Weekend Wrap-up

These pictures were taken in Milan today on my way home from school. Fall is really my favorite time of the year!!

Well, it truly was one heck of a weekend. Lots of fun, a few ducks, and very little sleep!

Friday I got off work at 10 and headed straight for Ike's house. We finished getting everything ready for the hunt and went to sleep about 12:30 or 1. We were up at 3 on Saturday morning and out to the marsh by 3:30. We got everything set up, including that sweet blind we built and waited for shooting time (7:11).

About 20 minutes before shooting time, two guys decided to canoe in and set up about 50 yards away from us. Bull crap! We were out there since 3:30! We tried talking to them and they didn't care. Screwed our morning hunt big time. They were using electronic calls (illegal in Michigan) and shooting at swans. Their Mojo duck (a motorized duck that spins its wings to get ducks in your decoys) was attracting everything and they were sky busting big time (shooting at birds no matter how high). Took everything from us. Nothing Saturday morning. We went in about 10 and reorganized for the evening.

Saturday night we went out to state land in Erie and hunted. Ike's Uncle Johnny came along with us. It was off the hook. Thousands of geese and lots of ducks. I won bragging rights until next year, I shot the first duck of the season...a hen mallard. Then Mike shot a drake mallard and a hen pintain. Johnny shot a hen mallard and a hen wood duck. It was really crazy! We got in about 8:30 and got everything organized and ready for the morning. Got to sleep around 11.

We got up at 3 again and met Johnny to go back out to Erie. Got there and started setting up and some guys decided to come in and start setting up at the same time. We tried to reason with him too, and he didn't care. In fact, he actually just threatened to shoot our way (which meant shoot us!) if we didn't move. What jerks, ya know?! So we conceded and moved back to the spot we hunted the previous night. Mike and Johnny got a duck each, no luck for me. Got a teal and an American Wigeon. Came in and passed out for a little bit, then Ike and I went back to the marsh we normally hunt and waited for woodies. One buzzed right over my head after we'd been there about 20 minutes and Ike saw a teal land in the lily pads and shot it. Unfortunately, he lost in the weeds and we never found it. Didn't see any more ducks until after shooting time and two woodies crashed right in the pot hole we were hunting....go figure!

All in all, a very fun weekend with a few ducks. We grilled them last night and ate em...tasty!

Friday I'm heading out in the morning with Shane and JP from work to see how we can do. They're both newbies to waterfowl, so I'll have to impart some wisdom on them!

School was good today. Nothing big to report, just an evening of homework and I'm off work tomorrow. Sounds like a good day to re-coop for me :)