About 52 years ago, I started walking long side my pops while he hunted Wild Ringneck Pheasants and Waterfowl in Surreys Serpentine Flats .
Great times and memories are still with me of those good old days.
Dad quit hunting locally for birds in around the late 60s, he said its getting too busy lol. But with my big brother and I constantly bugging dad, begging to join in with Ol Uncle Jack, and other friends, dads hands were forced yet again to get back onto birds.
Christmas of 72 Rolls around and I see this box about three feet long under the tree, I announce ...... Hey, that could be the shotgun I want! Dads reply, "shotguns are way longer then that. "
No Dad they come apart! VaVoom! My bird hunting days carrying my own 12 gauge began.
Well it's basically became an every year occurrence and we've even being lucky enough to hunt the same land as Dad did in the fifties, although we seem to loose a little more every few years to development, farms selling, etc etc.
Theres still some great bird hunting to be had, although the Coyotes have taken a huge toll on the Pheasants and we even don't see the Foxes we used to because of the Yotes and urban sprawl. The pesky Yote dogs are still around though and we hammer them from time to time given the opportunity.
But the Waterfowling remains good, consistent to say the least. Although a drop in Pintails many many years ago, the variety of ducks is good. Canada Geese have became a big pain in the butt to local parks and schools and their numbers remain high, and having three separate openings on them, allows those that do their home work more chance at bagging some of the big birds.
As for ducks though, another season is close to finished . Friday the 19th of Jan locally here it will all end until October. But, if you can get out, one or two more times, set up them deeks, get well hidden into the surrounding landscape, use your well tuned trickery of calling like I've learned these past 50 plus ........ And you can still have a great shoot.
Today, I got out on a late start, I prefer mornings but ya do what ya can. Buddy had been out at daylight and did well but around ten the birds stop flying. So finally in position at about 2:30, I waited ....... A few came in and around, a number of Pintail and Widgeon, I passed as many of them landed in the decoy spread ........ Thus was going to be another one if those, let's be picky days lol.That said ......... I said to myself ......
OK JUST MALLARDS ........ Finished with my 8
what a great way to appreciate good local Waterfowl hunting, still after all these years.
CT