Dirtroad Stories

With many of the seasons coming to an end, it becomes the time of year to reflect on season’s past and tell those stories…

To dad and I, Saturday’s in December meant two things: quail hunting and UK basketball. Neither being more important than the other, we would hunt the morning and watch the games in the afternoon. We had hunted this farm in southern Indiana for several seasons. No one lived in the farm-house during the winter months. It was a great farm that held four coveys of quail most years. It was a farm that could be hunted throughout the season and keep both the dogs and hunters excited. This day was different though. As we came across a hill we noticed something that we hadn’t seen before. The pond across the road was covered with ducks. They got up and flew away immediately but that didn’t keep us from thinking.

This wasn’t an area that we normally hunted because most of the quail were in other areas. I had hunted ducks a couple of times and rarely saw any. No one else seemed to care about the ducks, but dad and I were intrigued. On the drive home that afternoon, listening to the UK game, we came up with our plan.

The following Saturday we got to the farm about an hour before sunrise and two hours earlier than usual. The dogs were left in the truck along with the lead shells. Two fresh boxes of steel shot were carried across the field, but we didn’t make it to the pond before ducks were coming over our heads. It was a blue bird morning and first light came early. We sat on the side of the hill and were trying to pass shoot the ducks as they crossed heading to the pond. It wasn’t working out well for us. We emptied both boxes without scratching a feather. Those ducks were fast even when we did see them in time. Most of the shots were going straight away at what felt like Mach 2 and the ducks were out of sight in seconds.

Getting back to the truck, the quail hunters of group teased us about our shooting ability. It was a normal quail hunting morning, with the dogs working great and finding all four coveys. The duck hunt was still on our minds though. On the way home, we decided to make an exception and hunt a Sunday. We tried to avoid hunting back to back days on the same farm, but those ducks were calling to us.

Sunday morning came and the dogs were confused as we loaded them up. We got to the farm early again. The plan today was to sit at the top of the hill and try to make the shots shorter. The plan sounded great, but didn’t work out that way. Complete opposite of the day before, it was dreary and overcast. We could hear the ducks approach, but they were long past us before we saw them. Not a shot was fired, but this lead to a new opportunity. All of the ducks had landed on the pond. There were over 200 hundred ducks on this little pond and we were 500 yards away. In between us and the ducks was a cut corn field, a gravel road, more cut corn and then 20 yards of 6 foot tall brush around the pond. It would be some work, but maybe we could get lucky. We devised our brilliant plan: we would crawl army style to the corners of the pond and then shoot the ducks when they came off the water. Of course they wouldn’t see us on the 500 yard crawl with 200 pairs of eyes scanning the landscape. That made too much sense and anyone that knows a duck hunter knows that being ration isn’t part of it. We started the long crawl.

It was more difficult than you would imagine. You had to keep the gun up high enough that you didn’t plug the barrel, but also manuever through the cut corn field and avoid the thorns and rocks. We had crawled 200 yards when we arrived at the gravel road. Even 50 yards apart, I could see dad cringe. I wasn’t sure whether it was crawling across the gravel or him imagining me dragging his Browning 20 gauge over and under across the gravel. Even though guns get damaged through hunting, I made sure that the gravel didn’t touch the beauty of this gun. We crossed the road and were back into the cut corn. Somehow the ducks hadn’t seen us yet and the odds were turning into our favor. We were below the brush line but both of us were too nervous of spooking the ducks to stand up yet. We crawled to the tall brush. I lost sight of dad, so I waited.

After nearly 500 yards and over 30 minutes of crawling, my nerves were getting the best of me. The quacks from the pond were deafening. I had never seen or heard that many ducks in one place before. It was incredible to witness. I couldn’t wait any longer. Hoping dad was in a good position, I stood up and started to walk through the tall brush. I got to the edge and saw ducks EVERYWHERE! They were splashing, eating, quacking and just being ducky. Taking a moment to soak it all in, I stepped out from the brush. Silence fell over the pond much like when you walk into a room of 5 year olds causing trouble. It felt like forever, but the pond erupted! Ducks were crashing into one another trying to get out of there and the noise hit a new level. I picked out a drake mallard in the middle of the flock and pulled the trigger twice to see him fold and splash into the pond. My first duck!!! I watched the ducks fly out of sight and then looked for dad. He was laughing at the other end of the pond. When I got to him, he had killed three ducks with two shots. It was an incredible experience for both of us. We kept telling each other what we saw when we realized we had a small problem. My duck was in the middle of the pond and not moving. We collected his three ducks and walked back to the truck. Unloading the dogs, we were hoping the setters would help us out. Upon arriving back at the pond, my duck had drifted towards one of the banks. The setters seemed to take an interest but just swam out and pushed it around. The water was too cold for their fur, but we kept encouraging them. They eventually got it close enough for us to reach it with a long stick. He was a beautiful drake mallard with twin curls. That was the heaviest bird I had ever put into my shooting vest. The dogs lost interest in the pond and went back to quail hunting. We made it a short day and headed home.

I’m not saying it was even possible to miss with that many ducks coming off the water, but the experience was incredible. We worked hard for my first duck. The sheer noise created by that many ducks and the look of shock on a duck’s face will be engrained in our memories forever.

Thank you for your information and support!!! We will publish the results at a later date.

After reading about the father and two sons that died this weekend on a hiking trip, the DRD Team would like to remind everyone of the importance of outdoor safety. While hiking in the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri, the hikers never made it back to the cabin. The weather conditions changed rapidly and the cause of death was hypothermia. All three were experienced hikers that made several unfortunate mistakes.

It is extremely important to watch the weather conditions while participating in outdoor activities. With experience you can identify changing conditions, but with today’s technology, there is rarely a need to guess. Phones, computers, and weather radios all are useful tools to protect yourself. It is important to check the hourly forecast before heading out, but don’t rely on this information. Go prepared. Your pack should always include an area map, compass, water, snacks, flashlight, water-proof case of matches, and warm dry clothing.

Also, trust your instincts. Mother Nature will give us plenty of signals before the weather turns if you learn to watch for them. Trust what you see and hear and react accordingly.

If you have spent any significant time in the outdoors, you have been lost at some point even if only for a short time. Having a map and compass and knowing how to use them can prevent tragedies like this. Day trips often are the more dangerous for even experienced outdoor adventures. They often go under-prepared and feel they have more than enough daylight to complete the trip. It doesn’t matter whether you are going on a day trip or week-long adventure, it is important to go prepared and let someone know your plans. This applies for ALL outdoor activities: hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and any others.

Take time to learn the proper way to conduct outdoor adventures and when you do learn, teach others. Tragedies like this can be avoided but are a real part of outdoor life. Protect yourself and those around you while spending time outdoors.

The Northern Zone of Georgia’s deer season ended with a rain filled day. Although the Southern Zone still has two weeks remaining, the results of this deer season has been disappointing for many hunters across the state. Deer numbers seems to be down in many areas of the state. Frustration amongst hunters across the state blame to two main elements. One is the increase in the coyote population across the state. Coyotes are blamed for killing young deer populations and also have been witnessed in packs to take down even mid-sized deer. The increase in coyote population has long been blamed for the decline of other game species across the country and seem to be peaking in Georgia.

The other element that many hunters are blaming on the decreased deer population is the liberal hunting season and limits. Many of the successful whitetail herds across the country are managed much different than Georgia’s herd. Gun season lasting over two full months and a 12 deer limit seem to have seriously reduced the herd. Other successful states have a two to three-week gun season followed by archery season until the end of the year. This reduces the number of does killed late in the season.

Meetings are taking place across the state over the next two weeks to discuss the Georgia hunting seasons with state officials. These are the times to discuss your thoughts and concerns about all of Georgia’s seasons. To get a list of locations and dates email us at dirtroaddispatch@ymail.com or visit http://www.gohuntgeorgia.com.

Happy New Year 2013 from your friends at Dirt Road Dispatch!!! We hope that you and your families take the opportunities to enjoy the outdoors this year. Get outdoors and camp, hike, fish or hunt. We look forward to hearing your stories and sharing ours.

Although the weather for the National 1st Day Hike is not looking promising for much of the country, don’t forget that all these areas have great trails to hike throughout the year. If you don’t make it out on the 1st, no reason to wait too long. Check your state’s state parks website for more information on where to go. We will continue to review areas in Georgia and check back often to read about these areas.

We are looking forward to a great 2013 and wish the best for everyone!!!

Merry Christmas from your friends at Dirt Road Dispatch!!!

We hope that you had a wonderful day with family, friends, and starting or continuing traditions!!!

The first migrating Sandhill Cranes of the season have been spotted in Georgia.  Last night, right before dark, two small groups were spotted in central Georgia.  Sandhill cranes are often the early migrants of each year.  Once the Sandhills pass through and the weather cooperates (hunter style), you will begin to see more varieties of ducks and geese.

Reports out of Kentucky today stated that large flocks of Sandhills were migrating throughout the day.  This is great news for the Mississippi Flyway hunters.  Some of the best duck and goose seasons in recent history has been in years that large numbers of Sandhills migrate from November 15th – December 15th.  This is a little later than most hunters would want to see them, but the duck season runs later than in year’s past, so the timing is still very good.

Sandhill hunting is extremely limited and restrictive.  Most hunters have little, if any, interest in hunting Sandhill Cranes.  We use them more as a measurement of migratory birds and enjoy the awkward show that they put on.  Sandhill Cranes seem to get lost fairly often.  They will be flying along and then the flock will spin in circles, fly a little further and do it again.  If you ever get to witness large flocks moving south (or north), take time to watch them.  It is quite comical to see and hear.

*Photo courtesy of www.ducks.org

Kentucky’s 4th bear season just concluded to some new records! For the first time, the quota was met for the season. The season was scheduled for three days, but closed a day early due to meeting the quota. All of the bears were taken from Harlan or Letcher counties and 10 of the 11 were taken by local hunters. The design of the season is to limit the number of bears especially female bears (sows) taken each season. Thus far, only 4 of the 17 bears harvested over the seasons have been females. This helps sustain the seasons for years to come.

A state record bear was also taken during the two days of hunting. The bear field dressed at a whopping 410 pounds crushing the previous record of 350 pounds!

Congratulations to the hunters, biologists, and state on working to make this season a huge success!!!

Source: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resource Website
http://fw.ky.gov/app/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=1204

It is duck season eve and all through the country, not a creature is stirring…

What is shaping up to be the most disappointing start to duck season in over a dozen years for much of the south, is not keeping the hunters at home. Duck hunters will still find local birds and make the best of it in hopes that this pattern will change.

It is discouraging that even in the northern reaches of the US, where duck season has been open for weeks, they recorded record highs as late as Tuesday this week. Fortunately, a cold front is finally moving out of Canada and bringing arctic temps and snow to the midwest. This will not be enough to move the ducks to the south yet, but it’s a start.

Strangely enough, hunters are noticing indications of a colder winter. The last week or two, the “experts” are starting to agree. The indications are showing a snowier and colder winter for the mountain areas. This cold could be exactly what we need to push some ducks to the south. Unfortunately, if it doesn’t snow and get cold in the Midwest most of the ducks will stay in those areas. With migratory birds, it is completely a waiting game. The best we can hope for is miserable cold temps and crazy snow. While we wait, continue getting out and checking your swamps and ponds every day or two. Watch the temps to the north and save a vacation day or two. When the ducks arrive, we all know it will only be for a day or two! Don’t miss our limited opportunities for some of the most fun hunting you will ever have!

As outdoorsmen and women, we are obligated to know and understand the rules and regulations that are in place by our state biologists.  I am disturbed at the number of hunters and fishermen that I find and hear breaking the law.  With liberal laws already in place in most parts of the country, it is sad that people are breaking the rules.  We want to keep our privilege of utilizing the outdoors and yet more and more are taking advantage of these.  It doesn’t matter what the rule is, it is our responsibility to follow those rules.  People that are smarter than us, spend years of studying the cause and effects of what we do outdoors.  Although we may not understand or agree with these rules, we must obey them.

Too many people are trying to take our rights away and we don’t need to give them the leverage!  Show everyone the we are moral and good people who take care of the outdoors.  Not people who take advantage of them.

Lastly, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2012 is back on the floor for vote.  Please contact your Senator and let them know that we need them to vote YES!!!  This Act is important for all of us that enjoy the outdoors!!!