[ducknazi]

A morning of mind clearing solitude, a bird and a dog in chase. Good morning by all standards.

DN

[speckslayer]

Some of my most memorable hunts have been with just myself and my dog. Thanks for sharing.

[csgrizz]

20 yards high and right over you? Where's the other 2 birds?

lol, just kidding, keep after em, and run em SOUTH.

later,

CS

[Echo]

Glad you got rid of the skunk, but you didn't have to send it down my way.

I was glad to have you share the story on the phone, felt like I was there with you.

Now, just like Grizz says, run some birds our way.

We need them badly.


Later,
Echo

[mnflokd]

Grizz, I was just happy to drop one and completely zoned out on the others.
Echo, D and I are sneaking out Friday morning for a couple hours, have to take Saturday off, but
we should get out Sunday morning too. We will try and scare a few your way if we see any.
Hockey and skiing taking up all the "fun" time.

Drew

[mnflokd]

The skunk is back on. Friday, D and I saw 4 mallard hens hanging out, wanting nothing to do with us
and that was it. Saturday for my B-day, kids and wife bought me an "extended" choke. Went out to the
local goose field for a try. Nothing came my way. Although there are two less pigeons in the world and the
"extended" choke works great!

Drew

[mnflokd]

Skunked again, with only five more days to go.

However, we did see birds moving south! Saw a few groups of new mallards, but didn't want to play.
Also, saw geese, swans and eagles heading for warmer weather. Here's to hoping they are arriving soon to
a pocket near you!

Drew

[mnflokd]

Well the 2009 MN Duck season is over. To be honest, I'm not too upset by that, the weather was just crap. Cold too early, warm too late.
D and I will have a few more chances for honkers during the "late" season, Dec. 12 - 21st. We are also looking forward to some time on
Echo's river bluff property and a chance at the fabled "Hill" over Christmas. Rumor has it we may get to shake the hand of a few GT members
as well. Looking forward to that, for sure.

Mocha was pretty good this year, with the very limited opportunities she had, although the lack of targets and shooting, tends to get her chewing on
anything in reach, licking whatever is in reach and generally just not paying too much attention until I hit the calls. Then she at least pays attention, but
gives me the look like, "Ya, right, they aren't coming over here, I'm going to lick some more." Mocha and Sadie our Doberman, get to spend Christmas at
our dog kennel, I wanted to at least bring Mocha, but was told, "Not everyone loves our dogs.", so they are staying here. Dang it.

Well, D and I hope you all have a great remainder of your season, keep the stories and pictures coming please, that helps take the edge off for us.

Good luck, be safe and have fun.

Drew

[mnflokd]

Well, the "official" season is over, but D and I were lucky enough to have a few Illinois hunts over Christmas. The rain put off any plans
of hunting the River Bluff, so with consultation with our guide, we chose to hunt at the in laws property. First day, day before Christmas, D, Echo and
I headed out and set up. We had a great time watching the birds work the area and got a pair to come in and commit. D and Echo each dropped one
and Brew made two great retrieves through the ice. Echo has those pictures......waiting.

We headed out the day after Christmas and I managed two LNB's early and they didn't come out again that day. The next time out brother in law John and I headed
out as Echo had other duties. We managed a pair through the snow storm, to come right in on a string. We each dropped one. The last day with Echo and I it was
howling wind and really cold. We headed out late in the day and waited for a good hour, with 10 minutes before sundown, the action started. We watched several
groups work the area, but they had feeding plans. With only a few minutes to go and an audience watching from the house, a group of six started working the pond.
We worked on them and got them to get right with the wind. Our gloves had been off for about 10 minutes which was making small motor functions difficult. They
swung around and were just right when the shot was called. I completely wiffed on the first shot and when I went to rack in the next one, I pushed the safety back on,
pulled up again and click. Echo fired his rounds and I think they were wearing body armor, because nothing fell. They turned tail to the wind and were gone and out
of range in a matter of seconds. It was about one minute later when Echo got a text from the house, "How did you miss?" The "official" story had Brew jumping up on Echo just as
the shot was called, which caused him to bump into me, causing us both to miss. That didn't seem to sell in the house.
Oh well, all in all 6 honkers were had from that pond over those days and I know Echo will manage more before the season is out.

D and I also got a very special treat to visit The Hill. Grizz showed us the way through the snow that morning and DP greeted us with a smile. We spent the morning in the box,
brushing off decoys at least three times and getting some real quality talk time. We never fired a shot, but D and I would not have missed it for anything. We got to shake a few hands
of other GT brothers too. Miss Sue had cookies and M&M's at the ready. Wish we would have had more time, but we had to pull out at noon. GT boys, it was very nice meeting you, wish
we could have had more time. DP, thanks for the invite to your special spot. Thank you also for treating D like a young man, not a kid. He really was taken by you and your graciousness.
Grizz, thanks for showing us the way and hanging out. I understand you may have had some action later that day.

Lastly, DP, sorry about tearing up your grass. When we get down there this summer, I'll patch it all up for you. Boys, thanks for pulling me out of the ditch and hustling to the rescue.
That is another story. Keep the stories and pictures coming guys.

Drew

[mnflokd]

Got those pictures..... Two of the family pond and one from our slow MN season.

Drew

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•  Killday_Pond2___09.jpg (113.15K)
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•  DrewJohnDerek_MN__09.jpg (72.18K)
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•  Killday_Pond_Dec__09.jpg (144.21K)
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[Echo]

MN,

Nice write up. As always I greatly enjoyed hunting with you and D.
The time spent in the blind is truly quality time and I look forward
to spending many more hours hunting with you and D.

Later,
Echo

[ducknazi]

Great pics Drew. Thanks for postin them up.

Thats one helluva family "pond"

DN

[mnflokd]

The big water is not the pond, that would be a helluva pond!!
The two goose pic's are at the pond, one day apart, no snow to snow and cold!
The other is on a local lake as you can see, we were only watching the sky.

Drew