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Post by wnytrapper97 on Oct 19, 2009 23:59:02 GMT -5
I'm getting super pumped for opening day, except I have a dilemma. Has anyone ever hunted Oak Orchard? I drew a blind for opening day this year and a friend of mine has been doing some scouting. I also have permission to hunt private property with a series of ponds. Out of these ponds, only one really gets all the ducks, and lots of them. I go up there to scout last week and I find that someone built a blind on another pond  The land owner says a friend of his put it there but is "away at school" and doesn't know how much it will be used. Part of me wants to hunt my honey hole opening day and lay claim to my "territory." Part of me also hopes that this other person just doesn't show up, but with it being opening day, I'm guessing that its a slim possibility. Is the Oak really worth it? If anyone has hunted there in the past and could just share stories of ducks seen/harvested (not locations) that would be great! Thanks and good luck this season! |
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Post by trappermac on Oct 20, 2009 7:04:36 GMT -5
I used to hunt Oak Orchard, Iroquois, and the Tonawanda Refuge. Also trapped them for years. But in my younger days was an avid waterfowler and those were the areas I hunted. I haven't in years, but the Iroquois was my favorite, we used to show up every Sat, Tues and Thurs to be part of the lottery at 5:00AM and draw a blind. Sometimes we did very well, sometimes we had a good nap in a swamp. If we didn't get a blind, or the good ones were taken, we'd head over to Ton and set up our dekes in a few places we had, usually long walks to get away from the skybusters. Nice thing about the federal refuge is you were limited to 15 shells, you got those ducks into your decoys or you didn't take the shot. Makes a hunter out of you.
Back then taking a couple geese (the limit) was a real prize, and we highly respected those birds. Sad to see with their overpopulations they're treated like varmints these days.
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Post by steinea286 on Oct 20, 2009 7:20:00 GMT -5
Tonawanda is a great place to hunt, especially when you hit it at the right time. Later in the season is always good as it holds a lot of birds. The birds there now for opening day will be flying here there and everywhere on the opener so a good spread will be nice. I would really try it later in the season though. As for the other spot, as long as you get there first you could hunt it. Or team up with him!! Best of luck to all the waterfowl hunters on saturday (if you go) and please post some pictures!!
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Post by wnytrapper97 on Oct 25, 2009 21:22:24 GMT -5
Well, it turned out to be a productive weekend of duck hunting! Opening day at Oak Orchard was pretty slow, our group of six only took 6 teal, a hen mallard, and a black duck. Sunday morning, we hit our honey hole with hopes that the other hunter(s) didn't educate too many birds. There was some sign that people have been back there, but we had birds piling in from all directions! We had our mallard limit and one goose in 15 minutes! Sunday brought a beautiful sunrise which made the successful hunt so much more satisfying. Pictures coming shortly. Hope everyone had safe and successful hunts! Now time to get after some deer and try my hand at this trapping thing  |
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The land owner says a friend of his put it there but is "away at school" and doesn't know how much it will be used. Part of me wants to hunt my honey hole opening day and lay claim to my "territory." Part of me also hopes that this other person just doesn't show up, but with it being opening day, I'm guessing that its a slim possibility. Is the Oak really worth it? If anyone has hunted there in the past and could just share stories of ducks seen/harvested (not locations) that would be great! Thanks and good luck this season!
