A Season's Journey

The last evening of the 2014 – 2015 hunting season proved to be surprisingly memorable. Not because I filled the neatly folded deer tag waiting in my wallet, but because I spent the time reflecting on all that I was able to experience over the last few months. As I enjoyed the winter calmness that is only known in a deerstand, I glassed eight deer filtering from the snow covered tree limbs to forage for food in the cut bean field. The quarter sized snowflakes that nearly whited out visibility earlier in the afternoon had transitioned into a wet mist by the time the end of legal shooting light arrived. As poetic as the weather change seemed at that moment in time my spirits were not dampened.

The waning hours of the late season's gray light found my mind looking back to a much warmer September opener with good buddies John and Charles. We didn’t even come close to limiting out on doves. In fact I don't know if we actually saw doves? As only good hunting buds do for each other, we passed the time making fun of one another and enjoyed every minute of it. I don't know who picked the farm we hunted on for the opener but their decision making rights are under review. 

Hunt preparation for Ohio's dove season is damn serious business.
L to R: New beard growth Sean, Charles. Also pictured Jumper Johnny

It wasn't long before I was reminiscing about the youth waterfowl hunt that I shared with my son again this year. It was our second hunt in which he shouldered the decision on whether to shoot or not if the chance should present itself. This year the opportunity never arrived, but the memories created and the bonds my son and I share through the outdoors are indescribable. I look forward to experiencing this same rite of passage with my daughter in due time. She's already reminded me that her brother was allowed to hunt when he was eight and she IS going to be eight by next season. I'm guessing that she will be ready. 

Learning to blow a duck call is dang serious business.
Photo by Kali Parmley

October is one of the most gorgeous times of the year outdoors and spending time in the treestand with my friend Kent was another highlight to add to the season. We came close to arrowing deer on a few occasions, but as is often the case with bowhunting the stars didn’t always align. The closest occasion had me at full draw on a mature doe who decided to bolt instead of stand still as I bleated at her to stop. Oh well, we were actually able to experience all of the fun without the mess and work. I’ll chalk that up as a W.

Kent getting situated for a shot opportunity.

I have yet to experience a hunt with someone who I didn't end up considering a friend afterward. That is certainly the case after a small game hunt hosted by Adam and his father, Dean. These two guys gave up their entire day to have me and my son up to hunt on the family farm. We chased rabbits briefly until one the beagles gashed open an ear and needed attention. After the tailgate triage our game plan was to exchange beagles for squirrel dogs and take to the woods. Within minutes we had one squirrel treed. At the pull of the trigger, one squirrel magically multiplied into at least three bushy tails raining down from the oak tree canopy. One came down ready for the dinner plate, while the other two kamikazes dive-bombed the forest floor, sprang to their feet and had us on the run again! Any hunt where you laugh so hard that you actually cry is hard to beat. We managed a few squirrels, a lot of laughs and some lifelong memories that day.

The next trip of the season was sharing deer camp during the mystical mid-November rut with some of the best guys I've had the privilege to hunt with over the years. Since college, hell even before we knew each other’s last names (inside joke - all good deer camps have inside jokes, it's required), we were hunting together in southern Ohio.  If I have my way I’ll still be dragging deer out of the woods with Big Frank, Dr. Frank, Alan, and Adam when we’re older and grayer than we already are. Campfires, cold beers, mortars and ridiculously good food are the four staples that make any deer camp worth a damn. Anything else beyond that is just gravy. As I said before, any hunt where you laugh so hard that you actually cry is hard to beat. You simply cannot beat deer camp with these guys. I can hardly wait until next November; in fact I’m hoping that we can initiate turkey camp again this spring.

Waterfowl season was coming back in and hopes were high with geese actively feeding in a field I had permission to hunt. Plans were made with John, Charles and our newcomer Kali. We met up at the field shortly after o’dark thirty, set the spread, brushed in the layout blinds and had time to drink that early morning coffee while we waited on the birds to show. When the geese finally decided that it was breakfast time they decided to try the new restaurant next door, landing across the street in a field they had not fed in during any of my scouting trips! We made some adjustments (i.e. ran across the street and kicked them out of the other field) and worked a couple groups so we could scratch out a few honkers. Like always, we shoulda-coulda knocked down more birds but what fun would it be if every hunt worked out perfectly?

L to R: Charles Robertson, bearded Sean, Kali, John's mustache, John

The rest of the season balanced out between bowhunting deer and playing hide and seek with waterfowl. When the goose migration finally arrived the season was nearly done for the year. Fortunately, my friends and newly addicted waterfowlers Jeff and Zac were able to locate some honkers on open water next to their deer hunting grounds. I put in three hunts, the first with Jeff and Zac, the second with Jeff and my brotha-from-another-motha Rob, and the last with Jeff, Zac and Alex (and I don’t know his last name either). The third time proved to be a charm as we were finally able to coax some birds into the decoys and finish. It was the perfect setting to close the waterfowl season for me. We didn't limit, but the journey to that final hunt spent with good friends was the reward.  

L to R: clean shaven Sean, Zac, Jeff with some migrating lesser canada geese.

Timber doing work.

As I drove home for supper with the family after that last bowhunt I felt content, at peace. Not burnt out and run down like other seasons in the past. I was satisfied with the ups and downs that hunting season brings with it. Yet I was still looking forward to the next hunt. My personal goal for the 2014 - 2015 season was simple... have fun. 

Mission complete and then some. Thank you to all of the friends who I have been able to share the journey with. May we live each and every day to it's fullest, and may the memories that we make today become the stories we tell tomorrow! Cheers!

The hunt for an Axis buck

Hunting can be a topic that brings out strong opinions depending on which social circles it is being discussed. Hunting on a private ranch surrounded by a fence can be even more controversial yet, even within the circles of the hunting community, so I approached my first experience of this style of hunt with an open mind. What I walked away with was the understanding that hunting an extraordinarily weary axis buck over several thousand acres is not exactly a walk in the park.

Axis deer, or chital deer, are native to many of the forests of India and surrounding regions. Bucks are easily identifiable by their burnt orange coat, white spots, dark brown streak that runs along their spines and of course their large sweeping antlers. Does are similar in color and carry a white spotted coat as well. The axis deer we were after prefer the thick palmetto forest of the Florida ranch we were hunting. Although, just like our native whitetail deer, they will venture out into the open during the golden hours of the day.

The first night on the stand was uneventful in terms of axis sightings however I did have an encounter with a good whitetail who walked upwind of the tower stand within bow range. The first things that I noticed about the Seminole whitetail was their size being a good bit smaller than the Ohio bucks we are used to seeing. To give you an example of the size difference, in order to qualify for B&C in the Florida Buck Registry a typical Seminole whitetail must measure out to 100 inches or 125 inches for a non-typical. Additionally, their rack color appeared similar to a leather basketball's dark orange tone. It was a cool experience to see this buck right off the bat but equally frustrating that whitetail bucks we off limits to shoot during the hunt.

The next morning I was situated back in the same stand with action picking up about an hour after the sun lit up the morning sky. A group of axis appeared across the open field but they were out of range, so all I could do was watch them meander by and disappear into the palmettos. I did have single black buck doe come by for a couple picture opportunities. Black bucks are a very sleek, antelope-sized animal that inhabit the ranch in small numbers. The males are black with white bellies and spiraling horns. 

Around mid-morning I spotted a good sized axis buck come out of the brush. He was alone and cautiously made his way across the open field, not coming closer than 200 yards which is just too far of a shot for me personally to be comfortable with. Not only was this my first time hunting for axis deer but it was also the first time hunting with a rifle. Having all of my experience chasing whitetails in Ohio with either a slug gun or archery equipment I had only shot the rifle I was using out to 100 yards so my confidence to make a clean shot at over 200 yards just isn't there yet. 

Tuesday afternoon we decided to switch up the stand locations and with that I decided on a stand in much tighter quarters. My vantage point for the hunt was an older wooden stand that definitely had some character to it. 

The confined space of the field I was hunting over limited my sightings of animals until they popped out into the open, but the ones that did show themselves gave me some great photo opportunities. I did had a glimpse of a decent axis buck making his was through the thick forest but I was never presented with a clear opening on him while he stood still. Even though my sighting was at only 60 yards I just didn't feel comfortable trying to send a bullet into the woods. Had I not been holding out for an axis buck at this point I could have also taken a shot a few nice pigs that frequented the field that evening. 

Another nice looking whitetail stepped out at 120 yards to let me snap a few pictures. He worked the opposite way of the axis deer I spotted earlier in the brush and ended up walking out from behind my stand and within bow range. This buck will be a dandy if he can get through another season at the ranch. 

The night ended with another axis buck sighting but just not the right shooting opportunity. Two of the other hunters in camp closed out the afternoon hunt successfully however with one hunter having an axis buck down, and another putting three hogs on the back of the meat truck. The gates were starting to open and I was eager for the next morning to arrive and be back on stand. 

Wednesday morning came with new stand locations being chosen again by the group. I was seated in an older wooden stand situated at a pinch point between two fields. The stand contained what I was hoping was a good luck sign. An empty casing left behind by another hunter. 

Whitetails were covering me up once again with no signs of axis deer in the immediate area. While whitetail bucks were not on my available list of game to pursue, we were encouraged to help reduce the number of does on the ranch if given the opportunity. I was given that opportunity sometime in mid-morning so I chose to settle in and let my rifle crack when a mature doe worked her way across the field. I steadied the crosshairs, watched for the right moment as she paused broadside, and started to put pressure on the trigger. One last dash followed the shot and I too was able to leave behind a token of appreciation at the stand. 

The afternoon was showing signs of rain as we made our way back out to hunt. Once again we were all moving along to different stands based on a combination of hunches where the deer were thought to be moving and what numbers felt right. I chose the number three. Since it was starting to drizzle I thought I would go make it rain from three point land. 

The rain came and went for the first hour I was on stand but with my rain gear on it made the sit comfortable. It also seemed to have the game up on its feet and moving about. I was seeing whitetails, Osceola turkey, and a few axis doe moving in and out of the brush. The whitetail and turkey were much more comfortable working along the edge of the field and out in the open as opposed to the axis that would only provide quick, nervous glimpses through the dense vegetation. 

It was a few minutes past six o'clock when I caught movement in the very far corner of the field. As if appearing out of nowhere three axis deer were starting to filter from the mosquito-filled swamp and feed along the edge of the field. Suddenly I was seeing antler tips feeding behind some of the palmettos and simultaneously noticing the axis does were slipping back into the dense vegetation. My mind was made up at that point. If it was a quality buck I was going to take the shot. I was only going to have a short window to size up the animal and decide whether the safety would click off or not.

The shot echoed, smoke cleared and the buck laid motionless where he fed moments earlier. A second shot was fired but this time it was the adrenaline that I had held back until after the trigger was pulled. I looked to the sky with immediate thoughts of my Grandpa smiling down on me.

I knelt down, admiring the great buck and said a silent prayer of gratitude as I always do in these times. Although I was exhilarated by the experience of the hunt, I was also well always aware of the gravity of the situation. The respect I have for all of the game I pursue and the connection to the natural world is something difficult to describe and only understood deep inside others who have walked in the same steps. The hunt always lives on through the memories as well as the nourishing venison provided for my friends and family. 

10 Tips on taking Kids Hunting

Getting the next generation of hunters into the field should be a top priority this season for each and every license buying sportsmen. If you’re not already taking a child with you then please consider it for at least a few hunts this fall. It’s not only an investment in the future of our outdoor pursuits, but you’ll come to find out it’s even more rewarding than you can imagine. The experience can literally change the way you and that child approach the outdoors. Here are ten tips to keep in mind when you’re planning to take a youth hunting.

 

      1. Safety. This goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. Safety is first and foremost above everything else. My children have been taught from an early age there are three rules to everything we do outdoors and we discuss them while we’re riding in the truck before each outing. Our entire outing is filled with teaching moments focused on safety. As long as we follow the first two rules then rule three is always automatic.

·         Rule #1 Safety first!

·         Rule #2 Listen to Dad.

·         Rule #3 Have fun.

      2. Make it fun. Establish the mindset that when you’re taking a youth into the field it is about them and not about you. Don’t push them to hunt as hard as you normally would, or pressure them into situations because of your own drive. Step back and see the big picture from the child’s perspective. Let them progress at their own pace and they’ll take ownership of the situation.

       3. Weather. Some of the best hunting can be in tough weather, but since we’re making this all about the child optimize the experience by taking them out in pleasant conditions. Early season bow hunts from a ground blind overlooking a green bean field or mid-October walks through the squirrel woods are perfect ways to get youth outdoors.

      4. Patience. Don’t lose it.  Children are going to make noise and squirm in their chairs. Find ways to guide their energy while creating teaching moments. Bring along a bird ID book and see how many types of birds you can find together. Collect leaves, acorns and pine cones to match them up to pictures in a tree ID book. If completely necessary you can even break out an iPod and let them play games for a while.  

       5. Snacks. This item could easily be listed as #2 because it is almost as important as safety. Bring along some snacks and drinks to share with the child when you can see their attention starting to fade. Let them pick out the snacks at home or even better yet, support your local economy by giving the child a few bucks then stopping at the convenience store so they can buy their own snack to pack along. Find a way to make it special or maybe start a pre-hunt tradition here.

      6. Exposure. The outdoors can easily be a year-round activity to involve children in. Take them out to help train your duck dog. Involve them in the training by having them give the dog commands or throw out bumpers for the dog to fetch up. Invite them to hike into the woods to monitor trail cameras or establish mineral sites. Let them be the first to look through the trail camera pictures when you get them uploaded, and if you’re into naming target deer then let the child pick the names this season.

      7. Not for everyone. Don’t put any pressure on a child to take up hunting. Let them come along at their own pace and develop through their own curiosity. When a child sees their parent involved in an activity they will be naturally inclined to want to learn more about that activity. Embrace and encourage that but only at the appropriate pace for that individual child. Pushing them too fast can ruin the experience. Ultimately they may still choose not to hunt anyway, but allow them the opportunity to make that decision. Taking this approach will still leave them with a favorable impression of hunting and our role in conservation.

      8. Discuss. One of the things I love most about hunting is that it is an endless learning process. You’ll never know everything there is to know about monster bucks.  Quite frankly, even though I’m always thirsty for knowledge, I don’t want to know everything. That just adds to the allure. Hunting creates an infinite amount of teaching moments as you’re introducing children to the outdoors. They’re naturally inquisitive so this opens up a fantastic set-up for you to talk through the what, where, when, why and how’s of hunting.

      9. Participate. A big component of a successful youth hunt is letting them actually play a role in the experience. Let them help get decoys out of the bag, pack their own backpack to carry into the woods or follow deer tracks to where they think a good spot to hunt might be. This not only helps make them feel like they’re part of the team but also promotes active learning through your careful guidance.

      10.  Timing. From late October to mid-November I’m happily perched in a tree stand from before the sun comes until after it has gone down (as long as I have my snacks). However, there is absolutely no way I’d expect my children to be able to endure the same bowhunting marathon. Keep your youth hunts short in duration, maximized with activity and custom tailored to the individual. Just like training a good retriever you always want to finish on a high note. Find that happy medium of just before they’re too tired and bored yet still left wanting more!

This is a subject near and dear to me with two hunting up-and-comers in the family. While there could easily be a list of 100 items to keep in mind, my hope is that these ten tips touch on some of the main points of introducing our hunting heritage to today’s youth. Above and beyond everything else just make sure to keep the experience fun for them. The days spent afield have a special way of creating some of the strongest bonds we will experience in life. When put into that perspective, who better to introduce to our hunting heritage than your own children, relatives or family friends.

Hunting at the cabin 11.09.13 - 11.12.13

Hunting in the hills of SE Ohio is a definitely a different style of hunting contrasted to the relatively flat farm lands of Central Ohio. With unbroken expanses of public land forests stretching over areas larger than 100 times the local farms I normally hunt, making a mental change in how to hunt is always in order. Combing over aerial photos and topographical maps helps you key in on those likely travel corridors by looking for the areas that contain the path of least resistance across the terrain combined with possible edge habitat that will help funnel the deer movement within bow range. Putting miles on your boots, packing stands & bows up hillsides across drainages and along shelves to reach those selective areas away from other hunters is something that you have to work for.

The overall challenge of hunting the area near camp is something I always look forward to, but the camaraderie of our deer camp is hands down the biggest draw. It's a place probably very similar to other deer camps across the country. We have guys from all ages, all backgrounds, all beliefs, and all walks of life that gather together with the commonality of deer hunting binding us together. It's a place where you can pick up with an old friend at the exact spot you left off the last time you hunted together. Stories are shared, memories are made, and trophies are celebrated together. Fresh tenderloins are often prepared with cold drinks in hand while antlers are measured and admired no matter the score. Although the collective times spent together only represent a few days total out of a calendar year, somehow those days still have the biggest impact on all of us. Deer camp is truly something that is tough to describe, but damn do I look forward to it.

The first morning in the woods was spent hunting from the ground after I couldn't find a suitable tree in the dark. I didn't wander too far from camp actually, with the plan being a close morning hunt, followed by lunch, the departing off to new and distant locations bound to hold deer. The morning calm was broken up by an ambitious 8 pointer chasing around 3 does who clearly weren't smelling what he was cooking.

My afternoon was almost as uneventful as the morning. The bright side was that I did do some exploring and found what should be a great area for spring turkey hunting, but with the miles logged and not "feeling" a quality spot I ultimately hunted again from the ground. With deer sightings totaling 1, and not hanging a stand for the next morning I made my way back to camp for dinner.

Morning 2 found me in a familiar spot where we've all had some success & sighting in past seasons. It's a bottom pinch point facing the hillside that deer tend to travel down. There were a handful of scrapes and rubs in the normal areas that they show up, but this year the sign was noticeably less than in past years. Not that deer sign means squat right now, you need to be hunting the does, but it's an observation that matches with what a lot of other people are reporting this season. The deer sign is slow to pop up this season.

Heading off in the afternoon, I again sought out a new area for me to hunt in. It's one that I had marked on my maps from the past few years, but just had never explored. I liked what I saw when I hiked back into the area. I set up shop at the intersection of a creek bottom thicket, a clear cut, and an oak ridge that dumped down into the bottom. There were some good trails intersecting in the area, so I felt confident in the set up. The late afternoon offered up a show of 2 younger bucks harassing a single doe, both of them grunting with almost ever step they took. It was fun to watch, but the closest they came was to 54 yards.

View to the clear cut area to my left.

View up the ridge and down into the creek bottom to my right.

I returned to the same spot the following morning with high hopes as the morning sun started to light up the sky. It always seems like the perfect morning when your on the stand in November, but it just wasn't meant to be for this particular spot. A lone 8 point wandered through looking for some receptive ladies out there, but he wasn't in range, or of the size of deer I was looking for. Time to pack out and again look for greener pastures.

Somebody else thought this was a good spot too. 

Lunch back at camp was short & sweet since I was off to do some more exploring that afternoon. I decided to stick to my plan of moving until I find the deer along with scoping out more of the areas I've mapped out but had yet to hunt. The way I figured it, I could choose to hunt the same old stand sites and not see deer, or I could challenge myself to get out and seek new spots. When you're not seeing the deer that you want to see then you've got nothing to lose, so that afternoon I made a little drive to set up in another new spot. As always, it took some work to get in there, but at least it "felt" right. I hung my stand and got settled in.

Looking up the ridge and back to my left

Looking up the ridge and back to my right

The view directly behind my stand

But the afternoon was a bust... no deer sightings. Keeping with my optimistic ways, the bright spot was that there was snow in the forecast overnight. Hopefully that would bring a nice white blanket providing extended visibility as well as a clean canvas for me to paint red in the morning. 

Up extra early, I was off to sit in my stand for the last hunt of the trip. Responsibilities back home were waiting, so it was now or wait until gun season to kill a cabin deer. The woods were just beautiful this morning. Coated in a little over an inch of fresh snow that just seemed to lay o soft blanket on everything it came in contact with. It was just a great morning to be in the woods, and soon after legal light came in my hunch on this spot payed off as a young 8 point made his way right into my lap. I picked up my bow seeing a deer make it's way towards my perch, but as I was able to judge the deer I quickly hung it back up and picked up my cell phone to get a short video.

The woods remained calm for another hour or so until a slightly larger 8 made his way into my area. I was standing with bow in hand and was ready to send an arrow his way. It wasn't the biggest deer, but as I was sitting there after the first deer came through I made the decision to try and fill a tag no matter what. Maybe today it's time to judge the size of the hunt and not the deer. The setting was picture perfect, my time in the woods is quickly going to be limited, so what the hell. I was mentally ready and satisfied with my decision. 

The buck closed the distance and was coming behind my stand. I pulled down the fleece balaclava so I could cleanly find my anchor point, slipped the release onto the string loop, and began building tension on the string. Coming to full draw the elastic in the balaclava decided it didn't want to stay under my chin, and popped back up to my nose. Taking my thumb from my release hand I managed to pull down on the elastic while wrenching my neck upward. By now the buck was behind my stand and as I leaned around to take the shot my backpack was now in the way, causing my limb to get caught up on the shoulder strap. I let down slowly, pivoted around to my right, and see the buck standing broadside behind some brush. Looking forward there's an opening and as he steps forward I begin to draw back again only to have my arrow slip off of the string. I pin it on the shelf and let down on the string. Quickly re-nocking the arrow and looking for another opening it's too little too late. He's facing directly away and walking on. I smirked and shrugged my shoulders. I guess it just wasn't meant to be for this buck today.

I waited it out for another hour or so but nothing else showed up. In the time that passed I snapped a couple more picks and then packed out to head for home.

3 Pepper, 3 Bean, 3 Beer, Venison Chili (aka Triple Threat Chili)

2 lbs. ground venison
1 can 28oz crushed tomatoes
1 can 28oz tomatoe sauce
1 can 15oz kidney beans (drained & rinsed)
2 cans 15oz chili beans with sauce
1 can 15oz black beans (drained & rinsed)
1 to 2 green bell peppers
3 jalapenos
3 hungarian wax peppers
1 red onion
3 cloves of fresh garlic pressed
2 tbs salt
3 tbs chili powder
2 tbs black pepper (use cayenne pepper if you want to go hotter)

Brown the meat, chop up the peppers & onions how you like them (I like bigger chunks vs. finely chopped), mix in the beans & seasonings, stir all of the ingredients together, then simmer on low heat for 4 to 5 hours. Stir occasionally and add more seasonings to you tastes. I also just did this in the crockpot on low for about 6 hours earlier this week.

As it's listed above this recipe is mildly spicy, but if you like "burn your butt the next day kind of hot" you can add hotter peppers, or substitute cayenne pepper for the black pepper the recipe calls for. It's also on the thicker side for it's consistency, so if you like soupier chili add more tomato sauce or even water as it cooks. Keep in mind that the veggies will add moisture as they cook down too, so if you want it even thicker you can add corn starch.

The 3 beers comes after you get the chili cooking on a Saturday morning, you can then sit around and drink a few while you watch college football & wait for the chili to be ready. Enjoy...

Ohio Youth Waterfowl Days October 5 & 6 2013

For at least a few hunts each year, my son has been tagging along with me and my buddies since he was 3. It's a tough balance, that often times feels more unbalanced towards the selfish side, to maximize the time I get outdoors while still giving my kids a taste of what consume's their Dad's thoughts on a seemingly constant basis. This past weekend provided that unique opportunity to get my son outdoors with the state's youth hunting days for waterfowl.

I wasn't really sure that we were going to even go, its a decision that I put squarely on him. The last thing that I want to do is force hunting on either one of my kids, so when presenting the youth opportunity to him, I let him know it was his call. Even if he just wanted to go bow hunting with Dad instead, we could do that TOO. The point of this weekend was to spend some time outdoors with just he & I. Well, it didn't take him long to say he wanted to go, but then came the next step; understanding that he was going to be shooting.

So, with my good buddy John letting me borrow a youth model 20 gauge, my son & I headed to the shooting range on Saturday afternoon to get him comfortable with handling the gun. He's been around guns quite a bit, but we still spent several minutes reviewing everything about gun safety before we even loaded a shell, much less took a shot. With a stationary clay pigeon positioned on the ground at 20 yards, he handled his first shot fairly well, mainly because he wasn't familiar with recoil so there wasn't any hesitancy. The next couple shots however, I could tell he wasn't as sure of himself, so I took a couple turns letting him launch clays into the air for me before we had to head for home. Our conversations on the ride revolved around the plan for the morning, and despite my own uncertainties, he still remained committed to hunting in the morning.

The plan was to hunt with only one shell chambered while we're sitting side by side so that I could assist & talk him through everything step by step. We hunted a nearby feeding spot that is usually a good producer of early season wood ducks, plus as an added bonus it's youth friendly since I can drive the truck right up to the spot to unload. The early morning drive was filled with laughs, and I think I was now more at ease seeing Caleb's sense of excitement. As Kip Moore's "Somethin bout A Truck" was playing on the radio, my son was singing along but changing the words to "Somethin Bout A Duck." I wish I woulda recorded that. It was good stuff.

With everything unloaded, I went to go park the truck. To my surprise, Caleb wanted to wait by the decoys with Timber... in the early morning darkness. I don't know if I would've done the same at his age. So, off I went to park the truck a few hundred yards away, returning a coupleminutes later to my boy & my dog anxiously awaiting, "What can I help with Dad?" More good stuff, as he handed me decoys and told me where to place them in the pond. Next, we stashed the empty decoy bags away then picked out a big oak to set up next to.

"Dad, check out that sunrise" as he's pointing to the east at the warm, glowing, red sky.

"Yeah that's awesome isn't it? That's one of the best things about being out here. We've got about 15 minutes till legal light buddy, how bout some candy?" I said.

"Heck yeah! This is great! We better not tell Mom we're eating candy this early."... "Hey Dad? Do ducks always float in the water when you shoot 'em?"

"Yep, unless you only cripple it by shooting it's wing, then they can swim away & even dive under water on you."

"What about geese? Do they always float too?"

"Yep, but again, you've got to make sure they're dead because if not it makes for a tough retrieve."

"What if you shot a Tiger in the water, would it float too?"

"Lol... I don't know buddy, I've never shot a tiger but if you see one be ready to shoot!"

"Hey Dad? I'm gonna go pee on a tree real quick before it's time to hunt"

Sitting together back at the oak tree, it wasn't long before a small group of woodies started to slice through the morning air and splashed down in the water. "Dad, Dad, Dad!!! Ducks!!!"

With Timber starting to whimper behind us, there wasn't much we could do except watch them swimming out in the middle of the water. It was legal light, but they were out of range for any type of shot. Moments later, as if on cue, a few more birds zipped down from the heavens and  swooshed across our spread before putting their landing gear down to splash in with the other swimmers out of range. Now Timber was whimpering and trembling, I was smiling, and Caleb was wide eyed and smiling too. Before I could whisper anything, three more splashes sent ripples through the water just outside of our decoys. As Caleb slowly shouldered the gun, I reached around his back to help slide off the safety. "Take the shot whenever you think you're...." BOOM!!

"Did I git him?!"

Seeing the shot bubble the water beyond the bird, it was a clean miss. The sky was full of fleeting woodies.

"No buddy, I think you were just over top of him. Lets stay ready though because they'll be back"

We ejected the empty hull, and I it slipped into my blind bag as a future memento. We didn't end up having any more solid opportunities like that one although we did have more birds come in and buzz us, and of course we had the last group of the morning try to land on us while I was picking up decoys. Instead, we sat back and watched the wood ducks do their thing just out of range. We talked about logs sometimes looking like alligators, we ate more candy, peed on more trees, burped, farted, and threw sticks for Timber to retrieve. All in all we just had a good time outdoors being boys, and I think I might have even lit a little bit of a fire inside my son for what hunting is all about.

Here's a couple pics from the hunt...

Garden spider that my son found along the field edge

Just gotta be in the water...

Throwing sticks...

Gotta have face paint TOO...