Puddle Pounders: A Duck Hunting Story
By Coltin Gresser
As if I didn’t already have enough hobbies within the outdoors, I can now call myself a waterfowl hunter. Well... more like a novice waterfowl hunter. Here is a little background on my duck hunting experience. First time going I had no decoys, calls, and not even the right ammo. As you guessed it didn’t see a single bird and resorted to squirrel hunting that afternoon.
The second time I went was with some of the guys you all know well, good ol’ Wyatt and Bailey. Them boys put on a damn good show the last 15 minutes of shooting light. We were hunting a cut corn field that is called an “X” field. This is because this was a field that a shit ton of birds lands to feed in.
My latest time ever going waterfowl hunting would be with Jordan and Will. Now Jordan and Will have been bird hunting a long time, and it would be safe to say that their heart was stolen by those feathery corn munching critters. With early Teal season approaching ,Will and Jordan were kind enough to take the rookie out with them scouting and hunt the next morning. So we all jumped in Will’s truck and headed to try and find some feathery foes. When we got to our spot we jumped out and looked around. We first saw some big ducks (which that is a term for Woodies, Mallard, and other bigger bodied ducks). Then after a little while of looking at the sunset sky we saw our target.
There in the sky was the blue and green rockets. The green winged and blue winged Teal get that name from the scientific definition of flying and I quote “fast as fuck”. We changed a couple of holes Jordan had previous hunts in and it was overgrown. So with that, we called it good and headed back home.
I would be a liar if I didn’t come clean and say that when I saw those first few flocks flying overhead, I couldn’t tell you weather it was Mallard, Woodies, and anything. The guys brought up great points of identifying birds on the wing. To identify them you look at the way their head is shaped and moves, the shape of the tail feathers, the formation they are in, and lastly the way their wings flap in the air. Just like anything else practice makes perfect and if you keep hunting birds for a long time you will still miss identify some birds.
Two hours of sleep later, and boom, the alarm clock is going berserk. I usually would be hotter than a hornet if that were the work alarm but instead it’s the hunting alarm, so I got up jolly and joyful. We get our gear ready and load the truck. Headed to the area we were hunting and sent prayers up that we get a good draw. Luckily, we got number 22. While Jordan’s dad and buddies got draw 18. Some of you may be like, “What the hell does that even mean?”. The number that you draw is the number that allows you to choose your spot on public land. There are around 33 spots to choose from. Jordan’s dad’s group chose a good spot, so we hoped we would get a spot nearby, to cut off other hunters from encroaching on them, in hopes we see birds chose the same spot and closed that area off. If you listen to some of the stories and some of the stuff people say while waiting for a draw, it is wild. You will hear the most outlandish lying straight through their teeth stories in there, but it makes you have a good laugh. Now that we have our spot, we get saddled up into the trucks and head to water. We chose a spot that was a good hike away from the parking area. While carrying the decoys, I realized how awesome those decoy bags are because carrying free decoys is a workout all within itself. When we arrived at our spot I set down the decoys and It felt like I created my own pond in my waders from the amount of sweat produced.
I watch Jordan and Will look over the scene and start to think about where we want to set up. I just sit back like a dog and wait for commands on where to put what. Even though I hate the invasive species phragmites with all my heart. Man, oh man, does it make excellent cover to hide in. We start throwing out decoys after they gave me a quick lesson on the placement of decoys and why spreads are certain ways.
After all of that we finally sit down in our spots smack and rub on some face paint or war paint I like to call it. As I crack open my bag of seeds, and my Reign energy drink, with 10 minutes till shooting light, I mean how much better timing could we be. Even while setting up decoys, we had Wood Ducks circle over head and try to land within our spread. Shooting light started and I was expecting to hear the world blow up with blast of shotguns. Yet I heard nothing and nothing and oh wait nothing. It took 20-30 minutes before the first shot rang. Then after that a couple minutes pass by and BOOM BOOM…. a little longer and BOOM. So, Jordan, Will, and I waited patiently for our turn. We laughed and tell stories of past hunting mess ups and a few stories of victories.
I heard Jordan say flock of Teal coming so I got ready and keep and eye out. Well, they came in, circled us, and left. So, we thought nothing of it and started to bullshit again, and I heard this loud hovering sound in my left ear. Well, surprise, they came back! Jordan yells the classic duck saying, “KILL EM”. I shouldered my new Weatherby Element 2, and let them little blue-winged fellas have it. I shot my first one and swung and shot a second. Jordan dropped one, and Will dropped the one on his far side. Four ducks came in and zero ducks left. The boys went out to retrieve the birds, and I sat back and watched for any more flocks wanting to sneak attack us.
Jordan the night before had mentioned that if any one else harvested a banded blue-winged Teal he will eat it bone, feathers, and all. Well sure enough, Jordan was going to eat his words. Jordan picked up the two ducks I shot, and Will picked up his and Jordan’s duck. Will started to yell “ Y’all ain’t going to believe this!”. Sure as shit, the bird Will killed on the far right had a band on his right leg. We are all cheered in disbelief that out of the first group of Teal to come in, we would shoot 100% and get a banded duck out of it. The rest of the day we had some Teal that checked us out and only one green wing we harvested. Mostly Wood ducks and Mallards “doing it dirty” by coming right into our decoy spread. Yes, if you are thinking “Well, they didn’t limit out and didn’t have much action”, you are right, we didn’t. However, that was one of the funniest hunts I have ever had, because I got to learn a bunch about a new style of hunting, animal behavior, plus I got to make memories with some really good folks. Next time you see Jordan make sure to look at him and say “Bones, feathers, and all”. I must admit, I am now a sucker for the waterfowl game. I have the itch that needs to be scratched I am working on my calling, trying to scout, when and where I can, and just learn more about ducks and geese.
Remember if there is one thing that Colt has ever taught you is this. You can’t kill them from the couch! Get up and get after it! Good luck this season to everyone going out may you be safe and fill your limit.
STAY DENGENERATE
