 Good morning everybody, welcome back to the channel. I'm Titus, mid valley mercenaries. If you guys haven't subscribed, subscribe to the channel. I don't say it a lot, I should say it more, but you guys won't regret it. So I'm out here solo kayak hunt down the river and we've, I've been here before. You've seen some of those videos. I've flipped over, got soaking wet, didn't shoot nothing. I've came out here to shot honkers with Travis. I've come out here to shot a lot of wood ducks with Thomas. So you never know what the river is going to do. But I tell you what, it always wants to take something. But if you plan properly, I truly believe that you won't lose anything or just have something happen. But before I get rolling in the river today, I did want to show you guys my setup, what I use, things to help you guys out, if you guys ever want to go down the river. I know for some reason a ton of people love kayak hunts and videos, even if it's not even that good. So I don't know what it is that people, maybe it's more relatable, maybe more of you guys have that opportunity. I don't know. But let's get right into it and show you guys what I got. So I got the Old Town and we've been working with them for a couple years and I really, really liked them. This is a hybrid canoe kayak mix. And there's so many things I liked about this one. This is actually the Discovery 119 solo sportsman. First off, I'm just going to make it real quick, but the handles, they got this carrying handles in the front and back. And when you go with two guys, it's awesome. Because if you're carrying two kayaks, it makes it so much easier. Like I'll grab both fronts of my kayak and Thomas's or whoever's with me and then someone will grab the back of those two and you can take two kayaks so much easier than just carrying one by yourself. But regardless, they're super light. I got the Carlisle paddles and they're cool apart. I'm sure most are, but it's nice for traveling. I leave them in there. They don't go flying out like when I'm driving to the spot. I also got the Old Town. This is something that was never really good at wearing, but I got the Old Town vest and I'll show you that on me a little bit, but it's for hunting and fishing. But anyways, it's got a lot of pouches, a lot of stuff to put, you can put shells in, you can put, there's other stuff out here for hooks when you're fishing, which actually goes right there. It's like a stick on. And then just a lot of pouches and vest. And the one thing I like about this one the most and why we even wear it faithfully is the fact that the padding for the floatation device is basically at the belly button line. So when you throw your gun up, you're not throwing it against the vest and throwing your shooting off. It's just really like you don't even notice this there. Honestly, I really like it. Another thing I really like is the adjustable pedals and it's quick. You just pull this out and you can adjust it backward or forward. So it's so convenient. Honestly, the easier you can make things in a kayak, the better. Another thing is you got the rail and I'll probably put my GoPro maybe right here. I don't really want it in my way. I might stick it up there, but I got a mount that I can clip it to and have one face me and then I'll wear one on my head. Got a cup holder here in the seat and then the back rest can fold down for travel. But what's really cool about the back rest, sometimes you like it way back. Sometimes people like it forward, but you got this on the right side that you can pull this out and you can adjust your seat and how far you want to lean back. If you want it straight up 90 degrees or if you want it to lean back more, I always kind of go with the little bit lean back and then it locks in place. You just push that in and then it won't move on you. Pretty slick. It's got pull holders for your fishing rods if you want. You're going fishing to both sides. Put other things there too, other attachments. But anyways, it's 11 foot 9 inches so because the 119 and it's perfect. It's great for hunting. So a couple other tips. Drive back. That's a huge must and if you've rolled these up properly, they'll seal and they'll be full of air. You know, even if it falls in the water, you're going to have no issues. And then of course, I got my 12 gauge. I'm going to be shooting heavy hammer today, which has a little bit 15% bismuth in it. Got a couple of snacks and I think that's it that I tell you guys kind of my setup. It's pretty simple. I said some snacks, some drinks and I'm going to get started. I don't like coming right out first slide because it's hard to see and it seemed like there wasn't as much bird movement as I came to pass. So anyways, I've done enough talking. Just wanted to show you guys my kayak set up. I don't think I've ever done that. Let's get started. I snapped a fishing rod right back there in that corner. Hey guys, that's a good sign that there's ducks near right now. That means nobody's come down this river yet. One of the biggest issues going down the river is someone, if someone's in front of you, you're just wasting your time. So I just seen four wood ducks, two drinks, two hens. The problem was when I came around the corner, I was way too far away to shoot. If it was a sharp tight corner, I could have shot them easy. They didn't even, they're not super spooked right now and they didn't fly as soon as they see me. So that means they haven't been getting much pressure down here. That or these are fresh birds. So that's a good thing because usually I don't see wood ducks here. Usually it's farther down the river. I never see wood ducks do that. I cannot believe they just flew right at me. Oh that's gonna be, that is gonna be fun to get. It's deep right here and that is a wall. I'm gonna lower it back down. He fell ahead up here and he must have rolled back down. Still in the high water, Mark boys. Gorgeous bird. I love wood ducks. Some of them must be majestic and beautiful and also some of us tasting. I have never, ever, I don't think, had a wood duck fly right at me like that. I mean I knew he was gonna flare. Those was a different group. I've jumped six so far and those all sent came out because they get up in this thick stuff right here and you don't know they're there and unless they're calling, you're kind of hosed and that's what's nice. When they're real active and calling, you're ready. You kind of have your gun ready because if you're not ready, it's really hard to throw the paddle down, grab the gun and then shoot by then. You know they might be out at 40 yards depending on how skiddish they are but I smoked them. I feel like it's funny because I feel like I put a little lead on him and he was pretty close so let's keep going. If I just get that one we're right there, I'm happy. I wonder if that was a bad idea. If I would have locked this side, those skis would have never known I'm there but they didn't look smooth so I'm gonna decide and come around. He's right there. There's no way I didn't want to be kidding me. How? Dog gone it. There's no way. I know I flockshooted. I just shot into the group. It's probably stupid. There's no way I shouldn't have knocked one down. I cannot. I literally about gave me a heart attack when I come around that corner. I knew there was a couple. I had no idea it was a whole family and they weren't even scared at first. Literally not until I grab my gun. I'm an idiot. Idiot. Oh I did get one. I knew there was no way I didn't get one. I pick one out and aim. That was where I made my mistake. One goose boys. This turned out to be awesome. Come around that corner and my good grief. My heart literally pounded through my chest right there. I knew I hit one. I was like, I know I flockshooted which was the biggest mistake you can ever make. Come around that corner you guys seen. I'll just go over real quick. You guys obviously already just seen it. I sneak up to the edge because I've seen one sticking out and I'm thinking there's two or three over there right. So I hug this bank in the kayak and I'm paddling down the side. I go okay I'm thinking in my mind do I just paddle super fast that way when I come around that corner I'm moving towards them quicker and then shoot them when they jump or do I sneak as quiet as I can and then barely poke out and shoot them. Well I did option B and sneak out and I think I would have been better off paddling super hard. But the problem was I knew everything was going to be shot off to my right which you can only turn so far in a kayak. Well then the next mistake I made as you're seeing the shot cam probably is I just shot into the group. I mean they were stacked so tight. I knew I hit one. I was like there's no way I didn't win and probably 10 yards from where I shot there was one right here. He was his head was up and I walked I mean I'm right on the water basically right here. Still in the high water mark actually. I'm glad because I was I was literally going to kick the dog out of myself for the next couple days. So let's keep going. This has turned out to be pretty successful and I don't think I've ever really come down this late in the season. Let's keep going. Heavy hammer is doing the trick. Three inch foreshot heavy hammer. I hope I got him because if I didn't he's gonna be hard to get out of there. I wasn't expecting that. That was not what I was expecting. He dead. I think it was both drinks. Woo. You gotta be kidding me. I did not plan on shooting. Yes. Dude. Two drinks. Stinking Scotch double on mallards. That was a big group. Oh dude that gets me more pumped than anything. You gotta be kidding. Baby. Yes. Oh son. That's what I'm talking about. Yes. That jacks me up right there son. That wakes me up. See I hugged that side thinking there might be some wood ducks down there. I was sneaking a dozen mallards. I guess three bucks over in that. Baby, baby, baby. Swedon. Okay we got bigger problems to deal with here. Focus on it. Two fat green heads, baby. Just stacked around that corner. Not saying that there's not mallards down here but very rarely you see them and if you do too far away. They did not know I was coming. Oh yes. Surprises. I was. They were surprised. Oh my goodness dude. I got four stinking birds. This is a day baby. It's like flip right now. Yes. Yes. Yes. I cannot believe this. I literally cannot believe this. You're like why? Why are you getting so pumped than mallards? I don't think I have shot a mallard down here guys. I come around that corner. So here's the thing. This is what I do and this is from lots of mistakes and lessons. When you're coming around a corner say that's making a right turn, I will hug the right side. That way if there's something around there when you come around they're basically as surprised as you are. Which one thing I would say about jump shooting on a river will get your heart rate up every single time because you're just kind of casually going along. It's quiet. There's no one you know you feel like you're in your own world and all of a sudden you come around a corner and just birds are and it's just like your heart sinks through your chest. I almost shot just pull up shot and never aimed. Something clicked in my head aim and I aimed I picked one out which by that time it's getting farther away and that's why it's so tough shooting out of a like jump shooting out of a kayak like coming around corners like that for that reason that by the time you really pick one out they're farther away if they're going away. But I picked one out and it's thinking I scotch doubled on Drake mallard. I thought one of them was hen. I didn't even care but hey baby and then check out the markings on this one. It's almost like he's getting old like look at this one. It's almost like it's got like it's like it's getting the markings of a hen. There's nothing else weird about it. Let me see. Yeah everything else is the same. Oh my goodness that pumped me up. Two Drake mallards. Toss is kind of he's gonna freak out. Toss is gonna freak out. I mean we always talk about wood ducks. Nice bird. But we never think about I mean look how much bigger this one with the hen markings on his chest is how much bigger and oh he's way heavier too. Look at the size difference. I mean it's not an unbelievably difference but it's a pretty good solid different. This might be a good time to relax and just say hey check out our merch. If you haven't seen our merch go to midvallium.com. I'm wearing actually one of our hoodies right now getting close to being sold out of these but we got a bunch of other ones and then obviously our hats and I think we're sold out of those too but we got a bunch of other camel colors. But anyways just throw that in there. Son the old rig is getting it done. Dude pumped. This is good. This is awesome. I might be having to come down here more later season. I've been seeing a lot of birds cross over the river too. Looking for spots and marking spots on Onyx that I might want to set up in. Here's the ticket though. This is a midweek day. If you would come out here on a Saturday don't expect this because guys are out here fishing. Other guys are hunting and if they get in front of you like I said kiss it goodbye because everything that I've jumped would have already been jumped and you wouldn't see a one bird. So if you can get out in midweek or you got some off days of work that's middle of the week I would highly suggest going down to your river. That's when you can get the most birds so let's keep going. Pumped. Tom's actually shot a band down here on a hen wood duck. I actually mounted that myself. I'll show you a little clip of that and Travis did the drake and we did on a nice little mount. We'll have to show you Tom's collection here soon but anyways I know there's some more good spots up here so let's see. What a day. What a day. To be on the river where you feel like you're in your own world and to shoot two drake mounters a drake wood duck and a honker. I mean like I never expected that when I came out here. So stoked. Ah that feels good honestly. This is the best probably river hunt I've had down here. I did miss another opportunity with the mallard um drake mallard and a hen were around a corner. I wasn't quite ready. I didn't think they were going to jump quite then and I didn't have my gun ready but other than that I got what I had a chance at and that just scotch doubling on those mallards just made my day like three is a pile but four just looks really good. So I still had my kicks high flower full choke on my gun. I had the shot cam on. Hopefully I got those shots shooting my Browning A5 and I got a couple different angles with the go pros and the front basing and the head mount so anyways my ride is waiting on me my beautiful wife and she is wanting me to hurry up so I need to get going but don't tell her I'm doing this but this calls for a celebration. She's just gonna have to give me a second because when you do that and have that successful the hunt gotta whip out the dude. Here's to a great hunt and good times boys. Ah hit the thumbs up if you like these river hunts. I'll maybe try to do another one before season's over and I know you guys like these I like them they're fun to make great scenery. Hit the thumbs up please help us out and subscribe. Appreciate every single person that hits that subscribe button and it's free doesn't cost you anything just hit the button and every time we do a video it'll pop up in your subscription feed and you'll get to watch the videos that we put out all season long. Hope you have a good one we'll see you on the next one.