[brkhntr]

I am starting to have major withdrawls. Just under five before we can go out and practice on some doves. I can not wait untill these six months go by. I look forward to having duck fajitas once again.

 

[DuckFan]

You're not alone... :wink:

I usually and pretty tired after the duck season, and ready to take a break.

That lasts about 30 days, and then I start to feel the 'pull' of sitting in the marsh.

Duck hunting gets into your blood - a part of who we are. Tough to ignore when it is that deeply ingrained in us. Many hunt other species and fish or do other outdoor activities this time of year. Some hit the sporting clays course.

But, for me, I find my mind wandering constantly - "seeing" myself waking up, putting the gear together, walking down the levee in pitch black stillness and having ducks take flight off the ponds - quack, quack, quack…..getting set up and watching the sky at first light, eyes darting from side to side. Maybe pour a cup of coffee as I wait for shoot time. Then, that first shot…… and I just feel like all is right in the world..

Yep - I can 'see' it, and it will happen soon.

The break we take from duck hunting only works to increase my desire to be out there again….that is a good feeling that I hold onto as I wait.

 

[#1wingnut]

:welcome:
your not alone bro.
I was driving to work this morning and saw 6 or 8 woodys on the pond. I just had to stop and watch for a while. :thumbsup:

 

[brkhntr]

I try to shoot clays a few times during the off season. The last couple of years I have been heading over to the coast and shark fishing. It helps a little, there are a group of widgeon and some honkers that live in the lagoon were I catch the leopards. Any of you guys hunt out of Alturas? Ive gone up there the last two years and love the place. Modoc is a nice refuge, wish I lived closer.

 

[AWOTIS]

i hunt alturas refuge its just about the only place i can go. with gas prices at $ 4.09 / gal thats probley the only place ill hunt this year. let me know when you can come up next year and we can try to hunt together. show you the good spots lol :smile:

 

[brkhntr]

I hunted the north unit twice last year. limited both times. I hope to be there the tuesday after the opener. If I can afford it, I would like to stay for a few days. I did day trips last year, Thats hard when leaving from Sacramento. Is there any places to hunt when the refuge is closed?

 

[AWOTIS]

i go up on devils garden lots of lakes and potholes, its hit and miss on some of them but its fun just to drive around. you can go to goose lake up near the oregon border too. if you want to pay theres some good guides here that have good leases.

 

[brkhntr]

AWOTIS have you drove 299 from Alturas to Redding? Do you think it would be better to go threw Redding vs Reno, when coming from Sacramento? The Reno way dosent have much to look at, makes those 4 or 5 hours fell alot longer. Do you mostly jump shoot the potholes?

 

[AWOTIS]

if the weather is bad i go 299 throu redding that way i dont have to deal with donner pass but 299 has 3 small pass's to go over. i think its a better route for winter travel. all of the looooong strait streches are on I5 coming up, but on going down its at the end of your trip.
i just jump shoot the potholes i only got decoys last year and still learning how to use them. still need to get a duck call and learn how to use it.

 

[brkhntr]

Mabey this year we can get together and shoot some ducks. It will be my 7th season, and I still have alot to learn, and alot of gear to buy. Guess that part never really ends. Last year was the best season I've had so far. My hopes are high for this one. I bought a jj lars call last year and love the thing. It is easy to blow, losts of volume when you need it. The other call I bought that I like is the Zink power hen, sounds good and is very easy to blow not alot of air needed. The power hen dosent have much volume though, It might be the way I blow it . I still have a long way before I would say I am a good caller but I can sometimes get them to come in. Another thing I like about lars is he is local, he is out of Chico. http://www.jjlares.com . Sometimes the best call for me is no call at all.

 

[AWOTIS]

e mail me when season comes around and your coming up ill go out with yaa.. those calls look really good a little more than i can afford right now but will be getting overtime this summer will look into them then..

 

[brkhntr]

The calls are not cheap but they will last for ever. At least I hope they do. It gets hard giving up 135 dollars on a piece of plastic. Sometimes you can find the calls on ebay, I havent personally bought from ebay, but I have known a couple. They didnt seem to have any problems, most hunters seem to be pretty honest. I will be sending you an e mail a few weeks before the season. Hopefully get some limits on some greenheads. Do you do any upland?

 

[drake~slayer]

I find myself stopping what ever I am doing if i hear or see ducks and geese in the sky. I Havent been able to stop thinking about next season. Its in my blood and in my soul. I wonder if there is a
twelve step program for guys like us.. I dont think i would ever have the strenght to go though. On another topic, I just bought a Basin abomination II call from my buddy barleysoda. I love it. It is my first "real" call. Sounds real good and is realativly easy to blow. I am learning how to blow it. Hopefully by next season i will be good enough to take it out.... :thumbsup:

 

[AWOTIS]

dont do much upland hunting dont get much time off my work, i work weird hours and days. pm me when season comes around.. im going to try for opening weekend off again this year will have to wait to see when season starts..