Man................. where do I start. Ever have a trip where it was such a blast that everything is going through your head and you just don't know where to start?
Headed out Sunday morning at 4am. Drove through the rain the whole way, even went through that really bad weather that was in Birmingham, AL. Got to see Taladaga Speedway on the way out there.
Stayed at the Country Inn & Suites in one of their suites ....... that was nice, getting to stretch out and not feel like you were staying in a closet. However we spent very little time in the room. When we did we were 'Dog Tired' ! I don't know why, but I'm bad to lay in the floor and fall asleep, always have been, but Sophie don't mind. She likes it when I get down there with her.
It really amazed me how the landscape drops off when you are entering into the Delta. I mean here in SC, you kinda ease into the mountains from the piedmont, or from the piedmont into the sand hills and then the coastal plain. Not there ! I mean when you get into the Delta, it's like leaving the living room and stepping into the kitchen, night and day ............ really NEAT !
Scouted Sunday afternoon at the Duck Club Land. You guys know the pictures you see in magazines where it's literally THOUSANDS of ducks .......... well it's true
. Them little boogers were flying around like mosquitoes do here.
Hunted Monday morning for 6 birds. Got to see my first 'Hollywood' (Shoveler). Seen tons of birds, but we were just not exactly where they wanted to be.
Hunted that afternoon at a different Duck Club. Truely awesome. Never been more proud of my little 1 yr old. First group that came in was a group of Green-wing Teal of about 50-60 birds. Sophie spotted them coming across the marsh before we did, stayed steady while we worked the birds, dropped 5 out of the group (never broke) and picked all 5 up like she was a seasoned dog. DAM I was proud of that pup ! She never 'broke' the whole trip, we even worked a Greenhead for a few good minutes while she watched the whole time, then SPLASHED it 10' in front of her and she NEVER BROKE ! ! ! ! ! She ended up picking up 18 birds (Teal, Mallards, Pintail) that afternoon to give the 4 of us a limit for the day. I was also glad my new Project Dog Stand worked flowlessly. We even ran over the legs with a Honda Rubicon and it didn't break ..... ofcoarse the Dike was soft helped.
Got up super early and we headed north in search of another hole. We didn't have the luck we did Monday afternoon, but still had a great time. Got to ride in a Argo for the first time. If you've never rode in one before, you need to, those things are awesome. I wouldn't buy one because they beat you to death on dry ground, buy man are those things awesome in the mud and water.
We still managed to work out 5 Mallards and 1 Gadwall. By then we realized the ducks were further south (where we came) and our next stop was northern Arkansas. Talked to our man and he said there was no need, so we cut our trip short and came on home.
Seen a lot of really neat stuff ! I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but when you have a trip like that it's hard to remember it all.................. I really need to get me one of those hunting diaries.