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.
Monthly Archive for September, 2008
A few weeks ago, I made some slight modifications to my Four Rivers Layout Boat. First, I added a spot for the dog to sit behind me in the cockpit because I was worried that she was too visible on the back deck. Then, I molded a grass mat to lay over the back deck and conceal us more. My daughter helped me to test it out. Bring on the season!
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Hunted Columbia Bottom on Sunday, Sept. 14. Couldn’t decide if I was going to hunt doves or teal, so when I got there, I drove a giant loop around the area. Saw a few doves buzzing and zero teal. Easy choice …
Started dove hunting just west of field 6. Some singles flew by, but not many were in range. Missed 1 bird and after a while, I decided to walk and get the dog some exercise. Jumped one dove near a patch of corn, just like a rooster, and dropped it. Jessie was in some tall cover at the time and did not see it fall. Called her to me, and sent her in the right direction. She eventually found it and made her first fetch of the season.
Eventually moved to the west side of field 4. Jumped another dove and drilled it. The dog was on it for an easy retrieve. Missed a second fly-by shot. Then jumped and shot one more as I was working back towards the truck.
Overall, decent hunt and worth getting out. 7 shots, 3 doves.
Weather was great. NW wind 15-50 mph. Temps in the 60s. Fall is on its way.
Now, I just need to take a camera with me next time, so I have some images to post.
Fall 2008 hunting season is now underway! Finally, although I’m sure I won’t be able to hunt as much as I want to.
Kicked off the dove opener on Sept. 1 with a 5 a.m. morning draw at Marais Temps Clair. We had a party of four — me, Who-Bear, Schoeny, and Pete — managed to pull pill #42. Unfortunately, they were only hunting 40 people which meant only the top 10-15 parties made it out … we did not. Doh!
Headed over to McDonald’s to bellie up to a big ol’ breakfast (that one’s for you, Who-Bear).
Then on to Pete’s family farm. I shot one dove over a giant corn field. As soon as my dog Jessie and I went into the corn to look for it, all was lost. Corn was 3 feet over my head. In the back of mind, I kept thinking of the movie Children of the Corn. Never found the dove. Almost lost the dog.
Finally, we came to our senses and headed over to Blackhawk Valley Hunting to shoot some sporting clays. I shot probably my best round of clays with 41/50 on the front and 30/50 on the back. Finished up and headed home to sit in the A/C for the rest of the day.