It was the duck opening in Va. today. Almost Thanksgiving and we haven't had a good frost yet---a full moon-- bluebird forecast, low tide at 6:45. We weren't too optimistic, but maybe the few birds around would be a little on the dumb blonde side, we hoped.
Well, the full moon and a couple of days of a North Breeze pulled the drain plug on the tidal river system. We pulled up to the ramp way early at 5:00 and it was already a super low tide, i.e., dry at the end of the ramp. When we got to the marsh, the creek feeding it was no more than a 6 foot ditch and mud banks 25 yards wide on either side before the marsh grass started. We set out a few floaters in the tiny ditch of water that remained and set out some full bodied field decoys on the pluff mud. The boat hide was high and dry, but managed to push most of the boat in the slip by shooting time---- close enough for government work, it's time to shoot.
It was just son #2 and me this morning, and we were pleasantly suprised with the early morning flurry of big ducks. A few Teal buzzed around, but nothing to write home about. In spite of some of the worst shooting ever seen, we did manage to plop 7 mallards on the mud before the tide was finally high enough to float the boat and call it a day.
Way to get after them on such a nonducky forecast! 7 on a bluebird with missed opportunities makes for a great day. We kept our feet dry after the four legged fur bearers while only one of our group tried for ducks from the Aquia Creek blind. Deer 8/squirrels 2/ducks 0.
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