trophy/man rooms?

[Bonecollecter1111]

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[brake man]

After returning home this evening after three days of traveling out of town, I came home to find my wife and children and some friends and their children glad to see me home. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I figured it had something to do with my turning 40 in a couple of days. All of the kids grabbed my hand and took me back to my home office that for two years has been not much more than a room without much color and filled with filing cabinets and "stuff." My plan has been to finally do something with the room, but it has been hard to do with all the "life" that gets in the way.

My children made me close my eyes then they walked me into my office and had me open my eyes. The following are some pics of what I saw. Very rarely am I ever speechless, but I was after I opened my eyes. Long story short, my wife and two couples who are dear friends of ours worked their tails off as soon as I left town to completely makeover the room (new paint, most of the furniture, rug, etc.). The only things that were existing were the desk and chair that had been my Dad's and his Dad's before him and the various books and a few other items in the room. There are several very sentimental things that my wife made sure to put in the new office. My wife had several pictures and a drawing from one of my first running shoes I designed (but never did anything with) in 1990 framed and hung in my office. A friend of mine spent a few hours going through various hunting photos and was at Kinko's last night until midnight getting the four pictures enlarged and printed on fiber board. Another friend put the furniture together and put it into the room. My wife, both guys, and their wives are truly amazing! This was the best birthday gift I have ever received!

No duck mounts yet, but now that I have a place to put some I will need to see what I can do next season. I look forward to a cup of coffee in my new chair in the morning before work.

[quackheadbp]

WOW! Its all I can say after reading all of these wonderful stories. WAterfowler, you truly sir are a man among men. I have really enjoyed these stories and hope that I will meet you one day and hope to share the duck blind with you. It would be an honor.

Brandon

[arduckslayer]

For those that wondered earlier about his sons hunting, I can guarantee you we do. 99.9% of yall on here don't know me or my username, but I'm Patrick, The Waterfowler's oldest son. I actually made my 1st hunting trip with Dad when I was 9 months old on a trip to Eagle Lake, Texas. I didn't get to make it into the spread, though. My 1st hunt was when I was 4 and spent the morning in the goose rags with Dad and Koye outside Hereford, Texas. Dad, Stephen, and I have hunted 4 countries together and some 25 states for ducks, deer, turkeys, and swans.

I've spent most of my life hunting at the LLDC. Dad leased our 1st pit over there when I was 11 in 1992. LIke Dad, I have a hard time picking my most memorable hunt for the same reasons he does; the people we shared it with, the dogs at our side, or the accomplishments of the day.

My most memorable hunt with Dad would have to be the day I killed my 1st duck. Dad, Stephen, and I were hunting the middle pit on the Walker Farm near Colt, AR. Dad had killed a few ducks that weren't "right" for me to attempt. But then, a greenhead gave up the ghost and was backpeddling with feet down about 20 yards out. I missed my first shot big as life, but crushed him dead in the air with my 2nd. As Lucky brought him back, Dad hugged me so tight I couldn't breath and told me how proud he was. Then he exclaimed, "Hand the gun to your brother to see if he can kill his 1st duck too."

[Double R 2]

That's great! Only true friend would scarafice a weekend to do that! You got those unframed photos at Kinkos?

After returning home this evening after three days of traveling out of town, I came home to find my wife and children and some friends and their children glad to see me home. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I figured it had something to do with my turning 40 in a couple of days. All of the kids grabbed my hand and took me back to my home office that for two years has been not much more than a room without much color and filled with filing cabinets and "stuff." My plan has been to finally do something with the room, but it has been hard to do with all the "life" that gets in the way.

My children made me close my eyes then they walked me into my office and had me open my eyes. The following are some pics of what I saw. Very rarely am I ever speechless, but I was after I opened my eyes. Long story short, my wife and two couples who are dear friends of ours worked their tails off as soon as I left town to completely makeover the room (new paint, most of the furniture, rug, etc.). The only things that were existing were the desk and chair that had been my Dad's and his Dad's before him and the various books and a few other items in the room. There are several very sentimental things that my wife made sure to put in the new office. My wife had several pictures and a drawing from one of my first running shoes I designed (but never did anything with) in 1990 framed and hung in my office. A friend of mine spent a few hours going through various hunting photos and was at Kinko's last night until midnight getting the four pictures enlarged and printed on fiber board. Another friend put the furniture together and put it into the room. My wife, both guys, and their wives are truly amazing! This was the best birthday gift I have ever received!

No duck mounts yet, but now that I have a place to put some I will need to see what I can do next season. I look forward to a cup of coffee in my new chair in the morning before work.

[Double R 2]

99.9% of yall on here don't know me

Unfortunately, 0.1% of us do!

Good to see you finally posting up!

[LawDawg]

99.9% of yall on here don't know me or my username, but I'm Patrick, The Waterfowler's oldest son.

you better watch the company you keep around here. RR is ok (sometimes), but Gordon and Gator, that's another story.

just messing man. I hope you will begin posting on here regularly.

[arduckslayer]

Just keep an eye out. I'm around here and there.

[aweyerman]

If "The Waterfowler" doesn't write a book I honestly believe that a piece of this wonderful sport will be lost. Great posts!

[quackheadbp]

I agree1000 percent! I went back and read that post about the perfect storm this morning at 2am and it simply had me on the edge of my chair! GOOD STUFF!!!

[arduckslayer]

The last year Dr. Chub hunted Beaver Dam was probably a couple years before his death. Late that season, it may have been the last week, I got a call from Doc, as I always called him. I could never get used to the idea of calling him Chubby or Dr.Chub as many of his friends called him. Want to go to the "Lake" tomorrow? Bobby Gukin said they were killing a few and we can hunt the north end. Well it didn't matter if there was a duck on the lake, I blurted out sure what time. Doc was prompt pulling into my driveway the next morning in his hunting car, an older Cadillac, and had me load the dog in the back seat and I drove us down the familiar stretch of 61 we had traveled so many times. We talked the talk we always did about ducks, turkeys, old friends and old times. It was son this and son that when he spoke as he called everyone son it seemed, but made it always seem like you were something special. Everyone was made to feel like a best friend or favorite son by him. His warmth, wit and charm were always intoxicating and he only got mad at me once, but that's another story.

This one's a classic too. You gotta tell it.

[The Waterfowler]

Doc Got Mad!

Dr. Andrews could charm a used car salesman with his wit and wisdom and I never heard him raise his voice, except once and I was the target. We would often hunt two blinds in the north end in what was called Doc's Pool which was just below Round Pond. As limits neared in the early 70's Doc and I would slip out of the blinds to let the guys hunting finish up, and pick up the decoys while we paddled the little Alumacraft Ducker that once belonged to Mr. Buck and jump shoot the west side of the lake.

A beautiful morning was coming to a close when we pushed out of the buck brush and button willows into the edge of the open lake and skirted the saw grass looking to jump a bird or two. We would often shoot a limit of Grays and a few Mallards and Wigeons as we paddled down the west side. Doc shot a flushing Gray pretty soon after we started down and with the wind at our back we had things perfect. He often said we'd swap places, but never did as he was afraid we'd tip the boat changing seats, so I was content to paddle and shoot an occasional bird that got behind us. Doc couldn't swim I found out and often wondered how a man of the outdoors that was so athletic never learned to swim. As we neared Usery Pool we knew what was coming as it always held ducks in the sawgrass ringed hole amid the buck brush. I pushed through the opening into the pool and the place exploded with ducks climbing out into the tall cypress trees. Doc tripled and I managed to punch out a duck coming over us. The ducks continued to flush in the confusion and Doc downed at least another as I looked for a target. Seeing a Black Duck going hard left to right I stood and pivoted as it was on the wrong side of me. I crushed it amid the trees and about when I was expecting a congratulatory comment for the shot and trophy, Doc lit into me like I was a red-headed step-child. He was white knuckled holding onto the boat as it rocked back and forth sure that I had almost dumped us both into the water with my less than graceful move. He always called me Son, but he often called everyone that, and today it had a whole differednt meaning. He never cussed, but I'm sure he wanted to as he berated me for being so foolish by standing and shooting in the little boat. Me telling him that it was a Black, that we didn't turn over, that I was sorry, that I wouldn't do it again, even that he could have the duck didn't work. Being from East Tennessee motivated me to covet any Black Duck I saw and I told him that I didn't think about the consequences and was sorry I scared him, which he readily agreed with me. In damage control mode as we picked up the ducks I finally said, "Doc, you would have shot it too if you'd seen it before I did and I was just thinking like you would have done." Then that warm smile of his, that smile that could melt a glacier, returned and his laugh echoed off the water as we paddled across the lake to the boat dock. "Son, you remind me too much of me and son, you're gonna be the death of me yet as he admired our birds." All was forgotten by the time we reached the Blue and White, but I had to buy breakfast and drive his car home whild he napped. Not a bad punishment though. What I would give to spend another day with him and as I grow older I realize how important it is to savor each day with my boys or good friends doing what we enjoy in the outdoors.

[H20 Fowl]

Great Read... As usual

[feedcall]

I have been off the board for a while hunting and doing honey doos after the season. Some of these stories must be printed. I saw where someone mentioned this before, but i just wanted to second it. A guy that i work with just published a great book about Oxford/ Ole Miss. I am sure we could get the publishers name to whomever could get these stories together. I have really enjoyed reading this. I'm a 29 year hunter, and probably should have done a much better job of keeping a journal. These stories are amazing, and I think other hunters would really enjoy a book with so much history. Scott Bates

[Greenhead329]

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