MidTennFisher
Well-Known Member
A few weeks ago I scouted a spot on Percy Priest that was choked out thick with grass. As I forced my yak in there I spooked 4 woodies out of an area of cypress trees so I spent several hours that day and the next day pulling the grass and throwing it to make an area for decoys and to hunt from. I was so excited to hunt this spot. Opening morning there were a bunch of guys in there that were very rude when I explained I am new to duck hunting and did all that hard work and really wanted my first wood duck. I asked nicely if I could hunt alongside them and they turned me away.
I set up outside that cove and made sure to sky blast every time a wood duck flew past me towards them so I could ruin their hunt just like they did mine :tu: I know, I know, "that's public land" but when these guys give me an attitude about wanting to hunt an area that they clearly see I spent several hours carving out, screw their "public land".
Next day, I had it to myself and had several woodies come by but I kept missing. I hit one and it fell in the thick grass never to be found. I went back 3 time to look and was bummed I lost it.
3rd day of early season I get there and still had it to myself. A guy showed up and said he was alone and asked if he could join. Me being nicer than the crowd I ran into opening morning I said heck yea, let's kill some ducks. Only saw 2 woodies, way out of range, but we had a group of about 30 teal buzz us and we worked them in. They swung around 3 times before coming into the dekes and we unloaded on them. Killed 7, found 6. We split them 3 a piece and I ate them last night.
I plucked and cut the breast and legs out in one piece still attached by that layer of fat. Pan seared them skin side down to get that skin golden and crispy then turned them over and put them in the oven for a few minutes. I made a blackberry bourbon sauce to go along. They were fantastic and I sure hope to get another group to come in before this early season is done!
I didn't hunt this morning so hopefully no one else was in my spot and it got some rest. I think I'm going back tomorrow though. Below is a pic of the area I cleared out. It was so much work, that's why I was so pissed off when those guys were going to hunt over it and not let me join them.
I set up outside that cove and made sure to sky blast every time a wood duck flew past me towards them so I could ruin their hunt just like they did mine :tu: I know, I know, "that's public land" but when these guys give me an attitude about wanting to hunt an area that they clearly see I spent several hours carving out, screw their "public land".
Next day, I had it to myself and had several woodies come by but I kept missing. I hit one and it fell in the thick grass never to be found. I went back 3 time to look and was bummed I lost it.
3rd day of early season I get there and still had it to myself. A guy showed up and said he was alone and asked if he could join. Me being nicer than the crowd I ran into opening morning I said heck yea, let's kill some ducks. Only saw 2 woodies, way out of range, but we had a group of about 30 teal buzz us and we worked them in. They swung around 3 times before coming into the dekes and we unloaded on them. Killed 7, found 6. We split them 3 a piece and I ate them last night.
I plucked and cut the breast and legs out in one piece still attached by that layer of fat. Pan seared them skin side down to get that skin golden and crispy then turned them over and put them in the oven for a few minutes. I made a blackberry bourbon sauce to go along. They were fantastic and I sure hope to get another group to come in before this early season is done!
I didn't hunt this morning so hopefully no one else was in my spot and it got some rest. I think I'm going back tomorrow though. Below is a pic of the area I cleared out. It was so much work, that's why I was so pissed off when those guys were going to hunt over it and not let me join them.
