I posted this in another forum and so far got crickets so I'll throw it this way.
I realize this is potentially taboo because of spot stealing and so on but I'm runnin' out of ideas and as season is getting close I'm getting frustrated at the thought that I might just miss out on another year.
I could use some pointers from you guys on how to team up with somebody to watch and learn.
I'm mostly green and trying to get into duck hunting but I'd really like to go a time or two with somebody with some stripes and see how it's done, and maybe just have a mentor that could help me along the way. I'd even be willing to travel if it helped you feel your spot stayed secure.
Thought I had someone lined up but I that outing will be a scratch. I've had a couple guys say "Oh sure, I'll let you know" but never heard from them again.
I know I could just take my little jon out there, do a piss poor job brushing it, blow heinous noise out of my calls, skyblast and probably flare everything in site from 2 miles away while I learn but I'd rather not piss off everyone within a 10 mile radius and I'd rather learn to do it right and respect the sport.
I have 2 girls, 5 and 8, that I'd love to bring in to this some day and I'm interested in carving decoys and waterfowl taxidermy down the line, essentially trying to make a lifestyle out of this, but I'm having a hard time finding someone to take me under their wing so to speak for a short spell so I could get my feet under me.
As for where I'm at now, I'm mostly geared up. I have a couple sets of waders, my gun, calls (need to practice), my jon and little 6.5 longtail motor on it. I have no decoys, never brushed a boat or laid out decoys, never called in ducks and to date have not bagged one either. I'm a DU member, looking to become a UW-F member as soon as I can. I'll probably miss more ducks than I'll hit, I have gatorphobia that I'll have to get past, and I'll probably make some rookie mistakes. I don't know how to scout a good spot, having never done it and not knowing what to look for, and the whole STA and WMA lottery system and rules and regulations appear to me to be a jumbled mass of hieroglyphic bureaucratic red tape.
I'm not a pasty yuppie, I grew up running around outdoors and still spend as much time there as I can in the "winter". I've taken wilderness survival instruction from a SERE instructor, climbed a 10k summit in California (lake sabrina to blue lake), and slept outside on nothing but pine needles while mosquitos used me to refuel like a helo-base, so I wont scream like a Victorias Secret model that put on 4 ounces if I get mud and bugs on me.
If anybody is willing to help out I'm itching to learn and get out there, I'm willing to trade a couple vintage packs of mostly non chewed Bazooka Joe bubble gum, an old Darth Vader action figure without a light sabre and missing one leg, and one or two high-fives, right or left handed, trainers choice.
In all serious, I appreciate any help.
I realize this is potentially taboo because of spot stealing and so on but I'm runnin' out of ideas and as season is getting close I'm getting frustrated at the thought that I might just miss out on another year.
I could use some pointers from you guys on how to team up with somebody to watch and learn.
I'm mostly green and trying to get into duck hunting but I'd really like to go a time or two with somebody with some stripes and see how it's done, and maybe just have a mentor that could help me along the way. I'd even be willing to travel if it helped you feel your spot stayed secure.
Thought I had someone lined up but I that outing will be a scratch. I've had a couple guys say "Oh sure, I'll let you know" but never heard from them again.
I know I could just take my little jon out there, do a piss poor job brushing it, blow heinous noise out of my calls, skyblast and probably flare everything in site from 2 miles away while I learn but I'd rather not piss off everyone within a 10 mile radius and I'd rather learn to do it right and respect the sport.
I have 2 girls, 5 and 8, that I'd love to bring in to this some day and I'm interested in carving decoys and waterfowl taxidermy down the line, essentially trying to make a lifestyle out of this, but I'm having a hard time finding someone to take me under their wing so to speak for a short spell so I could get my feet under me.
As for where I'm at now, I'm mostly geared up. I have a couple sets of waders, my gun, calls (need to practice), my jon and little 6.5 longtail motor on it. I have no decoys, never brushed a boat or laid out decoys, never called in ducks and to date have not bagged one either. I'm a DU member, looking to become a UW-F member as soon as I can. I'll probably miss more ducks than I'll hit, I have gatorphobia that I'll have to get past, and I'll probably make some rookie mistakes. I don't know how to scout a good spot, having never done it and not knowing what to look for, and the whole STA and WMA lottery system and rules and regulations appear to me to be a jumbled mass of hieroglyphic bureaucratic red tape.
I'm not a pasty yuppie, I grew up running around outdoors and still spend as much time there as I can in the "winter". I've taken wilderness survival instruction from a SERE instructor, climbed a 10k summit in California (lake sabrina to blue lake), and slept outside on nothing but pine needles while mosquitos used me to refuel like a helo-base, so I wont scream like a Victorias Secret model that put on 4 ounces if I get mud and bugs on me.
If anybody is willing to help out I'm itching to learn and get out there, I'm willing to trade a couple vintage packs of mostly non chewed Bazooka Joe bubble gum, an old Darth Vader action figure without a light sabre and missing one leg, and one or two high-fives, right or left handed, trainers choice.
In all serious, I appreciate any help.