Fedex says Robert was delivered in New Jersey this morning. Let's all hope he does not develop an accent.
Robert is in Jersey !!
- Thread starter Huntindave McCann
- Start date
]Randy Duda
Active member
GET EMMMMM!!
Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
Craig
I look forward to your report.
Back in the day when I gunned NJ, I did not want to leave.
Best
VP
I look forward to your report.
Back in the day when I gunned NJ, I did not want to leave.
Best
VP
Craig F
Well-known member
Day one in the field with Robert in NJ
Our coastal zone first split and north zone second split (along with small game) opened Saturday. Knowing the coast would be the most popular option I opted to hunt the north zone with my dad (on his birthday no less) and my friend Tom. Tom had recently purchased a Duck Boss 13, his first duck boat, and was excited to use it for the first time. My hunch that the north would be less crowded was proven correct, but amazingly for a split opener the birds were few and far between. We hunted the morning tide without a bird even giving us a look and after speaking to a few other friends no one had much success.
Here is Robert inspecting to make sure my gas tank is in compliance...
And joining my Lion cork gadwalls
And this sums up the morning hunt...
Being that I am a sucker for punishment I took a quick nap and went back out in the afternoon by my house on the coast. This would be Robert's first venture to the waterfowling history rich region of Barnegat bay. Temps dropping into the 30s with a gale warning would be a good baptism into coastal waterfowling for Robert.
We saw a multitude of black ducks that didn't want to play, as well as a few mallards, but again nothing wanted to work.
We have some weather coming in next week so hopefully that gets something going on the puddle duck front.
The afternoon hunt on the bay
Limited out on sunsets
Our coastal zone first split and north zone second split (along with small game) opened Saturday. Knowing the coast would be the most popular option I opted to hunt the north zone with my dad (on his birthday no less) and my friend Tom. Tom had recently purchased a Duck Boss 13, his first duck boat, and was excited to use it for the first time. My hunch that the north would be less crowded was proven correct, but amazingly for a split opener the birds were few and far between. We hunted the morning tide without a bird even giving us a look and after speaking to a few other friends no one had much success.
Here is Robert inspecting to make sure my gas tank is in compliance...
And joining my Lion cork gadwalls
And this sums up the morning hunt...
Being that I am a sucker for punishment I took a quick nap and went back out in the afternoon by my house on the coast. This would be Robert's first venture to the waterfowling history rich region of Barnegat bay. Temps dropping into the 30s with a gale warning would be a good baptism into coastal waterfowling for Robert.
We saw a multitude of black ducks that didn't want to play, as well as a few mallards, but again nothing wanted to work.
We have some weather coming in next week so hopefully that gets something going on the puddle duck front.
The afternoon hunt on the bay
Limited out on sunsets
Craig,
Nice photos. Your report of no ducks wanting to play, made me think of a time I drove from Iowa to Phoenix to visit my cousin, my uncle and my grandmother.
My cousin and I had big plans to fish the Colorado River at Lees Ferry. I had an older van and the camshaft wore out (bad batch improperly heat treated) on the trip out there. My cousin and I ended up spending most of my time while there, fixing the engine in my van.
My grandmothers comment; : "You and Steve got to spend some quality time with each other" (we were both thinking that quality time would have been better spent on the river than in the garage) [huh]
Nice photos. Your report of no ducks wanting to play, made me think of a time I drove from Iowa to Phoenix to visit my cousin, my uncle and my grandmother.
My cousin and I had big plans to fish the Colorado River at Lees Ferry. I had an older van and the camshaft wore out (bad batch improperly heat treated) on the trip out there. My cousin and I ended up spending most of my time while there, fixing the engine in my van.
My grandmothers comment; : "You and Steve got to spend some quality time with each other" (we were both thinking that quality time would have been better spent on the river than in the garage) [huh]
No tolls needed to get into Jersey. They make you pay only when you leave!
By then - you are happy to pay..
Indeed Mike, this decoy has no idea of what awaits it when it leaves........
By then - you are happy to pay..
Indeed Mike, this decoy has no idea of what awaits it when it leaves........
Chris Finch
Well-known member
Laws and regs are more of a guideline, haha.
Anything and anyone is happy getting out of CT, including Robert.
Glad to see you got out, our late season opened and no one could get out. One buddy was sick, the other was in pa bringing a load of stone home and the other has a terrible gf.
So at least he was allowed to work on his boat and we got it 85% done for scoter hunting next weekend.
I look foward to your pics/videos. Good luck next weekend!
Anything and anyone is happy getting out of CT, including Robert.
Glad to see you got out, our late season opened and no one could get out. One buddy was sick, the other was in pa bringing a load of stone home and the other has a terrible gf.
So at least he was allowed to work on his boat and we got it 85% done for scoter hunting next weekend.
I look foward to your pics/videos. Good luck next weekend!
Capt. John O
Well-known member
Craig your gas can needs paint... gonna flare ducks
Randy Duda
Active member
Robert liked Jersey soooo much he is coming back! Can not wait to meet him in December!
Craig F
Well-known member
Robert brought me a little bit of luck for our last day of first split for coastal yesterday. Only had two birds come in before I had to get to work, but connected on both, a hen pintail and big drake hybrid black/mallard.
Looking forward to our south zone re-opener this weekend and then Robert will be off to Virginia.
Looking forward to our south zone re-opener this weekend and then Robert will be off to Virginia.
Cool, thanks for the update.
Craig F
Well-known member
Robert is on his way to Virginia as of this afternoon.
We did get out one more time before he had to go as I hunted Saturday morning. Crowds were pretty ridiculous, but I was able to get a little corner of a creek to myself. The wood ducks were plentiful and after some spotty shooting on my part I was able to knock down my three (losing one cripple in the sedge). I actually had large groups of 12+ wood ducks working like mallards coming to my wood duck call readily. One of the moments when I should have had someone else with me! Later in the morning once the crowds left I had a drake wood duck come down the creek with a black duck flying with it. The black duck was very receptive to the call and after having her circle a few times I got her to commit and folded her at 10 yards.
Robert brought me some decent luck for the last couple hunts and I hope his good luck continues in Virginia with Dave.
A nice drake wood duck taken over Robert
My high box
Robert and I before he heads off
We did get out one more time before he had to go as I hunted Saturday morning. Crowds were pretty ridiculous, but I was able to get a little corner of a creek to myself. The wood ducks were plentiful and after some spotty shooting on my part I was able to knock down my three (losing one cripple in the sedge). I actually had large groups of 12+ wood ducks working like mallards coming to my wood duck call readily. One of the moments when I should have had someone else with me! Later in the morning once the crowds left I had a drake wood duck come down the creek with a black duck flying with it. The black duck was very receptive to the call and after having her circle a few times I got her to commit and folded her at 10 yards.
Robert brought me some decent luck for the last couple hunts and I hope his good luck continues in Virginia with Dave.
A nice drake wood duck taken over Robert
My high box
Robert and I before he heads off
Very Nice Craig, Looking forward to our opener up here on LI this week. Good looking wood duck! Best of continued luck this season.
Chris Finch
Well-known member
Glad to see you had some success. Robert has been doing better than we have.