16ga.com ~ View topic - 2018 Hunting Season Photos

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1113

The annual SGW Huglu forum MLK weekend pheasant hunt took place at 4-B's Hunting Resort in Missouri with Saturday being right in the teeth of that latest winter storm. Wind chills in the single digits, ice pellets blowing horizontally in 30 mph+ wind gusts proved about as challenging as I care to deal with. There were only 6 hunters for this year, but we really did a fairly decent job on those longtailed rascals especially considering the frozen hands and all. Ended up with over 90% of the birds that were put out over the two day hunt. Sunday was much better, with light winds and a 12 degree start and warming to 36 and plenty of sunshine. A great weekend and plenty of bird work for Bode and Rebel.

Larry and Brian are smiling, but I think it's because that day is over. Bode's attitude says it best, take the danged picture and let's get the heck out of here. All 6 of the planted bird bagged and on the tailgate.

We closed out the Ga.season Monday in both new and old territory. Abby and Willa did better than we did; lots of great dog work and escapees which isn't a bad thing. It's been a fine season and my 90 year-old mother sure enjoys eating woodcock as does the family. We've got 10 days from Monday in SC and we haven't been there since opening day. We'll have to wait until later in the week as temps are back up Wednesday. We were lucky to find new ground as high water kept us out of 3 of our prime areas. Gil
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Gil S,

I have a couple of the oldies in our family who really look forward to the Woodcock dinners also.

Congrats on a fine season, our Woodcock season this year was very limited, the big snow right before Thanksgiving pushed them off the mountains and only the home birds were left.

The big snow made for a Great Grouse season however!

All the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Took Abby and Willa across the bridge into SC and had a few flushes on a gorgeous day. Gil
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Nice going Gil! I went out after snipe this morning, but didn't see any. Pintails were flying though, so I'm going to head out for my last hunt of the year tomorrow with my grassed up layout boat to see if I can snag a couple.

Guest

Gil, it’s -10 up here right now.

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Just wrapped up the slowest duck season in recent memory. I thought the pups were going to disown me. Maybe next year.

cowdoc87,

Beautiful pictures, hope you have better Duck hunting next season, Grouse season has been great here in Potter County, Pa with the early snow that held the birds sight.

The one picture up stream looks like good Wood Duck habitat! The other picture looks like the LA swamp!

Give the dogs a big pat on the head for me, great looking dogs!

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Yeik an old 16 Gauge Wood Duck Gun, how did the get in the gun safe.
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At least it has cool upland engraving on one side and Flying Ducks on the other.[URL=http://www.jpgbox.com/page/56049_800x600/]

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Alan, great shot of the jon boat loaded with dogs and hunters moving through the green timber. You aren't the sole complainer of duck shortage I've heard this year. We've been short of ducks for over 20 years.
Slowly we trudge towards the season's end of woodcock. Already thinking of next year, but will have to deal with pesky turkeys, maybe snipe and quail. Dogs are in peak shape. Me? Not so. Spent a few hours with a friend yesterday. Had a nice morning yesterday with Mills on some new haunts. Beautiful habitat but Abby backed by Willa found only one bird. I've seen a report that a few satellite observed gps tagged birds have been moving north. https://www.woodcockmigration.org/migration.html Mills had the shot and his beauty of a 28 ga. Parker (circa 1903) was golden on the bird. Mills's 6 months old Britt Sherwood photo bombed the picture. Wink

Gil

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The usual suspects, Pop and Sadie, with 2 more days to go and it will be the last time I ask a dog to take the photo.
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Great stuff as usual Gil. I’m going to have to try to find a few of those boogers around here next year

Gil S,

Nice picture of the bird below the 2 double guns!

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Faced with going to an unhunted honey hole from years past, a little too close to newly built residences, and going back to old grounds, but in spots we've never hunted, we opted for dog safety and went back to old grounds. Today was the last day of the season. After seeing a recent video of Louisiana woodcocking in wet pine flats, we tried that and found two birds in a spot we've never hunted. We missed one in an adjacent bottom. Here's the 3 minute video of a hunt in Louisiana. I wonder how often the hunter has to change the batteries in these dogs. Wink

Sadie and Pop. Sadie in the photo. "we don't need no stinkin' batteries". Season's end, a good one. Finis. Peeent!
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Thanks for sharing your season with us Gil. Always an enjoyable read. Now if you can just find a 16 ga. hammergun for next season. Laughing

Rick, we are sending a lot of them back your way to a covert near you. Stay tuned. Peent! Best, Gil
https://www.woodcockmigration.org/migration.html