Decide to take a day off work (I wasn't haven't much fun there anyway).
I got to the marsh and things are looking good, nice wind and good direction. Dekes are out and now Ax and I wait for shooting light. Finally I am able to pick out colors and then the wind stops. Crap, we watch the sun come up and it looks like the decoys are sitting on a mirror. Not many birds in the air and the ones that do check out the spread can be heard laughing as they pass on by.
End up shooting a nice mallard a couple hours into the hunt and Axl brings him in.
My watch is in the dry bag and I decided to call it a morning at 10:00. Sum-bitch, it is 10:13! Let's go until 11:00 instead. All of the sudden strong winds come out of the north and with it lots-O-birds.
First a drake redhead comes in the dekes and is quickly dispatched. Axl saves me a muddy trip.
Next a bull can comes tearing through. I drop the drake and watch the hens continue. Crap, he is down, but lots of life. Canvasbacks can be difficult for any dog especially with the muddy conditions (1 foot of water and 2 feet of water). I throw some steel at him on the water, but he is too far for my pattern. Axl is off to the races and my money is on the bird. This should be interesting; curious how far Ax will go before the figures this is futile.
At about 200 yards, and gaining no distance on the can, he is still going. At this point 1/2 dozen mallards are cupped on the spread. I drop two of the drakes and figured with the shooting Ax would decide these would be a little easier. Nope, he is still going. At about 400 yards he disappears around an edge and out of site. Suddenly another redhead comes through and is quickly dispatched. Now what, three birds dead on the water and I am not fighting the mud to get them. Couple more minutes pass and no pup. Pretty sure he is not going to drown, but I am beginning to wonder. Couple more minutes and I have decided to get the boat.
On the way there, I see what I first think is just a duck out there, but it is headed towards me. My stress subsides and I am laughing that he finally gave up. A couple minutes later I notice he has something in his mouth. Holy shit, he got him. He returns a very lively can to hand and my molars to his head leads to me getting a bloody face and the shit slapped out of me by a couple wings.
I am so proud I almost forget about the floaters. I line him up and release him. Bam, straight line to the first one and make three nice blinds with my release on each retrieve.
Sorry, bit long there. For those bored enough to endure, thanks. Proud daddy.
I got to the marsh and things are looking good, nice wind and good direction. Dekes are out and now Ax and I wait for shooting light. Finally I am able to pick out colors and then the wind stops. Crap, we watch the sun come up and it looks like the decoys are sitting on a mirror. Not many birds in the air and the ones that do check out the spread can be heard laughing as they pass on by.
End up shooting a nice mallard a couple hours into the hunt and Axl brings him in.
My watch is in the dry bag and I decided to call it a morning at 10:00. Sum-bitch, it is 10:13! Let's go until 11:00 instead.
All of the sudden strong winds come out of the north and with it lots-O-birds. First a drake redhead comes in the dekes and is quickly dispatched. Axl saves me a muddy trip.
Next a bull can comes tearing through. I drop the drake and watch the hens continue. Crap, he is down, but lots of life. Canvasbacks can be difficult for any dog especially with the muddy conditions (1 foot of water and 2 feet of water). I throw some steel at him on the water, but he is too far for my pattern. Axl is off to the races and my money is on the bird. This should be interesting; curious how far Ax will go before the figures this is futile.
At about 200 yards, and gaining no distance on the can, he is still going. At this point 1/2 dozen mallards are cupped on the spread. I drop two of the drakes and figured with the shooting Ax would decide these would be a little easier. Nope, he is still going. At about 400 yards he disappears around an edge and out of site. Suddenly another redhead comes through and is quickly dispatched. Now what, three birds dead on the water and I am not fighting the mud to get them. Couple more minutes pass and no pup. Pretty sure he is not going to drown, but I am beginning to wonder. Couple more minutes and I have decided to get the boat.
On the way there, I see what I first think is just a duck out there, but it is headed towards me. My stress subsides and I am laughing that he finally gave up. A couple minutes later I notice he has something in his mouth. Holy shit, he got him. He returns a very lively can to hand and my molars to his head leads to me getting a bloody face and the shit slapped out of me by a couple wings.
I am so proud I almost forget about the floaters. I line him up and release him. Bam, straight line to the first one and make three nice blinds with my release on each retrieve.
Sorry, bit long there. For those bored enough to endure, thanks. Proud daddy.
