Whether you are a seasoned waterfowler or a novice wann-a-be - there is always something to be learned by anothers knowlege and opinion.
WARNING: READING FURTHER MAY CAUSE YOU TO CEASE OTHER OUTDOOR PURSUITS .


Many of us, that once bitten by the waterfowl bug are lost forever to its allure. Many have said, "I used to deer hunt" or "I used to bear hunt" that now say "I can't wait for bird season" There are a few hybrids out there, that just have to do it all, but as in most things in life, it takes focus and an amount of dedication to be truly successfull. I make my opinion known, not out of ambivilance for other outdoor pursuits but to tell you to do, what ever your heart so desires. In other words, What ever floats yer boat!! The one common denominator in all of this is, that no matter what your interests afield are, that every day has its story.It might be a sunrise, over the ol'duck pond, or a glimpse of the biggest buck you've ever seen. I often see wildlife that causes me to research the what, where and why of my observation. One day I was pheasant hunting when I witnessed a hawk almost in a perfect hover over a piece of field. Truly a spectactcular moment to see such raw pretatory power in seeming suspension. When I arrived home,I discovered it was a Harrier hawk on it's migratory route. Hovers low over fields in search of prey. Folks this is just one such example of the nature/hunt experience. You truly do have to stop to smell the roses.

This article is intended to help describe for you the motivation behind what makes a person want to be called a waterfowl hunter in the first place. Since time began Man as a species has been dependent on at least a modicum of social interaction. His mortality depended on the ability to co-exist in the security of others. Waterfowling can be as social or solitary as you want to be comfortable with. Sharing tall tales in the relative seculsion of a blind, waiting for birds that may or maynot ever appear, keenly aware at all times of the environment around.You can sit and wonder,are the decoys positioned correctly for your situation? What way is the all important wind direction? Have you done your pre-season scouting to determine your best chance of connecting? Have you secured the proper permissions to even be in the field? Has your dog training (if applicable) been up to scratch to ensure cripples are retrieved? These are just some of the considerations of a waterfowl hunt.

Lets begin with the day of your first exposure to waterfowl hunting. Will it be, or was it a tag along hunt or did you see some Saturday morning TV show with some good ol'boys goin down to the swamp? It really doesn't matter because what you are witnessing is a puritanical sport for which the outcome is not always a forgone conclusion. You are hunkered down so as to show as little as possible to the sky. You are blowing into your call, thinking " am i making sweet music" or am I screaming "get outta town boys, lead (steel) is about to fly" You wait , You watch, You call, maybe if you have done everything your supposed to, and maybe if the the waterfowl deem you are worth a look over, maybe just maybe they'll cup and drop.You stand up and expend your maximum 3 shots, blam,blam,blam. Hey nothin fell, my ammo must be defective!!! Yes folks there are some hunters who have blamed everything else but themselves for their lack of success. Ten minutes, twenty minutes, even hours may pass without you seeing a bird, then suddenly patience pays off. Birds are inbound, you dazzle them with your routine and low and behold they are committed to landing in the sweet spot. Blam,Blam,Blam suddenly that defective ammo takes three for three. Your efforts pay dividends and you have been taught a wealth of sporting and natural knowledge. What is the species you wanted to harvest? What was it they were looking to feed on? Where do you think they came from? What would you do to improve yourself next time around? That your success is never guarenteed. If you think that every time you go afield that bagged game is the requisite measure of success, you are in for one heck of a disappointment.

The breed of hunter known as a waterfowler knows the value of what many would define as mere a pothole. That it is an indicator for the environment as a whole in which he lives. That pothole may produce 6-8 geese per year , every year ,thereby ensuring he will have birds to hunt for years to come .

In conclusion, short of actually taking some one on a hunt I can only say," if you have never tried waterfowl hunting then a new page needs to be writtin in yer huntin journal"


Quote of the day: No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversations as a dog does.