Are ducks really worth it!!

[Gordie]

I went out this morning and it started out late cause had to get the kids on the bus not a problem. then went out on the lake I live on and motored over to a spot and threw out a line of bill decoys what a mess took half an hour to untangle the tangle free cord,not to bad threw out the other 3 doz decs and went to shore to set up in the weeds got out of the baot and wouldnt you know it I had a tear in my boot no biggie took it in stride then shot a nice drake mallard then and couple of green wing teal and figured I call it a day picked up my 5 doz decoys and put the motor down and yep it wouldnt start. had to push the boat around the lake 1 1/2 hours later got to my place. then I asked myself was it worth it? YES EVERY PAINSTAKING MINUETE OF IT!! and the thing is I wouldnt hesitate to do it again. I just have to thank God for the oppertunity to be out their..

[eyepatrol]

None of us are here on earth forever, and it's well worth the effort to take advantage of the time we do have. I agree! One year my bro and I were motoring across the lake, got almost to the other side and ran out of gas. Had to oar 1 mile across the lake against 15 - 20mph winds. Blisters on each hand, but we got ducks and geese that day....very much worth it!

[ChuckN]

And as I was reading your post I could swear you were going to say duck hunting sucks, I quit...and I would reply "yep, those ducks are worth it!"

LOL

But a duck isn't worth your life. This is the dangerous time of year when waters are freezing, air temps are cooold and the anxiety of blasting ducks clouds reality.

[Mark Christianson]

But what a way to go Chuck!

Not saying I hope it happens to us tomorrow. DOH!

The top memories I have, include many debacles indeed. Great story El!

[hanson]

Great story! Its days like that you'll remember for a long time.

"Yeah, ummm... you remember that one time I went out duck hunting, motor wouldn't start, etc... Man, that was a fun day!"

[Ray Esboldt]

Here's one of my stories that I have probably told 100 times to anyone that will listen. We're planning on hunting a lake southwest of Hutchinson deer opener of 1995. We came across the lake the afternoon before and it was loaded with mallards, bills, and geese. The lake is probably 300 acres and the wind is blowing good. Furthermore, it is supposed to blow all night. We get up at dark thirty, and I see the temp is 8. Well, the wind should have kept most of it open.

We get to the access and see that the access area is iced up. Not a big deal. I throw a rock and all I hear is it bouncing across the ice like a golf ball. There's no way this lake froze completely, is there? Well, matter of fact it did. About 1/4" thick ice all the way across. So, we tear open a spot for the decoys. By the time we have them all out, they are froze in again. We shoot a bill and a goose and decide to relocate to the only patch of open water on the lake near an island. The birds managed to keep it open.

After picking up all the decoys and making it half way across the lake (now with a 1/2" of ice), I notice water in the back of the boat. Not just a little, enough to float the gas tank! We pulled to the nearest shoreline to find about 3 inch gash in the bow. It's 10 degrees and I am sweating. We have about 600 yards to get to the access, so we're not going to sink, at least that's what I told myself. We shifted the weight in the boat to the back to keep the gash above the waterline, and made it back. I was very happy to be back on dry land.

Moral of the story, ice can rip through aluminum, and cold water can kill you. Use good judgement the rest of the year.

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

Today I shot two geese, One I crippled and it flew 100 yards and died right in the middle of a 5 acre pond. The only problem was it was frozen almost an inch thick. Too thin to walk on. It took me over three hours to find a boat, and go back and break through all the ice. Yet it was worth it!!

[kc0myy]

2-3 weeks ago wehn is was really cold and windy. I when and jumped a lake. I shot 2 wood ducks. I had to walk back to the pond where my friend ron kept his 10' jon boat.I rowed across the pond. Pulled the boat up an incline when out on the lake got the ducks and rowed back aginst 30mph gusts(the pound was only 200 yards wide). Was I worth it oh yeah! But please be careful this time of year its getting very cold and windy. I dont want to here on the news that one of the duck hunters in Minnesota was killed while duck hunting.

[tearin' lips]

Two or Three years ago, with the boat freezing in and the decoys building ice we dumped a drake mallard and it coasted into the wild rice. we push poled the boat through a 1/4" of ice and back about 100 yards to retrevive the downed drake. Yeah It Was Worth It!! Two mile drive back across the bay after a mornings hunt in four foot whitecaps...Yeah It Was Worth It!! Taking an hour to wade through 200 yards of waist deep forty degree water in nastiest boggy crap with brush, logs, and rocks everywhere only to set up four decoys and be done with a limit of mature drake mallards in about forty-five minutes. YEAH, IT IS WORTH IT!!!!!

[Guest]

I think I have been there and done it all in 20 years of duck hunting.. including some *wish I wouldnt have*. It can be cold, frustrating, and unproductive...

Is it worth it? Always.

Nothing like putting out 180+ diver decoys on a 15 degree morning after busting out ice and clearing a area. After you get the decoys out you need to break your way into a blind... 2 minutes after its shooting time a huge sheet of ice 3/4" thick comes sweeping across your decoy spread pushing them all into a pile 50 yards long, then the ice sheet hits the ice that isnt moving and starts piling up like a pressure ridge(on your decoys)... next thing you know you break your way back out of the blind and bust ice for the next 30 minutes just to get to your decoys, and shovel through an ice pile for an hour to retrieve all the decoys.

Of course as your breaking ice to get to your decoys, some decoys are getting pushed under the ice, and others are getting crushed.. in the end about $100 worth of decoys are lost or destroyed..

yeah, its worth it.

[Gordie]

Thanks guys for reasuring me that their is still us die hards out their and that are willing to keep this sport alive for future genarations. Duck hunting is hard work and it still beats working hard at work!

Hey That Guy I had the same thing happen on Mille lacs 4yrs ago and it ended being one of the best hunts I'd evre had.

[Guest]

Getting tied up for the 1st hour and a half(shooting time) didnt account for one of my best days that day

Seen lots of ducks while going through that mess and retieing decoy weights. Heading out occasionaly to retrieve sinking decoys that were damaged.

I dont mind busting ice within reason... some days it gets back at you though! It can be some of the most productive hunting, and it can also be some of the least. Its still better than sitting on the couch!

I look foreward to the day my kid comes home after a tough duck hunt telling me stories of the day. At the same time, I look foreward to seeing his look af achievement of bringing home a really fat northern drake mallard!

[Gordie]

I'am not saying that part of the hunt was the best part but after all the swearing and setting up a second time and having the another sheet of ice rip apart the spread then relocating its now 8.45am and the birds just kept comming in .It was enough of a good thing to kinda make you forget abouit what happened earlier. until you tell the story and you realalise that the first part really $ucked but it was way worth it as amatter of fact we did it again the next mornig and didnt have the ice problems