50 replies to this topic

[mean]

So i have been hunting the waterways of Montazuma Slough launching out of Belden's public launch and have not seen much action. I was wondering if any of you guys have had any luck out there. I have been out a lot and have not really seen anything great. I have a pretty good duck boat and decent blind for the boat. This is only my second season i am stationed at travis so i was hoping i could hunt close. If anyone can help me out that would be great. Not looking to steal spots just a little quidance would be nice. Thanks for the help.

[Jeff]

I've never been to Grizzly personally. But I have a buddy who hunts there as a backup if no ressies. It is basically the Gray Lodge of the Bay Area. Tons of hunters, enough ducks to at least get something.You may want to try out www.refugeforums.com and head down to the California Flyway folder and do a lot of reading. You'll stumble across a good bunch of info there if you search.

[airman]

Just wait for the weather to come. The huntings been slow, to many blue bird days. There are duck clubs all over out there, so you know it's good. I hunt Griz, and another club out by there when invited. Your in the right area for sure, just wait for the weather!

[Braz]

OK, OK, I'm not a duck hunter, and I just have one question. Just what the heck kind of bird is a ressie?

[Moe]

Little things, actually. Pale, almost white. No feathers, no guts, no meat. Pathetic, really. Hard to cook and tough to eat. No matter how you fold them they never fly all that well.

[meatgetter]

Very rare and hard to come by. Extremely valuable.Leave a sour taste in your mouth when you burn them.

[Jeff]

OK, OK, I'm not a duck hunter, and I just have one question. Just what the heck kind of bird is a ressie?

Ahhh, Lynn. Love it!

[Braz]

Judging from the resonses, I assume it's not a bird. I suppose it is shorthand for someone to lazy to type out the entire word?

[Jeff]

Ressie = reservation. There is a drawing for waterfowl hunt days on the refuges.

[Braz]

Why not just say reservation? I just don't understand why people slander the language so badly. No offense intended.

[timmy]

you ruined it, Jeff. I was about to post that last year I got a banded ressie :smiley-outta-here:Anyways, Mean.Like everyone said, its a good area, its just that winter comes late here. I heard the area you are talking about is great for wood ducks. I've never hunted Montezuma Slough, but we hunt other areas of the delta alot.

[mean]

Well went out again this morining before work and we got one. It was a merganser so it wasn't the best take but its progress. We fired on a couple of sets just didn't get them. Lots of mallards talking and flying they were just out of range though. Herd what sounded like a million coots but nerver saw any. The winds picked up and so did the action, but gotta pay the bills so we shut it down and headed in. We tossed out about 30 decoys, mostly hen and drake mallards. The ducks were decoying in and responding to come back call pretty good. Lots of potential today, i think the next couple of weeks it will get really hot. I will keep you guys posted and pics to come as soon as i can get time. Good luck to all.

[mean]

Lots of action this morining. Shot a couple of gadwell. Moved around a bit and saw alot. Going out again at the end of this week. We are going to try a new spot we saw a lot of action on. I will let you all know how it turns out.

[airman]

Good job. It will pick up, as we get into December. Last week a couple buddies went out to Griz, and never even fired a shot. Headed out to Sac, refuge on Wed! Low # resi!

[mean]

Went out of Sat morining and got 5 ducks total. I got a drake bufflehead and 4 drake goldeneyes between and a buddy of mine. Saw lots of action of the divers but not much in the puddle department. Still making trips out as offten as me can. I will keep you all posted as things change.

[Jeff]

At least you got some good looking birds.

[mean]

Me and my buddy got another 14 today. Still hot on the divers. It was kind of sad really an hour to get out there 20 mins. to set up and the 40 mins of shooting and then we were done and cleaning up the decoys. All drake goldeneyes with the exception of the two drake buffleheads at the very last. I guess i am going to have plenty of jerky this year. Saw a small population of mallards today. Things are comming around should be a good last month or so. I will keep you all posted.

[bzzrd feedr]

Are you sure they are Golden Eyes? They are not all that common in the Western Flyway. Could you please post a pic of one close up of the head and wing? I'm not doubting you just curious. I'm thinking that they may be Ringneck which also have the gold irised eye like the golden eye and are way more common on the strap. The Ringneck has a distinct ring on their bill and a light neck ring. Some people call them ring bill.

[airman]

We shoot a bunch of golden eye's over here in the Napa slough.

[mean]

Ya i am working on that. They are a nice green head with a yellow/gold eyes. They are the size of mallards and run with the buffleheads. I don't think they are ring necks. Goldeneyes are pretty easy to spot. They are also very hard to clean as the skin really sticks to the meat. As soon as i figure this picture thing out i will post them. I have golden eye decoys and and the look the exact same as them. i will post the pics soon. If i am wrong i am sorr for posting bad info.

[Jeff]

This is a common goldeneye drake...http://www.vanbuskir...-EYE-DUCK-2.jpghttp://www.gettyimag...573/De-Agostinimuch smaller than a mallard, more the size of a bufflehead, and in my opinion, unmistakable.Also, the barrowshttp://www.schmoker....fowl/BAGO11.jpg

[bzzrd feedr]

No big deal, I'm just curious. They are similar but the Golden Eye will have the big cheek patch of white. They make a beautiful mount as does the Bufflehead.

[mean]

Yup the bigger ones are for sure golden eyes and the smalls are buffleheads. Thanks for the link with the pics. I bought a chart and matched them up and i am 100 % positve that this is what we were shooting both of my limit trips. I know they are not mallards but man are they cool and fun to shoot. Should make awesome jerky. I will continue to keep the post up to date as we enter the latter part of the season. I just got news that my lower unit is shot so idk when the next time will be. Wish me luck and if anyone has a good used outboard close by let me know i gotta get back on the water.

[mean]

Out again this weekend and we got 9 teal, 4 golden eyes, 1 blue bill, and 1 spooney. All and all a pretty good outing. Puddles are out and about and decoying in nicely. The golden eyes and buffleheads continue to stay active. I just got my first batch of diver jerky and it turned out amazing. I was really impressed with the flavor. Didn't taste at all like what they eat so that was nice. I will keep you all posted as the season comes to an end.

[mean]

went out on monday and we got 1 drake mallard, 1 teal, and 6 goldeneye's. The mallard and teal were pass shots without decoys. The goldeneyes decoyed in without any problems. Pretty good outing aside from the fog. Would have been nice if we could have had a little more wind. I wasn't out with the second group but they got limits on mallard and teal out on liberty island. As the season comes to a close i will keep you all posted.

[fyrewil]

Just need to watch out for the chads.......(Florida recount on hung chads)HAHA good LOL post and replies

[mean]

Out and at it again. Nothing so far on geese yet. Going out again tonight on some private land we aquired this off season. I will let you all know what happens. Saw great numbers on the scouting. Went opening morning and they hugged the property line tight. Stayed and scoute the evening and it was hot. Hopefully tonight is the night.

[Jeff]

Good luck on the Honks, wish I had some property where I could hunt them.

[fyrewil]

Just need to watch out for the chads.......(Florida recount on hung chads)HAHA good LOL post and replies

Launch out of the boat ramp between Benicia and Cordelia. you can go to the back side of clubs and Grizzly.AND if you do a little scouting you can find a honey spot for HONKERS!!!!

[mean]

Thanks, will do. Nothing as of yet. Have to wait until the late duck season now.