2004-2005

The weather, the weather, it's always the damn weather.  Again in late 2004 and early 2005 - when mallards should have been the most plentiful - the weather would not cooperate and remained frustratingly above freezing.  With all the small water open, the mallards had all of WV to hang out in.  This made trying to figure out where they were going to be difficult.  That is, until the last day of the season.  The temperature got bitter cold, the snow fell, and mallards were flying.  The season ended with only 4 (3 drakes) mallards, but each had a story to tell.

10.07.04

The Rooster with two mallards and a wood duck taken early in the first season.  We saw more loafing mallards than flying ones and with good tactics were able to put a couple in the game bag.

12.03.04

The King geared up and camouflaged, keeping an eye on the sky.  

12.28.04

The K&R with a nice drake mallard.  We got this one on a stalk and shoot off a mid-size creek.  The high water kept the mallards spread out and we saw none over the spread.  As usual we went looking and found a loafing mallard.  With one pushing, and one shooting, we got the job done.

1.22.05

A drake mallard and a Shoveler taken from a new honey-hole.  The weather finally turned cold and the birds were flying - and we were shooting.  Notice the size difference between the shoveler and mallard.

1.22.05

What happens after the birds are in the bag?  The meat heads to the freezer.

2005-2006

The weather, the weather, it's always the damn weather.  Sound familiar?  Well, again the weather did not cooperate with WV duck hunters.  Freezing December temperatures froze the mountain marshes in the early highland second season locking the mallards in bigger water.  By the time the lowland second season opened the weather had warmed to produce a top-ten temperature January.  With the spring-like weather, the mallards stayed on open water up north.  That reality, however, did not stop us from getting in the field.  With some work and some luck, we managed to take 2 mallards (both hens, but beggars...) that made their way south.

11.26.06

The King with a mallard shot after flushed out of tall grass on the edge of a marsh.  Due to icy conditions, it was the only duck seen in a long day of hunting.

1.20.06

An incredible 65 degree January day ends in a spring-like sunset. 

1.20.06

The K&R with a hen mallard on the warm winter day pictured above.  We used our experience to set up our dekes perfectly and were able to grab a mallard from a pair that flew over at dusk.  A large group of geese also came over just as darkness descended on the swamp.

2007-2008

The Lost Year

Some philosophers define pleasure as the absence of pain, others pain as the absence of pleasure.  I define a long year as the absence of nature, the absence of camaraderie, the absence of the dance of birds at twilight.  Such was the year of September 2007 to August 2008.  Through the exigencies of maturity, the K&R did not hit the field but three - yes only three - times in that year.  The Rooster's experience during this year can be read about on his blog.  This is not unforgivable; you do what you have to do.  The question now becomes: Is it possible to balance the responsibilities of modernity and family with a life of adventure in the field?  Or has The Lost Year irrevocably broken The Will to fight for the bubbles of primal freedom that are represented by hunting and fishing?  Is it too hard?  Is it easier to mow the yard, or watch the game, or any other domestic activity?  Do we still want to tramp around a swamp looking for that group of wood ducks?  Is it still worth reconning all day to have a chance at one grouse?  Do we still want it bad enough?  We will see.  

10.01.07

Staring at a long winter.

2008-2009

It will never be 1999 again, and that is OK.  Times change, priorities change, opportunities contract.  So it is time to embrace every one of those opportunities and savor each moment afield.  And in those terms 2008-2009 waterfowl hunting was a success.  We ended up getting out 3 times but again getting shutout of mallards.

10.10.08

The King says it all with his look.  Where are the birds?

12.12.08

Looking out over the swamp during a heavy snowstorm.  Nice. 

12.12.08

Perfect duck hunting weather but only a few geese were seen on this trip. 

1.17.09

Coldest temps ever experienced afield: -4 degrees.  We had a blast but only saw a few mallards far away.

2009-2010

10.09.10

The K&R heading out on a perfect duck day.

10.09.10

The King putting out the dekes. 

10.09.10

The Rooster with a beautiful drake. 

10.09.10

Nice shot of the drake and the Berretta that brought him down.