Woodrow's south Florida adventure

Ron Smith

Ron Smith

Active member
I was trying to make Woodrow feel at home so I invited some of the decoys out in the garage to join us in the house for a little party in honor of Woody (that's what one of the ringers called him and now they all say it). It was suppose to be "drakes only" but as you can see some hens showed up anyway. I wanted to invite some carrylites and Woody was OK with it but the handcarved gang would not allow it. We all know what snobs handcarved decoys can be. You can see that one of the teal took a good sniff of Woody. It was embarrasing but he has been hanging around with a Lab lately and as you know "Bad company corrupts good character".

Since my gang has only floated in Florida all glass eyes were glued to Woody as he shared his adventures from accross America. One of the teal told Woody about cripples in the deeks and errant steel shot and that is when they put the shooting glasses him. One of the ringers tried to scare Woody with stories about Alligators in the night and 2 foot long mudfish chewing on your keel. Woody shot right back with some funny remarks about "bobtails" and at that all the puddlers with tailboard inserts had a good laugh.

Well... it's Woody's bedtime (mine too). He will be leaving the dock at 5 o'clock Saturday and we have been seeing some Wood ducks in the area. Wish us luck

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Man o man I can't wait to see the journal when this is all over.

I hope woodrow didn't sneak any cocktails last night, his stories tend to get a little far fetched when he does.

-D
 
Sneak any cocktails???? I would hope not, I reckon that whole bunch is under 21 years of age. All I see on the table is soda so I think we're safe.
 
There is probably going to be some wind tomorrow so I put an extra heavy decoy weight on Woodrow. I don't want anything to happen to him on my watch.

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I have tucked him into bed so he will be safe tonight. I can't let him spend the night in the back of the Jimmy with the rest of the decoys. I am leaving $1000 cash on the floor inside the front door ...that way if there is a break-in maybe the theives will just take it and run and not get their hands on Woodrow. I am not taking any chances!

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I spoke with several of my friends and they are still seeing woodies in the area I will be hunting tomorrow. Let's hope that with 3 gunners in the boat tomorrow that if a woody shows up...he won't live to tell about it. Wish us luck!
 
Ron, With that anchor no need to worry about it drifting away. Best check the water depth first before tossing it out tho. If the anchor line is too short, you'll make a diver out of Woodrow for sure.
 
At the end of the morning the carnage was not as great as anticipated but still it was another succesful outing. When it was over there were feet in the air ...all ringers.
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We saw a couple of motteled ducks but no woodies, so I had to have a talk with Woodrow. He did correctly point out that we were going to have duck for dinner tonight so I apologized and tucked him away with some puddle ducks so he can rest for his trip tomorrow.

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Great stuff Ron. Ringers are just fine by me. I wish I was there to take a few myself.

Looks like that wind held off!!!

Keep taking care of Woodrow and enjoy!!

-D
 
Ron:
Tomorrow will be the day! Woodrow is a Sunday man! Saturday he was just setting us up.
wis boz
 
Woodrow had breakfast with the family the morning. I think he is getting a little spoiled with this weather down here ... 78 degrees at 9AM...breakfast outside ... sunshine. I have to go pack for the afternoon hunt. Let's see...ice chest full of water and soda ...electric fans for the blind ... sweat rag ... sunglasses ... sunscreen...

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The adventure continues. I used Harker's post about hunting with his grandson to shame my daughter in law into letting our grandaughter finally going hunting with us on Sunday. I thought it would be a neat idea to take her where her father killed his 1st duck 15 years ago. I had not scouted it but the area always holds a good supply of Florida Mallards and a sprinkling of teal. Always this time of year .... always ...except Sunday. It's 10 miles of weaving through the swamp and the birds are always in the last mile. We only jumped 2 Floridas in the last 300 yards of the ride...set up quickly ... and hoped for the best. Woodrow put on his best face.
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The little one kept up the vigil for a short while



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Then she decided on a nap like Grandma

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Then it was time for snacks

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The sun set and the afternoon hunt was over. No duck... sorry Dave. It's a long sleepy ride home in the dark.

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My Tuesday hunt was canceled. Tomorrow Woodrow will hunt the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge then it's on to John.
 
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Great stuff Ron.

Even a slow day is a good day with a crew like that.

Enjoy the last hunt and package him carefully.

-D
 
Woodrow made his last South Florida apearance and it was slow. The pic shows him laying with some of the day's birds. The one with the big goofy grey feet is a fulvous whistling duck. The three twins are mottled ducks. Woodrow is anxious to dry out, get in his box and go see Hitch. I think he had a good time but he hopes to see some of his cousins soon.

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Too funny. Poor Woodrow will be in for a shock coming from T-shirt weather and breakfasts outdoors to the snow and my iced over ponds here in Oregon. I hope I can get him a Woody or two. I hope you get him one so he knows what they look like. By now he may think he's a coot :^)

Dave
 
I'd almost guarantee he's the only wood duck to migrate from Florida to Oregon in January, or at anytime of the year.

Thanks for hosting him Ron. Hitch enjoy him and make sure he's in Dave's hands with time two hunt. Figure out what days will work for you two.

Great pics too!!

-D
 
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