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Post by duff on May 2, 2024 7:19:29 GMT -5
Well once again the ole boy pitched down and crossed the road behind my house. Spent Monday and Tuesday trying to coax one into the field with no luck. Been a tough couple of weeks, lost my neighbor who sold me my ground and lost my other neighbor who I took hunting all the time last year. Had to get his replacement hip worked on Monday, talked to him Monday and Tuesday evening and was very upbeat then went into cardiac arrest at 2 this morning and never recovered. He always told me to keep at it and never give up cause things can change in seconds. Sure gonna miss my hunting buddy. I'll be chasing em again in the morning. Tough losing a good friend.
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Post by duff on May 1, 2024 20:37:55 GMT -5
Good day on the lake. Good buddy Dave holding up the average sized gill
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Post by duff on May 1, 2024 5:02:58 GMT -5
I was helping my wife. She works for HNF what a gig! I hear ya, payscale is pretty low if just starting out but can be rewarding if one has a passion for being outdoors. One of my buddies who went on to grad school spent a year and a half working with two guys doing Mt.Lion research in New Mexico. He was in charge of a pack of hounds they used to run and tree the lions for capture to get data. He said it was one of the coolest jobs he ever had---LOL---getting paid to go hunting Steve I went to school to be a fish biologist. Was signed up for grad school and ready to compete for a sub $20k/yr job in late 90s when I realized that would not be doable. Got my undergrad degree and got a job with IDEM 60% higher wage than being hired as assistant fish biologist for IDNR. No master degree either. Those biologist jobs are easily filled so tough competition. Feds are better than the state. But not by much when working for usda.
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Post by duff on Apr 30, 2024 20:59:27 GMT -5
Call trap'n fool out of Hudson Lake. Cal Dittmar may be able to help.
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Post by duff on Apr 30, 2024 20:53:27 GMT -5
duff will you please take me fishing?! If you're that good at hunting turkeys, when you don't even like it, you have to be an absolute GOAT at crappie fishing! My freezer needs some filling! Anytime. Maybe we can have a 1v1 my boat vs Dave's boat. It really is easy and I lucked into the dumb turkey so don't set your expectations too high
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Post by duff on Apr 30, 2024 13:29:39 GMT -5
I thought they held their fans up? Must be the super strain of sneaky smart birds span870 is after.
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Post by duff on Apr 30, 2024 11:34:54 GMT -5
Was supposed to hunt with span870 today but he was checking out golf clubs at Dicks...figures. Spent a few hours at the spillway. 4 wipers 2 gills 2 drum 1 shad 1 broke off...pretty sure it was my 10 pound eye
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Post by duff on Apr 30, 2024 9:11:58 GMT -5
We had 1 before official start time so couldn't count it but 98% certain it was 1. I heard it call like 4 times then it quit. Neighbor had several in his field doing their dance back in Feb so I think we were a bit late They're neat little birds. I was part of a banding team while at Purdue back in the late 60"s. we used a mist net and a recording of a male to capture them for banding. Now there's teams up in Michigan where I hunt and other northern states that use pointing dogs for banding when the broods are young and chicks are still flightless as well as ongoing studies as populations have been under pressure due to habitat loss etc. Steve I was helping my wife. She works for HNF what a gig!
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Post by duff on Apr 30, 2024 4:11:54 GMT -5
It is like a cloud when they are small. Highly concentrated in one area and will latch on to anything warm blooded. After they find some blood they get dispersed as they fall off their host.
They are happy all over our state and many others. If you have not experienced a new nest like that it is shocking. Even when I thought I got them all I had 6 ticks I pulled off after 1 to 3 days. I knew better, just didn't think I would be in the woods enough to get them.
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Post by duff on Apr 30, 2024 4:02:13 GMT -5
Leftovers on day 2 out of air fryer were even better. Wife had made a honey mustard sauce that was good but tried a new hot sauce, Melinda's black truffle pepper sauce. Man it is really good. Buttery smooth and slight heat kick.
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Post by duff on Apr 29, 2024 20:47:16 GMT -5
Went back to Michigan today and called for my buddy that got me on the property. Had a great time and even got him a bird. Same place I shot mine from yesterday.It was a nice jake, you can tell by his smile he was pleased with it. I am right there with him. I have no affinity to weird chest hairs or pointy leg things. If it is legal...and I have a tag it is getting used. 10 min or last day
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Post by duff on Apr 29, 2024 19:55:24 GMT -5
so Duff, in spite of the ticks did you hear any male woodcock peeting or see any displaying? Steve We had 1 before official start time so couldn't count it but 98% certain it was 1. I heard it call like 4 times then it quit. Neighbor had several in his field doing their dance back in Feb so I think we were a bit late
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Post by duff on Apr 29, 2024 17:13:21 GMT -5
Agreed dog fish
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Post by duff on Apr 29, 2024 17:10:58 GMT -5
Send me coordinates and I will get it taken care of. I got a guy.
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Post by duff on Apr 29, 2024 5:09:50 GMT -5
span870 if you need me to call your bird in I can cook it for you too. You have to carry it out though he may need you to find him a spot that HAS birds! Don't let his whoa is me story get to you. He will only shoot a bird after it sniffs his boot, does a special shimmy shake that he claims proves it to be a superior genetic quality from his beloved PA. Then, he will load his gun. Targets are not his problem.
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Post by duff on Apr 29, 2024 3:42:13 GMT -5
He'd suck at golf too. Try toy trains in the basement. I will buy you your hat.
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Post by duff on Apr 28, 2024 19:48:23 GMT -5
When that bird was babbling on and on...he was fluffy too.
What's the problem? What do you call it then?
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Post by duff on Apr 28, 2024 19:28:22 GMT -5
Nephew is having fun today. He just called and asked if I would smoke one for him. Do you put them in a pipe or do you roll-em. It's super hard to keep lit. He must be a master smoker
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Post by duff on Apr 28, 2024 19:22:38 GMT -5
Oh I know its all in good fun....I enjoy reading you guys bantering and digs. Fun? Good fun? How did you ever get that out of what I wrote? 3 leases in 3 states and a ridiculous amount of loss of sleep and driving and money spent and he kills one 5 minutes from the house in 15 minute hunt. Good fun? Bantering and digs? ? Absolutely not. I'm soooooooo freaking happy for the man. Roosted a few tonight, Shane. I guess they hiss more than gobble at night. None were fluffed up either...hard bird to figure out.
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Post by duff on Apr 28, 2024 17:37:28 GMT -5
span870 if you need me to call your bird in I can cook it for you too. You have to carry it out though
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