Anyone else having as bad luck as I am?

C

ciphery

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Ottawa origanally Muskoka
I've been out several times, been on a hunt with 2 other people twice this year as well, Haven't got a damn thing not a single duck or goose.
I've invested a ton of $$$$ and put hundreds of km on my car scouting areas and going to hunt them. Still have an empty freezer.
 
Same here, been out 7 times and all we got is 6 long-tails and a merganser. I have spent a ton of money on decoys, camo, waders, ammo, gas, calls and everything else. I just want a duck I can roast and enjoy. Everybody keeps saying it will get better tho?
 
Welcome to hunting....man I love this sport.
Learning the tricks, the creature and tbe area is half the fun. That is what makes it a sport.
Best of luck to you and good on you for being out there enjoying the out doors.
Cheers
 
First year hunting. Was out twice for geese with nothing to show for it. My first deer hunting trip, I was the only one in the party to get a small buck. Feel quite fortunate.

It would have been a great trip regardless. Realized how much I've missed spending time in the woods.
 
I've never equated killing something to having a good hunt. Time away from work and spending time with the old man is what it's all about.

But......
Been deer hunting the last couple of days. Got dad set up in a blind and was still hunting towards him in hopes of scaring up some deer.
Ran into some other hunters and skirted their location so as to not interfere with their hunt. Ended up about 2 miles farther away than I thought, no big deal.
Unloading my truck I slipped on the steps and busted the knee open.
Ever fall and not get your hands out in front of you? f:P:2:
Went to a local DU dinner last night, sat around for a few hours.

Fast forward to this morning.....I can barely walk!

A day of rest and back to hunting tomorrow. Maybe my luck will improve? :D
 
Yes.
I do believe the deer count are down in this area.
Even during fishing season, I have seen far less than other years.
Then again, I've never seen that many deer in city limits on the small
farm acreage.
Could be they are getting smarter and hanging out where it's safe?
 
Stop complaining, I never got out for one lousy day this year due to moving, work pressures, time conflicts with employees hunting and just lifes other prorities in general. I was supposed to go back to the Congo last month, couldn't make the timing work for that, so I called my cousin in Sask and said coming over for a WT rut hunt later in Nov and he said sorry, laws all changed now, can't do that..............I was all set to head up the Dempster for caribou, our 3 seperate herds intermingled for the first time ever and one of the herds is totally protected, so game branch closed the whole zone.............it's a conspiracy. I got out for a few evenings for bears in the spring, and one evening to assist a guy retrieve a wounded sheep AND THAT'S IT. Now it's -16 with a 20 knot wind and the only animal left open is bison and there is not enough snow to run a snow machine...........at least you got out!!!
 
I'll give you some helpful advice to think about when the hunts not going right... You're doing something wrong. You need to find out what you're doing wrong before you'll have any success at this.

Ducks and geese aren't that stupid if they've been pressured. If they wont consistently decoy, something IS wrong with your setup. Remember that.

Are you extremely well hidden? If those birds don't feel safe, they are not going to land. Are you using half decent decoys? Were they going to that area to land anyways? Does your calling suck? Is your spread set up correctly? Are you playing the wind right? Does the area even look desirable? Have you tried multiple spots?

If they come in and you're "shooting blanks" its tells me two common things are probably happening. One, your shooting sucks and you need to spend time shooting some clays. Two, you're shooting at them while they're still way too high. Let the birds have their butt about two feet off the water/ground before you start shooting.

Start watching what the birds are doing and how they react to your spread/calling, and start changing your actions accordingly.

And sorry but no, nothing is going to get better next year if you don't start making some changes. Hopefully you'll appreciate this advice more than a keep your chin up.
 
ciphery said:
I'm out right now. I've seen hundreds of geese. Can't get them in close enough. And when I have on past hunts....its like I'm shhoting blanks
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It's late season now. These birds have been shot at lots. Are you hunting a roost or fields? The northern birds won't come to a call, just stop to eat or sleep. Also keep in mind they've been shot at since sept 5 so they are beyond wary. I've shot maybe 25 this season and almost all in the early part. Mind you the divers are coming down now so I've got plans to shoot a bunch this week. :D
 
Ive been out multiple times this year alone, some days its a challenge, but ive always seemed to leave with something, gotta. Change what you are doing. Practice on clays alot more will pay off, patterning ammo, finding and practicing with good duck calls, best advice look, listen and learn what they do on there own, they will tell you alot if you can read them. Past yr ive used about 4000+ rounds of skeet ammo in practice, lead is everything and getting them in close enough, like the saying goes if you see there eye they are. Lose enough to die, past 40 yards steel wont cut it anymore. Wind can move shot patterns, as it moves out it drops in height, just shows you cant buy a good hunt, it takes time to learn all the little things
 
Ciphery,

Regarding your decoy spread: Do you have it set-up, so you have a spot for the geese/ducks to land? For example a classic J-hook pattern for duck over water?

Do you sit still with minimum or no movement, while birds are coming in?

Do you cover your face? Camo paint, mesh face masks, or those new thin neck gaiters (I can't think of the actual name right now)? Bright faces and movement scare more ducks.

Do you try to keep your back to the sun?

Calling will attract, but bad calling will scare the birds.

Much of the time, I just hang with my tollers in the blind, and the ducks and geese just come piling in.

For ducks over water, When I am with someone I'll use 18 mallard floaters, a 3 mallard jerk line, a mallard butt wiggler on calm days, a dozen bluebills, 3 Canada goose floaters, 1 mallard robo duck, and 1 baby teal robo duck. When by myself, I'll use 12 mallard decoys, a butt wiggler, and my 2 robo decoys.

For geese in the field, I uses 4 dozen Canada silhouettes, between 3 and 5 dozen snow geese socks, and 2 dozen Canada shells. I'd use full size flocked headed Canada decoys if I had them.

Keep at it!


ciphery said:
I've been out several times, been on a hunt with 2 other people twice this year as well, Haven't got a damn thing not a single duck or goose.
I've invested a ton of $$$$ and put hundreds of km on my car scouting areas and going to hunt them. Still have an empty freezer.
Click to expand...
 
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