2022 Waterfowl thread

It was a long break between hunts(damned work takes the fun out of fall) but we are finally back in the blinds and fields. An old friend I haven't hunted with in 30 years drove out from northern Ontario with his 25 year old son this week to get together for a couple weeks of waterfowling. Their goal was to shoot their first Specks and I think they were a bit skeptical when I assured them we would be into the Specks as soon as they arrived. Our first two hunts have kicked off with the first birds of the morning being Specks in feet down and they picked out some beauty bar bellies. It has been great to hear the excitement in their voices recounting the hunts and last night as I took and sat them at a nearby roost after scouting to watch well over 30,000 geese of all species and both puddle and diver ducks pile into a few acre slough for the night. Come morning we will be on a barley field under assault by thousands of Snows, Specks and Mallards.
 

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squidxm said:
I love how stable it is. So handy to be able to paddle deep in the middle of a marsh and hunt out of a layout boat. Gets you to where most guys dont go.

20220923_08454059fa0bc392fd4537.jpg
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That kayak looks awesome. Is the blind a DIY?
 
gravyboat said:
That kayak looks awesome. Is the blind a DIY?
Click to expand...

It's just 2 pieces of camo netting I drape over the boat. Was considering rigging up doors with pvc pipe, but for transportation sake I wanted to minimize additional weight and bulkiness. It works great just like this and I can pack the netting away in the compartment in the back when it's time to pick up decoys.

The netting is from North Mountain Gear.
 
It looks deadly. I ran bungee cord from the bow carry handle to the stern carry handle on my kayak and tied in some burlap scrim, but I didn't hunt from it. It's a fishing kayak and a little too wobbly. It worked well for retrieving birds, and I could toss my gun and decoys into it and haul it down to the blind.
 
Duck season opens tomorrow here in the Fraser Valley. Goose reopens also.
Few ducks around currently but we have been seeing some geese flying.
I will be out scouting this morning as a lot of corn fields have been harvested this week.
 
squidxm said:
Hopefully you dont encounter cripples who may be moving out of your casting zone. My hunting options were pretty limited when considering hunting over water. This past winter I finally got around to buying a Beavertail hunting kayak. Spent the off season picking up all the things I need to outfit it for hunts. Even mounted some off-roading lights to the front. It was the best purchase I've made in a long time and feel like I expanded my hunting opportunities significantly.

I love how stable it is. So handy to be able to paddle deep in the middle of a marsh and hunt out of a layout boat. Gets you to where most guys dont go.

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Awesome, that looks like it's the Stealth? I just picked up a Final Attack and plan to give it a go on some creeks and rivers when i get the time, its the layout blind style one.
 
53Izzy744 said:
Awesome, that looks like it's the Stealth? I just picked up a Final Attack and plan to give it a go on some creeks and rivers when i get the time, its the layout blind style one.
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It's the Phantom. At 75lbs it's still manageable, but feels like it's 100lbs at the end of the hunt Laugh2
The built in wheels are a nice addition to your model. These things are awesome, good luck out there!
 
squidxm said:
It's the Phantom. At 75lbs it's still manageable, but feels like it's 100lbs at the end of the hunt Laugh2
The built in wheels are a nice addition to your model. These things are awesome, good luck out there!
Click to expand...

Ah, thats the one! I was going to get that one but it was actually longer than the Final Attack by a foot. But it was the enclosed hull and motor capabilities that sold me.

Thanks, same to you! Looks like you have it set up perfectly:cheers:
 
What should have been a slam dunk turned into a s _ _ t show when some trespassing goon busted the roost a mile and a half north of the field we were on. The roost is on land owned by the fellow who gives us sole permission to hunt. At least we weren't skunked.
 
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