Archive for the 'MDC' Category
My dad had a reservation for GP on Friday, Nov. 7. He doesn’t carry a gun, but likes to go with us and watch the dog work. Uncle George and cousin Jeff were supposed to go with us, but Uncle George had to back out at the very last minute. So, it was only Jeff and me doing the shooting, while me dad observed.
We pulled pill 16 and were the last party to pick pool 5. Saw a lot of flight birds and big flocks way up high, but could never get any big groups to give us a good look. Wind was strong and out of the West most of the day. We ended up shooting our birds from singles and doubles. I shot 3 mallards, a gadwall and a green-wing teal. I think Jeff shot 2 mallards and 2 shovelers. We passed on a few border-line shots, hoping that the birds would make one more pass, but of course, they never did! Luckily we finished our day on a pair of greenheads. Two drakes came in and zero left. 
It was a good day in the marsh.
I had a reservation to hunt GP on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Hubbard, Schoenekase and Patrick joined me for a hunt which should have been good, but unfortunately ended on a sour note.
I pulled pill #7. Pools 3 and 4 were gone when we got to the window, so we picked 5W. Another group got in before us and hunted the east side which had the most water. So, we put our layouts in on the west side and later realized that there wasn’t much water, and our boats were landlocked. After it got light, and we saw how silly close we were to the trucks, we walked to an area in the middle of the pool where the ducks were actually working, and we immediately had birds on us.
Patrick started it off by drilling the first mallard. I waxed the next drake with one shot as it decoyed in beautifully. Then some issues came up, and I had to leave.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has a Waterfowl Online Reservation System for duck hunting on conservation areas around the state. This year, I applied for 1-Grand Pass, 2-Eagle Bluffs, 3-Duck Creek. Picked first available day. Now I’m waiting to find out if my name was drawn! Come on Grand Pass … please.