Zekeland
09-21-2006, 03:49 PM
Temperatures are dropping and birds are on the move. We decided to hunt some front edge snows for the first time this season. About 500-700 have been tearing up this green barley field for almost a week. The only wrench in the plan was the location of the roost...only 200 yards away. Will they come at once or little groups?
The first frost of the year was upon us with 1 hour to shooting time. Trucks were out of sight. Fixing up the blinds was the last task. Did the snows come....you betcha they did! 30 minutes before shooting, birds were dropping in the dekes. Within arms length floating above us in the morning glow. Quite a site for this hunter!! We kept stubbling and 15 minutes later they came in again for round 2. These were BIG mature birds. All this in your face action and still 10 minutes to shooting. It happened so quick the camera was the last thing on my mind.
At shooing time, only a flock or two gave us a look. Poor shooting resulted in missed opportunites for even one or two snows. These guys have seen it all and once the sky lit up just a bit they were not interested!!
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6476/img0386np4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6247/img0394aj7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/185/img0395yf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I will tell you who was though...woodies. Only a couple of flocks of ducks found their way to our spread. Two large flocks of woodies with some mallards in the mix. The first flock swung out of range but the second group had no hesitation. Flying past my left I pulled on two seperate birds looking for that white breast. Look what I found!!!!
I will try for both birds to be mounted, but I'm not sure what can be done with the woodie on the left. He has some wing and belly issues. The right bird is in mint shape. First mount for this guy.
Enjoy!! I know I did!!!
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1659/img0396qq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/871/img0397ay2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4130/img0401pb7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6475/img0402sa1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The first frost of the year was upon us with 1 hour to shooting time. Trucks were out of sight. Fixing up the blinds was the last task. Did the snows come....you betcha they did! 30 minutes before shooting, birds were dropping in the dekes. Within arms length floating above us in the morning glow. Quite a site for this hunter!! We kept stubbling and 15 minutes later they came in again for round 2. These were BIG mature birds. All this in your face action and still 10 minutes to shooting. It happened so quick the camera was the last thing on my mind.
At shooing time, only a flock or two gave us a look. Poor shooting resulted in missed opportunites for even one or two snows. These guys have seen it all and once the sky lit up just a bit they were not interested!!
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6476/img0386np4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6247/img0394aj7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/185/img0395yf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I will tell you who was though...woodies. Only a couple of flocks of ducks found their way to our spread. Two large flocks of woodies with some mallards in the mix. The first flock swung out of range but the second group had no hesitation. Flying past my left I pulled on two seperate birds looking for that white breast. Look what I found!!!!
I will try for both birds to be mounted, but I'm not sure what can be done with the woodie on the left. He has some wing and belly issues. The right bird is in mint shape. First mount for this guy.
Enjoy!! I know I did!!!
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1659/img0396qq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/871/img0397ay2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4130/img0401pb7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6475/img0402sa1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)