Perfect Drift
11-07-2002, 06:26 PM
(Ardie is 4 months old, Daisy is his mom.)
I went duckin yesterday, I am taking the rest of the week off. We, Daisy, Ardie and I went to Ridgefield Refuge. It was Ardie's first hunt.
I get there one minute before draw time, wow. Get my name on the list, I am second to last to draw a blind BUT I ended up with the blind that the birds wanted. Birds flying all morning, large bunches of them and of course, just out of range.
Ardie's not sure about this walking in the dark stuff. Oh man, sheet water, never seen this before. OK, jump like a deer and we're over that. Just follow mom, she must know it's OK. It's a long walk, winding past trees and more water on the path, tall grass and bushes. Find the blind, get Ardie inside, they are big fiberglass boxes with a door and half roof. Have him tied so he is on the bench. Daisy is so excited to be hunting. Get the dekes out and sit down for coffee and listen to the morning sounds. An owl, ducks landing in the dekes, frogs. Shoot time - wait wait, I see ducks but it's too dark to tell what kind of ducks they are.
INCOMING, three birds, pick the lead one, splat nice shot, widgeon drake, Daisy did a good retreive. Ardie, well, what the heck is going on? I let him smell the bird, OK, what the heck is this thing, I'm reading his mind. Next a mallard drake, nice shot again. Daisy saw it fall, easy retreive. Ardie, shivering cold now, it's raining. Sitting on the bench. I am so excited that this is his first hunt and we are getting birds. Ardie, come on, this is good. Ya, but I'm cold and wet.
Later, he is now shivering, all in a ball on the bench. Daisy is on the job, watching. Get tough little buddy, we're not leaving yet. Loose one mallard hen, we looked and looked could not find it, darn !
Ardie is now sleeping, he is snoring and shaking.
Teal, incoming, fast - Splat, a really nice drake lands 30 ft. from the blind. Ardie is really sleeping now, no interest at all. OK, it's 11:30am, let's go home.
Walking out I had Daisy on the leash and Ardie was like a young calf on a spring day. Running and jumping , twisting, 0h what fun. Sniffing mom, run and twist. Water, Oh fun now that I can see it. So many smells, grass and poop and leaves and water and OH ya, mom and me too. He had a such a good time walking to the truck. I guess I enjoyed it too. I laughed at him and smiled, oh everything is so neat and exciting.
Seeing threw NEW EYES!
I went duckin yesterday, I am taking the rest of the week off. We, Daisy, Ardie and I went to Ridgefield Refuge. It was Ardie's first hunt.
I get there one minute before draw time, wow. Get my name on the list, I am second to last to draw a blind BUT I ended up with the blind that the birds wanted. Birds flying all morning, large bunches of them and of course, just out of range.
Ardie's not sure about this walking in the dark stuff. Oh man, sheet water, never seen this before. OK, jump like a deer and we're over that. Just follow mom, she must know it's OK. It's a long walk, winding past trees and more water on the path, tall grass and bushes. Find the blind, get Ardie inside, they are big fiberglass boxes with a door and half roof. Have him tied so he is on the bench. Daisy is so excited to be hunting. Get the dekes out and sit down for coffee and listen to the morning sounds. An owl, ducks landing in the dekes, frogs. Shoot time - wait wait, I see ducks but it's too dark to tell what kind of ducks they are.
INCOMING, three birds, pick the lead one, splat nice shot, widgeon drake, Daisy did a good retreive. Ardie, well, what the heck is going on? I let him smell the bird, OK, what the heck is this thing, I'm reading his mind. Next a mallard drake, nice shot again. Daisy saw it fall, easy retreive. Ardie, shivering cold now, it's raining. Sitting on the bench. I am so excited that this is his first hunt and we are getting birds. Ardie, come on, this is good. Ya, but I'm cold and wet.
Later, he is now shivering, all in a ball on the bench. Daisy is on the job, watching. Get tough little buddy, we're not leaving yet. Loose one mallard hen, we looked and looked could not find it, darn !
Ardie is now sleeping, he is snoring and shaking.
Teal, incoming, fast - Splat, a really nice drake lands 30 ft. from the blind. Ardie is really sleeping now, no interest at all. OK, it's 11:30am, let's go home.
Walking out I had Daisy on the leash and Ardie was like a young calf on a spring day. Running and jumping , twisting, 0h what fun. Sniffing mom, run and twist. Water, Oh fun now that I can see it. So many smells, grass and poop and leaves and water and OH ya, mom and me too. He had a such a good time walking to the truck. I guess I enjoyed it too. I laughed at him and smiled, oh everything is so neat and exciting.
Seeing threw NEW EYES!