Only One More Week...

Only one more week until what? The 2010 waterfowl season opener! That's not entirely true. North Carolina has already had two early seasons come and go. There's a September teal season. I've tried to hunt this season in the past. The mosquitoes, alligators, cottonmouths, and heat quickly wore down my enthusiasm. There's also a 'wood duck' season. It's four days in early October...usually when I'm in full on deer mode. Me and the crew have made a go at it in the past with big time success. But work schedules and new family members have curbed recent efforts.

Early wood duck season limit

The November 13 opener is the beginning of the main season. That's almost 2 1/2 months of getting up at 0:dark:30, oiling guns, mucking through swamps, and getting tail slapped at by beavers in the dark. Don't laugh - until you've actually heard that in the dark - it's kinda scary. Up until the 13th, scouting is essential. Cueing in on fly ways, finding food - mainly acorns, millet, and duck weed -, beaver ponds, and flooded creek bottoms helps me pinpoint the quarry of my desire. Around here that's mainly two species: wood duck and green-winged teal.

Teal bookending wood ducks

That's not to say we don't get other species...we're teased with wigeon, pintail, gadwall, and black ducks. As a matter of fact, while living in Beaufort, I concentrated mainly on divers and sea ducks in Pamilco and Core Sounds. But that kind of duck hunting, even if it's my favorite, has taken a back seat to quickie wood duck hunts. These days time is like gold, and maximizing time afield is key. You don't need a boat. You don't need decoys. Hell, sometimes you don't even need waders. The only thing you do need is a realiable gun, and a good dog.

Oh, and did I mention you also needed a wife that DEMANDS a freezer full of duck???

---- Brian