Last weekend's bird band...

The letter A marks the spot further east than downeast!!!

Had another good day hunting sea ducks today, will have the post done soon... However, I thought I'd post the information on the eider band that I snatched from Rabid's sights... We'll just say that this hen traveled quite a few miles west to get downeast... Have a good day!!!

Take that Trey Luckie!!!

So Mr. Luckie got what was coming to him... The former prince of probability has been dethroned by the Duck Hunting Demon and this may be one of my greatest "sit back chump and watch how the Duckman does it" moments since poor Rabid left Saturday with the the tail between his legs.  Needless to say, the Duckman has momentum and I may not be stopped...

So the Outdoor Blogger Network had this major gear review giveaway to celebrate the one year anniversary of success in connecting a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts.  I've enjoyed this site on many different fronts especially the ability to trade ideas, stories, and opportunities with fellow duck hunters from all over.  In addition, I've been privy to several previous victories that included an Otis Technology Gun Cleaning Kit (which I love) and an assortment of Berkley Havoc Baits where I had a student compose my gear review.  So let's get to the shelling...

My Thursday night victory was quite satisfactory as I garnered the Coleman Propane Ten Cup Coffee Maker valued at $90.  Honestly, it is something that seems absolutely awesome to add to my camping gear.  My wife's buddy already expects it in full use for our annual camping trip next August while my buddy Jab has proclaimed it reserved for our duck hunting camp down the bay.  Ah the wonders of posting your success on the mighty Facebook...


The Friday night victory was the most lucrative item for the entire celebration and was something that I have strongly considered buying although not one not quite as expensive.  The Foxpro Firestorm Electronic Predator Call had my name attached to it and my heart skipped a few beats.  Valued at $420, I already have ordered some Hornady Superperformance 58 grain V-Max rounds at 3925 feet per second for my father-in-law's Ruger M77.  In my sights already will be some fox and bobcat, the Rabid Outdoorsman has already offered to assist and join me in several pursuits this winter.

I sincerely appreciate the efforts of Rebecca and Joe over at the Outdoor Blogger Network and look forward to another great year of collaboration, conversation, and the competition between Mr. Unluckie and myself.  So here's to me and my continued dominance, and no Trey I will not create bad karma like you did in your "look what I have won" post.  (Click Here)

Have a great day, especially you Trey Unluckie because there is a new lucky ducky and where is your chicken dinner?  ;)

Ode to ye friend Rabid

For good friends are hard to come by, this one is for you Rabid Outdoorsman...

Upon opening day of the duck season I tell...
"Good friend Rabid you must visit my way...
For this you may dwell...
Tis the Duckman has made his last trip today..."

"I offer sea ducks, eiders and coots...
Years have passed since you last were here..."
The Rabid One has found other quarry to shoot...
And for that I was willing to end duck power, is that clear???

The Rabid One made it down east...
Without his ailing gun...
I would offer Xtrema2, it was what I could do least...
And the next morning, we expected loads of fun...

So the decoys set and the ducks in air...
Legal awaited, anticipation bliss...
The mighty Rabid arose without despair...
Shot after shot, all he did was miss...
 
Rabid did shoot two...
But the next moment I must supply...
Our friendship might be through...
However, I could not deny...

The duck moved in and made its turn...
Rabid dialed in and began to hesitate...
For having not shot, therefore I had powder to burn...
Before he pulled the trigger, the duck met its destined fate...

One shot, one kill, not one more round from me...
For the day that is all I took...
However, out on the Atlantic a band rest on the leg of my sole quarry...
Imagine, please, how bad Rabid shook...



For that made all other torment in return...
The one called Rabid lost the big prize...
He just needs to basically learn...
I am laughing last, especially at his demise...

Duck Power is dead you may decide...
Could it be through???
The Rabid One I know on his return ride...
Decided already what he next plans to do...

Does the Duckman fear Rabid's next project of pain...
Fear not good people, for I am always the man...
A good dose of sunshine always trumps the rain...
And I will brace for his next brilliant plan...


God love it, for good friends are hard to lose...
The video I posted will show in discourse...
Each other we love to abuse...
And yes, Duck Power is still in force...

Outdoor Blogger Network One Year Anniversary Party

This Tuesday one of my more enjoyable websites will be 1 year old.  The Outdoor Blogger Network has been a very worthwhile endeavor in terms of networking, outdoor education, and other exciting endeavors such as gear reviews, guest blogs, and writing prompts.  Essentially, it has been a social network for those who love the outdoors and the activities that adjoin.

Please take advantage of this well done and ambitious effort over at the OBN and join... I will attest that some of the readership that I correspond with were through this website and I'm thankful for having the opportunity to meet many people who share my passions.  For this week, they will be whooping it up so go check it out!!!


For a quick link to the OBN, please click below.


Outdoors Blogger Network
 

Opening Day Blast

The stars weren't exactly aligning as the 2011 Duck Opener approached.  A Saturday opener left us contemplating the benefit of a camping trip.  With only one huntable day within a three day stretch it became apparent that a single overnight at Rabid's abode and a less labor intensive plan would suffice.  So thus became the master plan:
Target a beaver flowage between two larger bodies of water
Allow those lakes to suffer early on skybusting
Wait a bit after legal for the pressured birds to arrive
Begin shooting

What I chose to neglect here was that Rabid needed to scout out the area, set up the blind, and ready my decoys that he has had on loan for three years now.  In addition, I expected all the efforts no matter how large or small to be finalized.  After all, that's how I ensure his trips Downeast are always top notch.  So with a mild degree of recognition, thumbs up to the Rabid Outdoorsman for doing the highly possible without a fair degree of haughtiness.  We'll see how his angle presents itself upon this publication.

The plan was simple... Access the pond, creep in at legal shooting, if no ducks are present then move along cut trail to blind...

As anticipated the ducks were not in the locale so Travis (a friend of Rabid) and I quietly scurried to the blind.  Behind us was Rabid who yielded in his capacity a gun, MoJo, gear bag, a dog, and a collection of cursory murmurs that apparently were directed towards my lack of interest in shuttling all things pursuant of fowl.  I secretly enjoined this underground effort to punish the golden one for his repeated and surgical jabs at his good friend over the years on this thing called blogging...

Our morning after that was typical, a little flurry here and a little flurry there.  Mallards hit the water, teal went from zig zagging to free fall, and the wood ducks proved a tad absent.  Nevertheless, the overcast and precipitant morning amongst three hunters and a black dog slowly produced what I would call a good day....

Then the mallard flurry began with Travis and I pounding a pair who thought MoJo was lonely.  Then another pair found out how fast the Xtrema2 can cycle.  Poor Rabid sitting there with his autoloader struggled to fathom the logistics and mechanics of such an unfair technology.  Not even the occasional Celiac crack would deter or hinder my shooting, except the teal...

I had pounded one down which almost landed onto Rabid at approximately 57 miles per hour but when we had moved out of the blind for a quick retrieval, Rabid alerted me of an incoming projectile.  The baseball size teal was approaching from the right as I prepared for an anti-aircraft engagement from left to right.  Too fast, too small, and not even the lightning quick spray of number six heavy steel could target the avian missile.  I knew this would be one of the efforts of Rabid's attack as the press waited for the duck season opener installment...

In all, the day was what I considered to be top notch and in all honesty, more enjoyable than our traditional two to three day camping trip on the pond.  Maybe less is more and with the personal day I saved by having the opener on Saturday, I look forward to when the Rabid Outdoorsman frees up his calendar to get downeast for I've issued an executive order:  Mr. President will not travel to central Maine until the Rabid one makes his first visit in over two years...



I fear the 2012 opener much like the world several months after that, is already doomed...

For the unreliable alternate set of truths, feel free to check out the Rabid Outdoorsman...

Sea Turkey Opener...

The sea duck season found itself in a major warm front that turned the temperatures in Downeast Maine front 35 degrees on Friday to 70 degrees on Saturday. 

There aren't many sea ducks moving right now and it took some time, several different decoy arrangements, and some excellent volleys, but when the day ended after noontime a full limit of eiders and coots piled on the floor.

To say how quickly that good things come to those who wait; my limit of eiders was satisfied when a flock of young drake eiders hung just outside the decoys.  With three shots, four big sea turkeys hit the water.  In about 45 minutes at midday, a flock of hen "dummy" coots came straight at us and when all was said and done, 7 lay on the Gulf of Maine thus completing our three man limit of 12 eiders & 9 coots. 

The 2011 Season thus far is one to remember, I'm hoping for a chance on Columbus Day but the wind is kind of complicating a strategic sea duck venue.

Take care,



The Downeast Duck Hunter

Preparation and Performance

Look into his eyes, Rabid prepares my steak and he's contemplating sprinkling flour on it. 

The 2011 freshwater duck opener was a mixed bag of sorts.  Let me bust a few of them out...

The Saturday opener left us planning for just an overnight at Rabid's house

A ghillie suit in a rain storm equals sponge


DuckPower has awarded a bid to a potential pledge


A lot of gluten free snacks just aren't worth the price


Thunder and lightning wasn't a deterrent to legal shooting as we counted the seconds between the flash and boom


Hevi-Steel in #6 just might become my non-seaduck round of choice

I'm hoping that I don't get Lyme disease, TICK got me!!!











Our opening day was quite an impressive effort.  Rabid's preparation and scouting in conjunction with (how shall I say this) uh, rock solid shooting proved to be a perfect blend in the midst of a rainy morning.

Rabid shouldn't have much dirt on me other than I left my gear bag behind for an ambush at daylight and needed to borrow a few shells until I darted back to the trail for my essentials.  If he even thinks that something could be skewed then I will certainly bounce his skinny ass out of DuckPower and seek more accommodating hunting partners.

Here's a few photos of the day... I will not do an official write up until I browse the misguided words of the Maine Outdoorsman.

Have a great day,

The Downeast Duck Hunter

These are pretty good for the Gluten Free Guide, as for other stuff ugghhhh!!!

Ben Franklin setting up the lightning rod, we did wait 30 minutes after the last flash before MoJo got set up...

Onyx with a fine retrieve

The Duckman with a double mallard drop, just part of a great shooting day...

A rare photo of Team DuckPower, usually we are just taking photos of each other.  Thumbs up pledge!!!  However, I do believe this photo op was during the discussion that I could even drop a green-winged teal shooting with one arm...

And I did!!! Ha, not really but it almost landed on Rabid after I shot it...