Early Teal Season - Curtiss Dill

Our early teal season opener here in Nebraska had high expectations after scouting the marsh we were going to be hunting. After looking everything over, we determined that there were probably close to 1,000 ducks sitting on the water, with more than half of them being blue-wing and green-wing teal. We decided upon a course of action for the next morning and went home to get the gear ready and get some sleep. Come 3:30 the next morning, we were up and headed out to the spot we picked the day before. We got in at about 5:00 am and got our decoy spread that consisted of a half dozen teal decoys and a few drake and hen mallards. Now we were in for the wait.

Nothing beats the anticipation of listening to ducks quacking all around you and the whistle of wings over your heads in the darkness of morning waiting for shooting time to roll around. We could hear ducks everywhere and decided that we were probably in for a good morning. After checking and rechecking our guns and hiding spots, and making sure Remington (the dog) was situated, we hurried up and waited some more. Finally, the sun started coming up and we could see flock after flock of ducks circling the marsh and more headed in behind them.

Then it happened. The opening shots of the morning. We kind of have an unspoken rule, that we are never the first ones to shoot in the morning unless there is no one else in the marsh. We like to just sit and watch what the birds do and how they react, then we will start the hunt. We only had to wait for about 5 minutes before we had a flock of about 10 teal swing by our spread. After watching them circle for a minute and determine that they were definitely not going to drop into the dekes, my father-in-law started firing. Since they were closer to his side of the spread, I didn't fire, but instead just watched everything unfold. Out of that flock, he dropped one that came crashing down into the weeds. Remington immediately saw the duck fall and noticed the splash as it hit the water. He was chomping at the bit to go after it, so I released him for the retrieve. We were then able to witness one of the most beautiful sights that occurs when duck hunting, a determined retriever going after a downed bird. Rem went crashing through the weeds and water until he got to the spot of touchdown. He broke down and started searching the area, and not long after that, came up with his first duck of the season, not to mention his first duck ever! The look in his eyes was priceless as he brought back his trophy.

The rest of the morning was perfect. We didn't get a limit (2 short), but we had a great time. Ducks were everywhere, the dog was working hard, and we were missing a lot of shots and managed to drop a few, but it was all in fun. After it was all said an done, we had 5 blue-wing teal and 1 green-wing teal in the bag and both agreed that this was a great start to another duck season.

Early Season!

In my only outing thus far in the field for early season honkers was not the success I was expecting it to be. We were hunting a field that had plenty of birds working it for a few weeks.

The temps were relatively low for September 1st and that may have been what changed the birds movements. We were able to harvest a couple of honkers from the first group that came in and that was all we had to work with for the rest of the day.

The following weekend I put away the goose decoys and took out the over and under shotgun for some fast gunning for the MD dove season. Half way through the dove shoot I realized that I should have done some skeet shooting to prepare! A box and half of shells later and a limit of doves were on the ground.

In a week I will be headed to Saskatchewan Canada, to put the smack down on ducks and geese. I hope to have some good stories and pictures to share when I return.

Cory Dukehart

Residential Goose, Opening day success.....

Sept 1, 2007...

Just as little kids the night before Christmas, we could hardly go to sleep - the off season had been way too long. When the alarm went off at 3:00 am, I could hardly hold my eyes open. My 18 yr old son (David), decided he was going to pull my boat for us. So while I was still sleepy eyed and in my under-roo's, David was hooking up. My 14 yr old son (Dillon) also beat me getting ready, and the 3 of us finally got out the door around 3:45 am. My oldest son Daren (20) had to work... so he would miss the hunt.

After swinging by McDonalds for some "to go" eats - we arrived at the reservoir about 45 min's later, at the boat launch closest to the dam (about 100 yards away). There were 3 boats already out, but none looked to be duck/goose hunters - so I was thinking we were "good to go", and should have our first pick of places to set up. We quietly idled straight across the lake to the other side, and then headed shortly upstream (looking for game land signs). Since I hadn't had time to scout, I elected to hunt as close as possible to the dam, where I had seen Canadas hang out over the past several years.
The lake was down 5 foot or so, and there was a lot of exposed shoreline. I found a protruding point on the game lands with some fell trees for concealment, so this was the spot I decided on (The wooded point, that protudes furthest into the lake on the right side of the pic). The wind was blowing directly up stream, so I had David to start building the blind on the upstream side of the tree laps while Dillon and I set decoys. We put out all 16 Canada floaters I had, about 15 yards off the shoreline. I added my blue heron confidence decoy on the upwind side, and a pair of mallards on the down wind side (for realism). I hid the boat on the downwind side of the tree laps, and used burlap and brush to conceal the boat. We then added some vegetation to the blind, then hunkered in for the hunt.

Legal shooting time rolled around at 6:28 am, and we loaded up - and began the wait. As I glassed down toward the dam, I saw no geese... hummmm, I figured they would be coming down the lake to loaf during the morning hours (so it was looking real good). After about a 30 min. wait, we began to get sleepy.... so I kind of laid back. Just then, Dillon said "here comes one dad". As I look up, I see it.... a blue heron, coming to our decoys. I reassured him it was not a Canada, so he continued to watch diligently.

Doves were beginning to fly by, and I was taking in the view... then Dillon again said "here they come dad" (7:15 am). I look across the lake, and sure enough... there is a flock of about 75 geese (flying 2 ft off the water), but on the far side (probably 200 yards away). I start calling, but they go on to the dam and sit down. Right behind them, was another flock of about 75. I continue to call to get their attention, and then the two tail birds fell out of formation and come right at us. As my boys get ready, I see a final third flock of about 50 birds - following the two birds that fell off the second flock. I hold the boys off of the first two birds, and we wait on the third flock. Sure enough... as the flock centered right over the decoys (15 yards out, 8-10 ft high)... Dillon can't contain himself and yells, "Take 'em"!

Dillon fired first, and dropped a bird.... then David and I took 3 shots each. As the birds drop and the smoke clears.... Dillon's gun had jammed after his first shot. I look at my watch, and it's 7:20 am.... 7 shots, 5 birds... not too bad at all.

After I collected the birds by boat, I noticed the other birds that landed near the dam had left the country (over the dam, and on down stream)... The morning would probably turn out to be real slow after the ruckus we had just made, and boats were coming on the lake in a stream now (labor Day boat traffic), so I decided that we were through for the morning (and I had a PM dove hunt lined up). We picked up decoys, spent shells, and tore the blind down - and headed on in. By 8:30 am, we were on the way home.

Dillon and David had afternoon plans, so I headed out for the Dove opener by myself (opened at 12:00 noon). I settle in to a "pass shooting field", and it is a little slow. I only had 6 birds come in range, and managed to take 3 of the 6. It was not too spectacular, but all in all - a nice day to be back "at it".

With the kids school and soccer being back in full swing this month, I'm not sure if I will be able to get back out again - but rest assured, I plan to try my best. There is 3 other places I want to try, as well as to revisit the reservoir we went to on opening day.

Happy Hunting,
Troy Smart
AC - Caldwell County DU

Pics to come, as soon as they get developed. Stay tuned...

Not Hunting Related, but Necessary

Hey Everyone!

This post isn't hunting related, however its something that is more important than hunting. Today is September 11th, and we should all just take a moment to sit back and reflect on that day and think and pray about the people who lost someone in that attack. The attack had a huge impact on everyone across the nation, and is something we need to remember.

Thanks everyone!

The Diver Destroyers Team

Slow Start to Resident Goose

It was a real slow start for my crew in SE PA. Everything looked perfect leading up to opening day, but the geese had other plans. Sat. morning was warm with no wind. The geese didn't move much at all. The ones who did knew right where they were going. We finally go a single to decoy in and our youngest shooter (Conner Moran) was able to make quick work ot him! That was the only bird for the opening day. We went back Monday morning with hopes of making up for lost time, but this time we left empty handed. Not a total lost though. I got to spent time with a couple of good friends drinking coffee thinking of what might have been.

I spent the next two days trying to figure out why the geese stayed away. I checked the pond on my lunch hour the follow two days and found out that the geese were back, but I wasn't sure at what time. I desided to hunt Thursday morning. It was just me and my dog (Koda) this time. It started just like the other days. At 7:30 Am a single bird answered the call of my canada hammer and he went down. Finally I broke the ice! At 9:30 Am two nice flocks of about 15 each started my way. It didn' take much calling to convince these birds this was the place to be.

I let the first flock land and waited for the second. Just as the second bunch started to touch down I unload my benelli supernova on them. 3 fell hard. I had enough time to reload before the first flock could figure out what was happening. The benelli found its mark again and 3 more splashed down.

After Koda made the retreives we packed up and headed home one bird short of the 8 bird limit. The moral of the story.............Don't give up! Keep scouting. It will pay off in the end!

Tom Hindman Jr

Diver Destroyers