Ok boys,
Many of you know this is my first season of duck hunting. So far I have hunted 6 times and 4 out of six have been by my self. My shooting is getting much better, my calling is getting better (still sounds like a kazoo though...lol), and as a result, my overall experience and success is greater.
I noticed that the last few times hunting, I was missing easy shots and was bummed out. I had changed to a new brand of shells (Kent Faststeel 3 inch #2's) and didn't pattern my shotgun. So I went out and patterned it and saw it was a bit too spread out. After putting in a full choke, it was much better.
Armed with my new confidence from a well patterned shotgun, yesterday was my best day yet (except for the boo-boo and resulting ticket...more on that in a moment) as the weather was crappy....ahhh...ummm...I mean great duck hunting weather...lol! I hunted Dead Willow and man-o-man where the birds everywhere.
I folded a gw teal with my first shot and then another duck soon afterwards. Took another gw teal and finally another duck. So at this point I was really excited as I was able to sneak away from my family for a ½ day of hunting and within 3 hours I shot 4 ducks. I was feeling on top of the world as It was the first time I hunted by myself and had some decent success. All the pieces were starting to fall into place!
I am checking out at the eastside check station and proudly tell the lady at the counter 2 gw teal and 2 wigon. She asked to see the birds and came out to my rig. That's when she told me they weren't wigon but hen pintails. I just felt horrible! My heart sank right there! I felt so stupid not to mention embarrassed as there were a dozen guys hanging around hoping to get into a blind. All the ODFW folks were nice about it. She called the state trooper who talked to me a bit and gave me a citation for over harvest. He went lightly on me and set the bail for $75.00.
I fully realize it is my responsibility to learn my quarry and be a responsible and ethical sportsman. I have the booklet one of the eastside checkout guys discreetly gave me and I will read it cover to cover and reread it and then again.
Ok boys, here is what I need from you all. What is the best way to learn the markings and characteristics of ducks and to identify one from the other on the wing? Are there any good tools (books, videos) that help a newbie distinguish one duck from the other as they are screaming in to deeks at mach 2 while my heart is pumping adrenaline and I'm loving every minute of sitting in mud, water, and the freezing cold? I don't want to ruin another day of hunting by being an uneducated hunter. Your comments (positive and negative) are welcome.
Jimbo
Many of you know this is my first season of duck hunting. So far I have hunted 6 times and 4 out of six have been by my self. My shooting is getting much better, my calling is getting better (still sounds like a kazoo though...lol), and as a result, my overall experience and success is greater.
I noticed that the last few times hunting, I was missing easy shots and was bummed out. I had changed to a new brand of shells (Kent Faststeel 3 inch #2's) and didn't pattern my shotgun. So I went out and patterned it and saw it was a bit too spread out. After putting in a full choke, it was much better.
Armed with my new confidence from a well patterned shotgun, yesterday was my best day yet (except for the boo-boo and resulting ticket...more on that in a moment) as the weather was crappy....ahhh...ummm...I mean great duck hunting weather...lol! I hunted Dead Willow and man-o-man where the birds everywhere.
I folded a gw teal with my first shot and then another duck soon afterwards. Took another gw teal and finally another duck. So at this point I was really excited as I was able to sneak away from my family for a ½ day of hunting and within 3 hours I shot 4 ducks. I was feeling on top of the world as It was the first time I hunted by myself and had some decent success. All the pieces were starting to fall into place!
I am checking out at the eastside check station and proudly tell the lady at the counter 2 gw teal and 2 wigon. She asked to see the birds and came out to my rig. That's when she told me they weren't wigon but hen pintails. I just felt horrible! My heart sank right there! I felt so stupid not to mention embarrassed as there were a dozen guys hanging around hoping to get into a blind. All the ODFW folks were nice about it. She called the state trooper who talked to me a bit and gave me a citation for over harvest. He went lightly on me and set the bail for $75.00.
I fully realize it is my responsibility to learn my quarry and be a responsible and ethical sportsman. I have the booklet one of the eastside checkout guys discreetly gave me and I will read it cover to cover and reread it and then again.
Ok boys, here is what I need from you all. What is the best way to learn the markings and characteristics of ducks and to identify one from the other on the wing? Are there any good tools (books, videos) that help a newbie distinguish one duck from the other as they are screaming in to deeks at mach 2 while my heart is pumping adrenaline and I'm loving every minute of sitting in mud, water, and the freezing cold? I don't want to ruin another day of hunting by being an uneducated hunter. Your comments (positive and negative) are welcome.
Jimbo