Today marks the end of the season, in the Republik of MD, for nasty boogers so it was the last chance to try them. Went to the C&D canal again this morning and arrived before light. Well, pulled up on the levee, gathered my things, and walked about 300 yards to where I was gonna set up. Put the Crow,Fish in action so they could weathervane in the breeze that was supposed to pick up as the sun came up and only increase. Got the sentry up, sat down in the blind and all was right with the world. Or so I thought!! Little did I know those nasty boogers had roosted in a tree on the levee and I had parked up under them! BUSTED!!! Couldn't believe when they took off before legal shooting times!! So I sat there watching as 20-30 nasty boogers disappeared for parts unknown. Not wanting to waste the last day, I started calling when I finally heard one about 20 minutes later. 4 came in but wouldn't get close. Most of my hunts have been one and done, so I didn't want to be on my way home so soon. A double came in and of course, I missed. That's been my worst problem this year, missing. Then a single, missed! Saw a nasty booger later about 100 yards away and hit him with the "Come Here", nothing. Then hit him with the "Recognition" call and he made a long sweeping turn and headed my way. Well, down he came with "crow snow" blowing in the breeze. So... I was not blanked on the last day! That brings my TBC for the year to 16. Not many, but I have had a stellar year! Saw a Booner 8 point walk up to my blind, foxes run by my decoys, eagles, hawks of all kinds and one even grabbed a silhouette. So ya'll, 16 downed nasty boogers isn't many, but it saves 1600 ducks the way I see it! It's in my blood now and I'm counting the days till next season!!!! (And I will be spending time at the range! )
Bob
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Old Ironworkers never die, they just rust away - Bob Harrington
About the same thing happed to us about two weeks ago. Watched a spot we'd hunted six weeks prior for three days in a row before the next planned hunt. Every morning at sunrise and the second day am and pm. Estimated about five hundred feeding a half mile from where we'd set up. The evening I checked, they were gone an hour before sunset. We had a four hundred yard walk through muddy, worked ground, so decided to set up the night before. Got there an hour before sunset, parked in a vacant farm yard and noticed about 60-70 crows present in the field we were setting up in. We commented that they'd better get going or end up low crow on the roost. Slogged in and began setting up. Were just about done and noticed more and more filtering in. Long story short about 3-400 ended up roosting in the yard we parked in and we'd be parking in the roost the next morning.
We decided we'd let them fly off the roost away from us to feed and call them back later. Had mixed results as it seemed most of them left the area. The shoot wasn't a total bust, but I still felt like we got beat. Sometimes what seems your best effort, still can't figure out the unpredictable devils.
Thanks for the report. Your next season will be here before you know it.
Sometimes what seems your best effort, still can't figure out the unpredictable devils.
That's a fact Randy! The biggest thing I take away from this season is, expect the unexpected! Only 152 days left to work on my loads, better my wing shooting, and work on my calling. Those nasty boogers will be there. Can't wait!
__________________
Old Ironworkers never die, they just rust away - Bob Harrington
Not wanting to waste the last day, I started calling when I finally heard one about 20 minutes later. 4 came in but wouldn't get close. Most of my hunts have been one and done, so I didn't want to be on my way home so soon. A double came in and of course, I missed. That's been my worst problem this year, missing. Then a single, missed! Saw a nasty booger later about 100 yards away and hit him with the "Come Here", nothing. Then hit him with the "Recognition" call and he made a long sweeping turn and headed my way. Well, down he came with "crow snow" blowing in the breeze. So... I was not blanked on the last day! That brings my TBC for the year to 16. Not many, but I have had a stellar year! Saw a Booner 8 point walk up to my blind, foxes run by my decoys, eagles, hawks of all kinds and one even grabbed a silhouette. So ya'll, 16 downed nasty boogers isn't many, but it saves 1600 ducks the way I see it! It's in my blood now and I'm counting the days till next season!!!!
(And I will be spending time at the range! 
)