Duck Opener (pic heavy)

Meister Jaeger · 10-13-2008, 09:59 PM

We had pretty good weekend in our usual opening locale, though there were definitely fewer birds than the previous 6 years or so... we bagged 11 on Saturday - 2 mallards, 5 wigeon, 1 pin and 3 teal- and 1 pin on Sunday. Frost on the pods opening morning, sunburned by 1pm.

Here are a few pics; sorry, no 'grip & grins' or 'trophy PILE' shots...

The highlight may have been the Opener Eve dinner - fresh Carne Asada with the only appropriate chaser:

Brother Todd was able to make the trip from Colorado, rejoining us for the tradition after a nearly 3 year absence. He may have had the best line of the weekend:

Me: "Man! That guy's calling is (expletive) awful!"
Bubba: "He's probably puffing his cheeks out."
Me: "Sounds to me like he's trying to blow it from his...'other end."
Todd: "Maybe he's puffing his cheeks out...."

Sunrise...the start of a new day. In this case, the start of a new season:

No water at first light is tolerable...if the silly quackers come in with the tide. Today, they did not. I guess we timed our entry just though - notice the perfectly arcing prop trail (she's shiny now!)

Six eyes desperately scanning the skies. We had lots of time to come up with the next BIG thing...Doppler for the Duck Blind...

We had the boat done up with CamoClad late this summer. Thanks to Brad (greenbuttskunk) at Coho Design for his fine handywork:

Here's hoping for more greenheads to come!

MJ

BrotherWolf · 10-14-2008, 04:56 AM

nice pics thanks for sharing, Please tell me you guys where face mask or something????

jokester · 10-14-2008, 07:29 AM

Great pics, Mike! Glad to see ya had a good time!

-jokester

Nw dukn · 10-14-2008, 08:03 AM

Awesome pictures, looks like a fun weekend..

bwild · 10-14-2008, 09:14 AM

Way to go MJ and Bubba!

I think my favorite pic was the opener-eve din-din. Way to kick off the season.

wsuweston · 10-14-2008, 10:19 AM

That looks really good!!!

Hunt'nFish · 10-14-2008, 10:37 AM

Looks like ya'll had a great time.
Love the boat BTW. KILLER! Would like to see a pic w/ the skirts up.
Hunt'nFish

PS: Headhunter, note the layout racks on Mikes boat......now do you invision what I'm talking about.

Meister Jaeger · 10-14-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Would like to see a pic w/ the skirts up.
Hunt'nFish

HEY NOW! This ain't no Marilyn Mon-row boat!

I haven't put the blind back in yet...not enough time before the opener. The plan is to add fast grass this year as the final piece; I'll post pics when I get it to that stage.

Yes - the dinner was tasty, a close second to Sat. night's Filet Mignon, baked tater extravaganza. It got eaten too quickly to be captured on film. Surprised nobody's picked up on (or commented about) the subliminal Tequila tie-in...

cwh · 10-14-2008, 05:43 PM

...sunrise?

Nice pictures. I went out yesterday, got skunked, and nearly froze the dog to death.

MarshBum · 10-14-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meister J�ger

Surprised nobody's picked up on (or commented about) the subliminal Tequila tie-in...

Label on the glass (the English translation of the agave juice) or the logo on the shooter... or neither?

Nice pics ... "Jenny"

(you were Jenny, weren't you?)

Geoff

greenbuttskunk · 10-14-2008, 07:57 PM

Great post and pics. Glad you are happy with the camo job. looks like the ducks were suckers for it.
Keep up the good luck hunting!
Brad

Northwest Pest · 10-14-2008, 09:42 PM

Glad you had a good opener.

bwild · 10-15-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarshBum

Label on the glass (the English translation of the agave juice) or the logo on the shooter... or neither?

Nice pics ... "Jenny"

(you were Jenny, weren't you?)

Geoff

I like the logo of the shooter myself....wait a minute....isn't that mine?

Teton · 10-15-2008, 09:58 AM

Nice work guys.

I especially like your duck barge. Brad does a heck of a job, doesn't he? Swap out that prop for a pump and no more polished props.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

. . .PS: Headhunter, note the layout racks on Mikes boat......now do you invision what I'm talking about.

I was thinking of putting a mounting rack on for layouts. Might have to check out your work.

Be prepared for snickering from fishermen who act like they have never seen a duckhunter before. I got plenty of looks the past two times out, and one old lady laughed out loud when one of her boat mates made a comment about not being able to see us.

Meister Jaeger · 10-15-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwild

I like the logo of the shooter myself....wait a minute....isn't that mine?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarshBum

Label on the glass (the English translation of the agave juice) or the logo on the shooter... or neither?

Nice pics ... "Jenny"

(you were Jenny, weren't you?)

Geoff

First off - no! Forrest, not Jenny.
Yep - that's your shooter, Jenny. errr, I mean BWild. Thanks for the loan! Help yourself to a shot!

The 'tie-in' is the label on the glass (half credit) and the logo on the bottle...and the fact there might be a place that bears the name somewhere in that area code...

While the 'Hull Raisers' was a team idea, my partner had a fella make these steel brackets which bolt to the boat - that hold the 'J' brackets. It's a sweet, simple, yet strong idea; turn a knob to slide out the t-bar and 'J' assembly. Come fishing season, the brackets attached to the hull come out with a ratchet and wrench. Muy bueno senors!

I've been know to take a picture or two, so if there's enough interest I'll snap a few close ups of the set up. The camo 'socks' that cover them came from a pair of recycled neo waders - and they help protect the pod hulls too.

MJ

Teton · 10-15-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meister J�ger

. . .
I've been know to take a picture or two, so if there's enough interest I'll snap a few close ups of the set up. The camo 'socks' that cover them came from a pair of recycled neo waders - and they help protect the pod hulls too.

MJ

May you consider this an invitation to snap away and post my man.

lineman117 · 10-15-2008, 06:05 PM

other than being amazing, what kind of boat is that? (brand and size?)

Meister Jaeger · 10-16-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lineman117

other than being amazing, what kind of boat is that? (brand and size?)

Motion Marine, Lo Pro 16', 60hp and 15hp Mercs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teton

May you consider this an invitation to snap away and post my man.

Alrighty then...here are a few shots:

Teton · 10-16-2008, 09:21 PM

Do you happen to have an extra set of those brackets just laying around?

Hunt'nFish · 10-17-2008, 08:55 AM

Thanks Meister Mike....I like!

I Like!!!!
Ohhh... I can so handle that fabrication. Simple, strong and not much modification to the boat.
Did I say... I Like?!?!!?
Hunt'nFish

ogrejager · 10-17-2008, 01:00 PM

Mike. If you build one set, build 3. I don't have a boat (yet) but I know guys that do.

They'll probably want it out of aluminum, though.

Hunt'nFish · 10-17-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogrejager

Mike. If you build one set, build 3. I don't have a boat (yet) but I know guys that do.

They'll probably want it out of aluminum, though.

I don't think Alum would be strong enough.....least I wouldn't trust it.
Would you trust a 110lb Four-Rivers to welded 1" Aluminum box tube??....not me. Steel all the way.
Hunt'nFish

Meister Jaeger · 10-17-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teton

Do you happen to have an extra set of those brackets just laying around?

Sorry Charlie.............

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Thanks Meister Mike....I like!

I Like!!!!
Ohhh... I can so handle that fabrication. Simple, strong and not much modification to the boat.
Did I say... I Like?!?!!?
Hunt'nFish

Glad y'all like 'em. Credit where it's due - my buddy and the fella in his shop at work did these up. I'm not too far from you, Mike, if you wanna come see em and take measurements. Otherwise, they'll be available 'in-hand' (for copy-cat purposes) in, oh, I'd say early February.