You said you had teal all figured out?

Al Hansen

Well-known member
Yesterday was one of those duck hunting days that will go into my memory bank and not be forgotten. I never saw many ducks but when duck hunting sometimes you don't need many ducks to fulfill a limit.

Probably the foremost thing in my mind as I tossed out the four decoys was the fog. This was the thickest/soupiest batch I have ever hunted in down here and with that being so rare, I found it fun.

The coffee was tasting good as I sat with my back up against a stand of some great looking weeds that totally blocked my silhouette. I much prefer not to have anything in front of me other than weeds that go up to about the seat of my chair this to conceal Chip more than anything. With my face mask concealing the most vulnerable part, I am comfortable sitting in the wide open, enjoying duck hunting to the fullest.

My season started out typically with teal. Two of them had come out of the fog and land not just outside my spread like "most" ducks do, but inside my spread. Since my farthest decoy was 20 yards out, I was now whispering to my blind partner, "Stay, Chip!" I'm thinking that they were but a mere 20 feet in front of us. Well I stood up and let the bird I chose to follow get out a ways, which it did. Just as I pulled the trigger, he landed once again. Of course I missed. The next shot I also missed and so began my morning.

The morning fog began to burn off as the brilliant New Mexican sun began to rise and all I could think about was my camera that was behind me on a very dry part of the landscape. Please remember that in the past week to ten days we have received over half of our annual rainfall. The timing of this rain was perfect for our teal season. We have had somewhere between 4 and 5 inches rain so far in September.

It was just then that a flock of perhaps 25 Mexican ducks/mallards came flying by. No way could I reach my camera so I just grabbed my duck call and started having some fun. The big flock made a wide circle and came back for a look then circled once again with about a third of the ducks with set wings, then some of them began backpedaling. It was great. I loved seeing that drake mallard hybrid just as he flared above me not 25 yards up. Chip held his ground, the calling was fun and I learned a lot. With things so deathly quiet with the fog I tried blowing the call as quietly as I could and it worked beautifully.

Finally we had some action. When I was looking to the east where there was some good light breaking through, this lone GWT came in from the west out of no where. By the time I happened to glance at my partner who was now very wired, I knew what to expect as I raised my eyes to look without moving my head. There it sat very comfortably in the water not too far from my pair of mallard decoys. This time when I stood up and fired it came down and Chip put another notch in his belt when he came back with the bird.

After inspecting it, I reached into my pocket and grabbed a large milk bone for Chip. He was sitting by me once again, just like a rock. He has never forgotten what Habi taught him when he first came with us last year in January. Well, I got the shock of my life when my boy never gave it a look. Heck, I expected him to grab it and darn near swallow it whole but he never opened his mouth. "Good boy, Chip." I scratched his ear and he never lost his concentration of looking for ducks.

We had been there for over an hour, the sun was now beginning to burn off the fog pretty good and it was just one of those fun mornings.

Right about then a flock of teal showed up flying east to west but slightly out of range. In a matter of minutes I could hear a couple of hens calling softly as they fed in the wild millet patch that was to my right. They didn't stay there long when a hawk glided by. It made me think of "silent death".

I called Bev and asked if she had breakfast yet. She told me that she hadn't so I told her I was going to be home soon. I reached over to pet my partner and then stood up, thought all I need is five more teal to make my limit, set my shotgun down on my chair, then removed my jacket and set it down on top of my gun. It was now getting quite warm out and I needed to pick up my decoys, go home and have eggs, bacon, and toast.

As I turned around, I looked out at my 4 decoys just as 5 bluewings landed not 20 yards out. All I could do is chuckle to myself. Of course, Chip is still too young to give me "that" look, that hunting dogs are famous for when you miss a duck or don't shoot. Murphy's law was now fully engaged, as the teal suddenly found themselves in an awkward position and with post haste, left the area.

You just have to love teal hunting. The little guys are so unpredictable. Well, my limit of one was just that. I couldn't be happier. It was quite a morning.
Al

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Some day when I have some time, I will attempt to refine Chip's driving skills. That should be a challenge.

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Al:
I always enjoy your articles & photos over a good cup of coffee. Still waiting for our waterfoul season to begin in Nov. Have a Great Hunting Season.
 
Al, enjoyed that story. My partners and I take turns ,when the birds 'don't seem to be flying', with one of us putting the shotgun down and wading out to reset a bock or two or even start picking them up and I swear it works 50% of the time. The birds appear out of no where! Kicker is with one of us out there the others can't shoot any way and so we all just have that same chuckle you enjoyed this morning.

Best - Paul
 
Thanks Al, I really enjoyed that story. It was just what I needed to take the edge off. I just booked a cottage for a few days hunting on Lake Erie in late October and I can't wait.

Give Chip a treat for me! He is turning into one fine dog.
 
Al:
I always enjoy your articles & photos over a good cup of coffee. Still waiting for our waterfoul season to begin in Nov. Have a Great Hunting Season.

Thanks so much, Dave. Best of luck when your opener finally arrives.

Here are two pics from yesterday's hunt. Chip picked up his 1st double. That was a proud moment as another light got turned on.
Al

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Al, enjoyed that story. My partners and I take turns ,when the birds 'don't seem to be flying', with one of us putting the shotgun down and wading out to reset a bock or two or even start picking them up and I swear it works 50% of the time. The birds appear out of no where! Kicker is with one of us out there the others can't shoot any way and so we all just have that same chuckle you enjoyed this morning.

Best - Paul

Thanks so much, Paul. It was good to know that this same thing happens to others.

These are the things that make waterfowling so memorable.
Al
 
Thanks Al, I really enjoyed that story. It was just what I needed to take the edge off. I just booked a cottage for a few days hunting on Lake Erie in late October and I can't wait.

Give Chip a treat for me! He is turning into one fine dog.

Hi Paul,
Glad you enjoyed it.

Now I will look forward to seeing some pictures when you head east to hunt the big lake. I know how much you must be looking forward to that.
Al
 
Great pics and story Al!! Sage is at 39 retrieves now. All dove but she is loving it and is hooked. Cant wait to get her after ducks. Will have to wait until southern opener though. Football taking front seat right now. Take care, Jake
 
Great pics and story Al!! Sage is at 39 retrieves now. All dove but she is loving it and is hooked. Cant wait to get her after ducks. Will have to wait until southern opener though. Football taking front seat right now. Take care, Jake

Thanks so much, Jake. However, I was far more interested in how Sage was doing. Boy, she is doing wonderfully with 39 dove retrieves already. I can hardly wait for you and Zach to go after big ducks. I can just picture her with a mallard in her mouth and bringing it back to you.
Al
 
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