the only open spot on the face of this earth. and they didn't want to go to anyone else.
Bill Perry had a post the other day about partners... Bill I hope you find one like mine someday, he didn't laugh when he called a greenhead in and as it hovered at 30 yds I missed it, and twice more as it flew away. Course I didn't laugh when I called one in and as it hovered at 30 yds I decided to flip back the blind top. (Charlie knows whats coming) With the mudbuddy when the top folds back a large piece of fabric has no where to go but fold down about a foot and a half. All I hear as I jerk the top back is "I can't see". I turn around and all I see is a big -ol-piece-o-camo with a gun barrel stickin out under it. Didn't laugh, sure made me smile!!! After that we took turns on the incoming birds, except for one that we got our signals crossed on. Big drake coming straight down the length of the boat, I fired and his shot made it one long boom, boy did we hit that one. But being a true partner he said later "yup, you shot first the BAND is yours. We decided about 1:30 that 10 ducks is enough, time to go home. Neither one of us can remember the last time we've had a shoot like that. I'm pretty sure I will have this grin goin till about August. To be able to enjoy it (like a couple of school kids) with a good friend makes this truly a THANKSGIVING WEEK.
You guys be careful out there.
George
Bill Perry had a post the other day about partners... Bill I hope you find one like mine someday, he didn't laugh when he called a greenhead in and as it hovered at 30 yds I missed it, and twice more as it flew away. Course I didn't laugh when I called one in and as it hovered at 30 yds I decided to flip back the blind top. (Charlie knows whats coming) With the mudbuddy when the top folds back a large piece of fabric has no where to go but fold down about a foot and a half. All I hear as I jerk the top back is "I can't see". I turn around and all I see is a big -ol-piece-o-camo with a gun barrel stickin out under it. Didn't laugh, sure made me smile!!! After that we took turns on the incoming birds, except for one that we got our signals crossed on. Big drake coming straight down the length of the boat, I fired and his shot made it one long boom, boy did we hit that one. But being a true partner he said later "yup, you shot first the BAND is yours. We decided about 1:30 that 10 ducks is enough, time to go home. Neither one of us can remember the last time we've had a shoot like that. I'm pretty sure I will have this grin goin till about August. To be able to enjoy it (like a couple of school kids) with a good friend makes this truly a THANKSGIVING WEEK.
You guys be careful out there.
George
