I took my pup on his first duck hunt a few weeks ago. I wasn?t in a rush to get him out. I wanted to do it right, in a controlled situation with me being the only shooter. We had three mallards come in at first light but just out of range. Then a pair came and I had to correct Kai back to heel so they flew off. Then this single came in. I hit is pretty good with the first shot. I missed with the second. Now I had to swing around a tree for my third shoot. I told myself Lead! Lead! And folded him clean. Kai came out looking like it was something that he?s done a 1000 times before. This was his first time swimming through decoys and he immediately picked out the duck and fetched it to hand.

First hunt
First retrieve
First duck band for me

I had the exact same thing with my lab Jack some 15 years ago.
First goose hunt
First retrieve
First goose band for me





Cheers,

Mike
Barnegat Bay Waterfowlers

Sedge Island Gunning Decoys

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just great.
James Woods

Congratulations on your first hunt with your new hunting partner.

Tom

That?s just way too cool all the way around!!

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Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998

"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "

It really doesn't get any better than that. Well done to you and your dog.

hey mike congrats. that is just perfect.

Great story!!! Congrats to you both!

.........................................
Recovering Engineer, Standup Philosopher, Aspiring Pirate, Cooking Enthusiast
"Life is a garden.... Dig It!"

Mike, think of the memories made on that day. It was fantastic. Then to have Kai not only make his first retrieve but to also find out that the greenhead was wearing a band, it just can't get any better than that. Please let us know how old the mallard was and where he was banded.
Cheers!
Allan

That's awesome Mike! Congratulations to you and Kai!

Hey Al,

The mallard was only banded a few months prior about 40 miles south of me. But, and band is a band especially when it?s my pup?s first
Cheers,

Mike
Barnegat Bay Waterfowlers

Sedge Island Gunning Decoys

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson

That's great, nothing like having a good pup and both being rewarded like that. I hope his career has many more ducks and bands.



Teach someone to love something, and they will protect it. -Will Primos
Benjamin Pendleton
Northeast N.C.

WOW! That is just so cool and must have really burned into the memory banks for smiles years from now. Congrats.

Eric

I guess that it was meant to be since I didn?t shoot at the triple or double that came in. I just wish that I didn?t stop recording when he came in with the duck. We were dancing in the marsh for a few minutes afterwards when I notice the band.
Cheers,

Mike
Barnegat Bay Waterfowlers

Sedge Island Gunning Decoys

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson

You said that well, Mike. A band is a band no matter how far it flew or how old it is. You are still giving biologists material that they can use.

Just think of that port folio of pictures and stories you can accumulate over Kai's lifetime of hunting by your side in the duck blind. That would or should make any duck hunter smile.
Allan

Mike, congrats on your pup and the band. Don't you love it when a plan comes together? That took some good self-discipline to make sure conditions were "just right" for dog's first retrieve.

I see a BBSB in your profile photo. Is that what you normally hunt from? If so, who made it? I bought a 1986 Higbee a couple years ago and just this current season I am getting everything dialed-in to make it an enjoyable and efficient hunting rig. Now I need to work on my shooting skills from a reclined position. I seem to be whiffing on the same(angle/distance) shots I make easily from a full sitting or standing position.

Once again, congrats!

Dave

Good Stuff Mike, Congrats!

Nice work by both of you and congratulations on the band!

Zane

Old old pic.

I have a 14? boat built by Don Federanko. Very similar to a Roy Boat.

Cheers,

Mike
Barnegat Bay Waterfowlers

Sedge Island Gunning Decoys

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson