Posted By: Crazyhorse
My first season...........in 30 years. - 01/28/09 03:23 AM
I want to take the time to run-down my first waterfowl season in 30 years.
I did not get started until after the split this year, of course when I stopped duck hunting, there was no split season.
I had to learn that steel shot and full choke 10 gauge doubles will not kill ducks as good or as far as the same gun with a load of high brass green Remingtons with No.4 lead shot.
I had to absorb the sticker shock from paying $27.00 a box of 25 Steel No.2's, instead of $6.00 or so for thiose same green Remington's.
I had the priveldge of hunting where a retriever, and a damn good one was being used.
30 years ago my retreiver was either a rod and reel with a big topwater lure, or me waitzing my big butt out waist deep in a tank in my blue jeans, breaking ice and staying cold all day.
I had the extreme priveldge of being ibnvited on these hunts by two people whose friendship and acceptance I value highly, Spanky and R.G.C..
I had the honor of being able to spend time in the blind with two young men who hold the future of hunting in their hands, I hope that they continue to be active in the sport, my hat is off to Jordan aka Little R.G.C., and Seth's son, Cooper.
I remember the folks I hunted ducks with 30 years ago, at least 1 has passed on, and most of the others have developed new interests and moved away from both duck hunting but in some cases hunting altogether.
At least one, I am still friends with, all though our lives take us down seperate roads for the most part and we only see each other once in a while.
That is something that I should make an effort at changing.
Apart from those already mentioned, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and hunt with some really first rate folks.
Sethfish, whom I had met a couple of times before the hunts, is a really neat person to share a hunting blind or a camp fire with.
Parker and Hopedale are both really first class individuals that are excellent additions to a blind or a camp fire.
Larry and his son Matthew fit right into the group and I was glad to have met them and shared the hunt and the camp with them.
I wished Koolie76 had been able to make it back out to hunt with us on Sunday, as he was a welcome addition around the campfire on Saturday night.
Johnny, and I can't remember his last name was there on the second hunt I was on and he added a lot to the group.
R.G.C.'s brother and nephew were out on Saturday for the last hunt, and even though I did not really talk to them, it was good to a see a father and his son enjoying the hunt with the group.
One of Spanky's sons was there for the Sunday morning hunt and it was a pleasure to see the comaraderie between him and Spanky.
In ways I wished I had been able to take pictures of the trips I was on and the people I hunted with, but as I get older, the mental pictures of the hunts I have been on and the companions I have shared a hunt or campfire with, are less painful, than the captured memories of those who have moved on or passed away.
I hope that things will work out so that I can build more memories this next year sharing a blind with those I mentioned above and maybe some new folks.
I don't think there is anyway that I can really express my gratitude to Spanky and R.G.C. for taking the time and effort to provide me the opportunity to go on these hunts.
I did not get started until after the split this year, of course when I stopped duck hunting, there was no split season.
I had to learn that steel shot and full choke 10 gauge doubles will not kill ducks as good or as far as the same gun with a load of high brass green Remingtons with No.4 lead shot.
I had to absorb the sticker shock from paying $27.00 a box of 25 Steel No.2's, instead of $6.00 or so for thiose same green Remington's.
I had the priveldge of hunting where a retriever, and a damn good one was being used.
30 years ago my retreiver was either a rod and reel with a big topwater lure, or me waitzing my big butt out waist deep in a tank in my blue jeans, breaking ice and staying cold all day.
I had the extreme priveldge of being ibnvited on these hunts by two people whose friendship and acceptance I value highly, Spanky and R.G.C..
I had the honor of being able to spend time in the blind with two young men who hold the future of hunting in their hands, I hope that they continue to be active in the sport, my hat is off to Jordan aka Little R.G.C., and Seth's son, Cooper.
I remember the folks I hunted ducks with 30 years ago, at least 1 has passed on, and most of the others have developed new interests and moved away from both duck hunting but in some cases hunting altogether.
At least one, I am still friends with, all though our lives take us down seperate roads for the most part and we only see each other once in a while.
That is something that I should make an effort at changing.
Apart from those already mentioned, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and hunt with some really first rate folks.
Sethfish, whom I had met a couple of times before the hunts, is a really neat person to share a hunting blind or a camp fire with.
Parker and Hopedale are both really first class individuals that are excellent additions to a blind or a camp fire.
Larry and his son Matthew fit right into the group and I was glad to have met them and shared the hunt and the camp with them.
I wished Koolie76 had been able to make it back out to hunt with us on Sunday, as he was a welcome addition around the campfire on Saturday night.
Johnny, and I can't remember his last name was there on the second hunt I was on and he added a lot to the group.
R.G.C.'s brother and nephew were out on Saturday for the last hunt, and even though I did not really talk to them, it was good to a see a father and his son enjoying the hunt with the group.
One of Spanky's sons was there for the Sunday morning hunt and it was a pleasure to see the comaraderie between him and Spanky.
In ways I wished I had been able to take pictures of the trips I was on and the people I hunted with, but as I get older, the mental pictures of the hunts I have been on and the companions I have shared a hunt or campfire with, are less painful, than the captured memories of those who have moved on or passed away.
I hope that things will work out so that I can build more memories this next year sharing a blind with those I mentioned above and maybe some new folks.
I don't think there is anyway that I can really express my gratitude to Spanky and R.G.C. for taking the time and effort to provide me the opportunity to go on these hunts.