It's just money - don't be a party pooper!

Went out Friday of the NTx snow storm and saw couple 100 mallards flying they just couldn't look or commit. They didn't flare just were doing their own thing.

[URL=https://imgbox.com/5McL30p5][/URL] [URL=https://imgbox.com/Y0yESA5Y][/URL]

Shoot me an email. Depending on where you are in the state, good chance I know some spots nearby.

Oh, and feel blessed that you have what you do in Oklahoma. Your state excels for public duck hunting opportunities. People drive from all over to hunt there. Texas is absolutely terrible in comparison.

To answer some of your questions, set up with the wind to your back or on a quartering away or crossing. Try to set up with the sun to your back also. If its sunny, try to hide in the shadows of brush or a tree. Try to scout the day before. Minimum 200 yards between you and other groups. Sometimes this is property dependent. Big huge lake, give more space than you might hunting a hole in the woods. Facemask are a must. Im big on gloves too. HOLD STILL when you see birds. Movement causes more missed chances than anything else.

Dont get too wrapped up in having all the best gear. Location is #1. Getting hid and holding still are #2. All the crap you see for sale is a distant #3.

Finally got on the board fellas! Up in Arkansas for the week and we've had three slow mornings but got into them in the woods. Flooded timber, standing in thigh deep water just above freezing. Four shooters, 13 mallards and 7 woodies. We quit a little early so as to not pressure them so much since the hunting has been tough this year.

This might have been my favorite of the season! 4 man limit, all spoonies and almost all drakes, in about 40 minutes.

This was just south of El Campo

Had a great last hunt in Arkansas. Full moon had the birds working better in the afternoon/evening. We put out our decoys in a couple of open holes in some volunteer rice. We hid in the tree line on the edge of the field. Had a great afternoon flight for about an hour and a half before sundown. Great pintail flight too but they teased us and did the pintail thing and just circled and circled and wouldn't commit. Mallards and woodies in the decoys again. I think we ended up with 10 or 11 mallards and 3 woodies.

Drove home yesterday. Will spend today cleaning my gear and thinking about next year's trip!

We couldn't afford the high fence hunt for mallards so we hunted next door and shot smiling mallards

It's a special place and was a special week. My dad, uncle, BIL and I always make it happen. It think it's our 13th year in a row except 2021 when uncle caught the covid the day before we were going to drive up.

My dad and uncle are in their upper 70's and dad's had some major health problems this past year so the time together is even more important than the hunting.

Had an interesting hunt this morning. My last opportunity this season in Bandera county. Was really just going to hopefully get my dog his first retrieve.

Right at shooting light a pair came in and I dropped one. My lab heads out to get it but the bird is wounded and starts heading away from him. I call my dog back and was either going to swat it or wait a little while and walk around the lake and pull it out. I watched it swim into some brush on the other side of the lake about 60 yards away and figured it would just hunker down.

About 15 minutes later I see a big ol coon walking along the bank. As my eyes adjusted I realize he has my damn duck and is taking off with it. I should've peppered him but I was in awe of the situation before I could think to do that. He wandered off in to the brush.

Only had a couple more birds come in the rest of the morning and with my poor shooting we came home empty handed.

Hewey Calloway said:

---

Had an interesting hunt this morning. My last opportunity this season in Bandera county. Was really just going to hopefully get my dog his first retrieve.

Right at shooting light a pair came in and I dropped one. My lab heads out to get it but the bird is wounded and starts heading away from him. I call my dog back and was either going to swat it or wait a little while and walk around the lake and pull it out. I watched it swim into some brush on the other side of the lake about 60 yards away and figured it would just hunker down.

About 15 minutes later I see a big ol coon walking along the bank. As my eyes adjusted I realize he has my damn duck and is taking off with it. I should've peppered him but I was in awe of the situation before I could think to do that. He wandered off in to the brush.

Only had a couple more birds come in the rest of the morning and with my poor shooting we came home empty handed.

---

I was hunting some deep marsh down by La Belle with my buddies in high school and we're pulling up dead ducks behind us. Started to get close to a limit and turned around to count them up and there were 2 raccoons, each dragging a duck off into the marsh.

TarponChaser said:

---

ttha_aggie_09 said:

---

I've heard of gators getting ducks but not a raccoon. That's funny!

---

I could see a raccoon doing it but haven't seen it. Seen gators and gar take downed ducks. One of the coolest was seeing a hawk take a wounded duck and fly off with it.

---

Marsh raccoons are built different. They are predators

Got skunked on a guided goose hunt in the eagle lake area this morning. I'm gonna brave the cold in the morning on public walk in and cross my fingers.

It's been far too long since I got out and hunted ducks but got the chance yesterday. One shy of a 3 man limit but we had to burn out of the spot before the tide went out and our boat got stuck.

Ya, they didn't even charge us. We just tipped the guide.

I got 1 shy of a limit today on Public walk in today, including a drake mottled duck. That's about the best I have ever done on a Sunday. No teal in the bag either, so looks like the front may have pushed a few birds down. I've pretty much only shot teal all season. Everything is real decoy shy. I'm contemplating only bring a 1/2 dozen on Saturday.

Decent solo hunt this morning. Mallards came for a visit for once. Don't see those everyday in North Texas.