jode hillman
Well-known member
With work and kids activities finding time to get out in the marsh has been a challenge. Owning a 6 month old retriever in training I felt the need to get her more experience. I decided to make time this afternoon. The conditions were less than perfect, a hard west wing and dropping temps had me second guessing my decision. I arrived at the boat ramp to find it desolate. Pretty strange for a long holiday weekend. Undetered I loaded the boat and set off into corduroy chop. As I got farther into the marsh good numbers of ducks began to rise at the sound of the motor. Teal, Black Ducks, Pintails, Mergs and various divers. Things were looking up!
I set up in the lee of a large spartina point, the wind slightly quartering at my back. As I hid the boat and set the decoys, ducks were already looking to land. I jammed a few shells in to the 20 gauge and got set for a little fun.
Not 10 minutes later I see a big drake black duck winging my way. He gives me one wide circle, then came downwind and set his wings. Unfortunatley he angled towards the side of the spread directly into the sun. My eyes straining I heard feet hit the water and swung toward the sound. Instantly he sprang off the water and one shot later he splashed back in almost the same spot.
Brook, my 6 month old Lab has found a couple ducks so far this year that have dropped in the grass. A 30 yard, cold water retrieve in near December had me wondering. I walked her to the water, set a line and told her "fetch" She started slowly, looking into the sun, but as soon as she caught the sillohuete of the duck she made a beeline for it. She reached the duck, sniffed it once and picked it up. As she swam back I thought something shiny caught my eye. As she handed me the duck my hunch was confirmed. A beautiful banded drake black duck! I have only recovered a handful of bands in my waterfowl career and never a black duck. A true gem in my book for sure! Brook didn't want to let that duck out of her sight the rest of the afternoon.
Later in the hunt I had a big bull Buff come feet down into the blocks. Not just any Blocks but a wonderful 4 bird rig a fellow carver made for me. I relish hunting over my own decoys but these buffies have a special place in my rig. A quick shot and a splash later brook was off again for retrieve number two. This one had no band, but the memory of it skittering into a friends decoys is awesome.
I finished the day with a couple more ducks and a bonus Canada. Decoys were picked a wrapped well before shooting light. It felt good to be back in old haunts, even if it was with a new partner.
I set up in the lee of a large spartina point, the wind slightly quartering at my back. As I hid the boat and set the decoys, ducks were already looking to land. I jammed a few shells in to the 20 gauge and got set for a little fun.
Not 10 minutes later I see a big drake black duck winging my way. He gives me one wide circle, then came downwind and set his wings. Unfortunatley he angled towards the side of the spread directly into the sun. My eyes straining I heard feet hit the water and swung toward the sound. Instantly he sprang off the water and one shot later he splashed back in almost the same spot.
Brook, my 6 month old Lab has found a couple ducks so far this year that have dropped in the grass. A 30 yard, cold water retrieve in near December had me wondering. I walked her to the water, set a line and told her "fetch" She started slowly, looking into the sun, but as soon as she caught the sillohuete of the duck she made a beeline for it. She reached the duck, sniffed it once and picked it up. As she swam back I thought something shiny caught my eye. As she handed me the duck my hunch was confirmed. A beautiful banded drake black duck! I have only recovered a handful of bands in my waterfowl career and never a black duck. A true gem in my book for sure! Brook didn't want to let that duck out of her sight the rest of the afternoon.
Later in the hunt I had a big bull Buff come feet down into the blocks. Not just any Blocks but a wonderful 4 bird rig a fellow carver made for me. I relish hunting over my own decoys but these buffies have a special place in my rig. A quick shot and a splash later brook was off again for retrieve number two. This one had no band, but the memory of it skittering into a friends decoys is awesome.
I finished the day with a couple more ducks and a bonus Canada. Decoys were picked a wrapped well before shooting light. It felt good to be back in old haunts, even if it was with a new partner.
