As you can tell by the big ol grin on his face he's holding his first duck.
Leaving the house at around 4:30 am Alan McElyea, Thomas and I went to a location we'd been seeing a few mallards using. At first light we had a pretty good flurry of birds but the shooting was tough and Thomas wasn't able to react fast enough. Finally a pair came in and I told Thomas to take em. He couldn't get his gun up in time before they were out of range. Alan knocked one down as they were leaving which turned out to be a BIG black duck. When Thomas learned it was a black duck it pushed him over the brink of frustration and the tears were there again. Although at this point I don't think he cares what kind of duck his first is, he just want a first of any kind.
Action slowed to a crawl but we decided to hang around in hopes the wind would push some birds our way. It did. Like mannah from heaven Alan spotted a pair in the distance and they were headed our way. Two circles and a little coaxing on the calls brought them over the spread 20 yards high. I told Thomas "Take em, takem em now!" I thought he was never going to get the shot off and then just as the duck was about too far a shot rang out. The duck shuttered, reared his head, and was making a losing effort to climb. Alan touched off a shot to remove any doubt of him getting away. After a pretty exciting chase by Cassie the duck gave out and Thomas had his first.
I don't think I could script a better hunt for Thomas. Alan, one of my oldest and closest friends who has hunted with me since the beginning was there and helped make it happen. There was a bit of nostalgia to this hunt that only added to the joyous occasion. What better way for Thomas to bag his first hunt than to do it with two guys who slogged through ever marsh, made every mistake, and grew into men while learning to be duck hunters. A day that will forever bring a smile to my face. I think the picture below sums up how we all feel.
Leaving the house at around 4:30 am Alan McElyea, Thomas and I went to a location we'd been seeing a few mallards using. At first light we had a pretty good flurry of birds but the shooting was tough and Thomas wasn't able to react fast enough. Finally a pair came in and I told Thomas to take em. He couldn't get his gun up in time before they were out of range. Alan knocked one down as they were leaving which turned out to be a BIG black duck. When Thomas learned it was a black duck it pushed him over the brink of frustration and the tears were there again. Although at this point I don't think he cares what kind of duck his first is, he just want a first of any kind.
Action slowed to a crawl but we decided to hang around in hopes the wind would push some birds our way. It did. Like mannah from heaven Alan spotted a pair in the distance and they were headed our way. Two circles and a little coaxing on the calls brought them over the spread 20 yards high. I told Thomas "Take em, takem em now!" I thought he was never going to get the shot off and then just as the duck was about too far a shot rang out. The duck shuttered, reared his head, and was making a losing effort to climb. Alan touched off a shot to remove any doubt of him getting away. After a pretty exciting chase by Cassie the duck gave out and Thomas had his first.
I don't think I could script a better hunt for Thomas. Alan, one of my oldest and closest friends who has hunted with me since the beginning was there and helped make it happen. There was a bit of nostalgia to this hunt that only added to the joyous occasion. What better way for Thomas to bag his first hunt than to do it with two guys who slogged through ever marsh, made every mistake, and grew into men while learning to be duck hunters. A day that will forever bring a smile to my face. I think the picture below sums up how we all feel.
