First Double in a Long Time

Steve Sanford

Well-known member
All~

When I was a young Waterfowl Biologist for NYSDEC - in the 1980s - one of my responsibilities was to explain the lowering of the Black Duck bag limit from 2 to 1 to skeptical sportsmen. This was on Long Island, where Black Duck has always been - and remains - far and away the most abundant puddle duck during our winter season.

So, I was very pleased to learn last winter that the daily limit would be raised to 2 beginning with this season. Although we have more Woodies and Mallards than Black Ducks throughout the Fall, ice and snow favor the King of Gamebirds. As ponds and marshes become solid water, our rivers harbor ample Blacks.

I thoroughly enjoy hunting rivers - and I hope I have learned a few things over the 20+ years I've been living here in dairy country. Nevertheless, my partners and I continue to discover new ways that Ol' Mister Black Duck can beat us on these flowing waters.

Retrieving downed birds - with or without a dog - is always foremost in our minds. I like to rig such that the decoys are upstream - with the hope (plan?) that any downed birds will fall upriver, and so give me - or my partner's dog - added time to stumble out over the cobble bottom to intercept the fallen quarry. And, any birds heading downstream always get a pass.

So, as happy as I was to watch a pair of Blacks respond to my call, circle twice, then cup up right into my lap - I had hoped they would land nearer my 10 Mallard and Black Duck decoys. Fortunately, a downstream gunner had earlier offered the services of his Yellow Lab should anything get past me. So, with precious little help from me, my venerable Winchester Model 12 leapt into action and quickly dispatched both birds - both "dead-in-the-air" thanks to 2 swarms of Fasteel 3s from the 90+ year-old full choke. It was one of those perfect moments that keeps us coming back.

After a graceless attempt to retrieve my own birds, I instead drove down to the other gunners. They immediately presented me with a fistful of Black Ducks - both drakes! I cannot think of a better way to celebrate our Winter Solstice.

View attachment Solstice 2017 A sm.JPG

We are open hereabouts until the end of the month. And Long Island is open until almost the end of January. So, I am hoping there'll be another double or two on this grand species before the season ends.

All the best,

SJS

 
If anyone deserves a double black ducks after many years in public service and in the marsh, it's you Steve!
Congrats!
 
Nice job with the double Steve. I love getting black ducks, but for me, they are the toughest to call in, always weary. I have the best luck at first light when they sometimes fly right into my spread. This year I'm seeing more black ducks than ever in my favorite spot.
 
Thank you for the excellent writeup Steve, and congratulations on your double! I would like the opportunity to hunt black ducks someday, there is so much waterfowling history involved with them. Also glad to hear that the populations have recovered enough to up the limit.
 
Congrats on the blacks. I have yet to shoot one and can count on one hand the number of them that I have even seen in more than 50 years of waterfowling. We just dont see any here in the corn belt
 
Carl said:
If anyone deserves a double black ducks after many years in public service and in the marsh, it's you Steve!
Congrats!

Steve, I second Carl’s sentiment except to add Paul Castelli as another who is deserving. I was pleased last year when the International Black Duck AHM model offered up the 2 bird limit as the optimal regulatory decision for this season. Likewise, I was pleased to learn that my good friend, the retired Alaska waterfowl biologist, was drawn for an Emporer Goose permit and that he and his wife had successfully harvested birds this year. He was there for the closure in 1984 and 85 and among the successful hunters upon reopening the season. Sometimes karma really does work.
 
Now, you have to get out on "the salt" and repeat on canvasbacks, congratulations!

I remember the opposite experience; when I lived in the eastern U.P. in the '80s. Many bays and marshes along the margins would experience large black duck pulses, pretty frustrating to walk a mile of river margin wetland and jump black after black, all in range, after you were done for the day. I mantra was: Look for the silent mallard that jumps and then make sure it really is a drake!
 
Steve, that looks like a great way to spend the Winter Solstice. Alas, I spent it at work and driving all over town looking for a prime rib :)
 
Nice Birds there Mr. Steve. Its nice to pull the old double and know you still got "it"!! Merry Christmas and here's to some salt ICE!!!
 
Well Done Steve, The old M12 ranks up there with A. H. Fox as the Finest Gun In The World. Good Hunting on The Salt. Merry Christmas And Good New Year.
 
Congrats Steve. We hunted a creek for geese Friday and Sunday and saw quite a few Blacks both days. Although the duck season is closed for us it was still quite enjoyable watching them circle and drop in. Still my favorite duck after all my years of gunning.
 
Nice work Steve. I still have yet to shoot my two black limit this season, just too many color birds around [;)]
 
Nice shooting Steve. There seem to be a good population of Black Ducks this year, more than the last several, recent years. Not sure if the population is up or if they are concentrating more in the areas I hunt.

Zane
 
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