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Why we duck hunt
#5415465
11/12/14 04:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 532
Esh and Hattie
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 532 |
Took Hattie out for her first hunt today. She is a chocolate lab born last thanksgiving and the first dog I have trained by myself, without family or professional help. Puppy blunders aside, we had a special hunt I'll never forget. Hunting the upper Midwest most of my life I had been accustomed to decoying flocks of mallards, having hens quack back at your calling, working a group 8 or 10 passes before one commits and brings the whole flock in.. nothing beats it. After 8 years in Texas, today was the first hunt that resembled what I grew up knowing 'duck hunting' as. 30 degree morning, stiff north wind, not another hunter out (have no clue why) start working a flock at about 7:45. In mallard fashion they pass straight over the blind and swing downwind. Hit them as they start quartering and a hen locks up, pulls the rest of the flock around. I look over at Hattie and she's shaking with her eyes glued on the flock. Make a pass overhead about 35yds.. let em go, hit them with a soft call again and the first few birds peel off. 20 seconds later we had about 20 Mallards 20 yds away over the decoys. (Sidebar this was my first summer carving decoys, so I was hunting over 5 hand carved and painted teal, hunting public I usually go with dew decoys, where the ducks want to be if possible. So cool when you see birds actually committing to something you made.) Stand up and drop 2 greenheads in the decoys, and immediately look over to Hattie. She had made her way out of the blind about 5 feet and was shaking looking back at me. (So happy she didn't break!). Gave her the fetch! and she delivered 2 greenheads to hand like she'd been doing it all her life. One of those moments where you wish there was a big video camera in the corner, but soaked it all in anyway. Long winded, but I hope things like that are why most people duck hunt, can't beat the memories Ended the day with another teal and a redhead, I seem to recall a thread not too long back about how dumb redheads are, and this one fit the bill. Landed 50 yds or so upstream from us, and Hattie took off after it (she had to make at least 1 puppy move today ) It took off, cruised the marsh and came right back into the decoys didn't work out so well for him. Oh well, thanks for the read, have a great season, and remember why we do it. Esh
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415536
11/12/14 04:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 236
Wisemd123
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 236 |
Cool story, great looking decoys and dog! As a beginning duck hunter new this year, I've got alot to look forward to! Thanks for sharing!
Last edited by Wisemd123; 11/12/14 04:29 PM.
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415541
11/12/14 04:30 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 20,988
BuckRage
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 20,988 |
Great story and great work on the decoys
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415569
11/12/14 04:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,070
Ol_Yeller
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,070 |
Great story! What a good looking pup and a nice carve/paint job on the deeks! I agree w/ya...not sure I would be so hell bent if I didn't have a dog w/me.
"Duck hunter's minds are like concrete. All mixed up and permanently set."
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415620
11/12/14 04:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721
Dave Speer
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721 |
Cool story and decoys. We are building up more and more decoy carvers in Texas and this forum the last couple years. I tried to organize a "carvers hunt" a season or two ago but it never got off the ground. If ya ever get down to Austin, stop by to see my workshop or work on some birds.
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415635
11/12/14 05:02 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 12,348
Duck_Hunter
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 12,348 |
Great story, good looking pup and great looking decoys. Way to go!
I just turned it on . I was looking bird dogs in the butt this morning.
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415679
11/12/14 05:19 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 313
wfhunter
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 313 |
good stuff, thanks for sharing
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415708
11/12/14 05:35 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,415
jdk1985
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 13,415 |
Glad you had a great morning with your pooch! Great looking decoys as well
Instagram @justinkingwoodworking
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415710
11/12/14 05:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,802
elcasador
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,802 |
Great story. That is a heck of a job on the decoys! I wish I had the time and patience to do something like that
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5415850
11/12/14 06:26 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278
Fooshman
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,278 |
That's what it's all about.
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5416472
11/12/14 11:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 532
Esh and Hattie
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 532 |
Dave I saw on here last fall a couple guys posting decoys up and headed over to workingdecoys. Got ideas and learned the foamer tutorial and finally finished some I thought I could hunt over. All part of the fun, hunting to me is an experience not an activity. So much cool stuff to appreciate if you really pay attention. Thanks all for the kind posts, we're getting after it again tomorrow hope to have a similar experience
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5416591
11/13/14 12:27 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721
Dave Speer
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721 |
Dave I saw on here last fall a couple guys posting decoys up and headed over to workingdecoys. Got ideas and learned the foamer tutorial and finally finished some I thought I could hunt over.
I've learned a lot since I did that foamer tutorial! Glad it worked out. I love shooting them over my blocks. I counted a few days ago once I get some bottoms sealed and rigged I'm up to nearly 3 dozen. Not the happiest with the earlier blocks but they'll fill in a spread until I can slowly replace them.
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5416649
11/13/14 12:58 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 547
Fowlman
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 547 |
Awsome story and hunt. This are the kinda days we dream about.
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5416739
11/13/14 01:37 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 961
TTUGrad08
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 961 |
Great story, thanks for sharing!
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Re: Why we duck hunt
[Re: Esh and Hattie]
#5417001
11/13/14 03:08 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 176
pprince
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 176 |
Those decoys look good enough to eat!
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