Al Hansen
Well-known member
We normally get a 9 day season and it usually begins about this time of September but Fish and Game mishandled it and gave us an 8 day season with being a week earlier than normal.
Yesterday morning was exciting the moment I stepped outside of the house just because there was that fall crispness in the air and it felt great! As I walked out to feed the dogs in the kennel, the north wind blowing in my face really woke me up and that duck hunter's smile began to spread. Before I knew it, Chip was at my side and we headed for the truck.
I timed it once and knew that in just a matter of minutes we would be there---10 minutes, so I didn't have to drive over the speed limit.
Upon walking up to the pond I could sense things were different and then when we were settled into our spot all ready for the opener which was still 19 minutes away, I found out what it was. On Friday night the teal had begun migrating into our area. The pond was holding more than ever before during this past week. I could hear them. Of course, them being the hens. They seem to love making their raucous calls. That, by the way, is still on my bucket list to do. I have a teal call but am having a dickens of a time learning how to do it correctly.
I knew it was still about 7 minutes to go when I checked my phone. To be exact it was 9 minutes when the first flock flew over our heads heading out to feed. I'm thinking they weren't but 10 feet over our heads as they left.
Then something happened that would make any dog owner proud. A hen bluewing landed right in front of us no more than 5 feet from Chip's nose. She started calling immediately. He froze and never moved a muscle. I whispered, "Stay", and he did. Knowing him, he could have easily sailed through the air from where he was but he held his ground. That meant a lot to me. She showed the nervous signs that ducks emit just before exploding out of the area. As she left, post haste, Chip still held his ground. He did make me swell with pride with that incident behind us.
As the last day of our season opened and a single bluewing came winging its way up the pond from west to east and I was able to dump it. Chip was now doing what he was bred to do. You could sense the urgency in him as he went about his routine.
During the course of the early morning when it is way too dark for pictures, Chip went about picking up two more bluewings. We then sat there just looking and listening until it happened. A flock of maybe 35 to 40 teal came from east to west flying their zig zags right over us and low. Those sounds they make when flying like that are enough to make me want to wait for next year's season. Just as they began to pile into a spot I picked out a drake and shot. To my surprise two birds hit the water. Then one of the other teal made a sharp U-turn and headed back towards us. Mistake! In a matter of just seconds the teal season had ended for me. I watched as Chip went out and nailed the cripple first. He then methodically took care of the other two. What a whirlwind day! There are now many memories, in fact, enough to last until next year's teal season is upon us.
Al
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Way to go!
