Late season duck hunting on NB coast ...

[TheCoachZed]

... can be a heartbreaker. Got up and hunted a new spot this morning, where I usually hit buffleheads with a dropping tide. The tide dropped, but the buffs did not fly in - an eagle circling overhead scared them all off.

Then I walked out on the ledge in Mace's Bay (just south of Saint John) with a couple buddies. A 45 min walk out, about an hour-long sit, and a 45-min walk back, and the two guys I was with had the only decent chance on three eiders. I didn't get a shot at all. We had to leave because the dog was getting hypothermic ... with a wind chill of -29.

Then drove down to my "honey hole." I figured with a low tide, I still might get a couple blacks tucked in behind a creek bank. Sure enough, the creek was frozen when I got there, but I decided to try anyway. Walked out to the only spot I couldn't see into, and a merganser flew over. I shot three times, hit it with all three, and saw it fly away ... just as a dozen blacks flew out of the spot I was heading, scared by the shooting.

I might sneak a morning in tomorrow if I'm working on the boat. Otherwise, it's going to be a long 9 months until the season opens up again.

 

[jongun]

That's quite the bummer buddy. Wishing you lots of luck if you indeed are able to get out tomorrow.New to hunting but have been trapping for a few years and know how it is to get skunked both literally and figuratively but good things come to those who are patient and put in the hours.

 

[TheCoachZed]

It's tough to do much in the late season, but that's when I had my time off this year. It's been a cold, cold week. Been out three times this week and for one reason or another, haven't really had any good chances except for a couple buffleheads.

 

[jongun]

Had the past couple weeks off and the only real time I've had to do anything besides work and stuff around the house but been sick and lacking the energy to get out in the bush. Really want to set up a good snare line for fox and get a few before the season ends and hopefully Saturday morning I'll be good to go and set out the line.

 

[scrubfox]

Yes its mighty cold lately, but the river is still open in spots up here in Freddy. Still got a fair number of golden eyes hanging around but they will be down your way soon enough coach. Hang in there....have fun.

 

[badgreenbird]

ahh, those hunts build character... I had many like that when I lived & hunted in NB.. including those same spots...

out west, there are clouds of ducks and hardly any hunters. That said, I gotta admit that i miss those harsh hunts with few ducks but good company.