Al Hansen
Well-known member
It was about 15 minutes into the season when I had a pair of greenwing teal make a pass by my spread. On the first shot the one on the left dropped into the pond almost straight out from us and it was an easy duck to spot. Habi and Chip were off in a nano second. The other teal did a dumb thing and flew off only to make a wide circle and come back around for another pass. When it was on the opposite side of where the dogs were, at the shot he dropped towards the east and neither dog saw it.
When they got back with the first one, I then walked over to where I thought the duck had landed. With the dogs looking all over the place and finding nothing, I saw Habi get back into the water and head to the west. I thought that maybe she had smelled something and let her go.
At that moment I had Chip by my side when I happened to glance skyward and just then saw 3 widgeons at tree top level coming towards the spread. They then saw us, so I shouldered my Nova and dropped the one closest to me. It was right then that all of the stored gene pool within the veins of Chipotle suddenly emerged and in an instant, I found myself shouting out, “Dead bird, Chip, dead bird!” With pride swelling within me to the point of almost bursting, I watched my birthday boy (he is 6 months old today) make a perfect line to the fallen widgeon, pick it up, and bring it to me. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I was of him on his first official retrieve.
Talk about perfect timing, Habi was on the other side of the pond looking around. It didn’t take her long to get back by our side. Once again we walked about looking for that other teal but found nothing.
I then decided to go back to the blind and sit for a while longer to see if any mallards might show up. One pair did but at a distance. It was good to see them however and the time, 9:27AM, will be remembered.
There was no way that I was going to leave the area until I searched one more time for that little rocket that I knocked down. Once again, with Habi and Chip by my side we started to walk around. This time I had my camera dangling around my neck for just in case. Habi was working to the east of me and Chip decided to wade along the edge of the pool in the infested cocklebur area to the west of me. That is when I saw him put his head down and come up with the teal. OMG, I then took this series of shots. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day of duck hunting. At first, I thought of Chip as a pup, that was until today and he all of sudden grew up into a Labrador retriever!
Al
Chip's 2nd retrieve!
Habi and Chip ready to go home and have a treat.
As I pulled out away from the locked gate to the ranch I happened to look out at this sight. I stopped the truck and got my camera out. When I had taken my picture, I looked about and quietly said, "Thank you,Lord."
