I have *really* cold natured feet. I mean, on Nov 1 this year when the water was still relatively warm and the air too, we did a knee deep hunt and my feet were frozen in breathable waders. By December I was absolutely miserable. I got the 1600 gram thinsulate boots from Cabelas (literally the Monday after "Ice Weekend") and they're as good as free lap dances I stood in water to hunt the other day for several hours when I didn't have to... just to see about the boots.

I got to meet alot of good guys this year. Thanks again for everyone that took me out. High winds and a sneakboat is a very stupid idea. Charlie did pretty good in her 2nd season. I hope it doesn't rain in the off season so much this year!

Decoy shy... call shy birds...Try calling very softly to em.Echo makes a good timber call that "gets soft and quiet"if you can control your pressure.Fewer dekes and a jerk string is another killer in late season.Its alot more realistic inside a few dekes rather than three dozen dekes and two jerk strings.I would say realistic decoys(I hand painted my G and Hs) have made trips for me in the past...would anyone agree?(on very realistic dekes)I even had sea gull dekes along with the old blue heron.My wife tells me i dont have that kind of time on my hands anymore though.LOL!

The two or three seconds of anticipation as you're looking down your barrell at a greenhead coasting into your spread is the coolest feeling that I've found in my 20+ years of hunting.

1. It ends too fast for me and not fast enough for my wife
2. I hunted a lot more than I thought I would this season with a new baby at home. New babies nickname is "Goosie" from her older sister.
3. My dog learned a lot from last year to this year. I need to invest more time in the off season though
4. Switch to #2 shot and a modified choke when the birds don't want to put their feet down any more.\
5. Have a backup battery
6. "Know when to hold em and know when to fold em" Different birds may decoy or may pass. It takes experience to learn the difference.

I put in a lot of work and time to fix up a spot to hunt on my #1 pond. I got poison ivy all over me in the process. I never hunted it all season! I put 8 different friends in that blind and they all had a blast! Their happiness was more satisfying for me than shooting the ducks myself.

So your lesson is to recognize this leaf? :-)

Believe me Ed, I know exactly what to look out for. I'm pretty sure I got it on my hands earlier in the day. Cable and I started that day on Tawakoni and the tree I was hiding in had some poison oak on it. I didn't realize it until the sun came up.

I was just teasing

Always let the birthday boy shoot the first greenhead of the day



But be sure to put him in his place when he gets greedy and tries to bogart the 2nd one!

Cable, you can't hit the broad side of a barn. I shot both those greenheads, I'm positive. I told you we teamed up on the second one because I felt bad about ragging on your arse all morning.

Its called sporting clays, some call it skeet, try it.

I'm pretty sure neither one of you two knuckleheads would have a shot at that greenhead if I didn't flush it over two you guys. So your both welcome!

Yesterday morning I snuck in a hunt before work... something about a phantom "dentist appointment." Anyway I saw 6 birds, which sucked, but honestly hadn't been to this place for a month and didn't have a lot of choices for a local pre-work hunt anyway.

5 minutes before LST I was deploying a wiggle butt and got buzzed by a mallard, was trying to come in and then noticed me in the decoys.

Then NOTHING. Nothing in the sky, nothing heard, NOTHING. Until 9:30 at which point I had to do a daily conference call for work. It usually only lasts about 5 minutes or less so I was gonna take the call, and either hunt until 10 or pick up after. While I was dialing a pair buzzed me and flared, I hit the teal whistle and they banked and turned hard and came right back to the spread... right as my call went live.

And then a trio came and flared while I was on my call. Only ducks I saw that morning but I was suprised, those mallards turned on that teal call like I had em on a string!

So the hunt was fruitless but turning those two birds was the highlight of my day.

Well I hope that you shot both of those greenheads- I mean they did just fall into our laps. As for the 2nd one, I didn't want to ruin your b-day by breaking the news to you, but I have since had a change of heart. I am glad that you shot at that mallard, but if I wasn't there he would still be breathing.

This is only my second year to hunt. I have it so bad, that I'm ready to get a dog. But, since I'm divorced and live in an apartment, no place to put the dog. To show you how addicted to duck hunting I am. I asked my ex-wife,(who still lives in my house), if I could get a dog and keep it there. How's that for duck hunting craziness!

I like your attitude^^^^^

1. Hunting with 11 degree weather is not worth it!

2. Fog sucks!

3.Got a dog this year hope she will be ready for next year.

4.Get a thermo cell it works great for those hot days.(when you mistake mosquitos for ducks flyin over)

Originally Posted By: Folsom1

1. Hunting with 11 degree weather is not worth it!

Blasphemy! Those were the best days this season! You need to get some warmer clothes/gear. That is prime hunting weather amigo.

x2!

I wasn't even cold, had an extra coat with me that I never put on. Frozen hair (sweat from breakin ice) does feel wierd tho.

The bruises on my thighs and discovering the first pinhole leak in my boot were the only bad part. The cold was not bad.

Yeah, my knees were feeling it for a while after that.

Who is this guy??? I want maps....

It wasnt the cold. It was the lack of birds (coulda been the spot we went to i had never been there)... And the breaking the inch thick ice just for it to freeze back in 20 min.

Widgeons are almost as dumb as teal.

FowlDreams' NM prowess is still TBD. We'll be waiting on the pics. I wish I could go.

G&H Dekes look good, GHG gets a bad rap..