Stretch Run
Into the bell lap for the season but we continue to push the pace. If you have not made it out to the prairie in a while, just a few weekends left of duck season to enjoy it. One thing to keep an eye on in January is the weather. The prairie goes through periods where the ducks (and sometimes the geese) are not around. Trust me its not just one or two of the properties but just about all of them experience times when the birds move out and new ones have not moved in. In January, we notice that when the weather socks back in on the prairie (and not just a sprinkle or two) but really gets nasty with the rain, the ducks move back in. The saying "ducks come to rising water" was not completely unfounded and is a little applicable to the inclement days when the fog and rain, and yes sometimes the cold, really takes hold. Allow me one soap box item as we get to the close of the end of the season: duck hunting etiquette. Before you flip over to the Coop just allow me a minute here about something I have been noticing in some of the reports from some of the properties. Just as golfers have "golfer's etiquette"—those unwritten rules which say for example you don’t talk during someone's back-swing, we have the same etiquette among duck hunting. It's more than just safety but a way of handling yourself, your gun and your dog during hunts. In group hunting, for example, when birds are working, don’t jump up and take the lone single on your side as it passes by the blind or where you are hunting. Wait for the group to work or if the groups are not working, discuss the possibility with the group of taking the singles that are passing through. Still having problems here, appoint one person to call the shots. Usually someone in the middle of the group works best. With dogs there are similar unwritten rules: if Cujo won't mind or hold steady, then keep a firm hand on the leash and pass on the shooting. I saw someone doing it the other day with a young dog. He passed on the shots in furtherance of the group experience. There are others but I won't go into all of them here. I will try to pass on more of them in other home pages as we go forward. But remember, it’s about the group experience out there in duck hunting—just like golf. We still have a few XL Columbia shirts remaining for $40 and hats in camo or tan for $20. All items will be available at the happy hour on January 22.Upcoming Calendar:January 12South Zone second split of dove closesJanuary 13Speck Season closesJanuary 22YbHC Blanco’s Happy Hour/Kelly Siegler (DA Candidate) promoJanuary 27PM Duck shoots at various properties (members only—details to follow) Sunset: Duck, Sandhill and Canada Goose Season closeJanuary 28Conservation season starts on Light Geese
