Good Guy Looking For Hunting Buddy(s)

[Hookdown]

Hi All,

Newest UWFL member here. I'm a displaced Illinois Duck hunter now living in Fort Lauderdale. After sitting on the sidelines for a few years, I can't wait anymore. I'm fresh off two-weeks of Illinois Mississippi Flyway Duck Hunting, and I need MORE!!! I really want to do some Duck Hunting, Florida-Style. Unfortunately, I know that I probably don't have the local knowledge and equipment to make that happen.

So I was wondering if there is anyone out there willing to "take me under their wing"? I'm not looking for charity. I'm a good guy, easy-going, non-smoker and willing to pull more than my share of the work. I'm a long-time duck hunter, taught by my grandfather. I don't sky-bust or over call. In fact, I'm perfectly happy with you calling "take 'em", deciding whether you want me to call or not, and playing "low man on the totem pole." If it matters to anyone, I'm 41, a US Naval Academy Graduate and spent 10 years as a Navy Carrier Pilot. I now fly corporate jets.

What I can offer: I probably have all the gear I need except a boat. I have a 4WD SUV, if needed. I have 20/10 vision and spot ducks well. When I'm not flying, I can hunt during the week, in addition to weekends. I'm willing to pay more than my share of expenses within reason. If there is gear we need to buy, I'm willing to pitch in. And I may be able to reciprocate by sharing some future Northern duck/ goose or pheasant hunting in Illinois. Btw, I'd also like to find a friend or two to share some quail hunting.

If you're still reading, and think you might be interested, please email me at hookdown41@yahoo.com or call me at 561-289-0365. I'll be back in FL about Dec. 14th and would like to start ASAP. Thanks.

Shawn

[Converted]

Welcome to the group Shawn.

I'd suggest you buy a canoe or kayak as your first Florida duck gear purchase and start the walk-on deal at the STA's.

I don't get down your way much but if I have an open seat I'll give you a call.

[Phattkopp]

Welcome Shawn!! These boys on here will be very helpful. Do not hesitate to ask, as most folks here are eager to help a local "newbie".


Phattboy ;)

[Sewer Rat]

Welcome aboard... to the board and to being a newby (whoo boy, someone in the same boat as me :icon_smil ) to FL ducks.

So far, these guys have been helpful... heck, I even joined the org they are so good:icon_smil

Where abouts are ya located?

I am in Polk County, and also a newby FL duckhunter.... I can't promise anything other then a good day outside on the water...

email me, perhaps we could find a weekend - wwtpbldr1@aol.com

JP

[WetDawg]

Welcome Shawn,

I am UNSA Class of '89 ... 24th Co.

We might even know each other.

Go Navy - beat Army!

Have boat will travel.

PM Sent.

[Steve W]

Welcome aboard.

[David B]

Shawn,

Your offer sounds great! Welcome aboard UWF.
I will take you up on the offer if you will fly me on some low level scouting missions over the hostile swamps of south Florida. I must warn you though that these duck hunters will shoot at anything big, just to drag it back to the ramp and brag about it. :icon_smil
Actually the south Florida folks have some awesome hospitality like you wouldn't believe.

What did you fly and what flat top did you trap on? I was a P3 A & C model Flt. Engineer from the cold war days. Prior to chasing Ivan, I worked on ejection seats in A7 corsairs.
Man when the winds blows on certain days........................

[Keith Yates]

Welcome Shawn. Family on my wifes side is all from the IRV. Heard of Chillicothe IL? Just outside Peoria. Things of course are much different here. If I get an opportunity this year to have you out I'll give you a call. Welcome again.

Chop.

[Randy Clark]

that david is pretty smart goes after the pilots thats what i was thinking but it is probably hard to spot ducks out of a jet. ex navy enlisted e6 got out in 84 stationed a whiting where most of you pilots started learning im a ways from you but heck what a way to ask for help.

[BlindHog]

Welcome aboard, Hookdown. What craft did you land on? CVN-70 by any chance?

[David B]

No wonder I like this org. There are a bunch of former Airdales here. :love4:

[Randy Clark]

heck no black shoe

[duckmanJR]

Welcome aboard, Hookdown. What craft did you land on? CVN-70 by any chance?

Is that your namesake?

[BlindHog]

Yes, CVN-70 was named for my great-uncle, Carl Vinson, and so was I.

[Cracker Country]

Welcome Shawn, I too am a newbie. I moved to Wisconsin for a few years and that's where I got into duck hunting. Now I'm back home and want to get back into it but don't really know where to hunt either. But my plan is to just get out there on the water. I was fishing upper Tampa Bay yesterday, back in the mangroves and saw several ducks. I figure this weekend I'll bring some poles and a gun, get out there in the morning and wade over to a mangrove Island, throw out some GWT decoys I have and sit for a while. Heck, if nothings flying to my decoys I'll go back to the boat, put up the gun and grab the fishing pole.
I have hunted on Lake Okeechobee once and had a good time. Good luck with it.

[N. Cook]

Tampa Bay is notorious for odd "no hunting" rules....you can be ok if in a boat, a violater wading or on an island....if you are not sure give the local FWC a call on specific areas.

[Hookdown]

Wow! I wanna thank everyone for their responses. I got a couple calls, along with the info/ offers here. I'll try to answer some of the questions.

I was an E-2C pilot aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. And as a matter of fact, my last trap and cat was aboard the Carl Vinson. I was flying a similar aircraft, the C-2, for VR-30 because they were understaffed.

I'm living in downtown Ft. Lauderdale now, which makes it difficult to be much of a country boy. But I try. You should see the faces of the other condo folks when I get in the elevator with them dressed for the range or hunting with my shotgun.

Keith, I HAVE heard of Ill River Valley and Chillicothe. I actually went to school at Bradley U in Peoria for two years, before enlisting in the Marines and then USNA.

Finally WETDAWG, Wes, called me. We knew some of the same people at the Academy. We went hunting out of Holiday Park on Friday. It was a learning experience for both of us. We saw a fair number of ducks, and Wes put a very nice shot on a Woody drake. Then we both missed a couple we shouldn't have. Anyway, it was a good time and I hope we get to go again soon.

I'm still hoping I can meet someone who can hunt during the week like I can.
Thanks.

Shawn

[Florida Cracker]

Shawn, if your willing to ride some, after the new year I should have some opportunities for mid week hunts.

John

[duckmanJR]

Shawn, if your willing to ride some, after the new year I should have some opportunities for mid week hunts.

John

And you would be very foolish to not jump on that! :icon_smil

Shawn... The e-2..Is that electronic countermeasures?? I know F's are fighters and B's are bombers ..and I guess A's are "attack"?? as in A-10 warthog(wifes uncle flew them)

I only wish I had accepted the enlistment I was offered after high school
( Navy Nuke/electronics school)..A classic case of "what the **** was he thinking not taking THAT!" :Confused1
No real complains though..I'm retiring in 13 months from a career I love...and as Geo. Patton said.. " And God help me I'll miss it" speaking of the end of WWII.

If you wish to travel up here I'm sure we can get you out up here on a "canned" Goodwin/Broadmoor hunt.:icon_smil

[Reddfin]

Shawn
Are you the guy that was hunting with Capt George on Friday?

Tony

[Hookdown]

Shawn
Are you the guy that was hunting with Capt George on Friday?

Tony


Tony,

Yes, that was me. I had a great time. As I told Capt. George, there were several "firsts" that day for me. I shot my first Mottled Duck. But the "First" I'll probably remember the longest was this: That was the first time I shot ducks in my UNDERWEAR! The first couple of times Wes and I went I wore my chest waders and got really hot. So this time, I wore the only lightweight camo stuff I had, my lightweight longjohns!

I can tell you that Tony and Capt. George can really put you on some ducks. I had shot my limit by 8 a.m. and Tony's group was only 15 minutes behind us back to the dock and they both had their limits.

Cracker and Duckman,

Where is "up there" to hunt? Yes, E-2 is technically Airborne Early Warning, AEW, or an airborne radar and control platform.

Shawn

[David B]

Mail call, the COD is inbound. I knew some of your maintenance folks from a few years ago. Congrats on the Mottled duck!