Duckmauler dhc
Old Mossy Horns
NC kills more ducks than any other state in the Atlantic Flyway.
This statement alone tells you exactly how bad the Atlantic flyway is.
NC kills more ducks than any other state in the Atlantic Flyway.
Not sure I agree.There is one thing about a duck. If he gets shot at a lot or harassed he is leaving and not stopping in that same spot next year.
Hyde marsh. Thanks for the suggestion but I would have stayed if I could of. NJ has very very few private impoundments if any. The birds have to use public areas because that’s where the food is. some of us don’t have the resources to have our own honey holes like you have. I’m not begrudging you I’m just stating facts. Also there are many more guides down here guiding on public lands. That makes it harder for the single hunter trying to kill a few birds on public land. I tried to get permission to hunt private marshes. Since I’m not from here I always get a no even if I offer to help with things. I’m not begrudging anyone. I’m just saying what I‘ve observed the last 5 years living here. I’m way to far from the coast to consider hunting there.Neverfail, I would try to find a way to make it work in NJ. That is the place for you. Could you talk some of the people coming to Johnston from NJ to stay there?
Come on MR Boat! NC kills more ducks than any other state in the Atlantic Flyway. There are locations in NC with insane number of ducks. Some people know how to legally attract them. Pintails, wigeon, gadwall, teal are coming regardless and they know where the food and low pressure is. I do agrre with you on the Pacific Flyway. It is so much better.
Do they have different trespass rules there? Curious. I've lived/hunted in enough different states that those rules make a big difference. IE there's a lot of water that I can't hunt in NC that I could have hunted in other states, and I'm not referring to blind laws.Hyde marsh. Thanks for the suggestion but I would have stayed if I could of. NJ has very very few private impoundments if any. The birds have to use public areas because that’s where the food is. some of us don’t have the resources to have our own honey holes like you have. I’m not begrudging you I’m just stating facts. Also there are many more guides down here guiding on public lands. That makes it harder for the single hunter trying to kill a few birds on public land. I tried to get permission to hunt private marshes. Since I’m not from here I always get a no even if I offer to help with things. I’m not begrudging anyone. I’m just saying what I‘ve observed the last 5 years living here. I’m way to far from the coast to consider hunting there.
I had many good hunts in college, we didn't even have cameras on our phones then, hell we could barely text.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE DEVIL! In many ways, these kids wanting to be "Pro Staff" and try to boost their numbers to get free hats, barrel stickers and lanyards. Totally forgot about social media. I had many good hunts in college, we didn't even have cameras on our phones then, hell we could barely text. We shot them, high fived, put in a dip, packed up, went home and cleaned the birds, ate them, and counted down until the next day.
I have heard of one shoot In the 90s where 4 fellers went through 18 boxes of 71/2. The main culprit is no longer alive. Glad he didn't pass those shenanigans down.Yeah and back in my college days, we didn’t have phones either but yet I can guarantee there was at least one wood duck roost shoot a week that would put the kill numbers near triple digits every hunt. But yet look at wood duck numbers today. They don’t seem to have been too impacted from those mid 90’s eastern NC wood duck smash fests. Lol. Glad I never partook in such shenanigans……..
Wow that is crazy. What a way to ruin an area for hunting.I have heard of one shoot In the 90s where 4 fellers went through 18 boxes of 71/2. The main culprit is no longer alive. Glad he didn't pass those shenanigans down.
Certain areas I used to see a lot I don't, and the inverse - other areas I didn't see them I see a lot. A friend of mine has old hog lagoons down east, 10 years ago we'd shoot bluebills off them all the time. Now days it's a few bills, mostly ruddy's and bufflehead and wood ducks! Tons of woodies come off the river and loaf around. Never saw that many a decade ago.I don’t personally see anywhere near the numbers of wood ducks that I was seeing in the early 2000s. But the areas I always saw them the habitat has diminished so that could be why. But even while fishing i don’t see that many these days. This is in the Piedmont though so it probably is just my experience and not a wide spread thing. I never cared that much for hunting woodies anyways except before class in my High school days.
old hog lagoons down east, 10 years ago we'd shoot bluebills off them
In response to this and alot of things that have been said on this thread is duck hunting is constantly changing. Birds change and adapt, usually from situations we throw at them. The geese dont come to NC anymore like they used to. Different birds using different areas (my dads #1 bird in currituck in the 70s was gadwall, not we shoot a few, but not many). More swan in NC and they seem to be using further west than in years past. More wood ducks, less blackheads, less public land, more permit hunts etc etc. Just gotta adapt the best you can. I have hunted public and private land my whole life. I have stopped hunting some areas for one reason or another and moved to other ways to hunt. I have 2 kids now and no time to do what I used to so I am not out trying new stuff just going with what I know best. I manage what I can in the off season and hunt as much as my wife allows. I hope we can keep hunting into the future and my son's son will have the opportunities I have hadCertain areas I used to see a lot I don't, and the inverse - other areas I didn't see them I see a lot. A friend of mine has old hog lagoons down east, 10 years ago we'd shoot bluebills off them all the time. Now days it's a few bills, mostly ruddy's and bufflehead and wood ducks! Tons of woodies come off the river and loaf around. Never saw that many a decade ago.
Well said. Even unsuccessful duckin can be expensive - ask me how I know . Don't get started unless you just like spending time in the marsh - or you got $$$ for impoundments or trips to Argentina. I hunt even when I expect to see nothing, and occasionally one will fly by.Duck hunting has become a wealthy man's sport.......or should I say, consistent successful duck hunting.
LOL and the duck breasts tasted especially sweet. We used to hunt near a sewage treatment plant in Texas, those ducks loved to hang out there.I bet the dog rode in the back on those trips.
I don't duck hunt and have only been a few times, just didn't care for it . I see plenty of wood ducks and always have. I don't know if those fellows ruined an area or not but I know they would only shoot a place once a year when everything was perfect. I think perfect meant several hundred birds and no wardens. Back in those days I didn't know anyone who actually duck hunted . Seemed to be more of an available opportunity.Wow that is crazy. What a way to ruin an area for hunting.
Wood ducks seem to be doing great in NC. That is one positive to what we are seeing now. I have been seeing consistent or increased numbers over the last 10 - 15 years.
The good things the lagoons hadn't been used in over 15+ years. But the ducks do love them, good wind block and they're hidden. Luckily I never got close enough to feel the bottom or bring it back up with meLOL and the duck breasts tasted especially sweet. We used to hunt near a sewage treatment plant in Texas, those ducks loved to hang out there.