Drakes galore

[Chris Pope]

Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the morning with some woodies! You know a young duck dog might make it easier to get up early and save the trip back to get that fine looking duck retrieving boat. But I also know that getting up at 3 or 4 is a bit tougher now than earlier in life!
I remember an evening I was hunting ducks along the Contoocook River in NH when I was in my late 20's. I parked myself under an old oak tree that was dropping acorns into the shallow water of the bank I sat on with my lab. I did not have great visibility up or down stream and couldn't believe that as these woodies came screaming in they could literally set on the water 20' from me before I could even get my gun up. And the ones I did see in time to take an incoming shot rarely had a feather touched! My lab, Calvin, sat there looking at me after several misses. We did finally get a couple ducks which he greatfully retrieved but it was a humbling experience to say the least. Love wood ducks!
Thanks for sending along the details. Makes me want to go duck hunting.