2024 Waterfowl

Was reading Marc's threads and he's right. Not allot of waterfowl content so far this year so I thought I'd share a couple pics. Been out twice so far, got 5 birds first outing, limit second time. Real nice to see the dog working and I could tell she was enjoying it too. Mixed bags so far Mallard,Widgeon,Teal,and a couple Spoonbills. On my last shoot, I doubled on the last 2 birds. Pups retrieve the first no problem, second was a cripple blind retreive. She did pretty good but needs some refreshers on her handling (my fault letting her skills fade). When she saw and started chasing down the bird, it dove and all I saw was her tail and back legs as she dove after it and coming up with the bird by the back end that she held tight until she delivered it to me (2nd pic)
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Great story, nice photo's, you can't teach them to dive, they either do it or don't. I had a black female that only got fooled once by a wounded duck, it dove just before she got to it, when that duck came to the surface again only it's bill was visible like a periscope. It went to shore and then I was able to get her to where it hit land and she had it in no time. After that she would just do circles on the spot where the duck dove until she saw it again and then go after it, she never lost one, it was fun to watch her work it out, but then again if she would dive she might have found them quicker.

Awesome story. Gotta love watching the dogs work, quite possibly my favourite part of waterfowling. I have my first pup expected to arrive in November, so you’ve got me excited.

We had an ok opening day, but our area has definitely been slower the last couple of years. Ill be sure to try and get out for some days as the season rolls on.

Thanks for sharing Ron, I was just explaining to someone this evening that sometimes it’s the dog that determines how long you want to stay out.if the dog is cold and miserable then I’ll call the day short and pick up. Other times if the dog is enjoying itself I may stay out a little longer even if I’m not getting anything or if the dog wants to hunt divers or what ever it is that’s making them happy out there. it’s just as much about the dogs as it is us when it comes to Waterfowl. 75% of the fun I’d watching the dog work and 25% is fooling the birds to come in and making the shot. It’s not very often I’m tinkering around with the boat or the decoys that the dog doesn’t have her snout poked into your business or always have it to make sure the door is clear before shutting the door of the truck because there may be a dogs head sticking into it trying to get into the truck so you don’t leave her behind. They love it as much if not more then we do really.

From season opener, 3 Pintails
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.ph...jpeg.5235/full

^^^^^^nice^^^^^

Looking great Ron

October was really slow for me. Ducks were shy and my shooting was rusty and opportunities were spread out between my group. So each of us would pot one, miss lots. Most of the time I was happy to go out with friends I hadn't seen for awhile.

As usual, openers had too many sky-busters. One day I actually had an argument with one group who were busting them 200m in the air and the fellow I was trying to talk to said to me "I put in my own money and I can < do whatever I want > " and just wanted me to go away so at that point I just shook his hand and walked away.

I finally had a decent day this week with the bad weather arriving in Boundary. As expected, the wind and rain really raised the activity. We saw a whole assortment of birds: cacklers, Canadas, snowies and the usual pinnies and mallards and even a Merg. I ended up getting three (and picking up someone's lost cripple that no one owned up to so I bagged him too). It was a proper hunting day where the tide was driving you in and the dekes were merry in the water. The Lucky Duck flapper was doing its bit by bringing them in but I believe it wasn't even needed. I wasn't dressed the best for that day so next time I go out I will have my winter insulation and change of gloves handy.

I had to clean up one patch in the Bay that was full of garbage. Timmies cups, lose wrappers, beer cans, and as usual, shells.

This season I'm a bit sad because I've lost two of my regulars to the economy. They've had to leave the LML because they just couldn't afford to raise a family here any more. One went to the Interior, another went to Alberta. There's a new one from last year who is going to go up to Kamloops. My buddy who went north of Vernon is telling me how great he has it. He's limited it out twice already. I'm envious.

Been working on various ways to eat my ducks. Usually pan fry breasts in flour, garlic, oil and eat with rice or a salad. Did the a recipe my wife used for cajun beef strips ,substituting duck. Not bad. Has a bit of a "livery" taste but I like liver so..

The winner is pad tai. Brined 8 duck breasts for a day or so in a salt/brown sugar/garlic brine then cutting into strips, pan fry in olive oil and garlic to brown. Then added them as protein to a big pad tai recipe.....absolutely awesome. Best duck recipe I've had to date. Also freezes well in small containers for work lunches.

Made a small batch of pepperoni out of my remaining ducks (also need to brine ahead of time for best result), brought it into work along with some bear and deer pepperoni and deer jerky. Made allot of friends that day. (Marc, you need to come to the yard once in a while ;-) ).

So, went out twice since for afternoon shoots. Tons of birds around making for relatively easy going as I like to decoy em in close before I shoot.

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Great pics Ron!
You're right about lots of birds around. This mild weather has kept birds around a lot longer this season!

Wow great pics, lol it looks like the dogs are having the most fun....

Great share, luv you dog photo of him swimming

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HarryToolips

looks like the dogs are having the most fun....

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Yep. She loves it and is a different animal when she's working.

One of the mallards in the last pic was a cripple that sailed into chest deep grass about 90 yards away across a couple creek channels.

Sent her on a blind retrieve on what i thought was the best line. She needed to be handled once to get back on line then Iost sight of her when she was in the grass. About 6 minutes later she appeared with the bird.

As much fun as I know she has, watching her work is the best part of it for me.

The spoils of the waterfowl season.
My wife made me up some more Pad Thai using mallard breasts. Delicious!!!!! Definitely my new favourite marsh duck recipe
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Honestly stir fry is one of the best ways to do a duck

Looks tasty. We are doing stir fry tonight as well.