The forecast was for a severe winter storm to hit the Jersey coast on Saturday, so what better way to spend the day than taking Drake out for a swim in the marsh in Brigantine. The ride down was relatively calm, just a light snowfall most blowing off the road before settling down. We got to the ramp to find it clogged with construction vehicles and only enough room for three trucks with trailers. After launching the boat we had to borrow a little space from the BPOE next door, and we were on our way.
We headed into the marsh with a fine snow stinging my making it a slower go than normal. The tide was lower than I had anticipated so I spent a little time pushing the boat, and had to settle for a secondary location. Decoys were set out and the boat was set with the wind at our backs.
The wind howled at our backs, but we had slow steady action from passing black ducks and a few little divers. My buddy Dan made a nice shot on the first black of the day and JD made a quick retrieve. I must have bent the barrel on my shotgun on the way out because I burned up half a box of shells before I brought own a big fat black duck of my own. We saw a few buffies, but I was able to scare them off with my ineptitude. A few snow geese gave us a look, but with only 3 shot in the boat they would not surrender. I think one said it tickled. The final bird of the day came as I was handing decoys over the blind and heard the familiar sound of Brant behind me. I retrieved my gun from inside the boat and with thick rubber gloves on shot it with both feet mired in the mud over my left shoulder. This leads me to believe I should be sitting backward in the boat so that all of my shots are off balance and contorted.
Some, none duck hunters, would call us nuts for going out in these conditions, but we were safe, we had fun, and stories to share. That is a success any day foul or fair.
Not to say that having the right equipment can make the day more tolerable.