Thanksgiving Weekend Hunt With A New Friend
Awhile back I had posted that I would be in the Wasaga Beach / Barrie area for Thanksgiving as I usually am, and if anyone wanted to join up for a hunt.
http://www.oodmag.com/community/show...(Thanksgiving)
I typically do a pheasant hunt while there, however my pheasant partner (TerryM) was going to be up in Quebec chasing moose that weekend. I had received a few private messages from forum members with possible options which was greatly appreciated, and I sincerely thank those that reached out and offered an opportunity to hunt with them and I hope to take them all up on it one day.
That being said, I was down there for a "family holiday" so it's hard to break away multiple days so I was only able to accept one invitation, and the date and time that worked best was with a member who is an avid waterfowl hunter, and a fairly active member of our community here.
Out of respect of the wishes of said member, I will not be sharing any pictures of himself, and will also leave his name unmentioned (but if he wishes to come forward, he certainly can).
Now onto the story.
We made plans to meet at the local Tim Horton's for introductory handshakes and coffee fill ups before rolling down the highway to the public water way that we would be hunting. Quick work was made of getting our gear loaded into the boat and shortly after we were making our way through the dark and foggy channel. The sky was clear and star filled, and as we made our way I pointed out a shooting star. “That’s got to be good luck” I said.
Once into position, confirmed by the GPS, we set out a diver line along with some puddler's, and a few geese for confidence as I was told the area is known for mixed bag hunting and being early in the season he wasn't too sure what was around yet. Once the spread was out we maneuvered the boat into the tall grass and got ourselves, our gear and the dog sorted out and into position.
It was still quite dark, and we had plenty of time before legal light so we sat back, and got to know one another while being serenaded by a few different species of ducks behind us. With still a few minutes before load up time, the whistling of wings started to come over head and we watched several decent sized flocks come buzzing around the bend and over the decoys.
We both sat and watched in anticipation, constantly checking the watches, and as soon as legal hit the guns came out, and the ducks started to fly. My new friend was first to uncase and load up and did so just in time as a flock came around. He jumped up and managed to get a few shots off dropping one.
As I finished loading up, I could see a couple more on the water, close to where he had dropped his and had thought he managed to hit a few. That thought quickly vanished as I was getting ready to send the dog and watched them quickly jump up and fly away. I released Maddy and after a short swim she was back with the first duck of the day, a nice Ring-neck.
With Maddy back on board, we got ready again. My partner started on the calls, and I reached for my lanyard but quickly let it go after he let out a few notes. (You wouldn't interrupt Jimmy Pages stairway to heaven solo would you?) Which is about the equivalent to what would have happened if I joined in.
As the morning progressed, the fog pushed in and out and birds were moving fairly well. We had a few flocks work the decoys and we missed a few opportunities (too busy chatting, or birds popping out of the fog catching us off guard). The next bird to come in I was able to take and I now had my first “Southern Ontario” duck, and my first Ring-Neck.
By this time the sun was shining bright and the fog had almost evaporated so we thought it would be a good time to get breakfast going. I moved to the back and the chef quickly got to work up at the front and before long the sounds and smells of sizzling bacon filled the boat. As breakfast was being prepared I spotted a few ducks just beyond the decoy line dabbling their way in. My partner got back on the call and brought them in on a rope, once they were in range, and 99% ID’d, we each picked a bird and after let out a few yells, they quickly took to the wing, but their flight was momentary and final as we each splashed one. Maddy made two good distance retrieves to bring us each back our Black Duck, (another first for me).
We finished our breakfast and then decided with our limit of blacks in the boat we would call it a day. We started to pack up and as we did a flock of low and slow flying honkers came in, we each grabbed our gun and popped up to take them and all that sounded off was “click, click” from each of our guns, as we hadn’t re-loaded.
The geese made off unscathed and we had a good laugh as we finished packing up and enjoyed the boat ride back to the launch. A quick photo-op, another handshake, and we parted ways back home.
To my new friend, thank you again so much for extending the invite and having me out, it was a great day of “firsts” and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you and look forward to doing it again sometime.
Ducks, Dogs, Boats and Brunch, doesn't get much better than this.
http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...pspwegafl9.jpg
Proud pup.
http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...psmxt48u4b.jpg
And proud handler.
http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...psncralukz.jpg
And the first picture edited a bit as I thought it was a nice shot of the dog.
http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...psyqnc7k0n.jpg
