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Mattamuskeet Dec 27,28

3K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  Blind Luck 
#1 ·
Anyone on here hunting Mattamuskeet NWR Dec 27, 28?

We have blind 11 Dec 27 and 3 Dec 28. :yes:

Anyone that has been, how is walk to 3 this year?

Thanks for replies.

Merry CHRIST mas.
 
#2 ·
Have not hunted it this year but doesn't really change from year to year. Long walk, large majority of which is easy hard path. Bring a cart with wheels for the path and a small sled to float gear to and from blind. Weather is showing up right on time for you. Good luck and shoot em up! :thumbsup:
 
#3 ·
Had a buddy who had it for the youth hunt, he didn't mention anything out of the ordinary. Long walk, all dry ground til the last 100 yards or so. We had it last year and did real well. We toted 200+ decoys, waders, guns and bags strapped to a garden cart. We put all our crap on it and racheted it down in several directions, was over head high when we got done. Regardless, made for a nice 700 yard walk without waders. Couple of trips back and forth once we got to the last little stretch. I'll double check with him though as he's not on the boards much.

Merry Christmas as well and hope you guys wear them out.

Brad
 
#4 ·
Blind Luck said:
Have not hunted it this year but doesn't really change from year to year. Long walk, large majority of which is easy hard path. Bring a cart with wheels for the path and a small sled to float gear to and from blind. Weather is showing up right on time for you. Good luck and shoot em up! :thumbsup:
Thanks to both above on advice about cart and hard ground.

Will bring garden cart and load the sled on it for last part of journey.
 
#6 ·
Your in luck. Hunted both blind couple days ago. Brad (NCSUDucker) is spot on with how to hunt 3 as I've made that journey twice in the last 3 years. But his yardage est was a little short by 230! :eek:

Was a bad weekend to hunt. We shot at only two ducks, killed one. Had our 200 dekes out but might as well had a dozen. Only 2 other ducks within 500 yds come by- seriously. All weather related as to what you'll see.

Walk to 11 is 210 yds but its sloppy mud first, followed by 2 ft water, then just a little more muck to lake/blind edge. I used 10' Aquapod and jet sled for transport. The walk to #3 on dike is by cart for sure- W/O waders on! Then jump off to the 100 yd path that has water for about 50 yards, then drys out somewhat until you hit lakes edge. Blind is about 30 yards out in lake. Again floating devices are handy.

You'll do good if weather is right because it will have not been hunted in a week. And make sure you bring some kind of wading staff for walking and standing when picking up dekes. Mud is sticky, especially in 11. Good luck.
 
#7 ·
Awesome information (except about not shooting ducks). Oh well, if all we wanted to do was kill something would be in Arkansas or Missouri instead of tradition filled place like Mattamuskeet.

Thanks again for all the feedback.
 
#8 ·
Yea, that place is completely weather dependent. The days we have done well have always been howling wind. Don't always neccessarilly have to have the cold or cloud cover, just needs to be blowing a gale so those ducks don't want to just sit in the middle of the lake. We limited out two years ago in #4, hardly any cloud cover, got up in the uppers 60's that day, but it was blowing 20-25 gusting to 35 out of the SW. Regardless of whether you do well or not, that place is awesome for the sheer number of birds you see, and the nostalgia of hunting the lake. Hard to have a bad hunt there IMO, unless you only measure that by the numbers you kill. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out for you!
 
#9 ·
Great message thanks.

Numbers are not important to us. Do not tally success by number of birds harvested in dove field or duck blind any more.

Have not hunted Matt since father was alive many years ago and have wonderful memories of the lodge, blind, and total trip experience.

First time my hard working, non duck hunting addict son has been, hope to carry on tradition.

Thanks again to all for replies. Merry CHRIST mas.
 
#10 ·
Swanquarter forecast for 7 AM Friday 45 degrees and North wind at 9 mph, Saturday 7 AM 37 degrees and North wind at 9 again.

Does not look like banner day, but any day in duck blind is a good one for me.
 
#11 ·
Have hunted there with worse (or better depending on your definition) weather, that's for sure. The one big "possible" positive that could help you out a lot, is this big front pushing across from Midwest. Fresh birds that haven't learned the area yet are always a positive :thumbsup:
 
#12 ·
Thanks to all for help prior to hunt, especially advice about cart for blind 3. Would not have made it without the cart and small decoy boat,

Great two days, took Widgeons, pintails, teal, black duck.

Blind 11 is tough to work ducks in, too close to blind 10 and 12. If you get it, take your shots if close, waiting will just benefit the next guys.

Blind 3 is awesome, despite the half mile walk. This late in season walking from levee to blind is tough due to amount of traffic. Walking stick is a definite plus.

Ducks did not like the mojo teal, or mojo mallard. Turned off and success improved.

Most amazing flights of divers, pintails, and widgeon flying high overhead on Saturday AM between 8 and 10. Lots of Canadas also, looks\ed like migrating birds to us.

Stick it out, we shot most birds between 9 and 11 second day after next blind stopped shooting and left.

Happy new year to all and thanks again for advice. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
#13 ·
Glad to hear y'all did well! Especially Saturday, I'm sure it was truly a "lake" with the wind.

As for the other parties leaving early, that has got to make you feel good for sticking it out :clapping:

This is my first time not going in three years, had been very fortunate up until this year. Happy to hear about other people's experiences though. Half of our fun was just making a weekend of it and sharing a few ( I use "few" very loosely :beer: ) beers in the evenings. Met some real nice guys at the various motels/hotels and restraurants over the last few years as well.

Happy New Year's to Everyone! Be safe, and may 2014 bring even more ducks than 2013! :grooving:
 
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