A Fitting End

[BilletHead]

Ever seen a grown man cry? My friend had one more morning to hunt and then head home. After a couple good hunts he needed one goose to take home and I lacked one duck for my possesion limit for the season. We had seen bookoos ducks bombing this pond where geese were roosted yesterday. This was the destination for the morning. We did not take any goose decoys for this hunt. Got set up and layed back for the morning. Right off three mallards set down. Two drakes and a hen. We said shall we shoot? Then two canadas pitched in and I said Brad there is your goose and he whacked one, ducks flew off. Then, no ducks but geese buzzing us looking for friends. Don't need more geese but ducks. Three more ducks circled and left. Later it got. Nine and Brad says let's give it to ten? Ok then more ducks circling. He calls, they leave. I am ready to call it and we pick up. Yesterday 18 and North wind. Today 35 when we start with a stout south wind. In the 50's when we quit with a stronger wind. weather change mess up the duck flight? Hummmmm? We drive back to the house and I say let's check a pond or two so I can maybe jump my last duck. Not the way I want to finish but to finish out might as well. We see a few ducks and many, many geese but no ducks to sneak on. Got home and cleaned the goose, ate some lunch and loaded up Brad and said our good by's. We had a great time, good food and visit. Got pretty quiet here and Pat asked what's a matter. I said you want to go for a ride? Why she says? Let's run the ponds again. Sure I'm game and we load back up my gun. Checked four ponds, more geese but no ducks. I said one more, allright, Ok. Last place, Bird Watcher has seen me there decoying before. Long pond, very windy, white capping. I peek over and see one duck in the middle, dead center way off. I go back to the truck and get the binoculars, look again. I cannot beleve what I am seeing. A canvasback?

I go back to the truck. Get back and tell Pat you got to see this. She looks, says Wow. Now I have only seen three flying before in My 37 years in Missouri where I live and now to see one here. Big water only I thought. What is the plan she says? Uh why don't you walk way around and see if it will fly off or head this way. I load up and sit in the grass and Pat makes a long walk. When she appears the can perks up and swims to the far side and starts getting antsy. I wave her back and as she gets far away the bird starts diving and feeding. I start a long walk to the nearst cover each time he dives I move. This went on for ten minites. Pat says pretty funny as I don't sneak or walk too well sometimes. I get what I think is pretty close and then go to my hands and knees in the weeds. Go further and cannot see him, then to my belly. You think I walk funny you should see me crawl! I peer to where I think he is. No see but i can see Pat still looking in the water. I get up a bit, CRAP! You know that Aflac commerical. I think we both had that look. By the time i got the gun up he was on the run and I shot. He went down. I cannot beleve it. Give out a war hoop as he went belly up. Got back to Pat a little shook up. Going to be a long wait until he gets to the dam. then she says he's gone. I grab the looking glass as she says I see him, I don't, I see him, I don't. Messing with me she was as it had went up and down with the waves in and out of sight. Finally got him in my hands and did my thanks. Beautiful bird. I can get a bit emotional at times and did get teary eyed from this. Witnessed by my loving wife. What a fine way to end this season.

Marty

For got to say #2s and I only hit it once in the neck.

[duckydoty]

Beautiful bird Marty. Congratulations!

[JohnP]

Congrats on a beautiful bird.

[Micheal Kyle]

Awesome!!!

[Clayton Bass]

Only year I've seen any canvasbacks was the year the season on them was closed. Saw two bunches that year, one up by the powerplant in Jasper county and the other down by my family land. I would mount that sucker in a heartbeat. Good story to go with it.

[Feathers and Fins]

mount it marty thats a beauty no quetion or doubt

[BilletHead]

I plan on doing that as I find out how much it might cost. I need to know the place to take it. So all of you please give me your all's input please. He is now layed neatly in a double plastic bagm in the deep freeze. Considering the places I hunt I may never see another one ever. I am still stoked about it.

Thanks friends for the congrads,

Marty

[Feathers and Fins]

http://birdmanstudios.com/ as perfect looking as it is only one person i would have do it

[Bird Watcher]

Really nice bird Marty. Congratulations. A lot of guys hunt a long time and never get one that nice.

[bigredbirdfan]

Congratulations. We shot a pair a week ago.