First Hunt-Lessons Learned

laduck · Postby **laduck** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 3:37 pm

Today is the next to last day of our season and I think back on my first hunt (I was 13)
It seems like yesterday (now I am 54). I learned two important lessons on that hunt! What did you'll learn on your first hunt? Let me tell you all the story. I was at the picture show and one of my friends who was l5
wanted to know if I wanted to go on a duck hunt. The next morning we made it to the marsh. As we loaded our guns the marsh was quiet. I heard the whistling of wings to my right and I peered up over the grass and straight into a flight of decoying mallards that had had slipped in on us from the east. Chills went up my spine and my heart beat rapidly as the beautiful birds flared and sped away from the range of our guns.
"When you hear wings like that, Jack, don't look up. A duck can see the whites of your eyes a mile away. Pull your cap down over your face and be still. I'll tell you when to shoot," Jim said. (lesson one learned) Later Jim killed a duck and I went to get it after I laid my gun down on top of some grass. As my fingers stretched out and I touched the duck, a flight of green winged teal buzzed me and almost knocked the cap off
my head. I thought about my gun lying in the blind. Lesson number two in the art of duck hunting had been implanted in my youthful mind. I hope that all of you have a great last few days. It is all over but the shouting for us here. Jack

Shoot them sprigs on their first pass!

Doc & Nash · Postby **Doc & Nash** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 6:33 pm

I am glad to know that I am not the only one who had to learn those lessons the hard way, Sometime I think it would have been nice if my father would have been taking me when I was a small child to teach me things like that, but Oh well, It was less thatn two weeks ago when I took my father on his first duck hunting trip and sure enough, I had a group of Mallards cupped coming in and he sitting in the boat just a watching their every move, I seem to remember him saying "That one was looking straight at me".

Postby **judge jb** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 7:26 pm

well, if you learned your lessons well, and i know you have, you will use them same tricks on a youngster... by the way laduck, i like to use OUR age as a reason for the young boys to tote the stuff and do all the hard work....haha....., they need to feel sorry for us elders...... take care my friend and i hope you enjoyed your season.. come to the Shack and spend another few days of huntin......

judge jb