It’s all good

Published 8:26 am Wednesday, December 23, 2015

“Feet hitting the water” is what @thefowlhunter (IG) is trying to get done every time he rolls out.

His consistent drive to be better today than yesterday and attain great results fooling ducks to land in a decoy spread are indeed admirable, however, often quite frustrating for me. Josh enjoys the passing shot probably more than any other outdoor experience and Blake, well Blake is just going to get them as quickly as you can give the word.

I don’t always have the patience and more times than not, I am going to call or take the second good shot I see when working ducks, the first one if that green top is trying to sneak in or slide by.

So how many times have you guys had to listen to this while shooting wings: “Why did you take that shot? He was going to suck right in on the next turn!”

Or said something like: “Why didn’t you take that shot?”

While I’ve met many experienced hunters who are quite capable at evaluating these scenarios, you never really know, and while my group typically feels good about our results, like anyone else, I’m sure we let more ducks out than we should.

How great is that moment when the sun and wind are just right, the spread is moving just enough to appear to be the most happening place for a duck to be on the water and they just absolutely work. They fall right in just the way you imagined when you planned it all out. Preparation meeting opportunity, according to @thefowlhunter. I call it luck.

That exact moment that we all want to see, regardless of our level of performance or personality, brings up my point for this blog. The feet have hit the water, now what?

There was a good story written by Richard Simms on the DU web site (http://www.ducks.org/tennessee/when-to-shoot-sitting-ducks) on this topic. Many hunters I know were raised similar to me, enjoying the challenge of the hunt, which dictated NOT shooting ducks on the water.

I agree with Simms when he says we typically shoot deer, hog or squirrels when they stop moving, not while they are on the move.

The game obviously changes, the challenge improved in terms of shooting if they are on the move, but so does the opportunity for wounded animals and loss of a potential meal or trophy.

What about the guy who works every day to sit them on the water, isn’t that the toughest challenge in itself?

@thefowlhunter is usually good, bagged or not, for those ducks that hit the water; everything hit a lick, feet down, gotcha, I’m happy. Destination reached.

Isn’t that the why we all seek? You want to shoot something moving, I say go shoot skeet. When my guy sits those ducks on the water, I can promise you I am going to do everything I can to make sure all the work that went in to getting them there and the meal that is being provided at that desired moment doesn’t get wasted.

So whether you like your gifts sitting under the tree or flying by this Christmas is entirely up to you but I hope it’s an enjoyable, memorable season for you and your family.

Merry Christmas and happy hunting!

Be sure to share your thoughts on this topic below in the comments, or by reaching out to me on Instagram @dr_duck, FaceBook DR DUCK or on Twitter @dennisloosier (DR_DUCK).