Closing the season

[Joe T]

Going to tidal marshlands on the North Shore this afternoon to close out duck season. My portable blind is grassed up and ready for deployment!

[Bucksnbows]

Good luck and post lots of pictures!

[virgil]

Good luck. Definitely ducky weather out there today. We had a good hunt yesterday out of Captree. My buddy was in Southampton this morning and his group got a limit of geese and a pair each of blackies and teal. 
 

I just finished putting my gear away for the season and cutting up birds. 

[Joe T]

Well we were definitely in right spot for ducks- they were flying over all afternoon- but couldn’t get set up.  We tried to wade out in the marsh to dry spot to set up our blind but couldn’t get out there before our sled swamped and we aborted.  I didn’t feel bad because a lot of locals were stopping by as we were packing up and said conditions were not worth going out.

Lessons learned

1 travel much lightet

 2 have a back up spot ready if the first choice isn’t good

anyone have advice on drying out ammo?

my buddy Allan wading out in photo

[Lawdwaz]

1 hour ago, Joe T said:

Well we were definitely in right spot for ducks- they were flying over all afternoon- but couldn’t get set up.  We tried to wade out in the marsh to dry spot to set up our blind but couldn’t get out there before our sled swamped and we aborted.  I didn’t feel bad because a lot of locals were stopping by as we were packing up and said conditions were not worth going out.

Lessons learned

1 travel much lightet

 2 have a back up spot ready if the first choice isn’t good

anyone have advice on drying out ammo?

my buddy Allan wading out in photo

Drying out ammo? Rags work good.

[Joe T]

1 hour ago, Rusty said:

The fun doesn't end when the season closes.  There's lots of fun things to do in preparation for next year, busting clay birds, scouting new hunting spots, working with your dog,  etc.  

Rusty- yes I learned the importance of scouting in the off season and I have already been marking places on my OnX that I want to check out.  I will also work on my bird ID skills the rest of the migration season.

As for dog work I have a few buddies who will join me every weekend to practice retrieves and blinds. In April Enzo and I are going down to NJ for a hunt test and a few weeks later we are doing one here on Long Island.

As for shooting I will definitely schedule some sessions with @Breaking Point and hopefully in May I will be accepted into membership at Putnam County Fish and Game Association and will get in a weekly session of 5 stand when I visit the grandkids in Mahopac.

What do you have planned for the off season?

[Breaking Point]

I know what I have planned now. 😃 

Looks like you had a great day. Just wipe off your ammo with rags or paper towels. If you are still worried about moisture throw the shells in a bag with some rice. A blow dryer or compressor would work also.

I just use rags to wipe them off, but then I spray G-96 on the bases and wipe them down so they don't rust in the off season. Salt water residue destroys ammo.

Edited January 29, 2024 by Breaking Point