A huge thanks to JoshC for going out of his way to show us around his spectacular part of the country and Paul Stenning for what was, for me, the duck hunt of the year!
Snuffit and I arranged a whistle stop duck tour of Southland late last month and here's what happened.
Day 1:
Sinclair Wetlands for a look (yes, Snuffit, they are actually in the South Island :D)
Horrie Memorial
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/IMG_0244.jpg
Amazing place.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/IMG_0248.jpg
Then off to Gore to sit on a bank of the Mataura with JoshC where we got on the board with our first Southland duck.
At the meeting point.
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Riverbank waiting.
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The spread.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/IMG_0252.jpg
Day 2:
Off to Paul Stenning's for a hunt or 2 (Oops, just as well the clock tower chimes in Gore after I set the alarm for a very wrong time!)
The pond hunt. 19 mallards, a spoonie and a hare.
Fiordland in the distance.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/IMG_0253.jpg
The spread. Those decoys are incredible!
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/IMG_0254.jpg
Snuffit counting.
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Then off to a settling pond where we got 11 in about 10 seconds.
Patented Stenning Hero Shot.
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Back to Paul's immaculate garage, my eyes popped out and stayed out :o
Mecca.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/IMG_0264.jpg
2 days worth of ducks in the motel fridge.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/IMG_0266.jpg
Day 3:
Josh gave us a tour of his corner of the South, what a spectacular place! 10 parries, a mallard, 40 odd possums and 8ish hares.
:o
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Pip the Loonie Superdog
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More :o
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And again :o
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Is this the world's most picturesque boat ramp?
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Boat ramp beauty
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The boat had steering issues unfortunately so fishing will have to wait til next time.
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Day4 was a quick paddock/riverbank hunt on a new spot of Josh's where he got 2 mallards with some fine shooting through the willows by the river before we bolted for the airport and home.
Thanks again to Josh and Paul for hosting a couple of Auckland/Waikato shooters and making us supremely jealous!
