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
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