View Full Version : JHP Duck Hunt 12/14/02 at Mendota
My youngest son and I both drew Mendota for the 14th, so I will have a full contingent down for the JHP Duck Hunt http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-dancin-red.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif
Reuben
12-03-2002, 04:29 PM
I also drew december 14th. Remember Guys, draw number means nothing at this refuge. It is all free roam and the last draw number can go into the refuge first if he/she is first in line.
So we have 6 spots drawn so far.
I will have 4 adults and 2 jrs......
huntducks
12-03-2002, 05:44 PM
Two ressi here.
Reuben
12-03-2002, 05:44 PM
Originally posted by MQ@Dec 3 2002, 05:34 PM
I will have 4 adults and 2 jrs......
It sounds like you have filled your spots with family/friends already.
OK so then we only have one spot, b/c i drew so that would be me and then one other person can enter on my reservation. If i take a friend then that would kill the trip unless people want to come out and sweat line it. Or, perhaps, everyone else applied also.
Hmmm, this might be tough to pull off.
Reuben
12-03-2002, 05:46 PM
huntducks, do you already have your resi spots filled?
EL CAZADOR
12-03-2002, 09:34 PM
Reuben
Could you explain the draw/reservation/sweatline/free roam areas at Mendota.
I've never hunted there before. I drew 172 for Sunday.
CaRudeDogg
12-03-2002, 09:57 PM
Ok maybe I missed something are you guys setting up a hunt on the 14th? I might come down that way and hunt I would have to sweat line it but thats ok if I do.
spectr17
12-03-2002, 10:11 PM
No ressie here.I'll be butt kissing. Either that or camping in the sweatline. If your sweatin what time do you have to be there Friday night to register?
Reuben
12-03-2002, 11:15 PM
Originally posted by FullSack@Dec 3 2002, 09:34 PM
Reuben
Could you explain the draw/reservation/sweatline/free roam areas at Mendota.
I've never hunted there before. I drew 172 for Sunday.
This is the low down. If you have a resi you line up in one of two lines on the left hand side of the road. (you will see what i mean). All sweat liners just get into the single line of trucks on the right hand side.
Your resi number means absolutely nothing. Number 300 can go in before #1 if he is in line first. Two people can go in per card. If you have a junior hunter then you can take a junior and 2 adults on a card.
Thats it! It is free roam and you can go wherever you want. The place is huge and takes some time to learn all the parking lots.
[Two people can go in per card. If you have a junior hunter then you can take a junior and 2 adults on a card.]
Clarification - it is two adults per card and 2 juniors per adult, so you can actually get in up to 6 people total per res.
At this time of the year, and with the results that have been posted, everyone in the sweat line will get in. If I was going to hit the sweat line I would try to get there Friday by 6, just so I wasnt WAY back from the start of the line. But as I stated earlier, you could probably drive up an hour before shoot time and make it in. You do not have to register. Your order of entry is the spot you park in line. One thing about the line, once it starts moving you better be prepared to move with it. Guys will drive around you if you are a little slow getting your vehicle moving. One morning we were real slow getting up because of a late arrival and found the line driving around us......
Speckmisser
12-04-2002, 08:38 AM
At Mendota on 12/14, the sweatliners should do just fine. Hunting hasn't been all that great from what I've heard, so unless some weather comes through the crowd won't be unmanageable. You probably won't want the whole group hunting in the same place anyway, so it doesn't matter if some have ressies and some don't.
If you get there before dark on Friday, odds are real good you'll get in the front of the sweatline. Don't dilly-dally around, though. Claim your spot, because it really is first come-first served. There's no registration or ordered entry... first car in line goes first, and so on. Same for ressies. Get in line as soon as you can for a prime spot. The later you come in, the further back in line you will be. But I have only once in six years known Mendota to fill up and close the gates, and that was on closing day back in that big El Nino season. Even if you roll in after the gates have opened, you should still be able to get on.
Once you get in, since there are no spaced blinds or assigned areas, the last guy in has as good a chance as the first... if he knows where to go.
The camper city down in the big lot beside the road is a good place for a central gathering (you can have a good fire and park campers or tents if you want). Just leave your vehicle in line. If you get out of line, you'll probably lose your spot. Also, in the morning make sure you're ready to roll when the line starts to move. Most of the guys there won't hesitate a second to go around you if you don't appear to be moving. Sleepyheads will wake up to find their truck sitting all alone in the road. I see that every time I go.
Wish I could share some hotspots, but I always hunt the same little pond and really haven't explored too much anywhere else. My spot isn't all that great, but it's always been consistent and uncrowded (relatively). I'd like to keep it that way. http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-cool-shades-down.gif
Of course, anywhere close to the closed zones can be good, but those spots are usually packed with other hunters. Best thing is to talk and listen to the guys who've been there already this season. There should also be a big map showing the flooded and dry areas. A little common sense look at this map can give you some pretty good ideas where to go. Remember that the further you get from the parking lot, the more likely you are to have a place to yourself.
If you have a boat (a kayak or canoe is fine), you can try out the slough. If you're in early enough, you can stake out one of the tule patches. Watch out for the guys with the powerboats, though... sometimes they don't watch out for you.
Dang, I wish I was gonna be around for this hunt! Maybe there'll be another one this year?
Looks like MQ got his post in while I was still writing... oh well, sorry to be redundant.
Sorry to hear you wont be able to make it Phillip. I was looking forward to catching up to you for the first time after all our e-mail exchanges. Oh well its still early for Mendota, so hopefully wew can hook up on another occassion.
Jack
CaRudeDogg
12-04-2002, 07:15 PM
I dont have a ressie and can not show up til after midnight to get in line but im willing to head down there anyone hunting alone care to hook up let me know i would be more than willing to share a cup of coffee and tell a few stories.
huntducks
12-05-2002, 09:48 AM
CRD
I'm sure there will be someone there that will let you tag along and handel the decoys http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif all kidding aside look for the JHP stickers, my son and I have ressi for Sat & Sun. both so i'm sure something can be worked out.
Orygun
12-05-2002, 01:37 PM
Sniff, Mendota in January. All the flashlights twinkling in the dark and all the whimpering dogs and bags full of decoys with the weights smacking against the plastic. Miss that, sort of. A ressie is almost a curse if you insist on jumping in to some of the mallard "hotspots."
I can vividly recall the sounds of the colorful vocabulary issuing across the marsh between guys who had a ressie and find the SPOT and the guys who came late and felt they OWNED that spot because they had shot it all year. Much of it was instructions to do things anatomically impossible.
If you have more bodies than ressies, do what we have done. Go stake out that perfect patch of tules and water, then have the non-ressie members of your group straggle on in. I have been at the back end of the sweat line and have found awesome shooting.
Hints for latecomers: Get a map and color in the shaded areas where the water is, as per the one on the check stand kiosk. Find out which lots get fullest and avoid those. You can always find small sections that are open and may only get a dozen birds petering in over the morning, and as you only need five, its more than enough.
Those lots right next to the lots do get birds, they just don't stay long with all the foot traffic. Example: The lot that you turn right on where the road divides has water right next to it to the north. If your late, why sp[end all that time frantically running around in neoprene carrying a load of dekes. Just ease on in, set em up. If it is a bust, you can pick up early and be back the rig in a couple of minutes and then go scouting. And the BEST time to scout there is actually during the morning flight. Others might be able to hide hesleves from you in their Shadowgrass, but they can't muffle those magnum rounds. Listen for the most shooting, find where they are at, then be there first the next time round. And then practice up on your four letter words
huntducks
12-05-2002, 04:03 PM
Orygun
Damn you must have heard me some years back http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif
d trees
12-05-2002, 09:32 PM
Sorry boys cant make just happen to hit the duck lotto LDC baby http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-dancin-red.gif , good luck @ Mendota great place to hunt ,d
CaRudeDogg
12-06-2002, 01:06 AM
deeks are not a problem for me Ill just pile them on my cart http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-biggrin-aqua.gif If nothing comes up ill make plans on being there
huntducks
12-06-2002, 09:52 AM
D
I have been trying for 4 years now and have yet to draw at LDC, I think you have to live in NoCal to draw there,what number? hey good luck http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif
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