It was 4am when I pulled up to the my parking spot, and I was first truck there. I knew it was going to be a good morning for a hunt. I got out of the truck and got my waders on, Cabelas DRYplus warders, they just fit and feel good on. After getting strapped in I started my pack mule routine, Drake XL blind bag over my shoulder, followed by my SBE II, that Avery sling makes it so easy to carry my gun around in the dark. Next was the 4 dozen game winner texas rigged decoys thrown over my back, and off to the magic duck hole I went.

There was a chill in the air, it was about 37.4 degrees that morning. There was also a mist in the air, a real heavy dew had set in, maybe it was rain, I don’t really know. What I do know is that there was something magical about this walk, something about being in the woods and getting ready for a waterfowl hunt that just feels right.

I got to the X on lake X in X, Texas. I gently sat all my gear down and organized things the way I like for an easy set up, but before setting up I sat back and had a cup of Starbucks breakfast blend coffee and just took it all in. After a restful cup of coffee it was time to set up, I tossed out the decoys in a “J-Hook” pattern that an old waterfowl guru taught me. I have never met said guru in person, but I have talked with him on the internet extensively and felt a certain bond that most waterfowlers have for one another.

Oh uh…I see lights coming my way, I flash them off with my 1,000,000 candle power spotlight, and they keep on moving around the bend down the way…today the duck gods smiled upon me, it was going to be a good day., because I didn’t even need my AK

Decoys are set up, now it was time to work on the blind. I walked about 32 yards back into the woods and found some old fallen branches that would make great cover. I drug 4 large pieces to my spot X and set them up like a blind. The cover was perfect, the ducks would never know what hit ‘em. I set up my marsh seat and settled in for LST. I only had about 45min till shooting time, just enough time to set back and enjoy more coffee before the real excitement began.

LST comes around and I’m covered up with ducks, it was still pretty dark but I was positive I was covered with mallards, the king of all ducks. I spent the first 10min of LST watching in awe as these majestic creatures circled and dropped in like nothing I have ever seen. I could not take it any longer and had to start shooting. First two shots fired dropped 2 ducks, upon retrieving them I was surprised to see a grey duck drake and a pintail hen. They were not mallards, but it was still a great start. I’m not even in the blind and a group starts working, they swing a little too close and get blasted, dropped 1 wideon drake.

At this point I am half way to my limit and feeling pretty good. Off in the distance I spot some more ducks, maybe they are mallards I thought. I hit call, the one I got as a door prize at a DU event, and 2 broke off and headed my way. I sat in wait and once they were in range I pulled up and folded the first bird, another grey duck. I hit the second bird, but it went into the death glide and I was never able to find it.

Losing a bird was a deflating event, but I held strong and knew I could finish with the sought after limit. I’m pouring myself another cup of coffee when out of nowhere a widgeon drake and blue bill hen land in the spread. Very slow and gently I put down the coffee and raise up the shotgun. BOOM, BOOM…harvested the drake on the water where he sat and popped the hen as she was getting up.

All in all it was a successful trip, I harvested waterfowl, just as the generations from long ago did.

I see a ML can. But I read nothing about it.

dodge ram truck.

its an '04 cummins so at least I get a little credit...when people get inside the cab and ask what happened I normally just say "remodeling" or "dodge"

thats not a dodge in the photo.. I had someone run the vin number.. the photobucket account shows that

ctxj

I don't know if I'd go that far, but given the report.... maybe...