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first Maine hunt

1K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  pvn6616 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
1st maine ducks copy.jpg
I suppose this should be posted on the Maine forum, but I wanted to let my old friends know what I'm up to. I also thought that describing my new experience could help answer some of the questions that hunters new to New Jersey are asking.

I found some bird on a large marsh fringed fresh water lake and scouted the 'x' with the kayak. The teal tried to sneak out quietly when I came up on them and there were a few woodies and mallards around. The next morning, a good number of teal started buzzing around. I missed the early shot as 4 birds got below the darkened mash. The teal kept buzzing but would not come in, and I didn't get a shot off. Things calmed down and then the big ducks flew. They hopped from spot to spot and then three flew low enough overhead. I plucked a fat blackie, but only his feathers landed in the decoys. I reloaded just in time to drop a hen mallard dead. I let it lie since birds were still flying. Several more teal buzzed around my spread and into a nearby cove as time was running out of the morning. I went to retrieve my bird keeping careful watch and finally dropped a teal as it went to his nearby buddies. The next morning was a bust - still a few birds around, but nothing would come in.

I learned some interesting things. Maine teal are wary - not what I'm used to. My experience is that teal decoy easily to places they like. I might have to break down and use a Mojo. This is also a different kind of spot than I am used to. It is a place where the birds both roost and feed. They hear you enter the marsh and set up, and can avoid you the rest of the morning. There was lots of quacking around me and Woodducks flew out from nearby at dawn.

I was hopeful for a few more birds, but I had a great time on my first Maine hunt.
 

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#2 ·
:thumbsup: The last week of scouting down here has been dismal. A few spots that normally hold birds are bone dry. The temps have been seasonably warm so im not too optomistic for the NZ opener. As you know, I like the SZ opener and look forward to running the mud rig. The hull is out at the canvas shop and the LT is at the lawnmower shop (those guys love it!). We have a few GPS units hidden on Dutch's' truck and will be follwing him around for the 1st half. Good luck up there, we will keep a warm seat for your winter trek down this way.
 
#3 ·
Great to see things working out up there! Save some for us down here :lol3:

FFT said:
We have a few GPS units hidden on Dutch's' truck and will be follwing him around for the 1st half. Good luck up there, we will keep a warm seat for your winter trek down this way.
While your mud rig is at the shop getting oogled over, mine has been out in the marsh putting miles down! There's more activity out in hell on earth area this year compared to last season pre-opener. Tide was ripping out so I decided not to run up the ditch as I didn't have my sleeping bag to spend the night out in the meadow!
 
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