Wister Today......7-9-15

[ilovesprig]

Took a drive out early this morning and met with area managers Rick Francis & Scott Sewell.....Went over some things that need to be taken care before dove & waterfowl season.....Signage is at the forefront with the lead ban being implemented starting this season (even rabbits right now).

Lots of duckling seen and even a lone honker came flying in......Love the place!

.

 

[SD Mike]

Great photos. Any steel shot you would recommend?

 

[ilovesprig]

Mike,

Well for doves, you'll need steel 7's........For the ducks, I like steel 3's.........And for geese I use steel BBB's.

Mostly personal choices, but these are what have patterned best in my SBE with just a plain modified choke. In Canada, I shoot #1's for specks a lot of the time and I've used 2's in 3 1/2" for a combo load as well.

Kent have pretty much been my brand of choice since I started using them in Canada (2001).....The last couple of years I've used Federal 3 "1 1/8 oz 3's for ducks.....They seem fine.....I also used Rio's for honkers 3 1/2" 1 3/8's BBB's. They performed well and seemed to kill them pretty dead......The one thing they all have in common is they're all 1550 fps.....Real important in my book..... ;D

A few pix of the upland at Wister yesterday.....Tons of white-wing in the sunflowers......

.

 

[Whodini]

Is that a hen gadwall in the last duck pics?

 

[ilovesprig]

Is that a hen gadwall in the last duck pics?

She appeared to be a mallard, despite the ducklings looking like gadwalls.......The 1st hen was definitely a gadwall with 8 ducklings.

 

[Duckfan]

Just to 'tag onto' Steve's comments about steel shot needed for doves,


1. As of July 1st, 2015 – The law states that IF you are hunting doves…AND doing that hunting on a STATE Wildlife area/refuge or a STATE Ecological reserve – then you must begin to use NON Lead shells for any hunting, including dove. (Fed lands would remain unchanged)

2. Then, on July 1st, 2016, everyone has to use NON Lead shells when hunting most uplands bird (EXCEPT Dove, Quail and Snipe).

3. And then on July 1, 2019 – NON Lead shells would be needed for ANY hunting on any area in CA., and that is when the Ban on lead for Doves would kick in for all other lands public and private.

So, in essence – regarding Dove hunting – if you are hunting private lands this season – you can STILL use lead on doves, but cannot if on a State Area or Ecological reserve.




I bring this up so that all of you that plan to hunt on state lands will hopefully be prepared with proper steel shot for dove hunting this September. I can already see guys waiting til the last minute to purchase shells and finding steel shot for dove hard to find.


Word to the wise.....

 

[ilovesprig]

Thanks Rick........The guys can't be reminded of this enough.........

 

[Bonejour]

Thanks Rick........The guys can't be reminded of this enough.........

Yup. Complicated phase-in.

 

[RefugeDecoys]

Looking good. Thanks for the pics sprig.

 

[tomah]

Thanks for the info duckfan. I guess I should really enjoy these next few seasons of cheap bulk ammo dove days in the IV


iPhonez