Thread: Some Duck shooting 2013

Bit late putting these up.

It was a pretty dry season in Gisborne this year. I missed opening day due to work so the last week was painful to say the least!!
Finally I was winging my way home from PNG and thoughts which had not been far from duck shooting was getting more and more vivid!
I had written, and rewritten the gear and the possibly whereabouts of said gear due to moving.
I was picked up at the airport by my mate Killwell and I was into it!!

After getting my gear sorted I thought I would give the beloved Benelli a good clean before I went out for the first shoot. As luck would have it I lost the firing pin while putting it back together! Might need that part! It didn't do my excitement levels much as it took 15 mins to find it!
Finally, found it lodged under the truck frame! (note to self...build a fecking bench!!)



Finally got all my gear sorted, and was off to pick up my mate and his dog Drew. We were going to a small patch of cut maize which had been productive so far. Drew was not missing out on this one!


Great wee spot in the Maize!


We got about 10 Parrys and a few mallards. Which was a great start to my season which started a week late. It was just great to get out!

Another time I went on a solo mission to a farm we had shot the year before. Driving out the back to met the owner there was a paddock with 60 parrys in it. Here we go! Farmer was all good and said to get into it! Went and scared the birds off and set up.



Nothing! Nothing for a few hours. Not even one bird looked like it was coming near. Over in the neighbours was a large area of maize which I thought was uncut. A few birds were dropping in there and I thought they must have been going into the nearby river. A lone gunshot rang out from another property and "holy footy socks down the jock batman!!" There must have been over 1000 birds get up!! The sky went dark and I was amazed at the sheer number. Within 5 mins they were all going right back to where they came from. Paying nil interest to me and my setup! All afternoon the birds were dropping in to this site.
I packed up after taking no birds for the pot.
Despite looking like rambo with full camo and facepaint, I took a gamble on going into the neighbour's house. I removed my camo jacket and hat and drove up. Normally shooting with a face mask, I was stuck with the facepaint on but thought seeing im here I might as well go knock on the door.
I quick introduction and he was more then happy for me to come back.
For the newbies or guys looking for new spots, quietly driving onto a property, parking back a wee bit so they can suss you out as you approach and being real friendly and polite can make a real difference to getting onto new spots. I however wouldn't recommend face paint normally

So next arvo we were back. 2 shooters and the lab. As it was so dry, we were able to drive on the cut maize with causing any damage. We could see a fair few birds already there, but we had no idea the real numbers. Setting up in the middle with two layout blinds, 2 Mojos, 12 full bodied mallards and 25 parry sil's I got rid of my wagon and had a pleasant jog back to the setup. (mad dash sprint and near dieing due to much camo clothing on) Note to self...leave jacket, calls and anything not productive to a run in the blind.

We quickly got settled and waited. Soon after a lone bird came ripping into the setup, a single shot and one was down. Then we saw this!



Far out!! It didnt take long to get them all coming back like the last day! And it was on!!
Our limit of 20 parrys as well as getting 2 mallards only took just over 90 mins! With large mobs coming in, we only shot at smaller numbers.


We shot that property most nights for an hour or 2 for a couple of weeks. We gave it a break every few nights and we still limited out most nights we went back.

I shot the neighbours place also for something new, and we still got a few birds each night.

We had a few spots all round the Gizzy area and up the Coast.
Drew the lab enjoying the fire one night up the coast.



So just a few photos. All in all we got about 100 plus Paradise and 15 odd Mallardsi in about 3 weeks. Mallards seemed to be down a bit our way.
Just need to go get a deer now and make some more parry/venison sausages! Cant wait!!
Hate to say it..but bring on duck shooting 2014!! Too early? haha

Nice work. Awsome photo of the parries over the decoys!!

Excellent report and photo's WW

Brilliant always great to have a gamebird update.

Nice haul WW, great advice about approaching neighbours, they can only say 'no'.....well done mate!

Bet you shit yourself when you couldn't find the firing pin!!!!!!!!!

Thanks fullas.
Cheers for the nice comments.

Scouser......sure was!! I wasn't at all impressed hahaha