Portrait of a duck hunter

[Anatidae]

This was taken on the 1/2-mile walk back to the boat.

[go24]

Sounds like my kind of trip. Was that over the weekend?

[GordonGekko]

wow, that really captures the moment...nice shot.... would it bother you if I tweaked the contrast/levels a bit in photoshop?

[Anatidae]

Go24 - That was last weekend.

Gordon - I don't mind at all - I should have done that, myself. Thanks. I saw that shot and dug my camera out of my bag and took the photo as Anne and I were walking-out. She never knew I took it.......she just plowed straight ahead. The only thing I heard from her the whole way out was..."I'm glad we spotted those birds breaking-down over that hole, yesterday - too bad Fred couldn't hunt today. Maybe they'll be back in there, next weekend."

[missed mallards]

What do you carry?

Nice pic

[GordonGekko]

just a little 5-minute adjustment, contrast levels and curves...I didn't change much, but tried to get a little more "pop" to the photo...



that shot really says so much to me...a story of character, drive and heard earned rewards, but also a reminder that even afterwards the work is not done.....

[GulfCoast]

Where is Sprig????

[Gant]

That is what duck hunting is all about. I am only 33 years old, but I have been going with my dad since I was 4, and those type of hunts are the ones that I really remember the most. I would much rather walk through woods looking for a small pot hole carrying 12 decoys than riding a 4 wheeler up to a blind where the decoys have been put out for you and your feet rarely hit the mud and water. Thanks for a great picture that captures what true duck hunting is all about.

[Anatidae]

Where is Sprig????

Not far..........

What do you carry?

Ha Ha.....that's funny, Tom - Anne got a chuckle outa that one. But the answer is - I had a few more decoys, but two-less duck than she did. She got 6 - I got 4.

Gordon / Gant - thanks for the comments. It spoke to me, too. That's why I went digging for the camera without breaking a stride - or without letting her know I was going to take a picture. She's just glad to be out there.

Good work on the clean-up, Gordon - Thanks.

[Trip]

Great post, today we walked into a hole and it was 0.98 miles by GPS. We got on some ducks so it was well worth it.

Glad to see someone else footing it in.

[GordonGekko]

Anatidae, if you want feel free to e-mail the full-size photo and I'll clean it up a little.

[hbrown]

Glad I'm not the only one who isn't afraid to do a little walkin. Last season had a mile walk to a hole, but man it was worth it. Walked about 800 yards through waist high water and shin deep mud yesterday for a limit of greenheads. Keeps the ole dunlap from setting in.

[gamehog]

So, of the two wader bags and her favorite decoy bag that hits just right in the back of the legs, how much of that stuff did you really use? I mean, you didn't make her haul all that gear for nothing did you?

[Anatidae]

So, of the two wader bags and her favorite decoy bag that hits just right in the back of the legs, how much of that stuff did you really use? I mean, you didn't make her haul all that gear for nothing did you?

We both took waders (in wader bags) and decoys. I guess she had a dozen woodie decoys and I had the gadwalls.

We did NOT use the waders, and only used 2 gadwall decoys. So, we didn't need all that gear after-all.........I hate I put myself through all that. I don't feel so bad for her - she'd do it again in a heartbeat, if she thought it would get ducks in our face. But it was good conditioning for an eventual slog in the mud. It's also nice to know my hunting partner can carry her share of whatever equipment we AGREE to take on a particular outing. I just wish she wouldn't walk right behind me in the dark, and catch all the limbs I let slap back.

[jkb87]

Where is Sprig????

sprig still wearing her eye glasses?