Posted By: garrett
1/8/12 “boat load of ducks” - 01/09/12 02:32 PM
So myself, Taylor, big daddy, gdogg and his son jack headed to west texas this weekend to hunt with our buddy Captain. Saturday was a quick hunt, the full moon screwed us, but we scratched out some birds. All birds were shot in the first 20 minutes of the hunt. Would have been a nice strap if it wasn’t for the 2 trash ducks, but I hear mallard steaks are good, so we’ll see…
That afternoon the captain went scouting, he and the first mate set up about 30 yards from the X and watched the birds do what they do. They only shot a few to make sure they didn’t blow out the hole. Later that night we came aboard the USS George to get the scouting report and make a plan for the next days hunt.
The next morning the captain leads us to the hole where the ambush is to take place. We get set up and ready to go, Taylor has his beak sticking out the blind and Jack is trying to shoot anything that moves. Right before “LST” there was an eerie silence in the air as the captain sipped on his coffee and the hunters grew restless, we had no idea what was about to happen. Then from out of nowhere we were bombarded, it was a fierce firefight for about an hour. At one point I didn’t think we were going to be able to hold them off. Waves of GWT coming in, 100 in a flock, then the grey ducks would try the sneak attack. Out thin air appeared the pintails and they would dive down and take a shot at us. All through the fight the captain remained calm, even under the pressure, he never swayed.
Big daddy was the first to limit out, then the rest of us followed suit. After it was all said and done we just stood and stared at the thin west texas air, the water covered with feathers, and they air with gun smoke. As we took it all in there was an unspoken feeling of thanks to be out of this hole alive. We loaded up the USS Cole and got out there as fast as we could before the canvasbacks got wind we were in town.
That afternoon the captain went scouting, he and the first mate set up about 30 yards from the X and watched the birds do what they do. They only shot a few to make sure they didn’t blow out the hole. Later that night we came aboard the USS George to get the scouting report and make a plan for the next days hunt.
The next morning the captain leads us to the hole where the ambush is to take place. We get set up and ready to go, Taylor has his beak sticking out the blind and Jack is trying to shoot anything that moves. Right before “LST” there was an eerie silence in the air as the captain sipped on his coffee and the hunters grew restless, we had no idea what was about to happen. Then from out of nowhere we were bombarded, it was a fierce firefight for about an hour. At one point I didn’t think we were going to be able to hold them off. Waves of GWT coming in, 100 in a flock, then the grey ducks would try the sneak attack. Out thin air appeared the pintails and they would dive down and take a shot at us. All through the fight the captain remained calm, even under the pressure, he never swayed.
Big daddy was the first to limit out, then the rest of us followed suit. After it was all said and done we just stood and stared at the thin west texas air, the water covered with feathers, and they air with gun smoke. As we took it all in there was an unspoken feeling of thanks to be out of this hole alive. We loaded up the USS Cole and got out there as fast as we could before the canvasbacks got wind we were in town.
x2