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Thread: Short but fun season

  1. #1
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    Default Short but fun season

    I moved from northern GA down to Orlando mid-summer for a year-long internship following school. The internship keeps me busy, and when I moved down I figured I wouldn't have any time for hunting. I left decoys, boat, waders-everything but my shotgun at home. I sold my riverhawk a week before moving down, now I wish I hadn't done that. But you can only be inside for so many hours a day before needing to explore...

    I found this pair in late summer at a nearby WMA. They could care less I was so close. I never got a chance to go hunt there, wish I could have.
    IMG_4290.JPG

    After being here for less than 2 months, I realized I needed any kind of boat I could afford. My good friends dad sold me his kayak at a ridiculously low cost. He told me when he lived down here, he too realized he needed some kind of boat, and really hooked me up. Thanks MP!

    Shortly after I acquired the kayak, Hurricane Irma rolled through. It really messed up the rivers and lakes, the floodwaters took forever to go back down.
    This is a picture of a tree stand about 5ft from the water
    IMG_4626.JPG

    Season was fast approaching, and I happened to find an estate sale looking to get rid of "several old foam decoys with weights" on craigslist. Called the number, went to the middle of nowhere about an hour away and picked up 50+ Herters that were beat to hell. When I started carving a few years ago, I told myself that I had enough decoys and if I wanted more, I would have to carve them. Well, this was WAY too good of a deal to pass up.
    52981238812__39BF7563-38C8-4361-8B1E-1BEE3AB1DD3B.JPG52981238812__39BF7563-38C8-4361-8B1E-1BEE3AB1DD3B.JPG

    Kayak and decoys:
    IMG_4729.JPG

    So I was in business.

    I had a really awful case at work, and needed to get away. I had not shot my shotgun in about 8 months, and right at shooting time this girl came screaming over my right shoulder. Didn't even hear the gun go off, I just picked it up and she folded first shot. I cannot describe how much pressure I felt leave my shoulders. I have always hunted with my friends or in areas I scouted with friends. But this was different- I found a spot in another state by myself, set up how I wanted, and luckily was in the right place.
    IMG_4796.JPG

    Stayed until late in the morning, and this guy came right to the whistle.
    53331401182__D359C5FA-C767-4860-A885-EAC7F413DFBA.JPG

    It was a really cool morning.
    IMG_4791.JPGIMG_4792.JPG

    I sat still for about two hours, and I decided to walk around and explore. Made it 100ft from my spot to watch a group of mottleds trying to decoy, but then they saw me and promptly left.

    Final pic for the day:
    IMG_4797.JPG

    The main goal I set for myself was to bag a florida mottled while here. After a really disappointing hunt, I decided to go explore, and found an area that a group of them frequented.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by abarill; 01-30-2018 at 10:39 PM.
    Never confuse enthusiasm for capability

  2. #2
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    Default

    Not sure why those are rotated.

    But, moving on.

    Found the mottleds, went after them.
    This was the first one, and he is going to the wall.
    IMG_4932.JPG

    Went another time, found this guy.
    IMG_4946.JPG

    Found some cool areas scouting.
    IMG_4921.JPG

    And Lily had some fun too.
    IMG_4998.JPG
    IMG_4997.JPG

    So it turns out Florida is pretty cool.
    Never confuse enthusiasm for capability

  3. #3
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    Default

    I have no idea how to rotate these pics, any advice?

    Hope y'all enjoy
    Never confuse enthusiasm for capability

  4. #4
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    Default

    Awesome!
    "I'm just a victim of a circumstance"

  5. #5
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    Hell yeah. There are some cool places left in Florida. Just takes a little exploring.
    you aint did a dawg gon thang until ya STAND UP IN IT!- Theodis Ealey


    Quote Originally Posted by Rebel Yell View Post
    The older I get, the more anal retentive I get.

  6. #6
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    Default

    Nice

  7. #7
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    Good deal. That first Mottled is a hybrid. Pure Mottled’s don’t have white on the leading edge of the speculum.

  8. #8
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    Oh shit... Don't bring that in here...
    you aint did a dawg gon thang until ya STAND UP IN IT!- Theodis Ealey


    Quote Originally Posted by Rebel Yell View Post
    The older I get, the more anal retentive I get.

  9. #9
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    Default

    Very nice

  10. #10
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    i'll give you your money back for the herters when u decide to carve the replacements
    "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
    I am haunted by waters" Norman Maclean.

  11. #11
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    Very nice! Is the dry bag for your shotgun?
    \"Free your mind, your ass will follow\"

  12. #12
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    Very cool story. Thanks for sharing!

  13. #13
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    Columbia, SC
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    good read.

    (pics do that, for some reason. Bub aint fixed it yet)
    Ugh. Stupid people piss me off.

  14. #14
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    good read.

    (pics do that, for some reason. Bub aint fixed it yet)
    Ugh. Stupid people piss me off.

  15. #15
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    Default

    Very cool story, thanks for posting it

  16. #16
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    like it

  17. #17
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    Yes sir, good stuff!

  18. #18
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    Jan 2003
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    Mount the 2nd Mottled not that 1st one
    You've got one life. Blaze on!

  19. #19
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    What kind of yak is that? Cool hunts


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  20. #20
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    Thanks yall. The kayak is a 12ft native ultimate. The dry bag is where is I keep a jacket, phone, and a lighter in case I flip my kayak.

    I thought about mounting the second mottled, he was definitely older. But his right wing about fell off, and he had a section of missing feathers
    Last edited by abarill; 02-01-2018 at 12:09 PM.
    Never confuse enthusiasm for capability

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