Ducks with Destry

[Richard Flanders]

Well, it was a very slow weekend in Mitchells Bay but we had a grand time nonetheless. A dry field goose hunt was nearly a bust with only 3 taken from the two groups that happened to fly over us; had we shot better it would be a different story, of course. We didn't have enough shooting to 'get in tune' with our parkers I'd say. Lake hunting was slow also but it's always a thrill to see the seemingly endless rafts of lake ducks rise up in clouds; the trip is worth it just for that. Shown below is Destry and a friend Randy Eisenhower who was there alone and nice enough to take us out twice putting out decoys yesterday afternoon and Destry holding a headless bufflehead who landed in the decoys and made the grave and ultimately foolish mistake of demonstrating a clear 'intent to fly'.... 6-8 expensive shots later he was proudly brought to the boat and is now in my brothers freezer in a ziploc with a similar companion harvested in a similar manner awaiting a certain cremation in my sisters oven. A good time was had by all..... Destry shot his hammerless 10ga for the geese and his gorgeous 34" #3-frame 12ga D-grade for ducks; I shot my 32" 1883 0-grade 12ga hammer gun for it all.....I should add that Destry has proudly lost 60# and is looking relatively svelte I must say. Let's all wish him luck with this continuing project. He would have a chicken Caesar salad for lunch while I would have a greasy cheesy burger; had to be tough on him....Now it's time for some pheasants....