Posted By: Toledo
One Duck Day - 12/29/15 12:51 AM
First good weather this season and I had dreams of mallards tornadoing through the tree tops. By sunrise I realized that wasn't going to happen. Same ole nothing thats been here for the last week. Hunted, scouted, and bushwacked from shooting time til around 12:00 with nothing to show. After a number of failed sneaks I was ready to head to the house when three teal landed right where I just came from. Committed to one more try. Busted again and they jumped at a distance I would normally not shoot but I instantly knew what they were with the mature drake standing out strong. 1st shot- body hit but not coming down. 2nd shot- pellet right through the eyes. Bird goes in to the hummingbird flutter where they just hover in place. 3rd shot- nothing. The 25mph west wind finally took over and he peeled off to flutter down 300 yards into the woods. I had a perfect mark but when I got to it, he went down in a flowing water oak flat. At that point I knew he was gone but I headed down stream in hopes. 100 yards later I spotted a shining red Christmas bulb just drifting along with his head up.
