Fun hunt today

Eric Patterson

Moderator
Staff member
Today was Andrew's turn to go hunting. Joey Wolk and I decided yesterday to hunt this afternoon but weren't sure just where to go. We made up our minds after over-analyzing the entire season including weather, hunting pressure, scouting reports, past seasons, and the infant mortality rate in Chad. Jeff Bowen knows what I'm referring to as typically on morning hunts plans usually aren't forthecoming until after 11:00 p.m.. I am the absolute worst at formulating plans and usually just head in some direction. We left around lunchtime.

As we crossed the Paint Rock River we saw it was out of it banks. We got more rain than I thought. That means half of North Sauty Refuge's ducks hit the flooded fields and Jones Farm (private) is covered up. Sure enough as we crossed the refuge it was short on ducks. Conditions like these move them off the millfoil in search of fresh new food. We headed to a spot that was in need of water last week. When we pulled up the water was indeed up but even better WE HAD IT TO OURSELVES woohoo.

Joey and I tossed out three dozen decoys while Andrew kept me in steady supply. Nice to have little helpers along. Wasn't too long after we set up a nice flock of ringnecks barrelled down the center of the slough. A little calling and they hooked over hard on us. A few shots and two crashed. One did the pachinko on the way down a tree. As the afternoon passed we didn't set any records but did have several opportunites. It was a ton of fun having Andrew along to educate us on presidential history and movie trivia and I think he really liked seeing working ducks.

While I'm thinking about it I've got to let a little secret out about Joey, and this is no lie. When Joey meets us in the mornings he's already had breakfast. Get this, his wife wakes up with him and cooks breakfast before he leaves, usually about 3:30 a.m.. But wait it gets better. When he gets home she cleans the ducks. No wonder he's been happily maried for close to 30 years. What duckhunter would let that gal get away. Lucky fella.

Andrew.jpg



Me_and_Andrew.jpg



JoeyWolk.jpg

 
so do I get a wife like that in the classified section on the site??? Just kidding- I have a good number of years to find someone who supports (or at least tolerates) my outdoor interests. But sounds like Joey hit the jackpot!!!
 
Glad you guys had a good time. Still hard to grasp that there are still seasons open. Aside from our 2 days bonus we've been closed for a month. When did you guys start?
 
I guess I still picture Andrew as the little fellow with the duck call and "Sou-wester" hat on while running your boat in the old DHBP Calendar photo.

As for the part on the wife getting up early to cook breakfast and then cleaning the birds when we get home......what's so strage about that?

Ain't that what all our wives do? Heck, Judy even cleans my guns at the end of the day. I even get her a 16 oz. bottle of her favorite (multi-purpose)perfume every Xmas........Hoppe's #9.......she knows it drives me crazy!

Dave
 
Great pictures Eric! Having been born and raised in LaCrosse, Wi love to see those LaCrosse waders. What kind of air temperature are you hunting in? And what's the name of the river or slough you were hunting--can you relate to something on your state map for us Northerners or is that a secret? That's a great way to start the new year.
wis boz
 
Jim

Yesterday was the coolest day in quite a while, mid 40s. This is the warmest winter I can remember. We have routinely had highs in the 60s, even 70s. I don't think we've had 5 nights below freezing. I like my LaCrosse waders but it's been so warm we might just stop wearing them and reach for swimming trunks. Weatherman said we are running 20 degrees above average for this time of year. As for location you can see it on a map. No big secret. Look for the Tennessee River in the northeast part of Alabama.
 
At first I bought them each a pair. Thomas now gets Andrew's hand-me-downs and Andrew gets a new pair. When Thomas outgrew his first pair I sold them to Victor Duskins. The end result is it's pretty affordable to keep them in warm quality waders.
 
Andrew got him a George Washington pose going on there with his hand. HAHA. I got two gadwalls this morning, they didn't really want to cooperate too well.
 
Looks pretty obvious then that Joey must treat his wife, way better than somebody else treats his wife. (not to mention any names) BWAAAAAAAAAAAA


Looks like you guys had some good times. Amazing just how much help little hands can be, when just by handing you the decoys, it smoothes and speeds up the process.
 
Eric:
The reason I mentioned the LaCrosse waders is that they kept me warm while I waited for 9 hours stranded on that island in the duck bottoms of the Mississippi at below freezing temps. I would think at your hunting temperatures they would be plenty hot.
Jim Bosanny
 
'Cause there sure aint much down on this end of the state. Our Dept. Biologists flew yesterday, on the whole bay and upper & lower Delta, they only counted 800 ducks. Our season has sucked to say the least. Between no grassbeds (hurricane followed by drought) and this weather, our season was over before it began.

I heard that y'all had a lot more birds than us. Keep on 'em!
 
Eric,
Nice pics and a great story. Andrew looks very happy to be out there with you. Great job!

Did you try to get Joey's wife to start a class on how waterfowler wives should treat their husbands???? :)

My mother-in-law is very much into cleaning game and cooking for an army of hungry people, unfortunately that genetic makeup was not passed onto her daughter!! ( but I still have nothing to complain about- I still married the best women on earth)

-Jack
 
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