Vacation that is.
(don’t quite know how to display music symbols as text)
Finished with a few Friday chores around the house it was already mid afternoon when I packed up Casey & Kaitlyn, the dekes (decoys), warm clothes, a BUNCH of kiddie ammunition (plenty of snacks & children’s reading books), and the game TROUBLE-in case I needed an aversion from the dreaded “I want to go home Dad” statement from six-year old Kaitlyn.
With the Go-Devil in tow we hit a local pond on the kids first day of Christmas vacation. This was to be Kaitlyn’s first DUK hunt with dad and I’ve been waiting for just this opportunity for quite awhile. In short order we were on the water with dekes deployed and the camo & blind setup. Kaitlyn settled down, sprawled across the gunnel and stated drawing while Casey took the bow, ever watchful (kinda), cracking peanuts and munching on just baked chocolate chip muffins. He had his 20 gauge loaded but not quite at the ready.
First duck in had wings cupped, feet set, and with the report of the shotgun, splashed down inside the decoys as the drake ringer was busted. It happened fast and the kids didn’t even see it happen. I then missed a fly-by ringer that was hustling by right on the fringe of being in range. A few minutes later a small group cruised by just out of range and three broke off and swang by for another look. Telling the kids not to move the ducks came in not quite with feet set but I was able to take a double (Casey only saw one get taken while Kaitlyn didn’t see any). At almost 50 inches it’s hard for Kaits to see over the blind. With Kaitlyn more alert and watching the sky we talked about the passing sandhill cranes and watched ducks flying around off in the distance.
Ten minutes later a pair of ringers were headed towards us and I was fortunate enough to take another double. This time Kaitlyn saw the second duck get taken but not the first (I told her to freeze-she’s learning to move her head slowing to see things). We practiced keeping track of the downed ducks (counting and remembering their location) and talked about how that pair had worked the dekes. With five ducks down I tried one more time to get eight-year old Casey to take the next one but he’s still a bit intimidated by the recoil of his 20 gauge shooting 3 inch shells (he won’t admit it). It seems he’s eager to hit the water content with just setting out the dekes, hanging out, and waiting for his chance to retrieve the dekes and any ducks we are fortunate to take.
A few minutes later a couple of other ducks came in, which I missed, but the next duck was a classic as we all watched it from a long ways off come towards the spread. We stayed motionless as it flew by just a bit off the decoys as it passed by. We continued watching it as it circled and came from the opposite direction for a closer inspection, coming left to right. Right over the dekes I took a shot and the 6th and final duck splashed in. What a classic way to end the hunt. Forty-five minutes and the hunting part was finished.
Then the fun began as the kids took turns picking up our ducks. On the third duck I chose not to tell the kids about the small gator eyeing the duck, as I didn’t want to end Kaitlyn’s desire to get her hands wet picking up ducks. With a swirl a few feet from the duck the gator left and the kids didn’t even know it was there. They finished picking up the ducks, quickly checking for any bands, and then began taking turns picking up dekes and wrapping them up.
Kait’s first duck hunt. What a great hunt!
On the way back the kids got a quick lesson on driving the powerful 25 hp Go-Devil and each took a turn. At the ramp the kids played in a big pile of leaves and rolling down the leaf littered bank as I loaded the boat. On the way back we celebrated with our tradition post-hunt celebration of cold rootbeers and summer sausage.
Casey with his hands full
Six year old Kaitlyn on the stick (that’s her determined look….)
It was an outstanding first duck hunt for Kaitlyn and it was one of my best too! That’s how to start your Christmas vacation in my opinion. Nobody got into TROUBLE either.
HooYah!!
Brian
_______________
