Day two duck hunting report

[Orchidman]

The previous day BH and I had a conference call where I suggested he pull his decoys, then before first light on day 2 he packs up and joins me for the morning flight.
So, on day two I woke at 5am, packed up the shelter and bunk, re-camoed the boat and got set up for first light. Took me longer to pack up than I allowed for and when I realised, I didnt bother cooking breakfast or even making coffee.
Bh still hadnt arrived when it became light enough to shoot so I started calling. First flight that came in was 2 drakes and a female mallard. With the wind coming from behind, they came head on into me. When they were about 30m out I stood up and they split with the outside 2 going left and right and the 3rd electing to continue towards me and gaining height. I swung left and smoked that drake, swung right and crumpled the second drake then lifted the gun high and dropped the female who came down, almost landing in the boat.......another triple shot!
Decided to wait to retrieve as I could hear birds calling.
Let out a few calls and the response was a pair coming into view from my left from behind the mangroves going hell for leather'.
2 shots and both were down.
Only had time to reload and another pair flew past about 300m out. Then followed a quacking duel between me and the mallard female. They would turn and come in to within about 70m before turning and circling around. I would call, she would reply, I would call again and get a second reply and they would come in again and do the same thing. This happened 5 times......
I think the drake got pissed off with her on the sixth time, and instead of following her when she turned away, he kept coming straight in and set his wings when he was about 200m out and about 100m high.....She then let out a series of frantic calls, put on the afterburners and caught up with him just as he reached the decoys......2 shots later and they both crumpled in to the decoy spread.
7 birds with 7 shots.....1 to go. Went and retrieved all 7 while birds were still calling and flying around.
Got back into the mangroves and a single drake flew past about 250 m out and 250 m high. Gave him the same female call and he hit the airbrakes swooped out of sight to my left so I got ready.....sure enough he appeared from behind the mangroves to my right going like hell presenting the same shot the first drake did on day one......In the back of my mind was the thought of going 8 birds for 8 shots as I swung the 1187 up........bang.....miss..... bang and he crumpled drt. 8 birds for 9 shots. Limited out by 7.30am
Retrieved the last bird and sat back to call BH.
"Where the hell are you"
"Just finished breakfast"
" Well hurry up"
"Cant. am answering a call of nature"
"You have to be kidding, Get your ass over here"
"Cant, its busy"
I gave up at that stage...
Where we shoot is classed as a low flying area for light planes....and every year I get buzzed by a Cessna. I think the pilot is anti duck shooting. Sure enough about 5 mins later I heard the sound of a plane and it came into view flying up the coastline towards me about 500m up. When he saw my decoys he dropped even lower and started circling around my position. I could clearly see the pilot so I indicated with a finger what I was thinking....he dropped even lower giving me the opportunity to take this pic of his plane number.

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He made 5 circuits at that height before straightening up and going away. I wasnt sure how to pluck a Cessna so I didnt bother adding him to the days tally.

BH duly arrived about 25 mins later and I managed to call enough birds in range for him to drop 6. One was a woundie which came down about 80m to our right. I offered to retrieve it for him and went out in the boat. Got to within 30 m of it when it dived....I stopped and waited for it to surface, which it did. Problem was it kept its body underwater with only its head and bill out as it swam for the mangroves. Every time I got close enough to shoot it would dive under then swim about 25m before coming up for a breath, only giving me about 2 seconds to spot it and get a shot away before it dived again......7 shots later it reached the safety of the mangroves and disappeared into the thickest part.
Got back to BH who asked me why I started a war cos it sounded like one! I told him next time he can retrieve his own wounded birds and if he was a better shot he would have 6 ducks instead of 5.....then the argument started
By this stage we were running out of water so I picked up the decoys and we headed back to the ramp....
Again we had a race and BH kindly took this next pic as I once again overtook him....

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Back to the ramp, visited Mark to give him another damn good listening to and headed home.
Here is a pic of the weekends results...Yes, I know my garage needs cleaning out....

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Spent monday cleaning gear, tracking down the boat leak and plucking birds. Also stripped the broken 1187 and from what I can see it has done its dash. It was the first one I ever bought in 1989 and started life as a premier skeet gun... put 1000's of rounds through it in competitions before swapping out the wooden stock for a camo plastic one then using it as a cull gun. During culls it was not uncommon to put between 500 and 1000 rounds per day through it. It was with some sadness that I came to that decision and I disassembled it to provide spare parts for my last remaining 1187.

[Rugerfan]

Great story!!! I enjoy reading reading about your exploits!

[Chiro1989]

Another good day! On sn empty stomach no less. Couple things, can you report the Cessna pilot for harassment of a hunter? What wore out on the 11-87, the receiver?

[GrapeApe]

Living the Life, my friend

[Orchidman]

Another good day! On sn empty stomach no less. Couple things, can you report the Cessna pilot for harassment of a hunter? What wore out on the 11-87, the receiver?

Cant report him for low flying .......doubt whether harassment would would succeed ....but there may be a case for him to be charged with disturbing wildlife.

As for the 1187.....After firing the first shot, the action locked up tight in the open position and wouldnt move at all. I knew the the action bar assembly and the slots they run in were worn to the extent that they were quite loose. There are some big burrs on the front of the receiver where the action rails slide in and they appear to be bent/warped as I cant reassemble the action bar back into the receiver. Will take some pics when I get a chance and post them up in General firearms. When I stripped it down at home I had great difficulty in taking the action bar/Bolt carrier out even after removing the trigger assembly. Now I cant get it back in....
I think the trouble is the result of using steel loads with their higher speed/pressure. Although it is capable of taking 3' loads, I only used one packet a few years ago and found that they caused problems with cycling the the action so I went back to 2 3/4" loads.

[GrapeApe]

When's a good time to give you a ring over the next couple of days?

[Chiro1989]

Another good day! On sn empty stomach no less. Couple things, can you report the Cessna pilot for harassment of a hunter? What wore out on the 11-87, the receiver?

Cant report him for low flying .......doubt whether harassment would would succeed ....but there may be a case for him to be charged with disturbing wildlife.

As for the 1187.....After firing the first shot, the action locked up tight in the open position and wouldnt move at all. I knew the the action bar assembly and the slots they run in were worn to the extent that they were quite loose. There are some big burrs on the front of the receiver where the action rails slide in and they appear to be bent/warped as I cant reassemble the action bar back into the receiver. Will take some pics when I get a chance and post them up in General firearms. When I stripped it down at home I had great difficulty in taking the action bar/Bolt carrier out even after removing the trigger assembly. Now I cant get it back in....
I think the trouble is the result of using steel loads with their higher speed/pressure. Although it is capable of taking 3' loads, I only used one packet a few years ago and found that they caused problems with cycling the the action so I went back to 2 3/4" loads.

I would definitely hassle him back for his efforts, only a phone call. Dang, wore out a receiver, well done hey.

[Diver43]

I have never hunted ducks, but reading about your adventures here and the previous forum, it almost feels like I have. Thank You

[NuttyNed]

Another great story---hey.

[Orchidman]

When's a good time to give you a ring over the next couple of days?

The Famiy Trust made the decision to get rid of the landlines here.....now they pay for my mobile.
You could try messenger...

[Orchidman]

I would definitely hassle him back for his efforts, only a phone call. Dang, wore out a receiver, well done hey.

This is actually the second 1187 I have wore out......The first one was retired when the 'bridge' on the receiver which sits on top of the magazine tube wore down and fell out. It wasnt worth sending back to the USA to be repaired and gunsmiths over here wouldnt touch it. It became my first 'box o parts' gun...I may have enough parts to make another up out of the bits from both....
I still have the V3 I bought about 6 yrs ago which has only had one season of use...

[Jayhawker]

I'm green with envy...thanks for the tale...I miss that stuff

[Zee]

Nicely done.

[Orchidman]

I'm green with envy...thanks for the tale...I miss that stuff

Thanks. Plan a trip over between the first weekend in May and the first weekend in June and I will take you out....That applies to any of you guys btw. I would enjoy the company. Will throw in a free offshore fishing trip and a Fallow deer hunt as well....

[Orchidman]

Nicely done.

Thanks......I was surprised with how well I shot. Havent picked up a scattergun since the last day of ducks in June last year. I guess 60yrs experience helps....

[Freezer]

That is a great story! We don't have many waterfowl opportunities here in SW Pa. I'd have to drive 4 hour north and don't know that area. I used to hunt in California and there were many places to go, I miss it! I never had so much fun with my cloths on.