Sora, Yella flower and Rice. September in NJ

jode hillman

Well-known member
I was fortunate over the past few days, thanks to full moon tides and northeast winds,to set out for the first few rail trips of the year. Friday was 68 with 40 mile an hour north east wind. This had the Sora Flushing wild and flying strong. There was plenty of shooting but only one bird came to the bag.

Monday, was a warmer day with calm air. The tide was not quite as high, Sora like most rails would rather run then flush. You need a very high tide and a bit of a commotion to get them to take flight. Usually this is about a 1 to 2 hour period right at the top of the tide. It is quite noticeable when the tide starts to drop, they will duck and run into the smallest cover.

The skiff I restored last year Continues to perform quite well in the second season under my care. Hopefully another storm or two is in the near future, to help knock the cover down and make pushing a bit easier. Right now it?s quite difficult and many flushes occur with shots never being fired.

Still a great time to be out and lacking a New Jersey dove season this is our traditional September activity.
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Always love looking at that boat when you post it up. Hope to one day experience that traditional style of rail hunting one day.

And I know what you mean on them running. My brother was mowing ditches last year and said he saw some and they wouldn't fly out of the way but would run and hide until he came up to them again, one didn't make it pass the blade even though my brother was trying to avoid them.
 
RLLigman said:
Strong flavored meat like woodcock, or more like coot?

Neither. Sora breast are like wood duck and legs like quail. All they eat are seeds and rice. My only complaint is they aren?t bigger!
 
RLLigman said:
I think coot eat as well as woodie breasts, with more leg meat than either quail or wood ducks.

They sounds good. I?ve never eaten freshwater coot( we don?t see many). I thought you were referring to our sea coots ( scoters)
 
My bad, sorry!

They are gallinaceous birds, like pheasant and turkey, not much breast meat, but not the strong heavy liver tones of woodcock or goldeneyes. We used to skull rafts of them to shoot the baldpate and redheads they congregated around. Invariably we hit some during the "rise" and were obligated to clean and eat them. We were surprised how well they tasted. From then on we would have one of two "coot shoots" on Hamlin, Bass or Round Lakes to get birds for the holidays annual game dinner at the MSU Great Lakes Lab. Dishes had to wild fish or fowl: opossum stew, raccoon, muskrat, fox, coyote, BBQ beaver, roast beaver, beaver tail soup, smoked sturgeon, coot in a red curry sauce, lake whitefish, venison, wild pig, wild turkey, Chinook, coho, pickled menominee, sucker balls, moose, elk, pronghorn, mountain goat jerky, caribou stew, and bear roasts. Surpisingly, nearly all of it was quite good!
 
RLLigman said:
My bad, sorry!

They are gallinaceous birds, like pheasant and turkey, not much breast meat, but not the strong heavy liver tones of woodcock or goldeneyes. We used to skull rafts of them to shoot the baldpate and redheads they congregated around. Invariably we hit some during the "rise" and were obligated to clean and eat them. We were surprised how well they tasted. From then on we would have one of two "coot shoots" on Hamlin, Bass or Round Lakes to get birds for the holidays annual game dinner at the MSU Great Lakes Lab. Dishes had to wild fish or fowl: opossum stew, raccoon, muskrat, fox, coyote, BBQ beaver, roast beaver, beaver tail soup, smoked sturgeon, coot in a red curry sauce, lake whitefish, venison, wild pig, wild turkey, Chinook, coho, pickled menominee, sucker balls, moose, elk, pronghorn, mountain goat jerky, caribou stew, and bear roasts. Surpisingly, nearly all of it was quite good!

Well then, given that comparison I would say rail is somewhat similar to coot then.
 
jode hillman said:
RLLigman said:
My bad, sorry!

They are gallinaceous birds, like pheasant and turkey, not much breast meat, but not the strong heavy liver tones of woodcock or goldeneyes. We used to skull rafts of them to shoot the baldpate and redheads they congregated around. Invariably we hit some during the "rise" and were obligated to clean and eat them. We were surprised how well they tasted. From then on we would have one of two "coot shoots" on Hamlin, Bass or Round Lakes to get birds for the holidays annual game dinner at the MSU Great Lakes Lab. Dishes had to wild fish or fowl: opossum stew, raccoon, muskrat, fox, coyote, BBQ beaver, roast beaver, beaver tail soup, smoked sturgeon, coot in a red curry sauce, lake whitefish, venison, wild pig, wild turkey, Chinook, coho, pickled menominee, sucker balls, moose, elk, pronghorn, mountain goat jerky, caribou stew, and bear roasts. Surpisingly, nearly all of it was quite good!

Well then, given that comparison I would say rail is somewhat similar to coot then.

That is awesome that you got out, I have not been out. There is a tide end of the month that should be spectacular and Gus has the day off. The date may be too late in the season for there to be birds, but we need to be out scouting for the youth opener for that next weekend anyway.

As far as American Coot and Sora, they are similar in more than their quality as table fare... they are very closely related (both in the rail family). The humble American Coot is not a land fowl (a gallinaceous bird like a turkey, Order: Galliformes) as it may appear, but a member of the Gruiformes along with rails (Order: Gruiformes, Family: Rallidae). Fascinating those birds, really can keep you on your toes...
 

Jode -

Looks like yer keepin' at it in fine style. Love that skiff.

Not having a Sept. dove season sucks. Those of us that don't have a season gotta stay in the game some how.

Squirrel huntin' is my choice. Also a Old Timey American tradition, with not as many trappings as Rail Hunting.

If the Rails taste as good as you guys say, then I am missing something.


Best regards
Vince
 
tod osier said:
jode hillman said:
RLLigman said:
My bad, sorry!

They are gallinaceous birds, like pheasant and turkey, not much breast meat, but not the strong heavy liver tones of woodcock or goldeneyes. We used to skull rafts of them to shoot the baldpate and redheads they congregated around. Invariably we hit some during the "rise" and were obligated to clean and eat them. We were surprised how well they tasted. From then on we would have one of two "coot shoots" on Hamlin, Bass or Round Lakes to get birds for the holidays annual game dinner at the MSU Great Lakes Lab. Dishes had to wild fish or fowl: opossum stew, raccoon, muskrat, fox, coyote, BBQ beaver, roast beaver, beaver tail soup, smoked sturgeon, coot in a red curry sauce, lake whitefish, venison, wild pig, wild turkey, Chinook, coho, pickled menominee, sucker balls, moose, elk, pronghorn, mountain goat jerky, caribou stew, and bear roasts. Surpisingly, nearly all of it was quite good!

Well then, given that comparison I would say rail is somewhat similar to coot then.

That is awesome that you got out, I have not been out. There is a tide end of the month that should be spectacular and Gus has the day off. The date may be too late in the season for there to be birds, but we need to be out scouting for the youth opener for that next weekend anyway.

As far as American Coot and Sora, they are similar in more than their quality as table fare... they are very closely related (both in the rail family). The humble American Coot is not a land fowl (a gallinaceous bird like a turkey, Order: Galliformes) as it may appear, but a member of the Gruiformes along with rails (Order: Gruiformes, Family: Rallidae). Fascinating those birds, really can keep you on your toes...


Yes the early October tides will probably be the best of the season. I think there will still be birds, the main migration hasn?t gotten to South Jersey yet.

I?ve seen a few coot over the years, but never shot them. Mostly just watched their goofy antics.
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Jode -

Looks like yer keepin' at it in fine style. Love that skiff.

Not having a Sept. dove season sucks. Those of us that don't have a season gotta stay in the game some how.

Squirrel huntin' is my choice. Also a Old Timey American tradition, with not as many trappings as Rail Hunting.

If the Rails taste as good as you guys say, then I am missing something.


Best regards
Vince

Squirrels definitely make more of s meal than rails. Up here youd probably get yelled at by deer hunters. We have an early bow season, and the woods are rife with bow hunters ( and ticks and chiggers!?
 
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Jode -

Squirrels are The Other White Meat. We have Greys, Blacks, and Fox squirrels here. The trifecta, and they are DDEEEElicious.

Sept. hunting is OK, but Oct. is much better.

I let the bow hunters have the early mornings and late afternoons. Even though they have no more right to hunt than small game hunters. They wanna bitch I'm ready for em.

Late morning, mid day, and afternoon are my prime time to still hunt with the .22.

No game bag. I use a braided bird strap to keep them cool. Let em age a few days in the frig, and then slow roast whole.

So far no ticks here like in PA.

Lots of Red Fox keep the chipmunks, mice, and moles in check. Have yet to shoot a deer with ticks, which amazes me after years in PA.

Hope your Sept. season conditions improve.


Best regards
Vince
 
Good morning, Jode~


It's hard to imagine a more glorious time afield.


Question: Where's the "Yella Flower" ? I could not detect one in your photos. I am wondering if it's Beggars Tick (genus Bidens). It's in bloom in our beaver ponds right now - and will drop its 2-pronged (Bidens means 2-teeth) seeds for ducks soon. Unfortunately, we have very few Rails hereabouts.


All the best,


SJS

 
Steve Sanford said:
Good morning, Jode~


It's hard to imagine a more glorious time afield.


Question: Where's the "Yella Flower" ? I could not detect one in your photos. I am wondering if it's Beggars Tick (genus Bidens). It's in bloom in our beaver ponds right now - and will drop its 2-pronged (Bidens means 2-teeth) seeds for ducks soon. Unfortunately, we have very few Rails hereabouts.


All the best,


SJS

Steve you nailed it. Yes Tickseed. Pretty until It seeds. Then it lives up to its name and the seeds prick you to forever after!!! But the Sora love it.

I try to avoid it until late season. Is it forms a dense tangles. And it is very difficult to pole through. Until you get very high water or storms knock it down some.
 
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