Rate your season
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My season was great,I would say that even if I never killed a bird at all this season.I hunted alot this season and there was days that I never even fired a shot,there was also days early on that I fired way to many and never got anything.I also had the great fortune to see my own pup do some great dog work during his first hunting season,I can not wait till he has 2 or 3 seasons under his belt to see what he becomes.I also got to see my 14 year old son shot his first set of doubles,Give him a few more years and I will be able to rank him with one of the greatest waterfowlers I have ever hunted with.I also had the great fortune to hunt with many great friends this year,some old ones and some new ones.My only regreat of the year is I didnt get out with everyone that I wanted to hunt with this year.I hunted atleast 2 days a week all season long in 3 hunting zones and still didnt hunt every where that I wanted to.I have enough waterfowl in the freezer to get me through till next fall.And there are so many of you here on the forum that have made my season enjoyable by sharing your hunts and pictures with me and the other members,thank you
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852 Posts
My season was okay as far as the ducks flying, but outstanding as far as meeting fellow DHC's and getting out with new people. I got a nice duckhunting boat this year that performed well, when the ducks were flying. I think it may need some 870 advice though, because the paperthin wood is not cutting the mustard. This summer I think I will put something better on it than the previous owner did. Tuff did pretty good this year, and I got some good advice and training tips from some buddies that I will try to work on over the spring and summer. I found some new spots this year that are already programmed into my mind and my GPS!
Overall we had a great season, Louka retrieved really well this year, picking up all 5 triples that came her way, (the first time she has seen triples other than training) in addition to the regular stuff. She made huge advances in not breaking (as much), and staying in the area of a cripple that has dove. I didn't kill nearly the mixed bag I usually do, but had a blast with mallards and geese. Started to get into layout hunts in the field, which gives me a whole new training environment for this spring and summer. The new boat was awesome (except for the last hunt of the year), and is full of spent hulls and great stories. Some new spots worked out, some old ones didn't, but I hunted harder than any other year, and had a blast. The gear is all pack away, and I'm already starting to think about next year... I think something is wrong with me :biggrin:
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2,489 Posts
Freaking horrible.....weather ...Horrible, Migration....Horrible. Don't get me wrong I killed birds...more than most do in other states(way more :grooving: ) Been playing this ghame 20 years, worst season in the past 10 for sure. Too many Yahoo's out & about, I hope the $$ increase shovels some of the deer hunters out. If your a deer hunter, Too bad...i don't aplogize. Injuries have gotten me twice this year...but that's the way it is. I'm looking forward to March as we will doing what I love the most, Goose hunting. You know it's bad when you see Swans migrating in December......Headed NORTH :no: :hammer:
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279 Posts
it was pretty decent as far as hunting. Met some new people. Some i wish to forget. I finally got to put a face with the name 870. got a lot of off season projects to do. and getting ready to possibly move. 95 % shur i am moving. so no more new york hunting.
P.S. 870 thanx for the advice and the knowledge you have shared with me. i will keep in touch with you and quack.
P.S. 870 thanx for the advice and the knowledge you have shared with me. i will keep in touch with you and quack.
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540 Posts
I have been hunting with my dad ever since i was 5 years old and this is my second real season and by far was the best got to hunt with some new people, got a nice mixed bag, other than the 2 or 3 week slump we had in the season we had a lot of birds to hunt. Also cant complain about getting my first duck and goose bands. Getting ready for next year
On a scale of one to ten, my season sucked donkey d!ck.
Got about half as many birds as normal, if that. What little cold weather we got just came too late. It's one thing to get a few days where you might not get anything, but getting multiple days where nobody fires a shot is rediculous. Not even a matter of educated birds, but NO BIRDS from late Oct through Nov and into Dec. Even our spots that are always consistantly excellent were horrible this year. We had maybe four or five really good days all season, and the rest was pretty much just grinding it out. The older guy we hunt with occasionally said this was the worst year he's ever seen, and he's been hunting ducks for decades.
The positives:
- Lex did pretty well this season. Had some long, tough retrieves, with birds that would dive when she got close, and she ended up getting them.
- Got to hunt with some different people this year, which was nice. Nice to be able to trade hunts and not worry about your spots.
- Getting the hang of setting up for divers. Especially for Whistlers.
- Didn't end up going for a swim again this year.
- My shooting was pretty decent.
Got about half as many birds as normal, if that. What little cold weather we got just came too late. It's one thing to get a few days where you might not get anything, but getting multiple days where nobody fires a shot is rediculous. Not even a matter of educated birds, but NO BIRDS from late Oct through Nov and into Dec. Even our spots that are always consistantly excellent were horrible this year. We had maybe four or five really good days all season, and the rest was pretty much just grinding it out. The older guy we hunt with occasionally said this was the worst year he's ever seen, and he's been hunting ducks for decades.
The positives:
- Lex did pretty well this season. Had some long, tough retrieves, with birds that would dive when she got close, and she ended up getting them.
- Got to hunt with some different people this year, which was nice. Nice to be able to trade hunts and not worry about your spots.
- Getting the hang of setting up for divers. Especially for Whistlers.
- Didn't end up going for a swim again this year.
- My shooting was pretty decent.
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2,099 Posts
Nice! Just wait till next year. :thumbsup:CLUTCHfan said:
All I can say is that I've been spoiled during the last couple of late seasons when we had a decent thaw after Christmas yet there were still plenty of workable birds around. This year's late season was more "seasonable" and a lot more work: snowy roads to tow the boat on almost every morning, multiple frozen ramps to chop out (used a friends snow plow on the ramp opening day), major wind shifts during the hunt (two or three different setups per morning a couple of times and one morning I didn't even uncase the gun because the wind created a major clusterfart with the decoys), and lots of ice floating around.
On the plus side:
The conditions during our late season did make the good hunts more rewarding.
I enjoyed hunting with new people and making new friends.
Molly did well retrieving throughout the season. She also got more retrieves than last year and she retrieved her first goose.
I didn't break anything major.
I feel blessed with the season that I had ,I never shot a limite of ducks this year but geese more then made up for it.I also seemed most of the time came home with atleast a bird out of every hunt,yes I had thoughs no bird days in Nov.The funny thing is that I did hunt alot this year more then I had the last 3 years so that was a plus.I have yet to go through my log book and see what the numbers are for hunt and birds.I do know that I put in alot of full days hunting were I left the house at 4 am and did not get back in the house till 8pm.
First season in the western zone for me was great but the late season in the western zone sucked just like it allways does. I dont hunt Lake Erie and thats the only open water in the late season near me its that way every year and I hate it there might as well not be a late season in the western zone.
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You for real :huh: The late season always sucks :huh: I can't wait for the late part of the season, those few weeks is when I fill up the freezer(this year excluded). It all depends where you are....I agree. You must hunt mainly ducks. Nothing wrong with that. Are you near Buffalo?Suncutter said:
I am near Chautauqua Lake 99% of the time the swamps,creeks and the lake is frozen by then and the deeper snow screws me on hunting any geese as they dont hit the fields. I could hunt Lake Erie but it has gotten hard to get a spot because alot of guys are getting there at 2 oclock in the morning to get a spot. I for one wont get up at midnight and go set in the boat for 4-5 hours in the dark lol.QUACK3XS said:
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2,489 Posts
Lake Erie is a mad house for sure....I work at the power station there running the dozer. I see them all the time. Where you are, I'll admit it can be a pain. Yet i hunt around there & do fairly well. There a lot of yahoo's on Chautauqua, so I tend not to hunt on the lake. That being said, I would never support the shortening of the late season here. It sometimes gets so cold that it condenses the birds & hunters, but for me most years I do really well. Shoot me a PM & we'll talk in private, instead of the open forum.Suncutter said:
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2,870 Posts
my season was a real lint licker. :lame: no ducks or geese moving, couldn't ever pin them down, and when I did I got beat to my spot. Really was a horses az.
Who am I kidding?! I had a burner of a season! I shot more birds than ever, shot a few new species, had a hoot with good friends (missed you this year though QUACK), scored access to places I have been drooling over, and Lily secured her spot in the annals of the great gun dogs with some spectacular retrieves while quietly grinding out a season milestone. It was good. It was what I needed to put me at ease next fall.
Who am I kidding?! I had a burner of a season! I shot more birds than ever, shot a few new species, had a hoot with good friends (missed you this year though QUACK), scored access to places I have been drooling over, and Lily secured her spot in the annals of the great gun dogs with some spectacular retrieves while quietly grinding out a season milestone. It was good. It was what I needed to put me at ease next fall.
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:lol3:870 said:
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