I have been fortunate in my life to have a family who taught me the values of nature and hunting. Of being thankful for the right to hunt and having the wonderful opportunity to hunt fresh, wild game. Since a young age I can remember sitting in a deer blind, wrapped in layers of my fathers camo and blankets, of sitting by his side in the sunflower fields as the doves flew overhead. I have always hunted wild game, it was something that I was brought up doing. Moving to Missouri allowed me to further my pursuit of wild game, my quest for wanting more of a challenge driving me to pick up a bow.
But there was a season that I seemed to be missing out on, a season that I could never understand why my fellow friends and hunters seemed to get excited over. Waterfowl season. In the portion of Texas where I am from waterfowl hunting was not common, so we never partook in such events. But recently I was given the opportunity to expand my hunting repertoire and have fallen into the throes of waterfowl hunting. I am lucky enough to know a handful of very seasoned waterfowl hunters, all of which have been excited to teach me about their sport.I never knew that I would get hooked. With my first morning I was never warned of that first thirty minutes of shoot light, when the wood ducks take to the timber. I have learned that I need to work on my wingshooting as nothing fell to my shots. However that first morning in the blind was something that I will never forget. The pair of mallards that came in and allowed me to harvest my first bird was all that was needed for me to realize that I will start water fowl hunting. My second sit in the morning allowed me more of an experience in the water, of using the foliage around me to my advantage. I learned a proper way to set decoys, on calling and working the birds into range. We watched as a lone hen mallard fell for out set, circled for what seemed like forever before committing. And I learned that sometimes, on public land, the best times to hunt are in the evening, when all other hunters have left for the day.
I love the rush that I get when I watch a group of mallards fly overhead, hear the calls and see the decoys and decide it is a safe place to land. I like watching them come in, feet down and wings cupped. I like hearing their calls, listening to them respond to the soft “talking” my mentor is providing to them, ensuring them that everything is ok. The excitement that takes over when you know you may harvest your limit. Duck hunting is something that I plan on learning more about and partaking in. I see it becoming a part of my normal hunting schedule. I like the thrill of “duck fever” and hope to share more of my hunts with you all. Get outside, enjoy what nature has to offer and take up your shotgun and enjoy this winter migration.
