Ducks?..what ducks.... bad this year, getting worse every year, Even the geese have dropped way off, guys here think they're special if they kill a couple old squaw or buffies...

Great pictures . Tray those shots especially, always look forward to your pictures. Those pintail sure are pretty, they are a treat here. Only kill a handful each season. How old is your Chessie? My family uses a lot of those, always have for long time. I like labs , friendly dogs. But I’ve sure seen some good chessies work!

Seems like the eastern seaboard had a poor migration from reading these posts, from NY to NC. Wonder if numbers are down on the eastern lakes or migration routes are shifting? Thoughts?

We will see a big push of birds this month, February. Always do.

John

Eastern Shore has suffered "poor migration" (LOL!) due to Fed & State idiotic Wildlife Managment, ridiculous WF limits in NY, NJ, PA, and MD, greed, harvesting changes, loss of habitat, and constant weather changes.

Tray I see a few specks here in the fall migration but in the spring when they come back they are all over here. Can’t figure that out. Maybe going down the Illinois river and coming back along Mississippi and rock river.

Dog is 3 years old, it’s my second Chessie and I really enjoy hunting with her. Both my Chessies have been wonderful family dogs and great with kids.

I think everyone should own at least one in their life and it should be before you have kids…….nothing prepares you more for teenagers… LOL

One of the Breeders/trainers I bought my dog from summed it up perfectly “You don’t train a Chessie, you just learn to negotiate with them”

Hey tray
I would love to know more about your dog. I have been looking at chessies for a while now but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I want to make sure it exactly what I want before I get one. we hunt pretty much right from 90 degree weather im September right to freeze up at Christmas. So it's gotta be versatile. Also it'll be running for long distances behind a snowmobile at times in the winter. But also has to be able to lay down with my young kids.

"One of the Breeders/trainers I bought my dog from summed it up perfectly “You don’t train a Chessie, you just learn to negotiate with them.”

. . . a 2x4 is a great "attitude adjustment" tool.

Coondagger, good for you for putting those birds to good use, and even donating plucked whole birds to the game dinner. We only breast divers and ducks that are shot up. Majority are plucked, singed, dressed, then soaked in a salt brine for couple days before freezing. They are great table fare, lots of recipes. I like them roasted whole over potato’s or Manning’s hominy. When you breast those puddle ducks, you miss out on that crispy skin, and tender thighs/legs. That being said, it takes time to pluck birds, especially when you start piling them up. A lot easier to pop out the breast and move on. Which I’m good with, as long as the birds are not wasted.

What shells are you guys shooting? I tried Apex this year, and I liked them. I shot Hevi Metal for years, then they just about doubled the price. Then I shot black cloud, which I shot well and still like. Bought a case of Apex this year and so far it’s killing the ducks. 3” 3’s normally my goto shell. Carlson MR and LR tube.

I recommend looking at several breeders and observing the parents, see how they interact with you “a new person”
I don’t like the high intensity breeders, guys who breed for competition. In my opinion this leads to high strung dogs.
I highly recommend a female as a first dog as they always seem to be a little less “possessive”.

Thanks for the advice. I have looked at a couple breeders. Both of them gave me a good sales pitch... lol.
I was thinking a female also. Is your dog very high energy even when not working ? Or is it able to calm down. I have heard they are stubborn as heck. Which is fine because so am I

A Chessie can go from Lassie to Cujo in a blink of an eye :-(

Energy levels are comparable to a lab, they drive u nuts till they are about 2 years old then start to mellow out. But I’m sure every dog is different.
First one I had was a very sweet and hard working dog that was super focused when she hunted. Funny thing was when you were hunting she didn’t want attention and if you gave her some she would move and sit farther away from you and just watch the decoys.
My current dog thinks it’s her responsibility to keep a guy warm in the marsh, it’s tough to stay dry cause she’s always rubbing up against you.

Few more pics of the dogs

This was my first year really trying field hunting geese. Only got out a handful of times, but learned something every trip and even managed to fool some geese.



And made another trip out to North Dakota with a few friends. Went mid-October and seemed like we were a week early, not a lot of migrators in the area. Still got plenty of shooting and made some memories, but only brought home a few ducks each. Got my first spoon bill on a pond we'll definitely be back to next year.

first year in 50plus that i did not shoot a duck

Tray last pic you posted right after dog with the drake mallard. What is that duck? We don't get the variety here like up south.

Drake Redhead

Thank you Tray. Not a bird we ever get.

There has been a large increase in the White front population that is why the seasons have been adjusted.
If you look at the bird flu map of infected farms it is staggering where there is open water and waterfowl present.

Just a reminder that the International Waterfowl Act states that no migratory birds are to be in your possession 60 or 90 days after a season is closed and a limit also includes what you have given away