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Why we duck hunt #5415465 11/12/14 04:13 PM
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Esh and Hattie Offline OP
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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 up

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 roflmao ) It took off, cruised the marsh and came right back into the decoys hammer 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

Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415478 11/12/14 04:15 PM
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Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415493 11/12/14 04:19 PM
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Jeff Elder Offline
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Let's see the decoys


North central TX duck and dove hunts
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Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415516 11/12/14 04:24 PM
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Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415536 11/12/14 04:29 PM
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Wisemd123 Offline
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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.
Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415541 11/12/14 04:30 PM
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Great story and great work on the decoys up


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Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415569 11/12/14 04:36 PM
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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."
Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415601 11/12/14 04:47 PM
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Jeff Elder Offline
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I like the paint job


North central TX duck and dove hunts
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Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415620 11/12/14 04:55 PM
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Dave Speer Offline
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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.

Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415635 11/12/14 05:02 PM
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Great story, good looking pup and great looking decoys. Way to go!


Originally Posted by bill oxner
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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good stuff, thanks for sharing

Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415708 11/12/14 05:35 PM
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Glad you had a great morning with your pooch! Great looking decoys as well


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Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415710 11/12/14 05:36 PM
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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 up

Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5415850 11/12/14 06:26 PM
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That's what it's all about. up


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Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5416472 11/12/14 11:19 PM
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Esh and Hattie Offline OP
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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 up

Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5416591 11/13/14 12:27 AM
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Dave Speer Offline
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Originally Posted By: Esh and Hattie
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.

Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5416649 11/13/14 12:58 AM
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Awsome story and hunt. This are the kinda days we dream about. up

Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5416739 11/13/14 01:37 AM
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Great story, thanks for sharing!


Re: Why we duck hunt [Re: Esh and Hattie] #5417001 11/13/14 03:08 AM
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Those decoys look good enough to eat!

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