Anyone going duck hunting this weekend?

skahorse · 10-31-2003, 06:03 AM

Hi all,
As you probably know, I am new to duck hunting, and man is it fun! I've been out 3 times and I can't get enough! I can't handle waiting from weekend to weekend to hunt, but with the recent change in time, there is no way to make it out after work. So every saturday it will be.

My wife is already getting upset with the new hobby. For some reason, I can't stop buying decoys.

I now have 2 dozen standard duck decoys, and a half dozen sleepers and feeders. I also have a dozen goose decoys, all in about 2 weeks time :shocked: :grin: . I also bought a shotgun, a Remington 870, and everytime I go to Joes, or Bi mart I have to buy something else. For instance, last night I was there(Joes, not sure why I was there, something calling inside me I guess :grin: ) I bought a nice pair of neoprene decoy gloves.

So... I'm not really sure of the reasoning behind this post other than I can't stop thinking about getting up at 4:00 tommorrow morning for the mile hike into Sandy River Delta to go duck hunting!

Who else is going out tommorrow? And where ya goin'?

--Skahorse

P.S. I'm also starting to get excited for Rocky Mountain Elk second season! I'm going to John Day on Friday the 7th, to get ready for the opener on the 8th! Fun times ahead!

skein · 10-31-2003, 06:19 AM

Skahorse,

There is actually no hope for you now. I can't remember if you've got a dog or not, but by next year you will. Budget in about a grand for a nice little pup, add a couple of insignificant vet bills, a cedar bed and travel kennel for your truck, and you're good to go. At least the wife will love the pup, usually after it stops chewing the couch and her favorite shoes - figure a couple of years for that one.

Then there's blinds, and calls (you can sink the fiscal ship-of-state just with calls alone). And wait 'til she can't watch her favorite TV show because you're watching the latest Whistling Wings video or a tape that teaches you how to use that last call you bought. Hehehe.

Oh, and did I mention a couple hundred bucks for a day with Cochran and Smith, the best goose-calling guides in the northwest? And of course you'll want a couple dozen of Dave Smith's decoys after that little adventure. Budget in a grand for that, too.

But hey, it's all in the name of fun. Good luck. (And, no, I don't do marriage counseling)

Skein

Chromaflage · 10-31-2003, 06:19 AM

Man, you have got the bug - and bad!!!! Sounds like me when I first started - the wife, decoys, sleepless nights - now i have too many decoys, too many dogs, too many calls. And the wife? Well, she's gotten used to it

....Wish I could go with you, but I'm taking my boy deer hunting Saturda. Good luck!!

ORS

[ 10-31-2003, 07:23 AM: Message edited by: OregonRedside ]

Flatfish · 10-31-2003, 06:37 AM

This aint a hobby. It is living a good life.

Heres to the good life

.

Mark and the fishin/huntin dog.

skahorse · 10-31-2003, 07:03 AM

Skein,
I'm way ahead of you man! :grin:

Quote:

I can't remember if you've got a dog or not, but by next year you will. Budget in about a grand for a nice little pup, add a couple of insignificant vet bills, a cedar bed and travel kennel for your truck, and you're good to go.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Here's Luke.
The dog was $800 from Brown Dog Retrievers . I've already spent $100 at the vet, 2 sets of shots, and one visit for loose stool. I have an expensive dog bed, though, it was a gift. And I already have the $80 travel carrier.

Quote:

Then there's blinds, and calls (you can sink the fiscal ship-of-state just with calls alone).

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Already built my own out of fabric and PVC pipe. It still needs some modifications though. Those Final approaches are really nice!

Already have 4, 2 goose, 2 duck and I need another Goose :shocked: . These are one of the items that I can't leave Joes without. Kind of reminds me of that movie with Mel Gibson (consipiracy theory?) were he can't leave a bookstore without buying a copy of Catcher in the Rye. Kinda like that.

Quote:

And wait 'til she can't watch her favorite TV show because you're watching the latest Whistling Wings video or a tape that teaches you how to use that last call you bought. Hehehe.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Went to the library last week and rented 6 videos on waterfowl hunting, calling etc. Also purchased Primos's videos on calling, one for Goose and one for Duck. She's getting used to going in the other room to watch her shows.

Quote:

Oh, and did I mention a couple hundred bucks for a day with Cochran and Smith, the best goose-calling guides in the northwest? And of course you'll want a couple dozen of Dave Smith's decoys after that little adventure. Budget in a grand for that, too.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">I haven't gone this far yet, though I'm sure I'm not far away :shocked:

ORS, you mean you still haven't gotten one yet?! :grin: Come on man, duck hunting time's wasting away :tongue: . Have fun with the boy! I can't wait until I can take my son out! (To tell you how far I am away from that, I don't have any kids yet :depressed: )

--Skahorse

P.S. Is someone messing with the fonts or something? I don't know if others can see it, but if you can, I didn't make the size so large.

[ 10-31-2003, 08:09 AM: Message edited by: skahorse ]

chummer · 10-31-2003, 08:05 AM

I've got a doe tag to fill this weekend, and won't start getting serious about ducks until thanksgiving, but since you're in a buying frenzy here's a nice head lamp that I found at wal-mart in the sporting goods section. It's made by Ray-o-Vac, it runs on 3 AAA bateries, it runs 2 red LED lights(These are really nice for picking up worms at night, the red light does'nt spook them) a white LED light and a standard light. These lamps work excellently for digging decoys out of bags and untangling decoys at 0 dark thirty. I know what you mean about addictive. There's something about being on the marsh as the sun rises watching the ghosts of overhead mallards, turning passing birds back to your spread with a good call, the company of a good dog and good friends to witness missing the easiest of shots, the satisfaction of watching your faithful companion come out of heavy cover with your cripple in her mouth. People who have not been there just don't understand.

nitrobass · 10-31-2003, 08:30 AM

Leaving for Summer Lake after work, and will be there until next saturday. Any IFISHers that want to cross paths I'll be in a 19foot Prowler trailer, with white dodge diesel camped at River Campground. Should be a good week for killing lots and lots and lots of ducks and geese!

skahorse · 10-31-2003, 08:46 AM

nitro,

I don't know where summer lake is, but make sure and check the regs. The following areas close to Geese this weekend:

-NW Oregon General Zone closes tommorrow. (not the Permit zone, it remains open)

-Eastern Oregon Zone closes on Monday Nov. 3rd.

The rest of the state remains open.

--Skahorse

Lured In · 10-31-2003, 09:28 AM

As the DU Book says..."Waterfowling and the pursuit of self abuse." :grin:

I love that quote!

I'll be out this weekend with some friends on private land in Forest Grove for ducks and geese. YEE HA!

nitrobass · 10-31-2003, 10:01 AM

Got it covered, thanks for the heads up!

Labsforme · 10-31-2003, 10:25 AM

Another one bites the dust :smile: Lets see now:had around 6 labs(2 now,one at trainer for FT),upteen GSP(none now).Decoys,enough to sink boat.Calls,hmmmm,not enough.Got to get a Traffic.Next you'll be going to SI,then the progression of addiction to private club.Not to mention duck gun,goose gun.Duck boat.Oh yeh,dog training equipment etc,etc,etc.There is no help from now on except to just accept it.
Nice pup(for Lured In-wrong color :grin: )

Swamp Puppy · 10-31-2003, 01:27 PM

2 dozen standard mallard decoys - $99.00
2 Duck Calls - $75.00
1 Dog - $800
1 Shotgun - $249.00

watching your hunting partner fall in the river.....priceless!!

Chromaflage · 10-31-2003, 06:54 PM

Moss - I would have changed your last line to:

Sending your 12-year old son on a blind retrieve in 4-foot deep water (b4 the dog) - not THAT's priceless....and just the kind of dad I am.

Swamp Puppy · 10-31-2003, 08:12 PM

ORS - ha ha!! good one!!

Blue Tip Spinner · 10-31-2003, 11:58 PM

skahorse- join the club. this has been a part of my life for 27 years (i'm only 32 and my dad took me for the first time when i was 5, and i haven't stopped since) and all i can say is that now it is a part of you, and there is no going back. when it comes to learning how to call, all i can say is hunt with someone that can call. it took me till i was 25 to finally grasp what the oldtimers were saying about emotions when calling and air pressure and such. when you finally figure out those things (i'm not saying you don't already, but i guess i was a slow learner

) duck hunting becomes something much more special to you. if you would like, you can send me an email and i will try to hook up with you and hear your call and see if you need any help with the proper technique (i have been called a club bum in the past by my buddies because people like to bring to their clubs to call birds). as for this weekend, i'm headin over to umatilla to shoot some birds with my father-in-law. if there was room, i would shoot you an invite, but with 2 dogs and 4 bags of decoys, that would not be possible. email me if you are interested, and welcome to the club.

[ 10-31-2003, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: Rauly ]

Capin' Dan · 11-01-2003, 10:44 PM

Lets see,
$14,000 for the boat and accessories
$500 for the new death trap sneak boat (Went swimming twice the first day in it)
$$???? 8 dozen decoys mostly G & H.
Dogs:
Kale $800
Grace $1000 (1/2 ownership)
Creole $600
Dory (Gift)
Sky, Libby, Brice, Brew, My own breeding
Annual vet bills god only knows
Shotguns 870 times 3.
waders (one to two pairs annually) $300
and the list goes on.
Calls we won't go there $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ addiction
ammo figure a box per bird on a good day or I can have mossberg 3.5 shoot them for me he is averaging 2.5 birds per box.

It is a way of life.
If you boys ever get a chance to hunt with Mossberg 3.5, King Fisher, or lives to fish (Paul I hope this is your handle) go for it all three of them are top notch hunters and offer great comarderie (sp).

Dan!

[ 11-02-2003, 06:21 AM: Message edited by: Capin' Dan ]

Swamp Puppy · 11-02-2003, 07:10 AM

Cap'n Dan

[ 11-02-2003, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: Mossberg_3.5 ]

live to fish · 11-02-2003, 09:40 AM

The second swim was the best DAN

couple dozen decoys
several calls(just dont forget them at home

)
working on the wife for a dog(soon i hope Dan)
5 different shot guns $$$$$$
reloading equiment $$$$$$ (she'd shoot me if she knew)
CLAM FRITTERS

Chromaflage · 11-02-2003, 06:48 PM

ska - well, did you go? How did you do? And, BTW, no we didn't get a deer on Saturday - very clear and dry all day

Oh, well. I guess there are a lot of people who did not have success this year.

ORS

Swamp Puppy · 11-02-2003, 07:21 PM

ORS - i am one of those people...though i am hoping to remedy that tomorrow morning. with rumors of the rut going in full swing and the recent cold snap and snow fall activity, i am hoping to catch one off guard. looks good on paper anyway. ha ha!! :grin:

Chromaflage · 11-02-2003, 07:28 PM

We still have until Wed - maybe just maybe a little rattlin will bring one runnin.

ORS

Swamp Puppy · 11-02-2003, 07:51 PM

yup..that's the plan. i figure i'll sneak up on a cut that regularly holds a good number of does in the morning and see if i can find one poking (pun intended..ha ha) around there...if not, maybe go make some noise off in the trees for a bit.

Chromaflage · 11-02-2003, 09:29 PM

Maybe we'll get to campare horns after Wednesday. :grin: Good luck to ya!

ORS

Capin' Dan · 11-02-2003, 10:18 PM

Hey now no sharing the clam fritters, Yes the swimming lessons are free and I bet you two are glad that I did have a bath at 6 am even though you had to listen to me whine about being sooooo coldddd the rest of the day. I have a bit of a cold for my trouble and of course my darling wife shows no sympathy at all. I told her pnemonia is worth a possible limit of ducks any day. I need to wear a dry suit I guess so that when I take my early morning swims all my clothes don't get wet.
Anyway I'll see you guys this coming weekend. I am leaving on Tuesday to do some scouting and will not be home after that. so give me a call tomorrow evening (Paul) if you read this at work. I'll send you a private mail.

Dan.
Ed, Paul and Mike

King Fisher · 11-03-2003, 11:42 PM

Capin Dan

Can't wait to down some more birds with the new pup!(or have you down them and let me take credit). I just took the Goose test at Sportmen's Warehouse. Now I am going to have to buy;

Goose calls $100 +
Goose decoys G&H 4 Doz $$OUCH
Field blind$300
Misc $200
Goose gun $800
Maybe next year?

This is bad isn't it!!! I havent even gotten a duck boat yet! I hope I don't have to give up fishing or quit my job because of time. There is too much Huntin and Fishin to do in the northwest.