Worth Every Penny (11/30/10 Duck Hunt)

The forecast called for light snow, turning to freezing rain.  This, I hoped, would get the ducks moving so I could get a quick hunt in before heading off to work.  The weather man was right.  After my decoys were in place, I sat still for about an hour just downriver from one of the spots that Eric and I hunt so much.  The river was way down this morning and ice was still clinging to the shoreline.  It was not, however, nearly as icy as the last time I was on this side of the river.  As I sat still, the light snow fell all over me.  By the time shooting time arrived, my gun had about 1/2" of snow on the stock.  At 6:55, I starting scanning the skies for ducks.  I watched until 7:10 when a pair of gadwalls circled my decoys.  I was a little surprised that they gave my spread a second glance because of the way I had to set it up.  Because of the ice and low water level, I had to set the decoys right where the water turned to ice which still put the farthest decoys about 45 yards out.  The gadwalls circled lower.  I let them pass overhead one more time and gave them some soft quacks.  They kept coming.  Finally, they cupped their wings and committed to landing.  Just before touch down, I fired a shot and scored the drake.  He fell stone dead in the water.  I touched off a shot at the escaping hen.  No luck, she was too far away. 

That was it.  That was the morning rush of birds.  Not quite what I had in mind, but not every day can be a limit. 

In those hours that I sat and waited, I was first covered in snow.  As the morning wore on, the snow turned to sleet and ice.  Shortly before I picked up to leave, I realized something that will stick with me forever; DON'T SKIMP ON DUCK HUNTING GEAR!  Here is why.  As I pushed the hood back on my hunting sweatshirt, it moved as one solid piece of ice.  Without me realizing it, all of the snow and ice had accumulated on my hood and shoulders and frozen itself solid while I remained warm and toasty, with the exception of my hands.  I bought that sweatshirt this fall because it was supposed to be waterproof and keep me warm.  It did that and more.  I would not pay over $100 for a sweatshirt on most days, but this one was worth every penny!