The winter storm came just like they said it would. But I had just put on my studded snow tires on my Subaru and knew that if I could make it to my blind there would be fresh ducks and few if any other hunters. My alarm was set for 3:30 but I was awake by 3:15, so I eased out of the house and hit the road. There was some black ice, but for the most part the roads were in good shape. In fact as I neared the lake the snow fall was considerable less than at my home.
It was a long drive, but at a little after shooting time, I had three dozen decoys and 3 robo ducks out. And the birds were in the air. By 10:00 I had a limit of ducks including teal, scoup, gadwall and widgeons. So I started breaking things down. I had the robos laying on the bags of decoys on the beach and was walking to fetch the car when I saw a line of geese heading my way. I thought there would be no way they would stay on course a swing by me with gear laying all over and a black lab running up and down the edge of the water. But stay the course they did as I ran back to my unloaded gun laying on the sand. I just had time to throw in two shells and fire at the nearest bird. I broke his wing and Bart started swimming after him. Dog caught bird about a half mile out and had to dive under the water to seal the deal. It was a long swim back for a dog nursing a partially torn ACL in his back right leg. But what a retriever. Maybe the best ever. Anyway here are some pics:
It was a long drive, but at a little after shooting time, I had three dozen decoys and 3 robo ducks out. And the birds were in the air. By 10:00 I had a limit of ducks including teal, scoup, gadwall and widgeons. So I started breaking things down. I had the robos laying on the bags of decoys on the beach and was walking to fetch the car when I saw a line of geese heading my way. I thought there would be no way they would stay on course a swing by me with gear laying all over and a black lab running up and down the edge of the water. But stay the course they did as I ran back to my unloaded gun laying on the sand. I just had time to throw in two shells and fire at the nearest bird. I broke his wing and Bart started swimming after him. Dog caught bird about a half mile out and had to dive under the water to seal the deal. It was a long swim back for a dog nursing a partially torn ACL in his back right leg. But what a retriever. Maybe the best ever. Anyway here are some pics:
