Annual Thanksgiving Day hunt

Hitch

Well-known member
This year’s hunt was also a scouting mission to find Hoodys for Jeff, Ky's buddy coming in on the eight of December for the MLB/Huff auction hunt. We already know where to find the whistlers and the Mottles, but Jeff wants a Hoody too and we aim to please. So we embarked on a mission to find them at one of our good ol spots that we haven't been to for what seems like forever. It was our first trip to the flats this season. It would seem a little early this far south, but we’ve been seeing birds on the salt for a few weeks now, so we decided why not, besides Shah could tag along to the mostly gator free tidal marsh.

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We killed a couple birds early. Shah was happy to serve.

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We then settled into our blind sipping coffee and eating hostess cupcakes wishing the duck Nautique were ready. We watched as small groups of Widgeon dumped in, well out of range, not feeding and intent to lounge probably just after a recent and long journey.

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The white pelicans are here already. They didn’t seem to mind the shooting much and happily fed on the mullet.

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Then the Mergansers started piling into several sloughs in front and behind us, making a few passes over the dekes and dumping in on several occasions. We let them fly, knowing they would not likely be disturbed for the remainder of the early phase of our season.

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We saw Teal, Pintail and Widgeon dive in behind the mangroves. We both knew we wouldn't leave until we had found the holes these ducks were dropping into. We picked up and did a little hiking and this is what we found; new places to hunt. We bumped all sorts of puddle ducks out of this slough upon are arrival.

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.. And another slough about 300 yards away and a little bigger, each only a foot or so deep. Hoodys buzzed us as we explored. They wanted back in.

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We came upon several Rosette Spoonbills in the larger slough.

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The big slough was crawling under our feet with blue crab, and nary a human print to be seen through the crystal clear water. This was Florida the way it used to be. You would have thought we found Dave’s gold.

Shah was so thrilled to have feathers between his teeth; he decided to do the “Gordy”

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Not many ducks in the bag, but I had fun with the camera, and we found some really cool new places to hunt. It was a fun thanksgiving morning, and the turkey and fixins at Scott's mom's place was wonderful that afternoon. Lots to give thanks for.

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Hitch
 
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Nice pics Hitch... Shah is back to his old self...

Speaking of which, my dog was a pill this AM in the boat. I was just finished bragging how great a blind dog my dog is and blam... she would jump up and into the camo netting every time I moved. She settled down after a very long retrieve though.

I ended up with 1 mallard drake and a hen hoodie. Extremely bad bird identification - I thought it was a teal. Really stupid.

Enjoy you pics. Hurry up and get that WaterHummer done please ; )
 
Nice pics Hitch! Looks like Shah was having a good time. Sounds like it was a good hunt. I slept in on Turkey day, went to Grammas and stuffed myself and then proceeded to get whooped by my family in cards. Jeepers.
 
Did ya net any of those blues?

Yes, Florida as it was...

And now the blue crab population is crashing in the St. Johns... a keystone species is disappearing and no-one seems terribly concerned.. sad sad sad
 
Andrew,

I think the dogs get just as excited as we do, maybe more. Although Shah has calmed down with age I could tell he was pumped. But I didn't think he would jump the gun, but he did.. once. He was so much fun. BTW the blindboat is for Shah too. Shah E Keshtee, Persian for "King of the Boat". I won't take him out on the airboat. I stopped because it's too hard on his hearing. I worked on the blindboat all day as he slept on the shooting bench. It's like he knows it's for him.

Dani,

I thought for sure you would go hunting Thursday morn. One day off after all that paddling, sleeping in probably felt real good.

And James,

It seems as though all people care about and want is development. So few worry about preserving Florida. It's as sad as you say. It's exciting to find places like this because they are more and more rare, especially the ones you can still hunt. Those blue crabs are wonderful tasting. We may have to collect a few.

Hitch
 
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