anthony m coons sr
Well-known member
Can or do you remember the first time you hunted ducks? I can! My first duck hunt, I was fourteen years old. Back then in New York State you had to be fourteen to small game hunt. My friends fathers and brothers were life long duck hunters. They took a liken to me when I was young. I always asked them about ducks an hunting ducks. When I hit fourteen in August that year. I couldn't wait to ask them to take me. October came around and they took me on opening day. We went to a near by swamp that they hunted for many years. Remember this is back in the early 70's. I was so pumped and afraid at the same time. I never went before and I didn't want to let my friends father down. As early morning came, the sites and sound of what I later learned to love started. I'm talking about hundreds of teal and woodies and mallards, and geese this swamp had it all. They put me in a blind with a my friends father he was a duck men from way back. He told me to load my gun. I had my dads side by side sixteen gauge spring field.( I love that gun, still have it today.) A few minutes before shooting hours some jack wagon took the first shot on the far end of the swamp. My friends father told me the first shot is yours. The sky got black with teal and woodies from that first shot on the other end of the swamp. Here they come he told me. I raised that double barrel and just pulled both triggers. My partner had a pump and he knew what he was doing. Two birds fell for him and yes I got a bird that I never even seen. I think I closed my eyes from both barrels going off. And almost put me in the swamp on my butt. Duck after duck after duck came and dropped in that swamp. Not for me of course. I got just the one that day. But I was hooked for life. I was wet swamp smelly , dirty and I loved it. I'll always be thankful to those men who took me. Most of them are gone now. But I'll never forget what they did for me. I have taken my share of people over the years duck hunting. Most all of them got hooked. And still hunt to this day. They don't have to be just kids. I learned along time ago. That there are people that want to hunt ducks. But never had a chance to learn how. We have the boats , decoys , guns, and most of all the know how. We are a rare breed, View attachment IMAG0560.jpg