Your waterfowl Wealth Part 2

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Back in the beginning of the winter. I wrote a post about my waterfowl wealth. So many people replied back with such great answers. That it made me think again about my answer. No guns , no boats, no number of ducks really could be the answers. For me I would have to say! hunting with my older brother. Then later in life hunting with my sons. Only one of them hunt now. But he bring me so much enjoyment. I have two other friends a lot younger then me that hunt with me all the time. They do all the dirty work that I can't do anymore. Telling stories of days gone bye. Seeing the look in their eyes. When I tell them stories that I was told when I was a young man. Makes me such a wealthy man. The days of hunting with my dog Henry. Seeing him swim in water so ruff and nasty. Going into cattails and finding a bird that was dug in so deep. Never given up on any bird ever. Seeing him running down a crippled goose on a small airport runway. Jumping about eight foot in the air to catch a goose taking off. This is wealth! this kind of wealth you can take to your grave. All of us have nice equipment! but that isn't even close to the real wealth of waterfowl hunting. The people the dogs we have shared all these thing with is the real wealth. Maybe some of the stories have grown over the years. But that makes us earn even more interest. And helps build our wealth greater and greater. Thanks for reading this post.View attachment Scarletsandstuff118.JPG
 
Good morning, Anthony~

I suspect most of the members on this site fully embrace your definition of "wealth". Like many other memories of my life, I enjoy deeply the "vast storehouse of riches". Many moments can never be relived - but they can certainly be savored.

All the best,

SJS

 
Steve

Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm 58 years old an have some health problems. I really have been thinking about all the wealth that I have had in my life. Money can buy guns, boats, decoys, etc. but it can't buy you the wealth you get from your hunting partner or your dog. Its not the number of ducks and geese we shoot that matters. My Dad use to say: without someone witnessing it ! did it really happen. I think what he meant was. Its better to have shared the moment with someone. You can't change your age, But you sure can go back to the past and live those good times again. Not to say we don't have good times ahead. Thanks again for reading and getting back to me. Happy hunting[smile]
 
Steve,
Now that I am Of the age & poor health, & Cant deal with the rigors of duck hunting Any Longer . I Agree. My Memories of 60 yrs.of Dealing & Hunting. Will Always Have Wealth.Your Definition Of Waterfowl Wealth. Was Beautifully Defined.
 
Paul

I share your story. Know one can ever take from you the memories you earned as a water fowler. The stories that made you who you are. The back bone to all of us is what we have learn in the past. From people like you and the one's that came before you. I love hunting as much as the next guy. But I love the people and dogs that made those memories . The ducks and geese that I was blessed to see over the years. The ones that we have all missed. As much as the ones we bagged. There are stories for ever day. But the ones we remember are just that much more special. It doesn't matter what our stories are. Mine is different then yours. But never better nor never worse.
 
Anthony,

Thanks for this post. It got me thinking of past hunts with Dad, good friends and some amazing dogs. The memories are truly priceless.

Jim
 
"Well," the Old Man warned, "remember one thing. When you start remembering again, remember that there ain't anything in any one day any bigger than all the things that go to make up the day. This'll give you considerable comfort when you're as old as me."


Robert Ruark - "March is for Remembering" (The Old Man & the Boy collection)


 
Jim

Your very welcome, Wealth in the water fowl world is priceless. Your so right! Who would of ever thought a few decoys , a blind a dog a good friend, could make so many people happy. Sitting here just thinking of all the thinks I took for granted when I was a young man. What a fool I was.
 
Bob

Your so right! Everyday is special in its own way. Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone of us. Hunting ducks could just be heaven for each of us. Coming home to our family's is God's way of saying. It doesn't get any better then this. Thanks for your post. Its one of the better one's.
 
Steve,
Ruark 's stories were always filled with little gems of truth.

Always someone that makes for good re-reading. Have two volumes: the original Old Man and the Boy, as well as The Old Man's Boy Grows Older. The latter was rescued from a binful of books being thrown out at the library of the last high school I worked at (...along with a complete, early 50's volume of The Leatherstocking Tales). Seems no one had checked either out in decades, but I knew treasure when I saw it!! [w00t] Wauugh!
 
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Unfortunately our society has labeled success as the BMW, the luxury house, your status, and looks. I admit I was caught up in the rat race for many years trying to be the "Man". I now realize its the days spent with my kids fishing and hunting that gave me the most joy. I have taken up decoy carving so that when my hunting days are behind me I will still feel a part of it all. Non hunters do not realize what they are missing, watching song birds on slow days, seeing the marsh life living, a beautiful sunrise and the smile of your child.
 
Bob~

I, too, have both volumes. My sister just retired to Southport, NC - Ruark's early stomping grounds. I am hoping I can still catch his spirit when I get around to visiting.

SJS

 
Jeff

Your words mean a lot to all of us. Seeing fish jump in the morning or a muskrat swimming, a mother bird feeding its young. All things that us as sportsmen see everyday.When we are in the marsh or on the water.
The first time my boys saw a bald eagle up close they went wild. It was right over my duck boat in a tree about ten foot off the boat. There is so much more to us then killing birds. It is our money that makes it great for so many others. They should always remember that. Thanks
 
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