Craxty said:
I admit I got intimidated. First off, I didn't have a reasonably local "plan B." That was my first mistake. The thing that gets me is that this hole is not very big and to see all the trucks I had no idea what to do. Are you just supposed to find an open spot not near anyone in the pitch dark? I don't want to hunt 10 feet from some guy. Plus I don't have a dog so I need to have walked through that area of the marsh to know I can navigate it in the dark. Sometimes I step in there when I can see the bottom and I'll sink 4 feet. I'm not going to put the smack on a bird and not be able to retrieve it. So unless I've really checked it out I'm not doing it. I can guarantee I probably picked the "obvious" spots and I got burnt. I'm learning though.
I'm sure it's just like Ohio Pheasant hunting. I go opening day and get a couple of birds. There is always an army out. Last couple years I've gone the day after and had the place to myself. Fewer birds obviously but it was more memorable walking the fields in peace and I still manage to find some birds with no dog. Opening day is perhaps overrated. I always enjoy myself when it's me and the birds. I'd like to think I've got the place to myself. Delusional I realize.
It reminds me of Salt Fork and early muzzle loader. Every time I've been there it's like I'm in Iraq. It's warfare.
To tell you the truth. I'll drive 1 or 2 hours to go to a refuge that has a lottery. I take the risk of not getting pulled but i tell you what... if you do get pulled it's about as real as it gets. Nothing like having 25 acres of marsh to yourself. To me it's worth the gamble. Sitting with 25 guys on 8 acres somehow diminishes it. I'm all about harvesting birds but I love the whole experience and the harvest is only part of it.
I'm only pushing because I think you're getting closer. :thumbsup: Mike's right - Pressure will drop off AND think outside the box of 'when' you go - if you have some flexibility on a weekend. A lot of guys want to watch football or be in sports bars so Saturday morning is the only time they go out. I get some pretty nice hunts walking in and setting up at 3:00 pm and hunting till sunset.
Don't think I'll hunt the crowds either, in fact...it is rare someone is around at all much less on my patch of water - opening day morning being what it is - I'd skip it unless I had a real out-of-the-way spot. If there's a parking lot - it ain't out-of-the-way. :lol3:
Solo hunters have a big advantage. You don't need as much cover to hide, as big a spot, and you can be as mobile as you want. You only need to have a few birds drop in to have an excellent day. Those may well be the birds that were shot of larger parcels. You also only need 1/2 dozen dekes in your pack and maybe a mojo. Two ducks going home is a good day in central Ohio.
I look at stuff all year, not just a month before the duck season. Lowlands and flood areas are easy to spot and while they're dry in July...you can do the math for their potential with a wet fall. If you stick with the obvious...so has everyone else.
I quit doing that early black powder season for all the same reasons and bought a crossbow. I'll muzzle load hunt those few days in January or during deer gun if on private property. If IU really want a deer - I'll crossbow hunt beginning September through October.
The pheasant release the same - everybody and their brother is out (it's in the frickin' newspaper for God's sake :lol3: ). As you said - a few days after or even later in the day the crowds thin out. It's made to keep license sales up for the guys who want an easy bird. And that IS the masses. While I haven't hunted those areas in a few years...the benefit of a dog trained for it means I can work a field for about 20 minutes and tell if that was a release spot or not. If not - move to another till you find the birds.
It's really a thinking mans game for birds in Central Ohio. Time, location, opportunity, multiple plans in the event plan A doesn't work out. Sometimes plan B works out better. :lol3: It's really how smart you work not how hard - and that comes with experience being out there with some trial and error, plenty of hunts seeing nothing and thinking about/doing something about it year round.
I know two wild pheasant public spots that have been very productive for me the last two years got replanted with beans this year. Nesting & hunting cover reduced by 90%. Knowing that ahead of time means I won't show up and find out on the opener. BUT...as other who DO pull up at sunrise to hunt it - and then shift to another spot in a hurry...I'll go back late in the day if needed and hunt the remaining cover.
Lastly - as Mike also said - A well trained dog gets you through a lot and frankly increases all your opportunity 10 fold. I wouldn't put near as much effort into it and would be about 20% as successful without a dog. I'd still be a rabbit and deer hunter.
Sorry for the diatribe. I am just encouraging you if you really want to be successful hunting birds - you can be but you'll have to think on things differently and adapt. Many people can't or don't want to. It's a priority thing.