Duck Hunting Traditions

[WilcoKen]

In light of some negative energy (of which I may have contributed) I wanted to start a more positive thread. It's about our different traditions. I will start with mine:

I was hooked from day one (1998). This was pre Duck Dynasty Mainstream days—I called in a hen mallard and made the shot. I had practiced by listening to a tape of Barney Calif while driving to sales calls. I had hopped a massive blind on the lower unit of Old Hickory. Probably why I have an attachment syndrome to duck blinds lol. To this day I still like to use small spreads in a J hook pattern. Don't do Texas rigs. Still wrap the line around the keel. Hate mojos—love jerk strings. Shoot an old 1100 and 870 (the gun I killed that first hen with). Prefer mallards, gadwalls, teal and pintails. Most usually pass on jacks. I equate shooting a fat mature Greenhead right up there with a nice 10 point buck. Don't even want to talk about big breakfasts in the duck blind. I will get to feeling down again if I do.
I'd like to hear your traditions.

 

[Crazyeye]

My favorite hunting is rough hunting. Long boat rides, long walks, and the satisfaction of shooting ducks at 10 yards over a few decoys on a jerk string. As i get older and drag 2 boys along I enjoy the comfort of a big blind. They each have their place. It is amazing to me the different cultures of duck hunting from state to state and even region to region (or bottom to bottom). I think that is why so many get upset with change. It is not just a reg change but a culture change. I just hope there is enough variety of hunting grounds for everyone to find their place.

 

[MickThompson]

I started out jump shooting woodies in the early season. My first "real duck hunt" was at Cheatham lake wma. We killed a couple gadwalls early and nearly had a big flock of mallards sit on us but a few broke off and dropped on the next blind first. During lunch I was the only one with my shotgun at the shooting hole and had to set down my kfc to double on a pair of mallards that tried to sneak in over the back of the blind while the bottoms were quiet.

Now I'm hugging trees in a beaver swamp with a double barrel, a dog I trained, and decoys I carved. Didn't see a bird this day but we looked good doing it!

 

[WilcoKen]

I started out jump shooting woodies in the early season. My first "real duck hunt" was at Cheatham lake wma. We killed a couple gadwalls early and nearly had a big flock of mallards sit on us but a few broke off and dropped on the next blind first. During lunch I was the only one with my shotgun at the shooting hole and had to set down my kfc to double on a pair of mallards that tried to sneak in over the back of the blind while the bottoms were quiet.

Now I'm hugging trees in a beaver swamp with a double barrel, a dog I trained, and decoys I carved. Didn't see a bird this day but we looked good doing it!View attachment 84128

Very cool.

 

[WilcoKen]

My favorite hunting is rough hunting. Long boat rides, long walks, and the satisfaction of shooting ducks at 10 yards over a few decoys on a jerk string. As i get older and drag 2 boys along I enjoy the comfort of a big blind. They each have their place. It is amazing to me the different cultures of duck hunting from state to state and even region to region (or bottom to bottom). I think that is why so many get upset with change. It is not just a reg change but a culture change. I just hope there is enough variety of hunting grounds for everyone to find their place.

Yes the different cultures are amazing. At Old Hickory it is a different culture from Unit 1 to Unit 2.

 

[UpperTully]

Killed my first bird before I was 10. It was a greenhead in a old slough in the late 80s with a old 16ga down in Mississippi.

I then spent the rest of my time in the Mississippi River bottoms. So, tradition to me is being anywhere along the big muddy, that cold boat ride across the water or the walk in with decoys and a gun, old A5's, standing in knee deep water in the timber or amongst a bunch of cypress, hearing those wings whistle at first light and the whimpering of a dog while hiding behind a tree. I guess thats my tradition.

Granted, I don't carry the old A5 anymore the rest still applies.

Below is a photo I took on the hike out of a great spot that unfortunately fell to a draw hunt several years ago. It took 2 years to draw this hole. Unfortunately we killed one bird that day. The special part of this hunt was spreading the ashes of his dog, who'd taken part in many hunts in this hole.

It can be said this photo sums up the life of a walk in duck hunter.

 

[WilcoKen]

Killed my first bird was a greenhead in a old slough in the late 80s with a old 16ga down in Mississippi.

I then spent the rest of my time in the Mississippi River bottoms. So, tradition to me is being anywhere along the big muddy, that cold boat ride across the water or the haul in, old A5's, standing in knee deep water in the timber or amongst a bunch of cypress, hearing those wings whistle at first light and the whimpering of a dog while hiding behind a tree

Granted, I don't carry the old A5 anymore the rest still applies.

Below is a photo I took on the hike out of a great spot that unfortunately fell to a draw hunt several years ago. It took 2 years to draw this hole. Unfortunately we killed one bird that day. The special part of this hunt was spreading the ashes of his dog, who'd taken part in many hunts in this hole.

It can be said this photo sums up the life of a walk in duck hunter.


View attachment 84134

Great story!

 

[tickweed]

Lord, don't get me started. I guess I started duck hunting back in the early seventys. Killed my first mallard, a greenhead on Morris lake, a small watershed lake in Madison county. Got my first band on that same lake the next year, a male Woodie. Back in those days, no waders. The real waterfowlers had two choices, Reb Ball or Northern hip boots. These cost about 40.00 a pair, I cut grass all summer and saved for me a pair of Northerns. Finally got em, boy, was I big time. By now, I was driving, and me an a buddy would roll in that 63 dodge pickup, wide open, top speed of 45 miles an hour, to Tigrett, off old hwy 104. Took forever to get there . Seems I couldn't wade 50 yds from the rd., and I''d slip, fall, fill my boots. We would always wade around, get a mallard or two. As the years went by, my passion never died, only got worse. Then we progressed to the blind drawings. Would go to the workshop at big at Big Sandy. Maybe a crowd of 500. Wasn't any selling. Just hunters. One year we drew 106, it was like we won the lottery. Then moved to hunting the mighty Mississippi. Boat hunting. Had some great days, but very dangerous. Then progressed to leases. Hatchie became my new home. Done that for years, but a lease is just that. A lease. Raised a family, worked, like many, just survived. Then , finally seemed as the kids grew, went there ways, finances got better, bought my first duck hole. Now, I spend most of my days back near Tigrett, in my spot. Also have friends who have some of the best private spots in the state who invite me. Built many memories with hunters over the years. Hope to build many more. I've hunted all over the states. Still hunt every day I'm off. Probably will till I die. I cant help it.

 

[WilcoKen]

Lord, don't get me started. I guess I started duck hunting back in the early seventys. Killed my first mallard, a greenhead on Morris lake, a small watershed lake in Madison county. Got my first band on that same lake the next year, a male Woodie. Back in those days, no waders. The real waterfowlers had two choices, Reb Ball or Northern hip boots. These cost about 40.00 a pair, I cut grass all summer and saved for me a pair of Northerns. Finally got em, boy, was I big time. By now, I was driving, and me an a buddy would roll in that 63 dodge pickup, wide open, top speed of 45 miles an hour, to Tigrett, off old hwy 104. Took forever to get there . Seems I couldn't wade 50 yds from the rd., and I''d slip, fall, fill my boots. We would always wade around, get a mallard or two. As the years went by, my passion never died, only got worse. Then we progressed to the blind drawings. Would go to the workshop at big at Big Sandy. Maybe a crowd of 500. Wasn't any selling. Just hunters. One year we drew 106, it was like we won the lottery. Then moved to hunting the mighty Mississippi. Boat hunting. Had some great days, but very dangerous. Then progressed to leases. Hatchie became my new home. Done that for years, but a lease is just that. A lease. Raised a family, worked, like many, just survived. Then , finally seemed as the kids grew, went there ways, finances got better, bought my first duck hole. Now, I spend most of my days back near Tigrett, in my spot. Also have friends who have some of the best private spots in the state who invite me. Built many memories with hunters over the years. Hope to build many more. I've hunted all over the states. Still hunt every day I'm off. Probably will till I die. I cant help

Thanks for sharing these memories. My hope is to also buy my own duck property one day.

 

[TNGunsmoke]

Guess I'm a late bloomer. Didn't start duck hunting until about 10 years ago. First bird I killed was a Green Wing Teal Drake on Reelfoot Lake outta blind 59. Added a nice Drake Pintail a couple weeks later from the same blind. I have both mounted on the wall in my bedroom. Now I hint up on Kentucky Lake for the most part, with some guys I go to church with, and a few others that have been hunting with them for years. If nothing else, we have a lotta fun, and we eat pretty good.

 

[WilcoKen]

Guess I'm a late bloomer. Didn't start duck hunting until about 10 years ago. First bird I killed was a Green Wing Teal Drake on Reelfoot Lake outta blind 59. Added a nice Drake Pintail a couple weeks later from the same blind. I have both mounted on the wall in my bedroom. Now I hint up on Kentucky Lake for the most part, with some guys I go to church with, and a few others that have been hunting with them for years. If nothing else, we have a lotta fun, and we eat pretty good.

Those are 2 great birds to start with. Beautiful colors. Thanks for sharing.

 

[TAFKAP]

View attachment 84134

I didn't pick up duck hunting until I was an adult, so I'm still developing my traditions. But I can smell, feel, and hear that walk through Shelby Forest. Even though the hunting there isn't so hot lately, it was the first place I ever had to walk in and truly "hunt", more than just showing up at someone's prepared blind and shooting birds. I love that walk, I love everything about being in the Forest, and that picture there is duck hunting to me.

 

[RUGER]

For me it's the hanging out and cooking in the blind with family and friends.
Would be nice to actually kill ducks though.

Favorite time is opening morning having that first light shoot them create something wonderful to eat. :D

 

[GUNNERX2]

I didn't start duck hunting 'til my mid 20s. Hunted a couple of years with someone that knew a little bit but not a lot on Old Hickory then I moved back to my old hometown, Tullahoma. Down there, I ran into a couple of guys that took me under their wing and taught me how to hunt flooded timber. I owe them a debt of gratitude, one has passed away and the other has given up duck hunting. While I enjoy all type of duck hunting, flooded timber holds a special place. 45 years later, the fire still burns but I don't think I have many more logs to keep the fire going. I'm lucky to have a private spot, although it's not much, and a few farms to hunt on a handshake that will carry me through the end of times.

 

[UpperTully]

I didn't pick up duck hunting until I was an adult, so I'm still developing my traditions. But I can smell, feel, and hear that walk through Shelby Forest. Even though the hunting there isn't so hot lately, it was the first place I ever had to walk in and truly "hunt", more than just showing up at someone's prepared blind and shooting birds. I love that walk, I love everything about being in the Forest, and that picture there is duck hunting to me.

I'm pretty Impressed! Very few has been able to pick that photo out unless they have made that walk. That's far, far from a easy walk too!

 

[WilcoKen]

For me it's the hanging out and cooking in the blind with family and friends.
Would be nice to actually kill ducks though.

Favorite time is opening morning having that first light shoot them create something wonderful to eat. :D

Me too Ruger.

I didn't start duck hunting 'til my mid 20s. Hunted a couple of years with someone that knew a little bit but not a lot on Old Hickory then I moved back to my old hometown, Tullahoma. Down there, I ran into a couple of guys that took me under their wing and taught me how to hunt flooded timber. I owe them a debt of gratitude, one has passed away and the other has given up duck hunting. While I enjoy all type of duck hunting, flooded timber holds a special place. 45 years later, the fire still burns but I don't think I have many more logs to keep the fire going. I'm lucky to have a private spot, although it's not much, and a few farms to hunt on a handshake that will carry me through the end of times.

Flooded timber is on my bucket list to do. My 23 years of duck hunting has pretty much exclusively been Old Hickory. I did do a SEMO pit lease this year so that will be a whole new experience.

 

[WilcoKen]

I was going through some of my saved pictures and came across this one. He (Jimmy Holt) peaked my interest in duck hunting but it was 10 years after watching this episode before I was able to go.

 

[TAFKAP]

I'm pretty Impressed! Very few has been able to pick that photo out unless they have made that walk. That's far, far from a easy walk too!

There's something really different about the way the trees look in that flooded bottom....I've never seen it anywhere else. My first walk-in was at #7, and it's still my favorite. I hope I'm able to draw it this year. I have 2 points now.

I was hunting in 6 last year, and we ended up grouping up with some guys that had #7. They supposedly had permission to bushwhack out beyond to a little spot that was holding a ton of woodies. They relied too heavily on OnX, and almost got us lost trying to come back in. I finally convinced them to just head east until we walked into the bluff. One dude was pointed straight to the river.....a mile away

 

[Levee Jumper]

I grew up hunting in and around the the Whitson blind and Sockey Palmers blind on Tigrett (A1 and A2) in the 90's, hunting there until the state took the blinds. I continued to hunt Tigrett along with the Mississippi River and Obion River Backwater in the 2000's. Once the State Built the ramp off of Green Hill Bottom Rd. at Tigrett, I pretty much quit hunting on the Forked Deer. In college I hunted Crocket, the Ponderosa at Bogota, and around Gooch quite a bit. The few days I get to hunt now are spent on private farms, public land when its right (i.e. crested backwater, sunshine and some wind), or out of state.

I long for the 90's and early 2000's when the time and ducks were plentiful but it wasn't as mainstream and "cool" as it is now.

 

[tickweed]

I grew up hunting in and around the the Whitson blind and Sockey Palmers blind on Tigrett (A1 and A2) in the 90's, hunting there until the state took the blinds. I continued to hunt Tigrett along with the Mississippi River and Obion River Backwater in the 2000's. Once the State Built the ramp off of Green Hill Bottom Rd. at Tigrett, I pretty much quit hunting on the Forked Deer. In college I hunted Crocket, the Ponderosa at Bogota, and around Gooch quite a bit. The few days I get to hunt now are spent on private farms, public land when its right (i.e. crested backwater, sunshine and some wind), or out of state.

I long for the 90's and early 2000's when the time and ducks were plentiful but it wasn't as mainstream and "cool" as it is now.

So very well spoken. Those days are long gone.

 

[tickweed]

Thanks for sharing these memories. My hope is to also buy my own duck property one day.

I honestly never thought I would own anything. It can be done. Just gotta look, save. Takes time, but well worth it.

 

[WilcoKen]

I honestly never thought I would own anything. It can be done. Just gotta look, save. Takes time, but well worth it.

I can relate. I've purchased deer hunting property. I'm finding that a good waterfowl property is tougher to locate and afford realistically. But maybe some day…

 

[younggun308]

I grew up hunting in and around the the Whitson blind and Sockey Palmers blind on Tigrett (A1 and A2) in the 90's, hunting there until the state took the blinds

I love the fact you remember the blinds by their old names. It's already history.

 

[Mud Creek]

I'm fairly new to it, guess it's been 5 years. Had nothing to do with Duck Dynasty as I never watched it. I do remember their old Benelli boom boom boom commercials though lol. I never knew any duck hunters, my family was always into quail, coon, and rabbit hunting/dogs so I spent most of my life small game hunting with some deer hunting mixed in. Since 2006 I basically just rabbit hunted and field trialed with my beagles. I never cared a single thing about ducks or killing them and if you told me 10+ years ago that one day I would want to sell all my beagles, buy/train a lab and spend all of my time thinking about duck hunting I would have said you were an idiot.

That changed one morning on a deer hunt. I was sitting in a double man ladder stand at my place with my nephew when around 6 a.m. I noticed tons of ducks flying over us. I watched them and told my nephew when we left we were going to go through the swamp to see if they were going to the pond. Sure enough on our way out we snuck in and they were all there. Mostly wood ducks but there was some mallards mixed in. I don't know what was more interesting to me, watching them fly over or seeing them all fly up and out when we got a little too close. I told him when season opened we were going to be waiting on them. Got our license, stamp, and some steel shot for us then waited for season.

Mind you this is not even 5 minutes from my house but we got there about 2 hours before shooting light lol the excitement was too much we had to just go. As it was getting light I saw them coming through the tree tops, I remember telling my nephew "here they come". We watched a bunch just drop in front of us and start swimming around. I told him next group that comes in start shooting, when they came we did just that. We both killed our woody limit then just sat watching them dump in even after all the mornings commotion. Our hunt was over in minutes but we stayed until about 10 just watching and recording them with the video camera. I got my first green head mallard that January and have been hooked since then.

I'm a 38 year old man but I swear when I see ducks working in I feel like a 12 year old kid. I shake like a monster buck is coming in on a string. I can't describe it I just know I never want the feeling to go away and I hope I never lose my passion to learn about it. I would gladly trade all my deer hunting memories and probably even my small game memories to have been raised in a "duck hunting lifestyle" that people in West Tn, Arkansas, Missouri etc have experienced. Middle TN just doesn't compare to places like that but I love it just the same. I read some of you guys posts and feel both happy for you and a little jealous of you that you got to experience it early on before it was commerciized. I would have loved to have old timers take me under their wing and teach me about calling, decoy placement, all of it. I dream of flooded timber holes, duck blind breakfasts, teal buzzing, cupped mallards, beautiful pintails...and me missing all of them with my poor shooting LOL. I can't get enough of it. Last year I linked up with a couple high school friends and we started going together. Overall it was a terrible year numbers wise but still had fun. I got a nice drake black duck that I am getting mounted, killed a few woodies, mallards, and divers also. I hope this year is better than last but we will still get after them regardless. Sorry for rambling on!!

 

[WilcoKen]

I'm fairly new to it, guess it's been 5 years. Had nothing to do with Duck Dynasty as I never watched it. I do remember their old Benelli boom boom boom commercials though lol. I never knew any duck hunters, my family was always into quail, coon, and rabbit hunting/dogs so I spent most of my life small game hunting with some deer hunting mixed in. Since 2006 I basically just rabbit hunted and field trialed with my beagles. I never cared a single thing about ducks or killing them and if you told me 10+ years ago that one day I would want to sell all my beagles, buy/train a lab and spend all of my time thinking about duck hunting I would have said you were an idiot.

That changed one morning on a deer hunt. I was sitting in a double man ladder stand at my place with my nephew when around 6 a.m. I noticed tons of ducks flying over us. I watched them and told my nephew when we left we were going to go through the swamp to see if they were going to the pond. Sure enough on our way out we snuck in and they were all there. Mostly wood ducks but there was some mallards mixed in. I don't know what was more interesting to me, watching them fly over or seeing them all fly up and out when we got a little too close. I told him when season opened we were going to be waiting on them. Got our license, stamp, and some steel shot for us then waited for season.

Mind you this is not even 5 minutes from my house but we got there about 2 hours before shooting light lol the excitement was too much we had to just go. As it was getting light I saw them coming through the tree tops, I remember telling my nephew "here they come". We watched a bunch just drop in front of us and start swimming around. I told him next group that comes in start shooting, when they came we did just that. We both killed our woody limit then just sat watching them dump in even after all the mornings commotion. Our hunt was over in minutes but we stayed until about 10 just watching and recording them with the video camera. I got my first green head mallard that January and have been hooked since then.

I'm a 38 year old man but I swear when I see ducks working in I feel like a 12 year old kid. I shake like a monster buck is coming in on a string. I can't describe it I just know I never want the feeling to go away and I hope I never lose my passion to learn about it. I would gladly trade all my deer hunting memories and probably even my small game memories to have been raised in a "duck hunting lifestyle" that people in West Tn, Arkansas, Missouri etc have experienced. Middle TN just doesn't compare to places like that but I love it just the same. I read some of you guys posts and feel both happy for you and a little jealous of you that you got to experience it early on before it was commerciized. I would have loved to have old timers take me under their wing and teach me about calling, decoy placement, all of it. I dream of flooded timber holes, duck blind breakfasts, teal buzzing, cupped mallards, beautiful pintails...and me missing all of them with my poor shooting LOL. I can't get enough of it. Last year I linked up with a couple high school friends and we started going together. Overall it was a terrible year numbers wise but still had fun. I got a nice drake black duck that I am getting mounted, killed a few woodies, mallards, and divers also. I hope this year is better than last but we will still get after them regardless. Sorry for rambling on!!

That was a very good story. Thanks for sharing!

 

[OldGoat68]

I started with the waterfowl at about 30 years old on Old Hickory Lake. Loved it. When number 1 son was old enough he started tagging along and got consumed with it. A few years later, that same son and a few of his friends drew a really good blind in Big Sandy and I was the only dad who committed to helping these guys with their first real blind. We had a GREAT year.

Now, some years later, those boys are men. Some have stayed, some have moved on. Most are married with and a few kiddos in the mix, my grandson included. They still hang together, but now it's at a camp in Arkansas. I've slowed a bit, but they have taken up the slack and still ask me back year after year. Can't ask for a better group of guys to be around, it's been quite the adventure. still look forward to the years to come.

 

[WilcoKen]

I started with the waterfowl at about 30 years old on Old Hickory Lake. Loved it. When number 1 son was old enough he started tagging along and got consumed with it. A few years later, that same son and a few of his friends drew a really good blind in Big Sandy and I was the only dad who committed to helping these guys with their first real blind. We had a GREAT year.

Now, some years later, those boys are men. Some have stayed, some have moved on. Most are married with and a few kiddos in the mix, my grandson included. They still hang together, but now it's at a camp in Arkansas. I've slowed a bit, but they have taken up the slack and still ask me back year after year. Can't ask for a better group of guys to be around, it's been quite the adventure. still look forward to the years to come.

Great story. I remember back in the late 70s there was a small hunting club/lodge across the road from Cedar Creek Marina. I'd love to find someone who knew more about it. I've heard the duck hunting was really good on Old Hickory back in the 70s/80s. I didn't start until the late 90s.

 

[GUNNERX2]

I don't recall a club in that area, could have been and I just didn't hear about it.
The hunting was good on OH back in the 70s & 80s. We had an area manager that really cared about duck hunting and managed Unit 1 very well. Back then, even the worst gar hole would kill 100+ ducks a season. A top pick would kill 600-800 birds hunting every day, large groups of hunters kept the good blinds full. It wasn't unusual to send someone up to Hank's boat dock to make calls to guys in the group to get them to come on up and take someone's place that was close to limiting out.

 

[younggun308]

I don't recall a club in that area, could have been and I just didn't hear about it.
The hunting was good on OH back in the 70s & 80s. We had an area manager that really cared about duck hunting and managed Unit 1 very well. Back then, even the worst gar hole would kill 100+ ducks a season. A top pick would kill 600-800 birds hunting every day, large groups of hunters kept the good blinds full. It wasn't unusual to send someone up to Hank's boat dock to make calls to guys in the group to get them to come on up and take someone's place that was close to limiting out.

What did the manager do that isn't currently done? I've heard people say it's the lack of migration that's the problem, but then I look at some properties and think "how is this supposed to draw any fowl"?

 

[GUNNERX2]

As to his management practices, he kept beavers thinned out, hand planted the food holes if it was too wet to get equipment in and flooded up the refuge early (late Sept/early Oct) to catch early migrants which would attract other birds coming down. Those were just a few that came to mind.
40 years ago, the Cumberland River valley looked much differently than today. River bottoms were planted in corn for miles. Over time, a lot of those bottoms were converted to cow/calf operations, people wanted river frontage to build homes and the ducks didn't respond well to the changes. The migration corridors moved somewhat to the west and now we are dealing with climate change and the ducks staying further north.