Duck Hunting Report

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

I hunted on the reef with the regular crowd this morning.

I shot about as bad as humanly possible.

1 for 14.

One drake redhead to my credit.

Missed a couple longish pintails, huge flock of decoying red heads (I think I flock shot em), and a perfectly decoying pair of widgeons.

Mercifly, I was removed from the blind.

Fourtunately the others shot a little better than me and my partner, who also shot poorly, but I will protect his annonimity at 1 for 9.

Maybelle and I made a trip to the swamp for the evening.

We jumped the resident spike buck on the way in (who now has no horns, but I am pretty sure it was him)

Our regular bunch of resident woodrows, made an appearance seven minutes after sunset. Like the good legal duck hunter I am, I was unloaded.

[Glenn W]

There's been a whole lot of rubber bullets being sold this year.
Whacha shooting on the reef Jay? My son and I had a similar situation last week on the big ducks with smaller than my normal size shot.

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Hevi 4's mostly, but some 2's and 6's mixed in.

I really like the 6's but they are hard to find, so I save them for woods shootin.

When it is not very windy, I like hte 6's when it is blowin a little, I like 4's and 2's.

[Glenn W]

So much for the rubber bullet theory--- work with me Jay.
Certainly can't claim the Hevi 4's won't get the job done-- even on tough ole Redheads. I just can't afford hevi shot (wish I could), but here is why I asked:
I've been using Steel BB's (3") for years. Last week my son and I were plagued with the rubber bullet syndrome. We were using #2's that were given to me as an Xmas present. Back to my Kent BB's yesterday and it was back to my reasonably decent kill ratio.

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Well, I fugure that by the time you pull the trigger, youve invested alot of money.

Boat, Blind building material, decoys, waders, dog, etc.

At that point the cost of shells is irrelevant.

Shoot the good stuff.

[Glenn W]

Well, I fugure that by the time you pull the trigger, youve invested alot of money.

Boat, Blind building material, decoys, waders, dog, etc.

At that point the cost of shells is irrelevant.

Shoot the good stuff.

Can't knock that theory at all Jay. However, I foot the shell bill for me and my 2 boys. We shoot about two cases a season (unless we have extended Bluebill hunting in Currituck then its more) Even at case prices, that would be over $1,200.

[neilinov]

Well, I fugure that by the time you pull the trigger, youve invested alot of money.

Boat, Blind building material, decoys, waders, dog, etc.

At that point the cost of shells is irrelevant.

Shoot the good stuff.

I used to think that, but I hadn't bought shells in a little while. I went to restock on Saturday and paid $41.00 for the 3 1/2" #6 hevi shots a box. No discount on case price so I just bought a couple of boxes.

That ends up $4.10 every time I pull the trigger. Add a couple of misses and that first bird is a price duck.

I think what I am going to start doing is first 2 shots are steel BB and the 3rd long ranger a hevi shot.

[Glenn W]

I used to think that, but I hadn't bought shells in a little while. I went to restock on Saturday and paid $41.00 for the 3 1/2" #6 hevi shots a box. No discount on case price so I just bought a couple of boxes.

That ends up $4.10 every time I pull the trigger. Add a couple of misses and that first bird is a price duck.

I think what I am going to start doing is first 2 shots are steel BB and the 3rd long ranger a hevi shot.

I've been thinking the exact same thing except the opposite order. I guarandamtee you less than 10% of your birds are brought down on the third shot (must not have a Stoeger for the 4th, but that's a different story ). I swear I'd probablly kill just about as many birds if I only had 2 shells in the gun.
I ain't got a double yet this year and ole Wyatt Earp Swancaller got him 3 triples already.

[Wild Life Management]

Just some input from my point of view . . . 1 for 14 is better than sitting in front of a computer reading about it . . . at least you got to pull the trigger.

I have really enjoyed all the ducking reports from you guys, and Glenn, your input on the topic has been great.

For some reason I had never hunted duck until this year. Although it was only one morning, and there were no dogs, not even a duck call involved, it was an amazing experience. I can see why some of you are hooked, especially considering how great they taste.

Please keep the reports coming.

Ken

[Talbot29]

Jay, at least you got some shots and it nice to see someone fess up when they're having a miss day.

My son and I hunted this past Saturday morning and didn't even get a shot off. No wind, no clouds, no ducks. We made the mistake of hunting the pond next to the swamp shack - too far from the big water. That place has been a guarantee limit on blacks this year - we only saw 1 flight of 6 and they landed in a pond across the road. I guess we needed to be on the big water.