From the archives---

Al Hansen

Well-known member
In one word describing the past two duck hunting seasons, it would have to be "phenomenal"! I have now hunted ducks since 1954, and I have never had a season as good as this one.
To reflect upon it will be fun. To conjure up some ideas of why it was so good will be more than interesting and it will also pave the way for me to continue on with more successful seasons to come.
Our regular season began on October 26th, 2005. I was once again back at my “old” honey hole. By saying “old”, I am referring to the fact that this was now the third year in a row that I have used the very same spot. In the past two years, I had taken over 575 ducks from this one spot, so why should I change? Talk about a wonderful way to begin your retirement. I was now hunting about 80 days a year!
After a fairly good start, it became quite apparent to me that things were not improving at the old honey hole. What I noticed immediately was the absence of big ducks. I was taking an unusually high number of greenwing teal, with a smattering of gadwalls, widgeons, and occasional mallards. By the second week of November, over 80% of all the ducks I had taken were GWT’s, so I began an extensive scouting program of the immediate area, trying to figure out where those big ducks were flying.
Since I hunt the Rio Grande valley, almost all ducks traverse the river, so I took my four-wheeler and jon boat along and systematically began a search for a better spot than the one I was using. One of the first things that I did was climb to the top of the plateaus that run along the western side of the Rio Grande valley. From these vantage points, along with a good pair of binoculars, I could glass an extensive area looking for ducks. I happened to notice a large marshy area to the south of where I normally hunt and decided to go over there to investigate. As luck would have it, this area was very easy to get to and made my hunts all that much better. Upon returning to my four-wheeler, I drove along the Rio until I got to the spot where I had seen everything from the top of the plateau. I do have tendencies of daydreaming when I drive along this area because my environment is so beautiful. As I continued on, I happened to flush out approximately 35 to 40 mallards and gadwalls from one spot in a marsh not sixty feet from the river. I stopped to investigate and what a stroke of good fortune that was. The mallards and gadwalls had been in an area of the marsh that was thick with a plant called, “smart weed”. The little black seeds from this plant were floating all over the marshy area, so I decided to be in this spot the next morning bright and early. I quickly recalled finding these plants back at the old honey hole a couple of years ago, prior to them being choked out by the invading cattails, and remembered how the big ducks were literally gorging themselves upon this succulent food source.
I found a great spot for a blind and had that set up in no time at all. I scanned the area and found what looked like some beautiful openings to have my decoys set up in. What was so unique about this spot was that it ran north and south just like the Rio that was adjacent to me. The dead salt cedars had made it a natural corridor and because of that the ducks had the tendency to fly in a south to north direction or vise versa----all depending upon the wind. At least 95% of the time, we always will have a slight northerly breeze each morning as the sun is about to rise. The corridor that I hunted was approximately 40 yards wide, so that meant that my longest shot would be around 35 yards and the closest somewhere in the 20 to 25 yard range and I was very comfortable with that.
This was on the second Friday of November as I drove back to the house running all of what had happened to me on this day through my mind. I don’t recall being this excited in a long time! When I arrived at home, I quickly rounded up an additional three dozen decoys that I had remaining in the shop, checking each of them to make sure they were ready to use. I then tied everything down on the four-wheeler and loaded it on the truck.
I normally don’t hunt on weekends because those days I usually spend with my wife, Beverly. However, on this day, when I arrived at the house, Bev could tell by the look on my face that something was going on and she did get the full scoop from me.
Saturday morning at 4:00 finally arrived and I was out of bed in an instant. The only thing I had to wait for was the second pot of coffee to perk. With Chili in the truck and all of my gear packed and ready, I had my half gallon thermos of coffee in hand and I was out of there.
All kinds of thoughts filtered through my mind as I drove towards the area that I would park the truck. Those little things like, I wonder how many ducks I would see, what time would they be coming in if they do, and would there be any other hunters in the area? The forty-five minutes it took to get there didn’t seem to be that long at all. I knew that I had to set up a decent looking spread and time was of the essence, so I didn’t waste it.
Once arriving at my new location, which was about two miles from where I parked the truck, I quickly unloaded the four-wheeler and put everything into the sled that I use to transport my decoys in. I covered the four-wheeler with camo burlap and I was on my way, with Chili at my side.
The water was only about a foot deep in places and in others a lot shallower. To me this made a perfect site for puddle ducks. Little did I know at the time that I was about to set up in “THE” spot that the ducks wanted to be at! As I wandered out into the marsh, stopping here and there to toss out decoys, my senses were soaking up everything in my surroundings. The distinctive smells of the marsh, the wave actions of the river not too far from me, the sounds of an owl just to the north of me along with the whistling wings of flying ducks overhead. This area was alive and well. As I looked to the east, I could see the faint light in the horizon and knew that I had just about 30 more minutes before I must be ready. With my headlamp blazing, I looked about me, and with everything seemingly in place and a contented subtle smile on my face, I waded to the blind.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate sipping on a hot cup of coffee in the blind just prior to the opener. This is the time when ducks really start to fly and there is a lot of activity. I was enjoying watching Chili as she lifted her head to follow a small flock of mallards that were flying south just above the Rio Grande. I found out a long time ago, that by watching my dog, I sure had a better sense of where the ducks were. Her eyes are a heck of a lot better than mine. I checked my watch and decided it was time to put my coffee cup down and get serious about duck hunting.
First thing in that morning was a gorgeous pair of mallards. They saw the decoys and without hesitation, came flying in, wings cupped and feet outstretched in front of them. I put the bead on the drake and he crumpled when my Benelli broke the silence. Chili dashed out and was back with that beautiful greenhead. She placed it in my hand and quickly took the stance at her post, looking for more ducks. As I sat there admiring my greenhead, four more mallards came busting in, looking like they were all ready to start filling up on smart weed seeds. As they began to hover over the decoys, I pulled the trigger on the lead drake and he fell, along with the hen right behind him. I love being able to shoot Scotch doubles but much prefer taking two drakes out instead of one of them being a hen. Once again Chili was out in an instant retrieving the first duck. As I sat there, she went back out for the second duck and quickly I had three mallards already in the bag. What was so amazing to this point in time, was the fact that only ten minutes had elapsed.
Once again, I found myself gazing at my three ducks when a small flock of widgeons came zooming in, not from the south, but from the north and they totally had me off guard. I picked up my call and tried to coax them back but to no avail. Oh, well, that is all part of duck hunting. Over the years, I have found quite a few good excuses to help console myself for some of the mistakes that I will pull----some being real dandies!
As I sat there waiting for some more ducks, in came at least ten to twelve wood ducks. They were right on the deck and made a huge circle out in front of me, which was to the west. When they came back, it was right at me and I pulled on the first one and down it came. Unfortunately, it was a hen wood duck. I must admit that after carefully examining this bird, it was extremely beautiful for a hen. Those bright yellow eye ceres are enough to make it a true gem.
I had promised Bev that I wouldn’t stay too long, so I had decided to pack up by 8:00AM. At around 7:45 I heard the distinctive sound of the drake mallard. As I looked to the south of me, I could already see him approaching. I gave a soft lonesome hen call, let my call hang around my neck, and picked up my shotgun. Chili was on this bird the whole time. I get a kick out of her because when she sees a duck or flock of ducks, her head is locked into place, however her tail starts twitching, very slowly and methodically. The greenhead kept up his calling right up until the time I pulled the trigger. Chili made quick work of the retrieve and I found myself with four mallards and a wood duck. It was time to go home.
What a great area that I just happened to have found. Places like this, especially on public land, are hard to come by and I did realize how fortunate I was, or at least at the time thought this. How is it possible that this would end up being the best season I have ever had in my 53 years of duck hunting? And to think that I thought the last two years were phenomenal---

Little did I realize how a century type drought would change duck hunting so drastically. With water so scarce now, I haven't hunted that area in the last 5 years. It is hard to imagine that all of it is gone and if you can visualize what a dust bowl looks like, that would describe it.
Al
 
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