i had the best hunt of my entire life tonight(pic)

[BayMan718]

im still in shock over the solo hunt i had this affternoon on long islands second duck and goose opener..

over a 3 hour hunt i saw over 20 blacks ducks..over 35 geese..and wound up shooting...a limit of ducks(1 black duck 2 widgeon and 3 buffleheads) and a limit of geese..

but not just any geese..

3 NECK YELLOW NECK BANDED GEESE(and leg banded)..

i cant put into words how im feeling right now..

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3493/002ya5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

EDIT: HERES THE STORY BEHIND THE HUNT I POSTED LATER IN THE THREAD::::::

i really should share the details with you fella's so sit back and enjoy..

ive been sick since late sunday night...today i tried for the morning but i was still feeing too weak and had no one to hunt with so i stayed in bed..i woke up around 11 and felt much better...and decided to heck with it im going hunting..

i left at 12 for small saltwater creek i had seen some ducks work friday affternoon..the weather wasnt ideal..high winds and a full moon the night before so i didnt expect much action being most times around here the full moon means the ducks spend all night feeding and most of the day resting and not moving... but figgured i could scratch out enough ducks for a meal..

i set up a small feeding set up with 6 GHG black ducks..4 GHG Bufflheads..and 6 GHG goose decoys( 3 floaters 3 full bodies) in a bend in the creek that durring the course of my hunt would be ideal for the birds to feed in yet leave enough water to float the decoys

by 1pm i was set up and hunkered down..stiff west wind at my back..at the ready..the wait didnt come long..around 130ish i had 5 black ducks circle wide come into wind and cup the wings..i took one black fired and foled him at 10 yards..filling my black duck limit for the day..

i walked out picked him up and admired his bright orange legs..( new bird) i got back in and hunkered down..for the next hour i saw nothing but black ducks..singles doubles and even some tripples..working the decoys..amazing to see and made me really wish i didnt leave my camera at a friends over the weekend..i just watched two black ducks leave my decoys when i heard the distinct whistle of widgeon here they came 5 of them 1 drake and 4 hens..i squared up and took two out of the 4..i walked out feeling pretty good having half my duck limit and a good meal under my belt..

the next hour i got to watch more black ducks work the decoys..they wanted in on my spot something feirce today..when all of a sudden i heard geese calling on the wing...i spoted them to my left....20 birds strong....i picked up the call and started working them..as if on string they came in dead on the 6 goose decoys..when they got within 30 yards i saw 2 birds bird with the neck bands..in my mind all 18 other geese vanished and my eyes were fixed on the two with the yellow around the necks..when they got within 10 yards i touched off the trigger and watched the first banded goose hit crumple..i swung...rushed my second shot and missed the second banded bird..i got square on him as he tried to gain altitude touched off the round and watched a puff of feathers come out of him and seen him tumble into the water..

my heart rate was through the roof..i was shaking and i let out a wooohoo like ive never..i RAN into the spread and grabbed both my birds..in a mix of emotions....when i got back to my boat i had to take a min to calm down..i put the birds on the strap and just admired them while i drank some cold water..while i was admiring the birds i was snapped back into reality by the sound of more geese..with one more goose to go..i slammed 3 shells into my gun and saw 5 geese low on the marsh heading my way..i hit them with some greeting calls and some moans and here they came..when all of a sudden i saw the 3rd bird in the flock wearing another yellow neck band!!!

i just focused on him..and just before his feet hit the water i sent a load of number 2 faststeel into him..dropping him in his tracks.. while his buddies hightailed it out of there..

i yellled... HOLYYYY ( BLEEP) and ran almost falling over my own feet to pick him up...when i got to him..i just stood there..amazed...i walked him back to the boat and just sat there for min taking it all in..

but the game gods were not done with me...i knew i had 3 ducks left to close out a limit..so i reloaded..just incase i saw something else..

the wait was short when i saw a flock of 8 buffleheads comming down the creek hell bent...i thought for sure i would get a passing shot..but as soon as they saw those green head gear decoys..they banked hard and hooked right in..i touched off the first round dropping the first drake..i swung..fired took down a second drake..and just before the rest of them made it 30 yards away..i hammered a 3rd drake for my first tripple of the year..

i walked out picked up my birds..got back to the boat and just..sat there..it was 414pm..and i was done for the day..the next 15 mins i just sat there taking it all in the sunset..the marsh..the birds..everything..

i dont know if ill ever have another hunt like this in my lifetime..but im glad i had it at least once..

[Jonathan Rice]

Great job and congrats on the bands! That one looks like it has some leg iron two!

[BayMan718]

Great job and congrats on the bands! That one looks like it has some leg iron two!

all three are leg banded and neck banded.. :)

thanks for the kind words

hows the crow killing capital of ny doing by the way?

[Nathan Lopez]

That is very impressive my frined. You don't see that too often. I am jealous. Thanks for rubbing it in.

[Derek Rambo]

THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!!

Wow....!

[BayMan718]

That is very impressive my frined. You don't see that too often. I am jealous. Thanks for rubbing it in.

thank you..

im not rubbing it in..as much as just so overjoyed i want to share it with fellow waterfowlers..

id be happy for anyone else if they were in my shoes as well

[BayMan718]

THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!!

Wow....!


thank you...AWESOME sums up how i am feeling right about now :)

[Eric Wolf]

You lucky dog!

[BayMan718]

You lucky dog!


lucky is an understatement..

[Jonathan Rice]

all three are leg banded and neck banded.. :)

thanks for the kind words

hows the crow killing capital of ny doing by the way?
WE are doing ok in NY but not as good as normal. September we did great including and 80 bird day- 10 guys, 8 bird limit. Now geese are getting smart and hunting is tough. WE are knocking the crows pretty good though!!!!!!

[Craig Silvanic]

What else can you say....HOLY COW..... Great Job...

[BayMan718]

WE are doing ok in NY but not as good as normal. September we did great including and 80 bird day- 10 guys, 8 bird limit. Now geese are getting smart and hunting is tough. WE are knocking the crows pretty good though!!!!!!

nice!

ive havent been doing much hunting up north in the state this year as last year..but the geese in orange county have been hit or miss..we have only hunted 3 days durring the regular season and only had one bang up day 3 limits of geese and some ducks..

september season....all the rain..caused the farmers to cut the corn too late..and we neve really got on em good..couple of 5 or 6 bird days at best..

long island durring the early season..my best day was 5 one of which was neck banded as well..

there is a tonnnnnnnnnnnn of crows around orange county..should be fun come the end of waterfowl season..

keep hammer em!

[BayMan718]

What else can you say....HOLY COW..... Great Job...


thank you :)

[Kevin Dirk]

Go out right now and buy a lottery ticket....

CONGRATS!

KD

[KevinSkalicky]

yikes.....You must be a magnet! wanna go hunting??? NICE JOB!!

[callemquacktn]

That is sweet!!

[Nicholas Lisec]

My jaw just hit the desk when I saw those three neckers all in a row.....GREAT JOB! I would ecstatic with one let alone a limit of collars and bands.

Great work!

Nick

[Blackfeet]

Good shootin lol if i woudl see those neck bands come in i would for sure miss did they all come in at once or howd that work walk us through how you got them lol wow i wouldnt go to work tommorow id take the day off and enjoy the awesome accomplishment let us know how they came in bud nice work :eek:

[Isaac White]

Congratulations man, that is very awesome! I don't know what I would do if that happened to me, but I can see how you can't believe it's true. Probably seems like a dream! But nice job man!

[BayMan718]

KEVIN D.. im going to first thing in the morning :)

KEVIN S.. im just lucky thats all..didnt hurt having GHG duck and goose a decoys to work with..thanks :)

CALLEM... thanks..sweet indeed!

NICK L...my jaw hit the floor when i saw the first two neck bands feet out 10 yards!!! thank you

[Rhett Riddle]

wow thats amazing!, are the geese banded locally?

[Joe Fladeland]

Amazing job. That's pretty neat.

[Brian Rhodes-The Swampers]

Nice job, looks like you had a great hunt.

Are all those collars from CT?

[BayMan718]

Good shootin lol if i woudl see those neck bands come in i would for sure miss did they all come in at once or howd that work walk us through how you got them lol wow i wouldnt go to work tommorow id take the day off and enjoy the awesome accomplishment let us know how they came in bud nice work :eek:

i really should share the details with you fella's so sit back and enjoy..

ive been sick since late sunday night...today i tried for the morning but i was still feeing too weak and had no one to hunt with so i stayed in bed..i woke up around 11 and felt much better...and decided to heck with it im going hunting..

i left at 12 for small saltwater creek i had seen some ducks work friday affternoon..the weather wasnt ideal..high winds and a full moon the night before so i didnt expect much action being most times around here the full moon means the ducks spend all night feeding and most of the day resting and not moving... but figgured i could scratch out enough ducks for a meal..

i set up a small feeding set up with 6 GHG black ducks..4 GHG Bufflheads..and 6 GHG goose decoys( 3 floaters 3 full bodies) in a bend in the creek that durring the course of my hunt would be ideal for the birds to feed in yet leave enough water to float the decoys

by 1pm i was set up and hunkered down..stiff west wind at my back..at the ready..the wait didnt come long..around 130ish i had 5 black ducks circle wide come into wind and cup the wings..i took one black fired and foled him at 10 yards..filling my black duck limit for the day..

i walked out picked him up and admired his bright orange legs..( new bird) i got back in and hunkered down..for the next hour i saw nothing but black ducks..singles doubles and even some tripples..working the decoys..amazing to see and made me really wish i didnt leave my camera at a friends over the weekend..i just watched two black ducks leave my decoys when i heard the distinct whistle of widgeon here they came 5 of them 1 drake and 4 hens..i squared up and took two out of the 4..i walked out feeling pretty good having half my duck limit and a good meal under my belt..

the next hour i got to watch more black ducks work the decoys..they wanted in on my spot something feirce today..when all of a sudden i heard geese calling on the wing...i spoted them to my left....20 birds strong....i picked up the call and started working them..as if on string they came in dead on the 6 goose decoys..when they got within 30 yards i saw 2 birds bird with the neck bands..in my mind all 18 other geese vanished and my eyes were fixed on the two with the yellow around the necks..when they got within 10 yards i touched off the trigger and watched the first banded goose hit crumple..i swung...rushed my second shot and missed the second banded bird..i got square on him as he tried to gain altitude touched off the round and watched a puff of feathers come out of him and seen him tumble into the water..

my heart rate was through the roof..i was shaking and i let out a wooohoo like ive never..i RAN into the spread and grabbed both my birds..in a mix of emotions....when i got back to my boat i had to take a min to calm down..i put the birds on the strap and just admired them while i drank some cold water..while i was admiring the birds i was snapped back into reality by the sound of more geese..with one more goose to go..i slammed 3 shells into my gun and saw 5 geese low on the marsh heading my way..i hit them with some greeting calls and some moans and here they came..when all of a sudden i saw the 3rd bird in the flock wearing another yellow neck band!!!

i just focused on him..and just before his feet hit the water i sent a load of number 2 faststeel into him..dropping him in his tracks.. while his buddies hightailed it out of there..

i yellled... HOLYYYY ( BLEEP) and ran almost falling over my own feet to pick him up...when i got to him..i just stood there..amazed...i walked him back to the boat and just sat there for min taking it all in..

but the game gods were not done with me...i knew i had 3 ducks left to close out a limit..so i reloaded..just incase i saw something else..

the wait was short when i saw a flock of 8 buffleheads comming down the creek hell bent...i thought for sure i would get a passing shot..but as soon as they saw those green head gear decoys..they banked hard and hooked right in..i touched off the first round dropping the first drake..i swung..fired took down a second drake..and just before the rest of them made it 30 yards away..i hammered a 3rd drake for my first tripple of the year..

i walked out picked up my birds..got back to the boat and just..sat there..it was 414pm..and i was done for the day..the next 15 mins i just sat there taking it all in the sunset..the marsh..the birds..everything..

i dont know if ill ever have another hunt like this in my lifetime..but im glad i had it at least once..

[BayMan718]

ISSAC W. it really still feels like a dream..even as i sit here and type it..thanks

Rhett...i called the bands in and the lady said the certificates will be sent shortly.. i dont know if they are in fact local birds ( banded on long island) but my feeling is that they will come back as resident long island birds..because i shot a neck banded goose durring the september season that had the number NE72( today i shot numbers NE42,NE21,NA71) and he was banded 2 miles from where i shot him..plis these birds were all huge..so im banking on them all being local birds


JOE F. thank you!

BRIAN SWAMPERS....shot em on long islands south shore...im pretty sure they are local birds..thank you for the words

[Nick Bury]

WOW! I have never even seen a neck banded goose.. 3 in one night thats down right impressive.. Great job

[Great White North]

All I can say is WOW!

[Richnkwack]

Wow! That's something you don't see everyday...congrats man!

-Mark Wood

[Cut em]

SWEET!! Nice shootin!

[joesac]

Wow! Good for you! Can't beat that my friend!

[duxbutt]

That is way to cool. congrats on the collars. go buy a lottery ticket. YOu are the man

[Jimimc]

That is a shoot most hunters dream about. Great Hunt!
Hang Em Low

[kyfowlman]

Wow! One again - WOW!

[goose14]

Holy cow! is all I can say. That is a lot of birds and jewerly. Those buffies are awesome. IT's amazing that you shot 3 neck collars in one hunt and I have only seen one in real life. It was a white one on a lesser on the city's public beach.

[BayMan718]

dakota kid..we see them alot inland where we cant hunt them( too much urban sprawl) rarely do they wind up out where we can hunt em..but i got on em this time..thanks for the words....

Great white..that sums it up pretty much..thanks

rich..thank you


cutem..thanks :)

joe..i dont think ill ever beat this day..thank you

dux...im getting a ticket first thing this morning..thank you

jimmi..i still feel like i am dreaming to be honest..thanks for the words

kyfowl... :) thanks

goose 14.. the buffies were the icing on the cake.. they are hands down my favorite diver to hunt..wheni shot a neck banded bird back in september in the same spot i hunted last night i put it the back of my head..then when i saw ducks working there friday i said lets see what happens..i guess its one lucky spot..i plan on hunting it again over the weekend..thanks for the congrats

[Mark Brendemuehl]

Did you know they were collared before you shot?? Tell us more about the hunt- Were they singles? Unreal. I have seen one Canada goose in the wild with a neck collar in my LIFE.
Mark

[BayMan718]

Did you know they were collared before you shot?? Tell us more about the hunt- Were they singles? Unreal. I have seen one Canada goose in the wild with a neck collar in my LIFE.
Mark

i edited my first post on this thread with the story behind the hunt that i had posted later in the thread..check the first post and you should see it now..

[Cory Johnson]

Congrats, Congrats and Congrats!

[David Rearick]

That is a crazy good hunt..Congrats on the whole deal!

[Montauker]

Bayman- First off great hunt and second, the story was told superbly.

I don't even think I could dream that up. First a non diver mixed limit of geese and ducks like that isn't easy, a true triple on butterballs is the peak of shotgunning, and three neck bands from two flocks, forgettaboutit!!

Heck I would have been happy with the one black duck and just watch the blacks working the rig.

Congrats, I hope the rest of the season brings more fortune.

[David Ortley]

That is an amazing story! Chances are you will not repeat it. My hat is off to you for holding it together and bagging the three banded honkers!

[kontekontos]

Wow man that is awesome. I am proud for you and the hunt you have had. It is funny how we get all excited out on the water and let out wooohoooos and all that when we do some like what you did. Kinda brings out the kid in us doesnt' it. LOL Anyway great job.

konte

[Zach White]

Sweet...a guy could only dream it up like that...and you have pictures!!!

[PEI Duck Guy]

Way to Go!!! Congrats on the triple & all the band & collars!

[goetler]

Way to go man!!:cool: You couldn't ask for a better day after being sick. Again way to go and I hope the rest of your season goes just as good!!!:cool:

[banned06]

congrats on the collars! looks like a great solo hunt! congrats again man!!!

[Blackfeet]

I let out big WOOOOOHOOOOO'S when we shoot a good limit of geese lol but im still a kid i can only imagine if i did that i would prolly tie them to my car and drive around town with them showing em off hahahaha hey can i buy one of those collars of ya??? lol hahahaha just messin great job and thanks for tellin us how it all went down and hey maybe i could get an invite to the lucky spot of yours are sure your not on the end of a rainbow or somthin:confused:

[oscar]

Sounds like you had the hunt of a lifetime. I doubt many can compete with the neck collars.

Congrats on a great hunt!

[Bull Island]

good job. Can you mail me some of that luck by chance?:)

[4Cody4]

I like the neckbands, wish i could get my mits on some, (or one). Congrats.

[Aaron Hitchins]

The best hunt of your life isn't an understatement at all! The way you told that story truly illustrates the immense passions we have in our sport.

Thanks for sharing,

Aaron

[BayMan718]

its been kind of hard to keep up with everyone and i dont want to miss anyone..so i just want to say thank you to everyone thats taken time to respond with such positive and kind words..

im glad you all enjoyed my play by play story of how that bag came together..

i cant say it enough how lucky blessed and greatfull i am that i was able to enjoy a hunt like this..

i will never forget this day or the events of the day so long as im alive..

again thank you

larry

[Mike B]

Awsome hunt. Congrats on bands.

Mike

[Brian Laux]

that is awsome. Nice hunt!!

[Bailey Ortley]

Very nice! That is one hunt you will always remember.