Live Hunts - 2004 Texas Gulf Coast Duck Hunt

January 17, 2004 - Day 3
Texas Gulf Coast Duck Hunt

Another pretty sunrise to start off Day 3

Saturday A.M.

the "diver" side of my decoy spread

I didn't need to leave quite so early this morning since I left my decoys out after yesterday's hunt. So, I "slept in" till 5:00 a.m.!

After yesterday being very overcast, I was glad to see the sun rising this morning and the rays shining on my bobbing decoys.

A few minutes before legal shooting light, 4 teal ripped into my decoys and landed, stayed about 5 seconds, then got up and left. I wasn't able to tell for 100% sure if they were greenwing or bluewing teal, in the low light. In the first 30 minutes of shooting light, things were kind of slow, with just a few birds flying here and there, none in my direction. The wind had changed from southeast yesterday to south this morning, so the birds were coming in from a slightly different direction.

these 6 redheads decoyed just perfect

It wasn't long before flocks of redheads started working the bay, and soon a group of 3 came flying right into the decoys. I had a shining moment of good shooting and got both drakes in the group, with one shot apiece. It wasn't long after I retrieved them that a nice, lone pintail drake came sailing my direction and hovered over the decoys, offering an inviting target, whereupon I dropped him. It was another beautiful drake.

this pintail drake hovered safely over the decoys
I had already taken my pintail for the day

this lone pintail drake landed just outside the decoys

I saw only a few wigeon this morning, and none obliged by flying close enough for a shot. After I got my redheads and pintail drake, I spent the next two hours waiting for other species of ducks to come around, but none did. I certainly wasn't bored, though, as I had group after group of redheads, and some pintail as well, that flew all around me, entertaining and giving me an opportunity for some good photos. About 10:30 I decided to pack it in, very satisfied with the morning's hunt and that this duck hunt ended on a good note. I'm already planning to do it again next year, although I'll be just fine if I don't have any contact with saltwater for the next year!

the morning's bag - 2 redheads and 1 pintail

the pintail was another beautiful specimen

I hope you enjoyed this Live Hunt - check back in the next few months for more on www.livehunts.com and www.huntinfo.com - until then, Good Hunting.

Trip Notes
This Live Hunt takes place on the south Texas Gulf Coast, in public waters. I hunted this area two duck seasons ago and had a great hunt. I didn't come last year because the duck population reports in this area were very poor. This year I've been following the reports and the ducks seem to be back again in good numbers this season, so I made plans to do another hunt here. All the bays here that I'm hunting are extremely shallow water and a typical boat/motor won't run in them. Most transportation here is done by airboat, or in my case, by sneakboat/pirogue. I've got a little 12' "pirogue" that is powered by a kayak paddle and my arms. It gets me around pretty well in shallow waters like this.

Joshua Flournoy owns and manages the Livehunts.com web site. He also arranges exciting hunts through his business Longleaf Hunting Adventures. Joshua resides in east Texas with his wife and four children.

e-mail Joshua Flournoy

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