Who's out this morning?

Jeff Reardon

Jeff Reardon

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The Thanksgiving morning hunt has been a tradition for me, and I had plans to be out with a buddy for a short morning hunt before I needed to return for cooking duties. Forecast last night was for a front to clear, wind to shift into the west, n be blowing 15+ with gusts to 30, so we cancelled. Woke up to flat calm at the house and winds under 10 mph at every NWS station within 50 miles. We'll be back at it tomorrow, but in the meantime--what am I missing? :)
 
Not missing anything here!
I’ve already started cooking sweet potatoes, turkey is still in the brine. Lots more to do!
 
I had planned to goose hunt this morning, but with 50 mph wind gusts, I don't think I could set silhouette decoys that wouldn't flap around. We got a little snow this morning and the winds are supposed to die down a lot, so my plan is for tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is the last day our season is open until Dec 15th. Everyone is hunting brown for the next couple weeks.
 
In the good ol hospital. Only been out once this year. Get the truck back on Monday, but leave for an elk hunt a week from tomorrow. Ducks better watch out for my final 7 weeks of season, im pretty angry and frustrated I havent hunted but just once. Mallard are in TROUBLE come second week of December. Just saying...
 
William Reinicke said:
In the good ol hospital. Only been out once this year. Get the truck back on Monday, but leave for an elk hunt a week from tomorrow. Ducks better watch out for my final 7 weeks of season, im pretty angry and frustrated I havent hunted but just once. Mallard are in TROUBLE come second week of December. Just saying...
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All~

I went out this morning - sort of scouting/hunting. We had stars early and a clear dawn - so I was happy to getv out on a non-grey day. I never rigged, just sat and watched from a prime spot on a local river: Nodux Atoll.

As we have seen for several years now, BIG decline in Mallards, Blacks and Canadas - our late-season main courses for decades... Getting ducks over one's decoys swill always be a bit of gamble. But, I should have seen scores or hundreds somewhere up in the skies.....

Nevertheless - Happy Thanksgiving to all!

SJS
 
Nothing to report here. Not a shot heard on the river. Woke up to 23°. The boat got winterized yesterday in anticipation of incoming snow and temps most likely freezing any open water over the next few days.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
 

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Usually my first hunt of the year is Thanksgiving morning, but no season for me this year after surgery. Last night temps dropped to the low 30's and it blew sustained winds of 15-20 mph all night. River stage is good, so ordinarily I'd have been set up in a slough off the main stem of the Ohio.
My neighbor must have planned to host a big outdoor Thanksgiving get together as they were trying to erect a sizable rental tent in his yard just as the winds started to blow a gale ( the thing looked to be. About 15'x 30'. Guess he never checked the weather forecast. They actually had most of it up after nightfall, but this morning I see that they must've decided to break it down, as the frame of the roof is laying in his yard with the skin folded up on the ground. Good call as the high for today is forecast at 33.
 
Went for grouse. There's enough wind today that the birds are a little spooky. A half dozen flushes but no birds came home. It was an interesting test day however. My lab Gunner points as well as any of the pointing breeds. Tuesday he pointed a number of grouse and some held like woodcock. I use a bell on him for pheasants, and have been trying it for grouse. No bell Tuesday, today was a bell day. Each time I put the bell on him the grouse flush wild. Early in the year, same thing wind or no wind. I like knowing where he is, but the birds not holding sucks. Maybe it was the wind, I need a few more test days to be sure.
 
Season ends on Dec. 2nd in my area. It may end a day or two early due to single digit freeze up. I was out this morning, 23 degrees with a light NW wind. A few geese flew by and a 5 strong group of Mergansers strafed the decoys, landing beyond.
Six to eight inches of snow predicted starting Friday evening, all day Saturday and into Saturday evening. I may get out on Monday if the ramp is not frozen. I expect the river access to be frozen by Tuesday.
Ducks/geese moving out of states north and west, most likely will move right past me.
Turkey dinner at my daughter's home, 12:30 today. 😋😋
 
SJ Fairbank said:
Went for grouse. There's enough wind today that the birds are a little spooky. A half dozen flushes but no birds came home. It was an interesting test day however. My lab Gunner points as well as any of the pointing breeds. Tuesday he pointed a number of grouse and some held like woodcock. I use a bell on him for pheasants, and have been trying it for grouse. No bell Tuesday, today was a bell day. Each time I put the bell on him the grouse flush wild. Early in the year, same thing wind or no wind. I like knowing where he is, but the birds not holding sucks. Maybe it was the wind, I need a few more test days to be sure.
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I know pointing dog guys will disagree, but as a guy who grew up hunting over springers, partridge are supposed to flush! Got to admit I do like pointing dogs for woodcock.
 
Sounds like I am not missing much, not that any of you are anywhere nearby. FWIW, It's 12:20 and still flat calm, but the turkey is smoking nicely.
 
Jeff Reardon said:
The Thanksgiving morning hunt has been a tradition for me, and I had plans to be out with a buddy for a short morning hunt before I needed to return for cooking duties. Forecast last night was for a front to clear, wind to shift into the west, n be blowing 15+ with gusts to 30, so we cancelled. Woke up to flat calm at the house and winds under 10 mph at every NWS station within 50 miles. We'll be back at it tomorrow, but in the meantime--what am I missing? :)
Click to expand...
I was, saw 4 elk, should have pushed harder to get one on the ground, but didn’t want to ruin the holiday. Deer hunting on thanksgiving has always been a tradition for me that I enjoy. Hunt the am and then make dinner with the fam is ideal for me, that is the plan for today.
 
Hunting is a little tougher here in Nebraska compared to back home. Sparce cover, few pheasants and very arid conditions. Still we did well today hunting land we've never seen before. Our take for the day was one pheasant and four quail.
Happy Thanksgiving, RM
 
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A first time for me: did the turkey on the gas grill (not enough oven space inside with all the pies and casseroles to cook). Came out great, did a 8.5# bird, brined overnight. IMG_3743.jpeg
 
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