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Well I got to the meadows and placed our Duck markers this week. The time is flying buy.
Our Duck markers are out
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yes, and my boys are very excited this year as they can hunt on there oun.but they wont get of that easy old pops will be right there beside them.
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Can't wait for opening day!
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Been discussing with my buddy about making a cedar blind this year.
He wants to go that route, and I think it is far too much work that is wasted if the water levels don't cooperate.
Last year we did a boat blind, which I would prefer again this year. We need to change up the design a bit, but i like it because it works regardless the water level, and you can set up anywhere within reason.
We made it in such a way that it takes about 5 minutes to be ready after deploying the decoys. Fore and Aft anchor is a must for this setup, or you drift too much.
He wants to go that route, and I think it is far too much work that is wasted if the water levels don't cooperate.
Last year we did a boat blind, which I would prefer again this year. We need to change up the design a bit, but i like it because it works regardless the water level, and you can set up anywhere within reason.
We made it in such a way that it takes about 5 minutes to be ready after deploying the decoys. Fore and Aft anchor is a must for this setup, or you drift too much.
I know I'm a noob but what exactly is a "duck marker"?
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Not knowing something dosent make you a knob. Any way a duck marker is a place marked for you and buddies to hunt waterfowl from on opening day.
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Sorry, just could not resist.
Hah - the pen! Good one.
Hey Chuck - in a lot of popular hunting marsh areas it is a tradition that someone who intends to hunt there on opening day will place a sign in the marsh at the spot where they intend to build their blind or park their boat. Generally the signs will have the person's name, the date they placed the sign and often a phone number. It is generally understood that the person who first marks the spot has exclusive rights to it on opening day and maybe the day or two after depending on where in the week the opener falls. Most people whould suggest that after opening day it reverts to "first come first served". The markers create no legal claim as most water-covered areas in NB are public, but it is a good practice to respect them.
The practice of marking your spot is very helpful since opening day can be very busy, some guys only hunt ducks the first day or two of the season. If you are out at this time of year and you see a marker and you also want to set up in an area, you now know to leave a healthy distance between yourself and the place where you know there will be other hunters (about 200 yards where I hunt). If you are scouting around at this time of year, you can see that some spots are pretty well covered and you need to look elsewhere.
If you plan on hunting on opening day, don't plan on just showing up 30 minutes before shooting light if you are not now scouting that spot. Chances are you will find yourself in the middle of several other hunters who marked their spots over the Summer. They will not be pleased to see you throwing out decoys 50 yards from their boat/blind. Get out and do some scouting, there's lots of marsh as long as you prepare early!
Hey Chuck - in a lot of popular hunting marsh areas it is a tradition that someone who intends to hunt there on opening day will place a sign in the marsh at the spot where they intend to build their blind or park their boat. Generally the signs will have the person's name, the date they placed the sign and often a phone number. It is generally understood that the person who first marks the spot has exclusive rights to it on opening day and maybe the day or two after depending on where in the week the opener falls. Most people whould suggest that after opening day it reverts to "first come first served". The markers create no legal claim as most water-covered areas in NB are public, but it is a good practice to respect them.
The practice of marking your spot is very helpful since opening day can be very busy, some guys only hunt ducks the first day or two of the season. If you are out at this time of year and you see a marker and you also want to set up in an area, you now know to leave a healthy distance between yourself and the place where you know there will be other hunters (about 200 yards where I hunt). If you are scouting around at this time of year, you can see that some spots are pretty well covered and you need to look elsewhere.
If you plan on hunting on opening day, don't plan on just showing up 30 minutes before shooting light if you are not now scouting that spot. Chances are you will find yourself in the middle of several other hunters who marked their spots over the Summer. They will not be pleased to see you throwing out decoys 50 yards from their boat/blind. Get out and do some scouting, there's lots of marsh as long as you prepare early!
Roger that. Now I made the connection. I've seen lots of those signs and have always respected them. To tell you the truth on opening day I stay clear of the "popular spots" in favor of escape routes from the "popular spots". Then after 2 or 3 days when the "real duck hunters" go do whatever is they do for the other 363 days of the year I will ease into the "good spots". I've had excellent success when doing this and the dog doesn't seem to mind either
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Twinfan- Great post or reply and I can honestly say I would share a Blind any day with you. Just a common sense answer to what often turns out to be incomprehensible to some.+1 to you
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Bow man... You are definitively on the right Track about preparing before you start a Blind. I know fellow hunters that spend countless amounts On camo, Guns, Boats, Dogs, etc. and other gear and then build a 2 cent Blind.....there are a lot of things we think we need and next to the location and Scouting .A well built blind is the Cheapest and most important piece of Hunting preparation that will make or break a Duck hunt, if birds are of interest to us then take the time to build a well concealed and comfortable blind. It does not take a lot of $ and most just take an effort and often will make the difference in the success or lack of birds in the outing.
About the anchors... I hunt out of a boat blind. Last year I cut a couple of poles at about 6 or 7 feet. Drilled holes through them and tied in a 2 foot length of rope. Now I position the boat where I want it and drive the poles down into the bottom right next to the gunwales of the boat and right next to a cleat inside the boat. There's a cleat near the stern and one near the bow. Tie off to each cleat. No anchors and no drifting. When I chase ducks I slip the ropes off the cleats and they just stay hanging on the poles, get the ducks and motor back in next to the poles. The ropes are too short to get down and tangle my prop. The only part that is a bit of a pain is that my blind hangs down the side of the boat, I have to reach over and run each rope up under the blind material and then over the gunwale to the cleat. Not a big problem, I suppose I could poke a hole through the blind and just run the rope straight in.
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Poles sound like a good idea. Pretty simple to relocate if needed.
And if you happen to come across some strippers you're all set there too!
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Now your talking, won't get much hunting in tho.
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I marked my hole in July
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, i never had any company in there last year except people that tagged along with me, i think most weeknd warriors don't know about it or start walking in and get half way and say the hell with it lol. marked Dad and little bro's on the sandbar last weeknd, i think its gonna be a good year, been seeing lots of birds already and there is A LOT of feed this year, as for a blind ive always built one but the last two years I have just sat in the grass or next to a tree or other cover and have done better, sometimes i think a huge clump of trees that magically appeared over night doesnt sit well with ducks and ive watched ducks avoid a pre built blind like the plague after opening week
Old Guide aka "Old Fart" haha I see you didn't get the island this year..... Gonna hit the old spot on the meadows??? Always a good shoot in there.... I'm coming back Sept 25th to NS and then NB Oct 3-4ish until the 18th.... Make sure to put me on the schedule for a "few" days. Are you guys chasing the geese early season. If you need more decoys just take a drive into the house and you can help yourself to my fullbodies.
Pondjumper how's the water situation in your "honey hole" this year.. Are you back near the highway or down near the back road again??
Moose season starts Sept 1st so we're getting ready for that, Sheep hunting and cariboo has been on since July 15th. Guy I work with shot a real nice ram a couple weeks ago.
Pondjumper how's the water situation in your "honey hole" this year.. Are you back near the highway or down near the back road again??
Moose season starts Sept 1st so we're getting ready for that, Sheep hunting and cariboo has been on since July 15th. Guy I work with shot a real nice ram a couple weeks ago.
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The maker has been on the Island Now almost 2 weeks....Meadows is just a generic term..Don't start with the Moose thing I can't even bare the thought of not getting out this year with a Full moon Moose week. The Goose field is booked if Alex can get off work.
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The water is a lot lower then when i took you in there, the only spot there is water is way in the back , there is a small pond way back in there, looks like a killer spot tho, where you guys were standing there might as well be dry just mud with about 3 inches of water as of right now but a few days of good rain will cure that pretty quick, spot down on the sandbar is looking good this year, i put my dad's marker out the other day and the duck oats are as high as my head and thick enough to only be able to see a few feet
I'm sure it won't take much rain to get that place flooded up nice. A guy doesn;t want it as flooded as last year anyways.. A couple nice ponds would be just right to keep them from getting into anywhere they want... You'll kill every teal in New Brnswick down at the sand bar again this year man won't be a teal insight.
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