2018 Duck Hunting in Arkansas with Drake Field Experts

Guide Don Farmer welcomes Drake Field Experts to Clay Co.

A planned duck hunting trip to the Midwest was nearly derailed by the 2018 Lowcountry snowstorm. Treacherous driving conditions on secondary roads all around the county made getting ready to go out of town a little more difficult. Learning to walk on ice over the next day or two became a necessity, and little did I know this lesson would be helpful very soon in the Midwest. Driving twelve hours to hunt in Northeast Arkansas revealed that the areas we planned to hunt were frozen over, and we would have to hope for a deep thaw.

Impressive numbers of waterfowl at nearby Lake Ashbaugh 

            

Claybird Outfitters near Peach Orchard, Arkansas is run by duck guide Don Farmer. He invited several Field Experts with the Drake Waterfowl Systems company to come and hunt the first weekend of January. Normally this is an ideal time to gather for fellowship and to hunt some ducks. However, the same cold air that brought unprecedented snow to the Lowcountry, was in place over Arkansas all week without rain, causing the entire area to freeze over.

A rustic lodge with a touch of vintage duck calls and decoys

A short drive to the Lake Ashbaugh conservation area, 525-acres of prime duck habitat that is not hunted, proved that not all the waterfowl had left the area of NE Arkansas. If I had not seen it with my own eyes I would not have guessed that tens of thousands of ducks were using a single hole of open water at this waterfowl preserve, but that was the case. These ducks had agitated the water in a small area so that the freezing temperatures were unable to close off this area to them. Truly a marvel of nature, these ducks take turns staying in place to swim around while some fly out to dry feed in nearby fields.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about duck hunting with Drake Field Experts click on Filming 2016 Migration Nation TV show -  September Geese - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2014 S.C. State Duck Calling Champion

To view past blog entries about hunting ducks in the Midwest click on  Filming Ducks Unlimited TV show 

To view past blog entries for late January duck hunts click 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

 To view past blog entries about hunting wood ducks click 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

To View past blog entries from Mossy Oak Gamekeepers Magazine click Fall 2017 - Spring 2016 - Winter 2016 - Fall 2015 - Summer 2015 - Spring 2015 - Winter 2015 - Fall 2014 - Summer 2014 - Spring 2014 - Winter 2013

2018 Snow Storm in the Lowcountry

Vintage duck decoy and cap in the snow

John Deere tractor and barns covered in snow!

No matter where you are, the weather can change up in a hurry. The Lowcountry of South Carolina was experiencing another ho hum mild winter throughout November and December 2017, with little rainfall. Then came along the coastal low on January 3 that brought in the New Year with effects similar to a winter hurricane. Deep cold temps were in place for 36-hours before chances of precipitation developed, giving the Lowcountry the rare combination of having the ground frozen before any snow. Snow in the Lowcountry usually does not accumulate due to ground temps, but this 2018 snow storm was different, delivering 3 to 5-inches of snow along the Lowcountry coast.

What we experienced was the beginning of a bombogenesis system that went on to create blizzard conditions in the Northeast. While much lower than normal temps stayed in place over the Lowcountry for the next five days, the snow and ice remained on roads until they were plowed or treated with salt. Shady areas and shallow bodies of water remained until mild temps in the 60's returned to the Lowcountry on Monday, January 8. All in all it was quite the milestone experience from I-95 to the coast, with no effects felt in the Midlands or Upstate. Many compared this snow to the 1989 snow after Hurricane Hugo, but the 2018 weather event was of much longer duration.

To view past blog entries about snow in the Lowcountry click on 2010 - 2009

White out conditions in the Lowcountry

Three inches in Walterboro, South Carolina

2018 Grand American Coon Hunt - Treeing Walker Wins

Tree Talken Worm - Overall 2018 Winner!

Another successful coon hunt

When the New Year rolls around, and the weather turns really cold, then its time for coon hunters from across America to return to Orangeburg. The 2018 Grand American coon hunt will take place this weekend, January 4 – 6. The United Kennel Club (UKC) sees this event as the kick off to a nationwide calendar of coon hunt competitions. American Cooner magazine is the primary sponsor of this family-friendly event that draws large crowds to view the coon hounds and go shopping for the latest hunting gear.

The coon hunters at the Grand American are competing for some high end gear as well, with the Top 20 Cast winners receiving a cash payout based on the number of total entries. The First Place coonhound wins $1000, a tri-tronics collar, dog box, Bright Eyes light, custom jacket from Dan’s, and a Garmin tracking system. Second place wins $500, Bright Eyes light, dog box, Marshall tracking system, jacket from Dan’s and a gift certificate. Third place is good for $300 and a similar gear package, with fourth place paying $200 and some gear.

Congrats to owner Dillon Bradshaw from Connelly Springs, North Carolina. His Treeing Walker coon hound named Tree Talken Worm was the Overall Nite Hunt Winner for 2018! For all the winners click on UKC.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries from the Grand American click in 2017 - 2016- 2015 - 2014-  2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010

2017 Birding Journal Observations - November / December

Bluebirds beware of watchful raptors in Winter

The outdoor conditions for most of November and December were warmer and drier than usual. Usually November is a wet month, but we hardly saw a trace, and the rain predictions for December brought some early relief, before slowly tapering back to dry conditions.

My observations started with a BIG great-horned owl on November 2, and this bird was in flight. It made an appearance out of one tall treelike, flew across a large field at dusk, and then made an acrobatic move to land on a perch limb on another tall tree on opposite treeline. Rare sighting!

The first flock of goldfinches flitted through my yard on November 26, visiting a $3 bell-shaped seed feeder that I was testing out for the first time. Well worth the investment! Ha ha ha.

Other sightings include dove, cardinal, blue jay, tufted titmouse, Carolina chickadee, downy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, white-berated nuthatch, chipping sparrow, Carolina wren, bluebird, white-throated sparrow, great blue heron and Canada goose.

To view my latest birding journal observations click on September / October 2017.

To view past Birding Journal Observations for Nov. / Dec. click on  2016 -2015 - 2014 - 2013- 2012 - 2011 - 2010