Waterfowl Hunting This Past Weekend
Saturday morning was the third morning in a row where the mercury was below freezing the other days it didn’t matter but Saturday it did because we were hunting. I was with a group of friends scrambling to get set up before the first rays of light broke in the eastern sky to mark the start of a new day. With temperatures that low the pond had a much thicker ice cover then the film of ice we expected.
Troy was the only one with waders on this morning so he got the task of breaking ice while Billy and I assembled the layout blinds and the decoys to be put out. Rick decided to sit on the dam end about 250 yards away in case the birds decided they wanted to use that end of the pond. With 95 % 0f the pond froze over the hunting could be tough.
We really could of used additional time to get set up but the day broke and the ducks were in the air. Ricks shots at the far end of the pond told us we better stop messing around and get in our blinds because the hunt has begun.
Hunting with me today on our end of the pond was two fellow bloggers; Billy from Blind Ambitions and Troy from Diver Destroyers. Billy and I have hunted all over the country together but this was the first time I’ve hunted with Troy. It was a great day of hunting we didn’t kill much but we had a blast. My knowledge of waterfowl is somewhat limited as I’ve only been chasing waterfowl for a few years now but I learned a lot on Saturday as we hunted. It has also been a while since I spent an entire day waterfowl hunting. Of course there was a lot of joking and ribbing especially when someone shot at the wrong flock of geese scaring off a much closer flock that was locked and dropping towards the decoys. 
Even though the mercury crept up to 50’ most of the pond remained ice covered all day. Had we been able to make a bigger hole we may have had a bit more birds to bring home. It was a great day of hunting and a good reminder that there is more to hunting then just bagging game. A great day afield with friends is hard to beat. Tune into Moose Droppings the radio show and hear some recordings of the live action from this waterfowl hunt this coming Friday at 1pm.
Moose,
There is nothing better than freezing your butt off with a couple of good friends while trying to sucker some geese into coming in to a set of decoys. Better luck next time!
Comment by Frank — January 8, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
Moose, had a blast my friend. Was good meeting you and Rick, and I enjoyed the company. Maybe we can do it again sometime.
Y’all are welcome up this way anytime.
Troy Smart
AC Caldwell County DU
Lenoir, NC
http://www.diverdestroyers.blogspot.com/
Comment by Troy — January 8, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
[...] a bit of sad news that Troy lost his hunting dog, “Lil’ Bit” today rather suddenly. Troy as you’ll recall hunted with me just the other week when he and Billy traveled out to join us on a waterfowl hunt. This is a photo [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Grieving With A Friend and the Loss of His Hunting Partner — January 15, 2008 @ 12:50 am
[...] attend the Caldwell County DU Spring Fling. Troy Smart has invited me, if you recall he and I met duck hunting this past January. As a matter of fact Troy be happy if all of ya’s showed up and seeing it’s for a good [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Looking For Something To Do? How bout joining me at the Caldwell County Ducks Unlimited Spring Fling — May 9, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
[...] Smart, who I met on a duck hunt this past January, is the chairman of Caldwell County DU and he and the committee did a great job putting this event [...]
Pingback by Moose Droppings » Caldwell County DU Spring Fling — May 11, 2008 @ 10:42 pm