Another day in the duck marsh

[Richard Flanders]

We couldn't help ourselves. Up at 0500 yesterday and drove 4hrs to Minto village and put into the Tolovana river for some late ducks.... and there were ducks. Big mallards, the big northern birds are finally here. Every duck that came by was a big fat mallard. I have 8 here that fell to my #2 frame VH-12. Didn't even have time to pluck but two; too many birds coming over for that. We dressed for 0deg and got 40deg and roasted all day.... Back at the landing after dark and drove home under flashing northern lights for 4 hrs. What a day. At one point coming down the river I shut the motor off so we could just take in the silence, the setting sun, and the cacophony of hundreds of swans on a nearby lake. It really does not get any better than that.

Time for some serious plucking today....

Almost forgot... what's with this $50 reward band I got on a very determined mallard hen(see it barely down on the lower left of the pic I think)??? They picked a good one for it. I knocked her down but she flew off low for 150yds before setting down. I mushed over in the mud and she took off about 2ft off the mud and I took a 70yd shot at her put her down again. When I got close she fluttered off again! and I had to swat her twice to get her anchored! This was one determined duck. I approached this lady with 'guns drawn' you can bet. This is my very first ever banded duck by the way. Too cool!

Update: That hen actually has a band on both legs! Likely has something to do with the reward band?? I named her Bonnie because she has 25 holes in her and was still game to try to get away, just like Bonnie after Hamer and crew got through with she and Clyde...