CONTENTS OF WATERFOWLING DELMARVA 

Wonderful, beautiful, fantastic day.  Sometime during the night Craig
came and Tinker woke him by jumping into bed with him when I let her out
of the bedroom.  He had been deer hunting and spend time looking for a
deer he had shot. No luck fining it.  We left the house in a downpour of
rain, with the wind blowing about 25 to 30 out of the east.  Stopped at
Eddie's, who was up and ready to go.  Then we were at the blind at Cabin
Creek before light.

Craig, being young man, got to take the little boat and set decoys.  We
could hear him cussing about the dekes being tangled.  Than heard him
yelling about the duckbill on the push pole coming off down deep in the
mud.  Course getting the dekes out with the wind blowing the way it was,
was no easy job, but he did before first light.  With the overcast and
blowing rain, shooting time was there before we could see.

As it started to break.  We could hear the mallards 'katkatkating' as
they were heading for the ponds.  The only call there was, was Craig's and
Eddie and I took it away from him after just a little calling.  We did
have one mallard drake come back and take another look, but just
wouldn't commit himself.  Suddenly, from up the creek a woodie, with a
25 kt wind in his ass, came blowing across the dekes.  Craig shot twice
and made feathers fly with the second shot.  Bertha barked and down
he came.  Craig asked how the hell did you hit him, cause he had started
a dive downward as he got murdered.  Course I just smiled, but you and I
know it was just luck!  Tuffy retrieved as Tinker watched, course Tuffy
would have eating her head off if she had touched HIS duck.  We were not
going home skunked.  It was a hen woodie.

Next was a pair of greenwing teal that came up the creek and over the
dekes.  Eddie and Craig unloaded their guns, Bertha snapped, teal kept
going.  As we were laughing about the teal a duck came across the creek
on Craig's end and he folded it nicely.  The second woodie hen.  Tuffy
made short work of the relieve.  Next were a pair that came down the
creek with the wind and as I saw them and announced them they were
passed us in seconds.  At forty-five or fifty yds Bertha took the lead
bird.  It was also a hen woodie.  Tinker was still just standing knee
deep in the water just watching Tuffy work.  The next four shots, with
ducks over the decoys, 'we don't want to talk about'.  We just kept
trying and we killed two more woodies, both drakes.  It was still
raining cats and dogs.  Also blowing a gale.  But we were 'almost' dry
and in heaven.  Only thing missing was a hot cup of coffee and a bacon
and egg sandwich.  As we talked about how good it would taste, Craig
suddenly disappeared to get our desires.

Eddie and I had a mallard drake come down the creek over the decoys and
Eddie drew feathers and bertha folded him.  He hit the water in a pile,
about sixty yds away and sat there with his head up till Tuffy got
within 10 feet.  He than jumped and flew, about a foot off the water,
about 300 yds and splashed down next to some marsh.  Eddie and I both
figured he would be there dead when he went down with Tuffy.  Coffee and
sandwiches arrived and afterwards Eddie went to get the mallard, but no
such luck. The way it had been raining, I told them that I would have to
ride down to the boat at Taylor's Island and bail her out.  Eddie said
he would ride down with me and we called it a great morning.  Craig said
he had to go home, something about going out to supper with Kim.
Sounded like being pussy whipped to me, but anyway he couldn't hunt that
evening.

When Eddie and I got to the boat she was almost sunk, so I am glad I
decided to go down.  When we got there, the mallards were all over the
dock and Tinker 'I guess' figured this was her chance as we had left
Tuffy at his house.  All we could see was Tinker flying through the air
and her mouth snapping at the mallards as they were getting off the
water.  Course then she couldn't get back up on the bulkhead and Eddie
had to pull her out.  Boat is ready when I fine someone who wants to go.

Three o'clock found Eddie and I back at Cabin Creek blind.  It had
finally stopped raining.  We had one woodie break out of a flock of
seven and come right to the dekes.  As I said get him, Eddie did just
that.  He was the only duck to come to the dekes, but finished off a
beautiful day.  Hope to get Eddie and his son to help put about five
hundred snow goose decoy tires out at Hurlock in the morning.  Write if
you can. donald

Eddie and I went to Hurlock and set out about 500 snow goose decoys 'tires'.  We had just finished when I make a turn in the field just outside the decoys that we had set and got the truck in a wet spot and suddenly we were bad trouble.  We tried to push out, but just couldn't.  SHIT!  Well, I got on the air phone and tried to call a service station, but being Sunday I just couldn't get an answer.  Ended up calling my daughter 'Tricia'.  She said she and Herby would come out and get us.  It was now raining cats and dogs again and the field was getting wetter and wetter. When they got there Eddie, Herby and I pushed and we finally got the truck out.  What a mess.

Daybreak found me at Hurlock waiting for the 250 snows that were roasting in the lagoon.  I was sure they had to see the decoys when they came back from the fields yesterday.  I figure they would have to come this morning and take a look.  Just before sunrise I heard them up, but they just circled around and went back down.  For about a half hour I had canadians all over me.  Then suddenly I heard the snows again and they were coming straight at me.  Then, immediately they were over my head at about 40 yds.  My first shot was at a young bird and I took a second admiring my work as he fell and then got off a second shot that crippled one, but he just didn't come down.  I send Tinker out after it, but she just went to him and stayed with him.  I had to walk out and pick it up myself.  Guess it might be time to force train her.  Anyway, my bird was a beautiful young greater snow with lots of gray.  Big as any canadian, except the giants. I know they have been eating corn, so it will taste great.

Evening found me at Cabin Creek blind.  Eddie's son was supposed to be there, but didn't show.  If I had known I would have gone back to Hurlock.  O Well.  Never got a shot, but did see some ducks and a beautiful sunset.  Paul is supposed to come seaducking in the morning, but I have had it with people and am not begging anyone to come anymore.  Now that the seasons have open, I will be able to hunt by myself somewhere each morning.  Tinker has never been a NO SHOW!  Write if you can.  donald

Paul was a no show for seaducking.  I went on up to Hurlock to see if the snows would come looking again, but they when around me at about 200 yds to the south.  Only one less, but smarter.  Pat and I had an wedding anniversary and we decided to go on down to Norfolk and see a show called the Old Dominion Opera.  Show stank, but I enjoyed being with Pat.  The bay bridge-tunnel still fascinates me.

Long drive home.  Took our time.  Called Paul and Bobby about going seaducking in the morning.

Eight o'clock found Paul, Bobby and I out on the Chesapeake Bay.  Wind northeast and looking like rain.  We sat for two hours and had only two flocks of ducks and one single come to us.  Have know idea why there were not just hoards of them.  Anyway we got bored and came on home.  Thing I will try Cabin Creek this evening.  It is beginning to rain and is supposed to rain for two days.  Write if you can.  donald

Yesterday afternoon I went to Cabin Creek and got one shot at a woodie that I knocked down on the mud flat and as it began heading for the woods Tinker saw it and went after it.  She had a hell of a job getting across the mud flat, but made it to the woods and from what I could see went after the duck.  However, when she came out of the woods and back, she had no duck.  It was the only duck I saw.

Friday morning found Eddie and I at Cabin Creek.  Rain and wind. Gusting from the northeast at 30 or 40.  Not much at daybreak flying, but when it was good and light a mallard drake came up the creek and over the dekes.  I put him down and Tuffy retrieved him.  The first mallard this year.  Later I caught the attention of three mallards with the duck call and they came right to the decoys.  I got mine but Eddie's is still flying.  Mine was the hen.  Then a woodie came up the creek and we downed her, but she make it to the other side and into the woods.  We could see her hitting the trees.  Tuffy went over, but couldn't fine it, so Eddie took the boat across.  He couldn't fine it and when he got back across the creek he tried to stand in the boat and went overboard.  Didn't hurt himself, but was good and wet so we were gone by eight.
 

Daybreak found Eddie and I at Cabin Creek.  Rain and wind.  Not much at
first light.  A few mallards went on up to the ponds, but nothing that
would even look at us.  After it was good an light a woodie came up the
creek and I shot first and down he started, but caught himself and
sailed 300 yds up the creek before splash down.  Tuffy was standing in
front of the bind and saw him went he hit.  He made a beautiful
retrieve.  He was so far away we didn't know he had the duck till he was
half way back.  A beautiful drake.  About a half hour later another
woodie came up the creek and when I shot, just the primer went off and I
could see the shot leave the barrel.  Eddie downed the bird.  Another
drake woodie  with a neck full of corn, were he had been out in a field
somewhere.  The wad from my misfire had stuck in the end of the barrel,
so I had to push it back down the barrel with a stick.  All kinds of
unburned power, 'wet'.  We saw several more mallards and three flocks of
greenwing teal, but nothing would come to us.

We decided to try the snows at Hurlock in the evening.  The weather man
had said that it would stop raining.  He lied and we decided to not go
and sit in the rain.  Pat is excited about buying tickets to a Mark
Chestnut concert on the 14 Dec.  Man, that's right in the middle of my
good hunting.  O Well, she's the one working now.  SO.  Craig says he
might be able to get down Monday.  Will let you know.  Fixed oyster stew
for supper, sorry it's all gone. 'burp'   donald

Just before I hit send Craig called and said he can't make it for Monday
so I guess I will have to try Hurlock by myself.
 

Sick with a damn cold and congestion.

This day turned out to be what may be the best of the season.  I met a young man, from the net,  by the name of Brian.  Who is from the Western Shore.  He works with landscaping.  He has little work till January.  He says he will HUNT.  Showed him around and he got his side of the pit at Hurlock dug out.  I am sure I can put him on some good hunting and he says he will try to find a place to kill the local canadians, he calls them corporate geese.  Looking forward to a good season with him.

First day of the deer season in Delaware, but raining, so daybreak found me at Cabin Creek blind.  Was sure that Eddie wouldn't work, but he was a no show.  At first light a pair of woodies landed in the dekes, but I just couldn't see them good enough to shoot.  They hollowed several times as they swam out of the dekes, but by the time I could made them out, they were too far away.  As it was finally light enough to see good a mallard came up the creek and heard the call.  She made one circle and dove at the dekes.  I made a really good shot.  She fell just outside of the dekes.  Tried hard to get Tinker to go get her for me, but had to take the boat an start after her.  When I did, Tinker swam out with me and finally went after the duck.  The duck seemed to come alive and was off to the marsh with Tinker behind her.  I followed with the boat getting soaked.  The duck made it to the woods an disappeared.  As Tinker and I got there, Tinker caught cent and went up in the woods.  I heard the duck and then could see Tinker with it, as Tinker held it down.  I called her to come give.  Tinker let the duck go an came to me.  Course the duck beat feet for the water.  As it was swimming away I shot it again.  Tried again to get Tinker to retrieve and she when over and tried to put her foot on it, but would not take it in her mouth.  Pulled dog and duck in the boat and headed back to the blind.
It wasn't real cold so I stayed and in about ten minutes, at 0830 three mallards that came up the creek heard my calling.  Still raining and blowing about 25 out of the northeast.  The three of them circled four times and than came over the dekes at about forty yards.  I cut the big drake out with one shot and he fall in the dekes.  Again I tried to get Tinker to retrieve, but she did the same thing, swam out and tried to put her foot on it.  It would have been funny if it was in a different place and time.  I took the boat and went out an got it.  Beautiful big drake, full of corn, which spilled out of its mouth and into the boat.  Wonder if I would have to pay a fine if the man found the corn that the duck brought to me???  I had noticed two or three had fell out as I picked him up and in the clear water I could see them on the bottom???  My duck had a band that was from D. Cummings, Oyster Shell Point, Cambridge Md .  It was nine o'clock and I was wet so I headed home.  Eddie had called, he sleep in, but NOW wanted to go!  Ha.
Eddie worry me till I went with him to Cabin Creek in the afternoon.  I told him we would not kill anything and we didn't.  We set it up to go in the morning.

Daybreak found Eddie and I at Cabin Creek blind.  Wind blowing about 15 out of the northwest and clear as a bell.  Moon shining bright as I picked up Eddie and we came to the blind.  We heard a few shots, but didn't see a dozen ducks and nothing came close to us.  Stayed till nine anyway.  Silly.  Decided to try the snows at Hurlock if they came back from the field, but they didn't and we called it a day.  Eddie has been laid off for a week,  so I guess I will have plenty of company next week.  Brain is supposed to come Monday and I guess Eddie will be able to hunt for awhile and then he will have to go to the unemployment office.  I hope that Brian an I can get out in the Chesapeake Bay Monday.  I know he will enjoy that.  Write if you can.   donald
 

Daybreak found Brian, Eddie and I at Hurlock pit.  I told Brain that if he would walk south along the refuge for about 1/2 mile he would more than likely be under the most of the snows when they came out and away he went.  We could all hear the snows in the refuge.  About 0630 Eddie and I had a flock of about 600 come almost out of the refuge to the decoys, but stopped just short of the wall.  We had a quick chance but turned it down.  About 0645 we heard them as they got up and they were heading for Brain.  They almost went out over him, but again at the last minute went out the south end of the refuge.  I figured it was 3 or 4 thousand.  Brain said that some were close enough, but just not at all a good shot.  He only had # 4 shot with him.  There were several more smaller flocks that kept leaving the refuge and one flock got within 45 yds of Eddie and I.  We each got off one shot and had two cripples.  One went down the other just kept going.

After the snows had gone to the fields, Brian came back to the pit and we waited to see if any would come back to the refuge.  About 0800 we had a single come back and come out to look the decoys over and at about 45 yds we all fired once at him and put him in the tank behind us.  We had two young swans pitch to the decoys and sit down and go to sleep.  About 0900 Eddie and Brain decided to go and see if they could get the birds that we had knocked down, woke the swans up and they flew away.  They came back with one young lesser and said that the other was sitting out in the middle of the tank that was behind us.  We saw a few more birds but none that would come and at 0930 Eddie started for the truck.  I noticed that he made one more check on the cripple that was behind us and after a bit he came out with it.  He said that Tuffy had chased it off the bank and than it dove and dove, but Tuffy finally caught it.  It was an old lesser, but Eddie said he would pick it anyway cause he just didn't have any on hand to roast.

Eddie had to go to the unemployment office and I had to go the the hospital and get some blood work done, but Brain stayed and after I was through at the hospital I met him just as he was leaving and he said that there had been little flying.  Brain just called and said he couldn't make it in the morning, but would see us Wednesday.  Eddie and I will try it again in the morning.  Will let you know what happens.   Write if you can.   donald 

Daybreak found Eddie and I at Hurlock and we could hear the snows setting just a few yards behind the pit in the refuge.  Sounded like a million of them.  They sat tight from 0615 till 0645 when we heard the quite and than the roar.  The closest to us were within the refuge and stayed about 50 yds away, so we didn't shoot.  About eight to ten thousand went right over where Brain was yesterday, at about 45 yds high.  Five minutes later,' we could still see the first big flock at a distance'  a flock of 6 or 8 hundred,  that was setting right behind us, jumped and swung out over us at about 35 yds high.  My first shot downed a big young greater snow and I had it on another, but my auto had hung.  Eddie did his usual and made a lot of noise, 'don't know why he can't hit them when they come out in big flocks ', BUT he has not done it yet.  Keeps trying.  Years now.

Our guess is about 10 to 12 thousand snows now staying at the refuge.  After they were gone we stayed to see if any would come right back.  About 0830 a single came and began circling the refuge.  Eddie called and called and he seemed to hear him and came out looking the decoys over.  He was at their usual 80 to 100 yds high circling the dekes and than cupped up and came down in a hurry to about 50 yds in a tight circle.  He started back to the refuge and Eddie shot.  He doubled up, but caught himself and than just kept going and going, then looked like he fell dead at about 300 yds across the refuge.  Eddie went after him, but said he didn't see him anywhere.  The wind was not blowing and we could have gone out in the bay and would have if Brian had been here, but Eddie didn't feel like it and I had an appointment at the surgeon at 0215, I had a knot on my knee that he cut off,  so we called it a day.  I will know in a day or so if it was a cancer.

Brian is supposed to come in the morning and I hope we can then go out on the bay.  Will let you know.  Write if you can.  donald 

Eddie, Brian and I were on the bay by 0930 and after fighting with the
decoys for awhile we were ready for a good days shoot.  About ten minutes
and there was four mergansers that came across the dekes and we killed
one.  For the next two hours we had one shot at some Old Squalls and saw
one flock of lesser scaup.  Only a couple pairs of scoters and they paid
no attention to the dekes.  Finally one drake surf scoter came to the
dekes.  Just as he stuck his feet out we told Brian to get him and he
shot all three times at him and then got out of the way as the duck
started away and Eddie shot and knocked it down.  Brian had to shoot him
again on the water, but at least we weren't skunked.  Brian said his
'coat' got in the way.  At least that was his story and he was sticking to
it.  By now we had been there long enough to know that there just was
not going to be much to it and we quit.  I think most of the early ducks
have gone pass 'black and surf scoters' and the later ducks 'blackheads,
redheads, cans, golden eyes, old squalls ect.' have not got here.  Brian
is coming back over Monday and we will see what happens.  He surprised
me with a hundred bucks which will sure be nice for gas ect. and I might
even take Pat out to supper.  Sure hope I can found some shooting for
him Monday.  Eddie goes back to work in the morning and I don't know
just what I will do.  You know -- deer hunt -- duck hunt -- goose hunt,
an't  life hell.  Write if you can.  donald

Rolled back over to sleep in, this morning, but couldn't.  I got up and daybreak found Tinker and I at Cabin Creek blind.  Temp right at freezing and the wind FAC 'flat ass calm'.  One of those mornings that you could hear a frog fart a half mile away.  Heard divers go up the creek three times, but could only make out one flock of four.  As it got a little lighter I saw a few ducks flying, but none that came even close.  It was a free morning for the ducks, cause I didn't hear a shot fired and could have heard it a long way off.  After it got good and light and I was sure I wouldn't get a shot, I through of going home, but knew it would be to mother-in-law, cause Pat had to work.  So I stayed.

Suddenly out of no-where there were two otters in the dekes.  You know how wild animals are 'just there'!  Well, they had a good time pushing the dekes all around.  I never realized that they were so vocal.  They made all kinds of sounds to each other.  Lots of grunts and purrs.  Then one made a real fast dart to the deepest part and came up with a large mouth bass that would make any fisherman proud.  As if not to be out-done the other dove and came up with a mud-shad or 'grizzer shad'.  They both seemed to have just enjoyed the kill, cause they just let them go and went back to playing with the dekes and as suddenly as they had appeared, they were gone.

The 'mud shad went to the bottom, but the bass floated and within  five minutes I hear a Fish Hawk 'Osprey'.  I remember thinking that I thought they had gone south, but this one proved that all had not.  He was about 100 yds high but in just moments he picked the fish up without getting anything wet but his feet.  He went to the top of a tree across from me and was having breakfast went I hear our resident Ball Eagle.  The Eagle made the Osprey fly and than drop the fish, which the Eagle caught before it hit the water.  I have seen this many times but enjoy it each time.  The Eagle came back to the same tree that the Osprey was having breakfast and had his.  Well, the sun was up good now and I had to go back down to Taylor's Island cause I had forgotten my cell phone and left it on the boat yesterday.  I also had to drop Bertha off at the gunsmith who has been trying to fix it.  Saw a doe leaving my corn on the way out from the blind.

Put some more corn out for deer this evening and hunted sunset but saw none.  Canadians everywhere. Tomorrow I hope to get to shot my gun.   I have a fellow from Delaware coming in the morning for the first time and will try Hurlock.  Will let you know what happens,  Write if you can.  donald 

Well, I shot my gun today. Daybreak found Ray ' a new fellow from Delaware', and I at Hurlock.  Again we could hear the snows and had some that were sitting just behind the pit which gave so a good chance.  However, as it got light, a Ball Eagle came across and ran them away from us.  All the snows went south and east.  Nothing but a crow came close to us.  I missed him as he went over the dekes but Ray downed him on the way out.  Damn good shot.  Seems Ray's wife is a nurse and works at the same hospital that my wife does.  He seems like a nice guy and I look forward to hunting with him on his Fridays off.

Went deer hunting this evening.  Saw two does, but just never had a clear shot.  Again canadian geese everywhere.  It is supposed to be raining in the morning and I will try the duck blind at Cabin Creek.  Will let you know.  donald

Well, daybreak found me by myself at Cabin Creek blind.  When I left the house it was raining hard and the only place that I could stay dry was there.  By first light it had stopped raining and a heavy fog had set in.  I could hear some ducks as they went by, but just couldn't see them.  I did finally shot at one flock for four that had disappeared before I fired, but I didn't hear a splash so I knew I had missed.  When the Canadians started flying I think I could have killed a truck load of them cause they would be honking and gave me a warning before they got to me.  Stayed till about 0830 before I came home to be with the mother-in-law from hell.

Stayed foggy all day so the only other thing I did was go pick up Bertha.  Sure hope she works.  Tinker's 'tits' are getting bigger ' you don't suppose that the mother-in-law let her out while she was in heat.  Damn, I hope not.  She does throw her out every chance she gets.  donald 

Daybreak found me at Hurlock Waiting for Brian, who was a no-show.  Clear and wind blowing 25 or 30 out of the northwest.  About 0620, I figured I better get out to the pit.  On the walk out there was a nice flock come out and look over the decoys, but I was just a little to far away yet.  Once I got in the blind ' I was still breathing hard taking pills'  a flock of about 60 came out and over me.  I cut one out with Bertha,  'sure nice to have her back',
and had time enough to load and fire again but missed.  Geese was still an easy shot BUT.  When I shot snows got up everywhere and some of the last came over me at 50yds.  Bertha got another one.

Once things got quite I had a single that circled and circled.  After about ten minutes of circling the refuge he finally came out to me and I killed him at about 35yds high.  Four shots - Three geese and I was thinking how good a team Bertha and I made  when a pair of Wigeon came out and circled the dekes.  I had a beautiful shot and missed clean.  A little later about 35 or 40 mallards came out fighting the wind and at 40 yds I missed a nice drake also.  The wind was cold and everything seemed to be out of the refuge so I went home and jumped in the juzzie.

Deer hunted this evening.  Tons of Canadians  with some snows mixed in, flying around, but no deer.
Hope Brian shows up in the morning.  WRITE.  donald 

First thing I have to do is tell you how bad my mind is getting.  I had a young man, by the name of Ryan, come to go hunting Monday and forgot all about it.  So if any of you are coming, give me a call the night before and remind me.  How embarrassing.  Here I am complaining about being by myself and he was waiting for me at the bank.  Don't get old if you can help it.

I just can't believe I did that!  Hope that never happens again.

Well anyway,  daybreak found me at Hurlock pit.  By myself. Could hear the snows. Wind FAC, sky clear, temp35.  0650 heard the roar of wings.  They came out mostly south of me, but their were enough that went over me to get off two shots with Bertha.  The first got murdered and fell in the dekes and the second broke out but make it back to the refuge.  They were across the sky for a mile and a half and a mile back '30 or 40 rows'.  You guys that have seen snows jump know what I mean.  Guess it's about 15,000 now.  Just a guess.  Lots of flocks came back and circled the refuge but just none that decoyed.  0735 I noticed three that were circling the refuge and they suddenly came for me.  They were flying about 50yds high and set up to come to the dekes.  As they came around in front of me they had lower to about 20yds and I took the young bird that was flying in the middle.

By 0800 I figured that it was over and I had forgot and left my coffee in the truck.  Tried to get Tinker to fetch them for me but she would go to them and stand there looking at me.  Carrying the two back to the truck I remembered why I left the auto in the truck.  Two greater snows are plenty to carry and clean.  Maybe I would have killed five or six with the auto and then been busy for a long time.

Went deer hunting this evening.  Saw lots of geese but no deer.  Beautiful sunset.  Looks like I will have company in the morning.  Eddie has the day off and Brian is supposed to come.  Eddie and I will try to set some decoys over at Hard Scrabble as long as we can get in the field.  Will let you know.  donald 

Daybreak found Eddie, Brian and I at Hurlock pit waiting on the snow
geese.  Brian went about a haft mile south along the refuge fence.
Weather was beautiful, clear, temp 50, and light wind.  Finally at 0645
they came out.  Only about a third of what came out yesterday.  We let
the first 1,000 go on over and then tried to kill one.  They were high
and I only crippled one.  Eddie did his usually.  Brian, however did
clip a wing on one and it fell out of the flock and headed back to the
refuge.  As it when by Eddie and I, Eddie downed it before it could get
in the refuge.  With and assist Brian had his first snow goose, a young
lesser snow.

Brian came on back to the pit and we waited for something to decoy.  We
had several start and then about 0730 a single came out to the decoys.
Brain and I emptied our guns and Eddie finally murdered it.  It also was
a young lesser.  A little later we headed for Hard Scrabble to set some
decoys.

I stopped at the landowner and left him a quart and a haft of oysters
for Thanksgiving and we went up to the field.  Paul had gotten home from
his first trip on his new job, 'working on a tug out on the Chesapeake
Bay'.  He says he loves it and he would be out in the field on the three
wheeler in a bit. Our landowner's son was dising one small part of the
field and we asked if he was done with what he would do over by the
blind, 'this field is about 400 hundred acres'.  He was done what they
would do.  They had dis-plowed the damn field and we couldn't drive to
the blind, but could get close using the back field.  Anyway when we got
out there we jumped about a hundred ducks out of the pond.  We would try
killing some that evening.  Spent most of the day setting snow goose
decoys, about 300 tires and a 100 Canadian tires for the ducks to come
to.

By three o'clock We where set to kill those ducks which we knew would
come back to the pond.  It had clouded up and the wind was blowing about
15 out of the southwest.  Guess what.  We never got a shoot.  Who would
figure.  After sunset we shook our heads and headed home.  I had a lot
of angina trying to walk back to the truck, just to long a day for the
old guy,  but I made it so all is good.  Brian had a long drive and I
hope he made it OK.  He had brought me a big apple pie for Thanksgiving,
which I got into as soon as I got home.  Thanks Brian.

Eddie and I tried to made it to Hard Scrabble by daybreak, but when we
got there I told Eddie to go ahead cause it takes me awhile to walk back
to the blind.  Its about a 75 yard walk.  Paul was not there, guess Jill
was just to nice and warm to leave.  Weather was clear with the wind
blowing out of the northwest at 20 to 30.  Anyway by the time a got
there Eddie had three come and he shot but never killed any.  I was
breathing hard and taking nitro pills when I got to the blind.  I didn't
hardly get in when there were  15 or 20 more ducks coming.  They pitched
out to far and we send the dog to get them up.  While the dog was out
there jumping around on the pond we had about ten mallards come with
there feet out over the decoys.  I shot two times  and Eddie shot three
times.  We knocked one drake down that fell in the field a 100 yds
away.  Loaded and there was three mallards circling again and as they
came over our heads at about 30yds we shot and killed nothing.  Loaded
and a pair came which we knocked down.  The drake was dead but the hen
swam into the reeds.  Loaded and another pair was in on us, know I
killed both of them.  Loaded and this time we had time to think for a
minute.  Eddie discovered that he had opened a box of T shot and cussed
as he changed to fours.  Later we found that he had shot 14 of them
T's.  Not going to tell how many we shot all together.

Tuffy had been busy and had four ducks back to the blind.  Three drakes
and a hen, all mallards.  Eddie went with him to get the one that had
swam to the reeds that Tuffy had not seen.  While he was out of the
blind a mallard hen came right into the dekes and I downed it.  Tuffy
came back and got the hen to the blind and went back to Eddie along the
pond.  Three mallards drakes started circling and on the four circle
they cut over Eddie head and he downed one.  I shot two times as they
went by me but hit nothing.

When Eddie got back we had six mallards, three drake and three hens.
The ducks now had stopped coming and we had a cup of coffee and kind of
laughed at how badly we had shot.  The sun was just showing over the
woods across from us.  As it was just appearing there were three mallard
drakes circle and when we took them I murdered the first one I shot at
and crippled the next.  Eddie cripple his and we tried to watch were
they would fall,  both were able to just keep going.  We tried to have
another cup of coffee, but there was a single mallard drake that circle
seven times and finally came in.  Eddie murdered him.  We had our
eight.  We saw one black duck as we were leaving.  It was 0730 and one
hell of a start to a great Thanksgiving.  If we don't kill our limits
again this year we had done it once anyway.  Wish Brian had been there.

The rest of the day was family and food.  Great day.  Hope you all had a
good Thanksgiving.  I have a friend that I hunted with years ago that is
supposed to meet me for Hurlock in the morning.  Will let you know.
WRITE.  donald

Daybreak found George, 'a friend from past years', and his son and I at Hurlock pit.  Weather clear and temps in the 50's with no wind.  Could hear the snows on the refuge.  They jumped with a roar and all went out the other side of the refuge.  We stayed to see if any would come back and decoy.  The swans put on a show for George and his son.  We could have killed a truck load.  Had ducks start at us several times, but they just wouldn't come out of the refuge.  About 0800 we had a pair of snows circle and come out on George's end of the blind at about 20 yds high.  He and his son shot at them, but didn't hit anything.  They had to go to work, 'what's that', but I am glad they now know were to come when I call them again.

Went deer hunting this evening, but saw none.  Lots of Canadians and a fox.  Tomorrow is the first day of Maryland firearms season so I will get away from here and go to Delaware and hunt ducks.
Hope Paul gets up and goes with me.  Will let you know.  donald 

Daybreak found me at the Hard Scrabble pond blind.  No one else showed up.  Weather clear, temp in the 50's, and light east wind.  This time I got there early enough to set and catch my wind before the first pair came. With the east wind they were setting up and coming from behind me and I never saw them till I hear them go over.  They were going to set to far out in the pond, so I shot the drake before they did.  Bertha, 'heck with the auto', put him down, but he swam to the reeds.  Figured I could get him later.  Next was a single mallard drake that circled three times and on the third pass I took him out over the decoys.  He fell in a pile about the middle of the pond.  Was expecting lots more but nothing till about 0730 when a pair burst over my back and banked for another pass.  At about 40 yds they were back against the woods and I dropped the drake.  Thank goodness Tinker wanted to come because even through it looked like he had falling dead, when I walked back to where he had fallen Tinker catch his sent and found he had somehow made it to a fallen tree and hid.  Would have never found him without Tinker.  It was a drake highbred.  I took a picture of him and will put it here when I get it back.  Went I shot I through it was a pair of blacks.  Stayed till nine and saw a few flocks but nothing that would come to me.

Evening found Eddie's two sons and I at Cabin Creek waiting for a deer.  I put them on corn piles were I had been feeding the deer.  Little Eddie killed a seven point buck.  Said he was standing over my corn pile when he shot him.  Canadian geese everywhere.  Will try the ducks at Hard Scrabble again Monday.  Will let you know.  donald

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