When I got the call from Up2Early to join him on a hunt this morning, I knew I was in for a treat. However, when he told me that his two boys, ages 6 and 10, were coming, I got really excited. There is just something about taking kids to the woods and seeing the look on their face when mallards are working that brings a totally different element to a hunt. As the sun rose behind us, we immediately began hearing the feed chatter of mallards above us. After making quick work of some early greenheads, it was time to get the kids on some birds. Me and Up2Early worked a pair into the spread for Ryan and Aaron to shoot, and they did not let us down. Two came in, none left. Ryan got the greenhead and Aaron got the hen. That was the highlight of my day until I was kidding 6 year old Aaron about shooting a hen. His response to my questions will make me smile for the rest of my life. Straight from lips of a 6 year old when asked why he shot the hen.
“I thought it was a black duck.”
Up2Early is raising two fine young men that are already great duck hunters. I was truly honored to share a tree with them today.
Here are a couple pics from the day
Here is Up2Early and Aaron.
Here is Ryan getting after it on the call. This boy has a future in calling. I wish I were a tenth as good as him when I was his age.
Every time I would pick up a duck, I would hear Aaron yell, "IS IT BANDED?" after I said no the 6th or 7th time, I don't think he believed me and insisted on picking them up with me.
Oh yea, and we managed a few ducks too.
