Anyone else addicted to waterfowling?

FrontSight · January 22, 2007, 01:42 PM

Holy cow, went a few times this year so far (this is my first year ever going after Duck/Geese, first hunt was in Sept.)

OMG, what an addict I've become. It's just simply the most amazing and exciting huting I've ever done. And holy cow can they fly, what speeds! Incredible.

I'll post some pics when I get them back...

FrontSight · January 23, 2007, 09:31 AM

Darn, all blurry due to it being dusk and the shutter speed so slow, but oh well...

stuckon308 · January 23, 2007, 09:41 AM

I had my first goose hunt this year and all three times were amazing. If I can find the time next year I will try to fit at least one in. The excitement of your prey flying straight at you is very unique. The picture is of my first goose hunt. We got our limit in just under 20 minutes.

Ian2005 · January 23, 2007, 09:47 AM

I too went Duck hunting for my first time this year. Im trying to figure out how to afford it as a hobby having to use guides + their equipment. Had a great time too.

FrontSight · January 23, 2007, 12:18 PM

Oh yeah, man...the guide I use is great, and charges only $180 for full day dark to dark hunts. But the gear and the ammo is pretty expensive, but at least the gear is a one-time thing - the ammo is what reallly kills, but what can you do...maybe buy a reloading machine!

stuckon308 · January 23, 2007, 12:34 PM

Do you guys have to use guides? I just got permission to hunt on a guys land and we scouted it out the nights before we went. Oh and we did have to get our lisences.

FrontSight · January 23, 2007, 02:55 PM

I have no boat and no decoys and no dog, most of which are musts for ducks around me

Plus I learned soooooo much from this guy, and he has access to some seriously private lands...really worth it!

Ian2005 · January 23, 2007, 04:46 PM

I to don't have any of above gear. The guide I used was "on special" for $100 opening day but his normal rate is $150 and other Outfitters around here are $175. As for the ammo? lol just how many shots did you fire! I only went through 2 & 1/2 box's and I think I fired more than most and being a noob I took shot's I probably shouldn't have. But it was opening day and unfortunatly we had 11 people in our hunting party so it was more like a firing line. At least I brought home four.

skeeter1 · January 23, 2007, 04:54 PM

I no longer hunt waterfowl because I'm too old to haul a dozen full-body decoys, my shotgun, and a big thermos bottle of hot soup 3/4 mi. to the blind.

We had to be there by 5am and sit in the blind freezing our butts off. Shooting hours were from 6am until noon, and the birds didn't move until right before noon.

Double-barelled shotgun loaded with #2s, two shots, two Canada geese. That trapshooting paid off.

If you've never eaten a Canada goose, you haven't lived.

FrontSight · January 23, 2007, 07:47 PM

I went thru 80 rounds on Sunday!! Sun-up to sundown. Of course, toooooo many of those were misses, but I'm a noob, and sea ducks were what we hunted most of the day, and they fly at 60mph, 40 yds out...not easy!

But I'm getting better...was slamming puddle ducks later

pumpkinheaver · January 23, 2007, 09:24 PM

I've never been waterfowling because I know I'll become addicted to it. With bowhunting, rifle season and greneral small game hunting I don't have time for more hunting. My better half already says she is a hunting season widow.

stuckon308 · January 24, 2007, 12:57 AM

Holy crap. 80 rounds in one day? I guess we got lucky with calling them in to distances of about 10-30 feet. I got blood on my pants from one that flew at my head and almost ended in my lap. Good times though. I doubt I'll ever have such a successful year again.

FirstFreedom · January 24, 2007, 11:01 AM

From all reports, waterfowling gets in your blood like no other. It is to hunting what hockey is to sports. The wingshooting aspects and nearly-constant action make it fun, fun, fun! I haven't been hooked yet, mainly because the taste of the game doesn't do it for me. Glad you found it!

stuckon308 · January 24, 2007, 12:32 PM

Great comparision FirstFreedom.

FrontSight · January 24, 2007, 04:15 PM

FirstFreedom - so spot on!! I'm more addicted to it than to any other type of hunting or fishing I've ever done...pheasants, quail, deer, crow, bowhunting, deep sea fishing, reef fishing, freshwater fishing, spear fishing...none of them hold a candle to this!!

RwBeV · January 25, 2007, 10:44 AM

Waterfowling is not addicting!!! Have been hunting waterfowl for 35 years, never missed a seson and Im not addicted. I have 7 dozen goose decoys, 3 dozen duck decoys, a trailer to hall them, 3 lab's to do the retrieving, a dozen or so shotguns form 410 to 10ga, wadders, ton's of warm cloths, heaters, calls that I had to finance and a very understanding wife. Im not addicted!! I can quit any time I want.

This year I decided to go through the entire season with black powder, I had a ball. Waterfowling is like riding a bike the more you do it the easier it gets.

(I think that I will try and start Waterfowlers Anonymous, maybe after next season.)

FirstFreedom · January 25, 2007, 04:36 PM

Oh yeah, you can quit anytime, just like smokers, right.

skeeter1 · January 25, 2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

I haven't been hooked yet, mainly because the taste of the game doesn't do it for me.

The taste of a well-roasted wild goose or duck to me is something that I'd take over a filet mignon. Same goes for wild rabbit. The farm-raised versions of all three are lousy by comparison. I haven't gotten up the courage to try raccoon or opossum -- yet.

BIGR · January 25, 2007, 10:57 PM

I have never been but would like to try it sometime.

Death from Afar · January 26, 2007, 03:08 AM

It is the best,

FrontSight · January 26, 2007, 12:01 PM

RwBeV, I love it!!

RwBeV · January 26, 2007, 12:19 PM

For those of you that don't know what to do with your birds here is a Suggestion. I save a couple of birds that are not to shot up to bake, all the rest I make jurky out of them. They make great jurky the kids and friends just love it. Brest the birds you can either grind them or slice the brests about 1/4 inch thick or so. I have used all kinds of commercial mix and recipes I found on the web they all seem to come out good. For me this is a great way to use the birds, the darn things are harder to give away than Zucchini. Hope this is an option.

Bob
Keep your powder dry

January 22, 2007, 01:42 PM	#1
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	Anyone else addicted to waterfowling? Holy cow, went a few times this year so far (this is my first year ever going after Duck/Geese, first hunt was in Sept.) OMG, what an addict I've become. It's just simply the most amazing and exciting huting I've ever done. And holy cow can they fly, what speeds! Incredible. I'll post some pics when I get them back...

January 23, 2007, 09:24 PM	#11
pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 294	I've never been waterfowling because I know I'll become addicted to it. With bowhunting, rifle season and greneral small game hunting I don't have time for more hunting. My better half already says she is a hunting season widow. __________________ Just because your paranoid don't mean they aint out to get ya.

January 26, 2007, 03:08 AM	#20
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	It is the best, __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

January 23, 2007, 09:47 AM	#4
Ian2005 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 355	I too went Duck hunting for my first time this year. Im trying to figure out how to afford it as a hobby having to use guides + their equipment. Had a great time too.

January 23, 2007, 12:18 PM	#5
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	Oh yeah, man...the guide I use is great, and charges only $180 for full day dark to dark hunts. But the gear and the ammo is pretty expensive, but at least the gear is a one-time thing - the ammo is what reallly kills, but what can you do...maybe buy a reloading machine!

January 23, 2007, 12:34 PM	#6
stuckon308 Member Join Date: January 17, 2007 Location: Backwoods of Manitoba Posts: 86	Do you guys have to use guides? I just got permission to hunt on a guys land and we scouted it out the nights before we went. Oh and we did have to get our lisences.

January 23, 2007, 02:55 PM	#7
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	I have no boat and no decoys and no dog, most of which are musts for ducks around me Plus I learned soooooo much from this guy, and he has access to some seriously private lands...really worth it!

January 23, 2007, 04:46 PM	#8
Ian2005 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 355	I to don't have any of above gear. The guide I used was "on special" for $100 opening day but his normal rate is $150 and other Outfitters around here are $175. As for the ammo? lol just how many shots did you fire! I only went through 2 & 1/2 box's and I think I fired more than most and being a noob I took shot's I probably shouldn't have. But it was opening day and unfortunatly we had 11 people in our hunting party so it was more like a firing line. At least I brought home four.

January 23, 2007, 04:54 PM	#9
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	I no longer hunt waterfowl because I'm too old to haul a dozen full-body decoys, my shotgun, and a big thermos bottle of hot soup 3/4 mi. to the blind. We had to be there by 5am and sit in the blind freezing our butts off. Shooting hours were from 6am until noon, and the birds didn't move until right before noon. Double-barelled shotgun loaded with #2s, two shots, two Canada geese. That trapshooting paid off. If you've never eaten a Canada goose, you haven't lived.

January 23, 2007, 07:47 PM	#10
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	I went thru 80 rounds on Sunday!! Sun-up to sundown. Of course, toooooo many of those were misses, but I'm a noob, and sea ducks were what we hunted most of the day, and they fly at 60mph, 40 yds out...not easy! But I'm getting better...was slamming puddle ducks later

January 24, 2007, 12:57 AM	#12
stuckon308 Member Join Date: January 17, 2007 Location: Backwoods of Manitoba Posts: 86	Holy crap. 80 rounds in one day? I guess we got lucky with calling them in to distances of about 10-30 feet. I got blood on my pants from one that flew at my head and almost ended in my lap. Good times though. I doubt I'll ever have such a successful year again.

January 24, 2007, 11:01 AM	#13
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	From all reports, waterfowling gets in your blood like no other. It is to hunting what hockey is to sports. The wingshooting aspects and nearly-constant action make it fun, fun, fun! I haven't been hooked yet, mainly because the taste of the game doesn't do it for me. Glad you found it!

January 24, 2007, 12:32 PM	#14
stuckon308 Member Join Date: January 17, 2007 Location: Backwoods of Manitoba Posts: 86	Great comparision FirstFreedom.

January 24, 2007, 04:15 PM	#15
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	FirstFreedom - so spot on!! I'm more addicted to it than to any other type of hunting or fishing I've ever done...pheasants, quail, deer, crow, bowhunting, deep sea fishing, reef fishing, freshwater fishing, spear fishing...none of them hold a candle to this!!

January 25, 2007, 10:44 AM	#16
RwBeV Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 112	Waterfowling is not addicting!!! Have been hunting waterfowl for 35 years, never missed a seson and Im not addicted. I have 7 dozen goose decoys, 3 dozen duck decoys, a trailer to hall them, 3 lab's to do the retrieving, a dozen or so shotguns form 410 to 10ga, wadders, ton's of warm cloths, heaters, calls that I had to finance and a very understanding wife. Im not addicted!! I can quit any time I want. This year I decided to go through the entire season with black powder, I had a ball. Waterfowling is like riding a bike the more you do it the easier it gets. (I think that I will try and start Waterfowlers Anonymous, maybe after next season.)

January 25, 2007, 04:36 PM	#17
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Oh yeah, you can quit anytime, just like smokers, right.

January 25, 2007, 10:57 PM	#19
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	I have never been but would like to try it sometime.

January 26, 2007, 12:01 PM	#21
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	RwBeV, I love it!!

January 26, 2007, 12:19 PM	#22
RwBeV Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 112	For those of you that don't know what to do with your birds here is a Suggestion. I save a couple of birds that are not to shot up to bake, all the rest I make jurky out of them. They make great jurky the kids and friends just love it. Brest the birds you can either grind them or slice the brests about 1/4 inch thick or so. I have used all kinds of commercial mix and recipes I found on the web they all seem to come out good. For me this is a great way to use the birds, the darn things are harder to give away than Zucchini. Hope this is an option. Bob Keep your powder dry