CONTENTS
OF WATERFOWLING DELMARVA
"NOTES FROM A RETIRED HUNTER"
1998-99 season by Donald Hughes
Area hunted was from Chesapeake Bay to Ocean and
Delaware Bay
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daily deeds///donald
Tuesday, Dec 1, 1998
Sunrise found me at Hard Scrabble. Still
in a heat wave. Supposed to reach the 70's. Had a
single Snow that had stayed in the pond come to me just after sunrise.
It circled the dekes out front
of the blind and then started to head for the mounts behind the blind.
I shot him at about 30 yds
overhead. Again, bored by 0900 and left, but noticed that the
geese seemed to be just getting ready
to fly. I intend to try to stay longer tomarrow.
Finished cutting up the deer and had some wonderfull steaks
for supper. You should have been
here. donald
Wednesday, Dec 2, 1998
Sunrise found me at Hard Scrabble with the
weather beautiful and warm. Not many geese came inland off the bay.
0830 a single gray Snow came straight into the dekes. I made him
dead with no trouble. Stayed till 0900 by just nothing flying.
Will be heading for Lancaster, Pa. in the
morning with Pat to see a show at The Living Waters sight & sound theater.
Weather is to be great for riding. donald
Friday, Dec 4, 1998
Had a good trip with Pat. Show not much.
Time with Pat wonderful. Home in time to shuck some oysters and check
on the Snows at Hurlock. They're still there. Going to Hard
Scrabble in the morning. Jeff and Rod supposed to come, so it will
be 4 of us with Eddie and I. Hope we see more than 4 geese, but with
this heat wave I am not sure we will. donald
Saturday, Dec 5, 1998
Sunrise found Eddie and I meeting Jeff and
Rod at Hard Scrabble. Weather warm and FAC with overcast skies.
We never even got a shot. Had a hell of a great breakfast that Jeff
fixed and great company. Noticed the last mounted duck that I did
was gone, and hope that the fox that stole it gets a hell of a belly ache
from eating the power that I use to tan the hide. First time this
season that I got skunked. Jeff says it's his second time this year
and both were with Rod. hehehe We will not hold it against
Rod, YET.
Checked Hurlock and the Snows are still there.
Looking forward to Tuesday when it reopens in Maryland. Jeff is going
to stay down and we will hunt Monday and then the first day for Maryland
on Tuesday. Weather man talking about maybe some rain and temps finally
getting back to normal, so maybe we can get in a good hunting day.
Pat is working for six days in a row.
Granny just woke and wanted me to check the front yard cause she thinks
someone is fighting out there with kids. Told her it was in
her dreams, BUT. Guess it will get worse.
Fixed a venison roast for supper with potatoes
and carrots. Man, you should have been here. Damn, I'm a good
cook. Got the belly to prove it. Write if you can.
donald
Monday, Dec 7, 1998
Sunrise found Jeff and I at Hard Scrabble.
Both of us knew that we shouldn't be there cause of the heat wave, but
there we were. Broke another temp record. Jeff was hunting
in shorts. Great legs girls. hehehe.
We of course never fired our guns, but at
least we were outside. We will make them pay tomorrow.
Tuesday, Dec 8, 1998
Sunrise found Jeff and I at Hurlock.
Overcast, warm and light wind, with rain supposed to start in the afternoon.
Geese went out the North end of the refuge, all at once, a shit load, and
we never got a past shot at any. 0800 We had a single Greater Snow
come out and decoy right into the dekes. At 2 foot off the ground
over the dekes, at 35 yds, he died. Sunny made a good retrieve.
It was a small adult Greater Snow. 0910 Their were suddenly
3 Greater Snows that came out of the refuge and made a big circle into
the field out front of us. They fell right in on the dekes.
Again at 35 yds and 2 feet over the dekes with feet out I said take 'em.
My auto jammed and we only got the old bird that was leading them in, crippling
a gray that just made it back to the refuge.
Then it happen! Jeff has been after
that hard to get 'BLUE' 'EAGLE HEAD'. A pair, one white and one BLUE
came off the refuge and when out into the field, landing about 300 yds
out. Jeff was breathing hard. You know what I mean, like just
before, yeah. Anyway, he didn't have long to wait, cause it jumped and
headed for the dekes flying about 10 feet off the ground. It came
right into the dekes and at 35 yds, with its feet out Jeff shot feathers
out of its ass. His second shot put it down and Sunny did her thing.
He even got it on video! It is a beautiful Lesser Blue faze eagle
head. Then it's mate that had been sitting out in the field came
right into the dekes. LOVE'S GREAT! Jeff now has both and intends
to have them mounted. The white Lesser Snow was also beautiful and
after all they should be kept together. You know, love and all.
I think Jeff is still floating on air.
I left the pit to go after sandwiches and when I returned he had another
young Greater Snow that got to close while I was gone. Soon as I
got back at 1200 it started raining. Wet subs, taste great when you
are hunger. 1230 We had a pair that circled and we tried them at
about 50 yds and crippled one, but it went into the refuge. We stayed
till we got wet, plus, Jeff wanted to get to the taxidermy shop with his
birds, so we called it a day.
Well, Jeff now has his BAND and now his BLUE,
guess there's nothing left for him to hunt for. hehehe Sure
hope he has enjoyed getting them as much as I have enjoyed being with him
when he did.
Pat works again tonight. Paul called
and said there were about 2,000 in the field with the dekes at Hard Scrabble
this afternoon. Think I will still go to Hurlock in the morning,
anyway. It's supposed to be clear, cool and windy. Heaven!
Hope Granny is descend tonight. Write if you know how. donald
Wednesday, Dec 9, 1998
Daybreak found me at Hurlock Pit in a steady
light rain. So much crap out of the damn weather man who promised
clear and windy. Anyway, it wasn't raining to hard so I figured I
would stay till I got wet. Geese all went out the North end of the
refuge like they did yesterday, but one single in the middle of everything
came around and headed for the dekes. Right overhead at 45 yds he
died. Sunny was out of the pit as the gun went off and was stranding
about 15 feet in front, looking for the goose, when it hit the ground about
two feet from her. Think it scared her cause she jumped into the
air about five feet, but then was right on it and retrieved it. Big
young gray Greater Snow.
Within five minutes there was another single
that came back from the direction the Snows had gone. It went out
in the front of me and from the middle of the field setup and fell 100
yds flipping out and ended up steadying himself over the dekes and then
hovering over the mounts. I stood up and as he saw me and headed
out I folded him in a pile. Fell pretty good, two for two.
But about 0800 I had a pair that circled the refuge and came out at 35
yds over my head. Missed them 3 times, course Sunny tried to jump
over me as I tried shooting from my chair. I have to tie her down
till I tell her to go. Hate to, but got to.
0830 I had another pair that swung out in
front of me over the dekes and again missed 3 times. Now I wasn't
feeling so good about my shooting. Seemed like when I tried real
hard to hit, that's when I would miss. Anyway, 0900 I was getting
wet and about to quit when another pair came from no where and overhead
at 40 yds I downed both. One White and one young Greater Snow. By
now the rain water was running down the crack of my ass and I was cold
and I headed for the jazzuci.
DAMN, I just burn my potatoes I had cooking
so that I could make some mashed with gravy and venison butterfly steaks.
Still going to do it, just gotto start the potatoes again. O Well,
better get to it, cause Pat has to go to work again tonight. Skinned
the geese I brought home yesterday and will mount the white ones tonight
after supper. I have an eye doctor's appointment at 1000 AM in the
morning, so I will try Hurlock for daybreak Talk to you tomorrow.
donald
Thursday, Dec 10 1998
Anyone want to buy a BPS cheap? Just
like new $300.00. Damn thing.
Sunrise found me at Hard Scrabble, seems my
eye Doctor's appointment is tomorrow, weather cold and calm. Little
Pond next to the blind had about 2,000 in it, I mean it was white and loud.
As they left some when over head, but I decided not to pass shot.
One old bird jumped late and made a big swing out in the field. Then
headed for the dekes. At 35 yds right over the dekes I shot 3 times
and never touched him. Watched him fly away in disbelieve.
Monents after that a single came from the
direction the flock went and came sailing over the dekes at 30 yds.
I missed him 3 times also. Like I said yesterday I am haveing trouble
hiting with the BPS. I walked over to the Little Pond and shot to
see if I could change anything. Man, I was shooting 2 1/2 to 3 feet
under things. Just the way she comes up on me. Went back to
the blind figgering I could maybe change and start hitting them.
Think they were in the field again yesterday
cause they came good today. My next shot was a pair and they too
got over the dekes. I crippled one on my 3th shot. Few mintues
later I had a funnel working and when a flock of six were over the dekes
at 35 yds I tried to get a white bird 3 times agian, but only crippled
it. Then a single Black duck circled the pond and I caught him with
the call. He circled and circled till he got down over the dekes
at about 40 yds. I missed him 2 times. I have had it with the
BPS. Just can't seem to adjust to it. Walked back to the truck
which was 300 yds away and got Bertha and walked back. One single
pitched right in while I was doing it. Sunny damn near caught it
before it took off.
0915 Finially back in the blind. 0920
Had a pair of old birds that circled and circled and when they were 50
yds overhead I cut one out with Bertha. Hell if I can get ONE each
time they get close it's a lot better than none. 0935 Had another funnel
of maybe 100 birds working. One flock of 8 got overhead at 45 yds
and I cut out another white bird, nice big one. Things quit after
that and I left at 1030 glad that I had walked back to the truck and got
Bertha. Time I got to the truck I was also glad that I only had two
of the big Greater Snows to carry back. Who needs to shoot more than
a single shot! I like to go every day and I don't need to kill a
truck load each day. So the BPS is in the paper for sale.
Really have the eye appointment in the morning
so I am going to Hurlock till about nine. Took oysters to both landlords
today. Pat has off tonight, says she will cook. Think they
have had to much wild game lately. George Doty may go with me in
the morning, called him cause he has the seaduck dekes and we want them
for Monday when the MD duck season opens. WRITE ME! donald
Friday, Dec 11, 1998
Sunrise found George and I at Hurlock.
Geese went out the other end and we stayed till 0900 and never got a shot.
Saturday, Dec 12, 1998
Sunrise found Eddie and I at Hard Scrabble.
We watched Snows leaving the roast next to the blind as we went to it.
We managed to get 5 Snows. Three white ones. But we had to
wait them out to do it. Stayed till 1230. I had to get home!
Arrived home to fine Bill working on the floating
blind. He wanted to hunt the evening, he knows I don't hunt all day,
but I let he and Eddie go to Hurlock and they killed 2 more. I was
beat.
Bill has two guys coming from PA to help finally
get the floating blind down on site, but it is going to rain and I don't
expect it to get done. Bill's got a couple of planks that he broke
off the pier and a place he got stuck in the rain to fix, next door.
Sunday, Dec 13, 1998
RAIN. We rode around and at Hard Scrabble
the field was white with Snows. Plenty at Hurlock also.
Monday, Dec 14, 1998
Sunrise found Bill, two of his friends, Al,
Scott and I at Hard Scrabble. The little pond was white and loud
with Snows. When they got up they circled and circled the dekes and
the field. One landed. Then finally most left the field. About
a third kept circling and when there was a large flock overhead at about
35 yds we shot. Ha, we killed nothing! Whole lot of banging
but no killing. But we got them the hell out of there.
After that we realized the one that had landed
was still in the dekes, so he got killed, that took 3 shots and Sunny to
run him down. 0830 we had a single come across the field and right
into the dekes. Al made a good shot and put him in a pile in the
dekes. Then we had a single Mallard land in the pond, but then jump
and was called overhead. Scott made a good shot and downed him.
Saw lots of geese but they just wouldn't come to us. We left at noon
with 2 Snows and a Mallard drake. They were going to the Fishing
Bay Wildlife Area marsh to hunt ducks where I had showed Bill one of my
favorite spots. I was beat. Hope they killed a pile.
I will try Hurlock in the morning.
Tuesday, Dec 15, 1998
Sunrise found me at Hurlock. Clear and
cold. Temps in the 20's. Geese went out on the North end.
Tons of them. Nothing till 0750 when 4 came out overhead at 45 yds.
I shot with the auto and rocked and old bird out front 2 times but he just
kept going. 0810 3 came out and circled out in the field, cupped
up falling and headed for the dekes. Made 2 tight circles and than
with there feet out over the mounts with the auto I cut the big old bird
out and missed another two times. 0815 3 more came out over head
at 45 yds and I cut a old bird out, with Bertha, as they went overhead.
The other two made a circle and reloaded fast I got the other old bird.
0830 Left with 3 white Greater Snows.
0900 I left home with Pat heading for Jerrisvile
to get two deer that Craig got for me and had hanging in a tree.
Picked up 2 deer, one nice doe and a young doe, and some of the best Christmas
cookies I have ever eaten. Graig's Mom, Ann was making cookies for
Christmas when I got there to pick up the deer. Pat and I made pigs
of ourselves on the way home and ate everyone of them. Thanks Ann!
At 0345PM after 300 miles Pat and I were home. 0400PM I was with
Eddie at the Hurlock pit and we got 2 more young Snows. Than I took
the deer over to the butchers to have hamburger made out of both.
Great day, nice to be with Pat. Ready for Hard Scrabble in the morning.
Write. donald
Wednesday, Dec 16, 1998
Sunrise found me at Hurlock, just didn't feel
good enough to go over to Hard Scrabble. Stayed till 0830 but never
got a shot. Spent most of the day in bed. Did ride back over
to Hurlock for the last hour before sunset, still nothing. To bed
early. Pat down with something also.
Thursday, Dec 17, 1998
Sunrise found me at Hard Scrabble. Nothing
roasting on the pond. Geese all flying inland from me at a gravel
pit about 5 miles inland from me. Tried Hurlock in the evening and
killed one white bird. Long shot.
Pat is sick enough that she went to the doctor
and is not going to work tonight. donald
Friday, Dec 18, 1998
Met David at the bank at 0630 and we when
on over to Hurlock pit. Plenty of geese in the refuge, but we had
nothing even come close. Stayed till 0900 and David went duck hunting,
I went to bed. Tried Hurlock just before sunset and killed 3 gimpy
Snow geese 'cripples, ones that had a bad hair day, maybe a belly ache,
or ones that had caught some shot', anyway there are some that don't seem
to want to leave the refuge and I killed 3 of them, all young birds.
One that was in the dekes when I got there and 2 that flew into me and
committed suicide. All 3 almost staved to dead.
Guess Eddie and I will go to Hurlock in the
morning. Had hoped to get the floating blind down river, but maybe
tomorrow. We will see what happens. Think Eddie and I can do
it. Needs to be there! Looking forward to hunting out of it.
donald
Pat is still sick. Wish it was me, not
her. She really hurts. donald
Saturday, Dec 19, 1998
Sunrise found Eddie and I at Hurlock
Geese all went out south end. 0830 a single came back and circled
the refuge then headed for us. Told Eddie to take him when he could
kill him, but he shot at him while he was still coming and hit him in the
ass with his first shot and by the time he got off another it was to far
away. I didn't even pick up my gun. I through he was going
to let it get closer. 1010 we had another single that came right
to the dekes. This time Eddie gave him a chance to get in close and
downed him. I had had enough and told Eddie if he wanted to he could
hunt the afternoon, but I was going to give it up.
Pat still sick. So I tried to comfort
her and would have been better off going hunting. She just doesn't
fell good. Mounted a couple more Snows and a crow that I had killed
earlier for Jack. Hope to move blind in the morning.
donald
Sunday, Dec 20, 1998
Man did I mess up! I had told George
and Eddie that I figured the tide would be OK at 0900 and so we left Sharptown
ramp to fine that went we got to Brookview the tide had fell just enough
that we couldn't get the blind off the mud. SouthWest wind yesterday
and East today and the damn tide fell like it was out of the NorthWest.
Go figure! Told them I was sorry and was just a dumb Polock.
They said they would wait it out and I fixed some sandwiches to kill time.
We then rode the river were tons of Snows had roasted the night before.
Behind my house was white and very nosily last night. We picked up
3 Snows that had died during the night and saw some cripples.
Finally the tide was up enough to get the
blind off, but none we had to tow against the tide. It took us till
sunset to get it to the site. But we now have it anchored on site.
Weeee. After all this time gone of the duck season there was a young
man brushing the blind that is about 300 yds away from our site.
Talked to him and told him I didn't care if he hunted there, but we were
the ones with the license. Hope we have no trouble from him.
Guess I am headed for Hard Scrabble by myself
in the morning. Pat is feeling a little better. Write.
donald
Monday, Dec 21, 1998
Met Jeff at sunrise at Hard Scrabble in a
fog that you could see about 50 yds. Heard a few Snows flying , but
saw almost none. It was 1030 before the fog lifted enough for the
geese to see the dekes and then we had one funnel that circled from high
and circled seven times when we shot and killed one crippled a couple.
We left at noon and Jeff when right on out to the Hurlock pit.
After something to eat I went to set in the
fog with Jeff. He had 1 Grey Snow on the ground when I got there.
Geese kept coming and we kept shooting. I WILL NOT tell you our average
of killing and missing, but we shot BAD. We ended up with 9
Greater Snows. Sunny got 2 more. One she found at the pond
at Hard Scrabble and one she caught at Hurlock. Great day.
Santa came after the hunt. Jeff had gifts. He had framed the
photo of Eddie and I with all the geese we had killed that day at BoomBay.
It's beautiful, he made the frame. I love it. I am glad he
can put up with and old fart like me! More gifts, a tape of some
of the hunting we have done and some of the geese he has caught flying
around. Even a bottle of wine, which I told Pat was of her.
TKS Jeff!
Pat is not feeling much better. She
has the next 2 nights off and hopes to feel better after that. Hope
so, cause she really hurts. Don't stop praying for her.
Weather man says it will rain in the morning
and blow. Than clear off in the afternoon and 'WINTER' is to come.
Hot dog! I told Jeff we should go duck hunting in the morning cause
of the rain and Cabin Creek Blind is the only place I can stay dry, but
guess if it's not to bad we will end up at Hurlock shooting at the Snows.
Anyone want any Snows for eatting! They are getting HARD to give
away. Bill is coming down for Wenesday so maybe he will take a load
back with him. ha. Write. donald
Tuesday, Dec 22, 1998
Yep, we, Jeff and I were found at Hurlock
pit at sunrise. Not to bad just light rain and drizzle. Then
at about 0830 'WINTER' arrived. It raining a flood! Then got
cold! With a wet ass and getting cold I was ready for the jazzic.
Five Greater Snows killed.
Pat still sick. Jeff headed home with
bad roads on the way. These guys scare me with their driving while
dead tired, I'm always worry they will have an accident.
Wednesday, Dec 23, 1998
Bill and I were at Cabin Creek at first light.
Nothing. 0800 Sunny was barking and Eddie walked down to the blind.
He said the Snows were flying, Bill and I had had enough duck hunting without
seeing a duck, so off we when to Hurlock. By 1100 they had 7 Greater
Snows and Bill decided to hunt Snows rather then brush the floating blind.
They hunted the rest off the day, but the only thing that got shot at was
some ducks and Bill downed 2 of them.
Pat feeling a little better. Bill headed
home with bad roads after a long day of hunting.
Thursday, Dec 24, 1998
Sunrise found George Doty and his son Eric
and I at Hurlock in an ice storm. Was able to stay till 1000 before
we got cold enough to want to quit. Killed 7 more Greater Snows,
4 white ones.
Where Pat had to work Christmas morning we
had the family out for diner at 0100 and after that opening gifts.
Great day with family, but of course I ate to much and am now beat.
Pat feels much much better and I am so happy for her. Sure hope everyone
has a great Christmas.
If the ice isn't to bad in the morning Eddie
and I are going to try ducks again at Cabin Creek. We had just enough
snow to cover the ground with a dusting and we figure that the Snow Geese
wouldn't be able to see the dekes. Besides that I am ready for ducks,
even if the ducks are not ready for me. Write if you can.
donald
Friday, Christmas, Dec 25, 1998
First light found Eddie, George his son and
I at Cabin Creek. Shot 2 times at Ringnecks 'fresh water Blackheads',
but I don't think we even came close to hitting one. Once at some
Teal that buzzed across the dekes and at 1 Black duck that came up the
creek. We still have to kill 'hit' the first. Didn't stay long
being Christmas.
Course the Hughes had Christmas yesterday,
but Eddie's family didn't and I wanted to get a day of rest. Skinned
geese and than went to sleep the rest of the day. Felt good.
Ducks in the morning, cause the marsh is freezing.
Saturday, Dec 26, 1998
First day found Eddie and I at Cabin Creek.
Well, us Polocks had done it again. We had left the boat upright
and it was filled with ice that wouldn't come out and was unusable.
The dekes were moved by the ice and in a pile up the creek. Of course
the damn ducks were everywhere. We shot at a few as they passed by
but killed nothing and about 0715 we had 25 or 30 Mallards circle and circle
as I quacked at them but were the dekes were in a pile up the creek they
just would not' get right for shooting. Eddie had been wanting to
go Snow goose hunting all morning at Hurlock and I kept telling him the
geese couldn't see the dekes for the snow yet, but with the 25 or 30 Mallards
that teased us I was ready to try anything.
Of course when we got to Hurlock, I was right
and the dekes didn't show up at all, in the dusting of snow. We rode
over to Hard Scrabble, but it was just as bad there. After riding
all around, we decided to just call it a day.
Pat was home, but not feeling all that good
and had to work at midnight. So we spent most of the day sleeping.
We will go out to eat after church tomorrow.
Monday will be the first day we try the floating
blind. George Doty and Jeff and I will take a load of dekes down
and see what happens. Hope it looks good. Everyone telling
me there are few divers around. We will see. donald
Monday, Dec 28, 1998
George, Jeff and his friend, and I all met
at Sharptown ramp at 0600. Found the floating blind waiting for us
and set dekes. Weather was calm and temps in the 40's with no wind.
Saw few ducks. Killed one Ruddy and had one Blackhead decoy which
should have been killed, but that was it. Guess the guys are right
when they say there are few divers around.
Killed 2 Snows at Hurlock in the evening.
Going to try for ducks at Cabin Creek in the morning with George.
Tuesday, Dec 29, 1998
First light found George and I at Cabin Creek,
but no ducks. Left early and I went to Hurlock an set for about an
hour. Killed 3 more Snows.
Went back to Hurlock for the last hour and
killed 2 more Snows. We are planning to hunt the floating blind in
the morning again, this time it is to be windy.
Wednesday, Dec 30, 1998
Weather was to be rain in the morning hours
so we canceled the duck hunt and I couldn't get a whole of Jeff to tell
him. Anyway Jeff and his friend showed at the house and we when to
Hurlock in the rain. I truck hunted. By that I mean I sat in
the truck by the refuge sign till I heard the Snows take to the air. Then
I got out and decided which gun to use when they got overhead. They
were high so I just used Bertha and got off 2 shots. Killed 1 white
bird and 1 young bird. Jeff and his friend made a lot of nose, but
killed nothing. Hate it when they scare the roasting birds 'tons
of them' and kill nothing. After they leave the roast I don't care
now high they shoot at them or how many there are when they do, but the
fact that they roast there is the only reason I have any geese to hunt
at all.
It finally stopped raining, but the wind was
blowing and it was cold. Plus Hurlock is really a 2 man pit, so I
left it to Jeff and his friend and came home. They stayed and killed
5 more. I went back for an evening duck hunt and killed 2 more as
I checked the dekes at Hurlock on the way to the duck blind. No ducks.
Nine more snows. Man are they getting hard to give away!
Thursday, Dec 31, 1998
First light found us at the floating blind
in light snow. Killed four Mallards out of one flock that decoyed in. and
shot at 3 of some kind of divers. That was the whole hunt.
Just doesn't seem to be any ducks that I can find. One of the Mallards
had a band and I hope that I have to eat 'crow'. You see, I say that
our Mallards are local, 'not from Canada', and have had many arguments
about it. We'll see. Like I said, I hope it was banded in Canada
and I will eat 'crow'.
I rode over to Hard Scrabble and sat
for an hour or so and had Snows come once, about 600 but they wouldn't
get right and I just shot 1 that got close enough.
Eddie and I will hunt there in the morning.
Hope I can get up. I got to stay up with Pat and watch that damn
ball drop! Hope no-one gets drunk and kills themselves.
Pat's mad money job is no longer.
The patient died. She is not supposed to get attached, HA.
If you knew Pat you would know that that is not possible for her.
I will try to be with her for a little while more than I have been.
Hope everyone has a save New Year. Have a HAPPY.
Click here to go to Jan 1999
If anyone is reading these letters,
it would be nice to have an account of what your life is like. I would
love to hear from you.
Donald
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