Well duck season is officially closed for the 2013-2014 season. For myself personally it was average or a little below as far as the duck killing part, but the experiences were way above anything I expected. So many firsts again this season for friends and hunting partners and so many memories with my own kids.
1/25/14
Buddy from work, Scott Cheek, came over for a duck hunt. Scott had never killed a duck and was wanting to give it a try. Friday evening I watched over 100 ducks leave the holes and told Scott to get ready….Ducks are here! Saturday Morning Scott arrived at the house along with Chris Watkins. We headed back to the holes for a duck swat…….or so we thought. Upon arriving to the hole the worst case was in place. Both holes were completely covered with almost an inch of ice! We broke the ice and got set. Within 5 minutes the water had refrozen and it was apparent that this was going to be a losing battle for the hunters. Ducks Won that day!
1/26/14
Scott headed back over and was joined by another friend, Jason Nichols along with Chris Watkins again. The temp had risen a good bit and we knew we wouldn’t be locked out again on this one. Scott was still after his first duck and Jason was after his first Mallard. Well, Scott managed to bag his first duck….his only duck, and Jason bagged him a mallard and an odd one at that. Scott was putting on a clinic on how to shoot at ducks and not kill many. I think he shot close to a box of shells and only managed to add one duck to the stringer! Jason added 3 or 4 but his hen mallard was the prize. We had a good time joking and rib’n each other about misses, hits, and Jason with a cat in his duck blind. I would tell what happen but y’all know the hunters code, “What happens in the blind/Camp, stays in the blind/Camp”. I will say Jason may have to get checked for cat scratch fever 
Scott with his first duck. Congratulations on the Gadwall.
Jason and his prize!
Close up of Jason’s odd Mallard Hen…
The Hunting Crew
2/1/14
Youth Weekend for myself is probably as exciting as opening day for myself. I’m as excited, if not more at times, as the kids are I think. We had been watching the hole all week. We had a cold blast lock the holes up for 2 days and I was concerned that the ducks may push out of the area. I watched Friday evening and saw good signs and knew we had the makings of a special youth duck hunt. The temps were awesome with the temps starting off in the 40′s and rising to 68. Cold and kids don’t mix well normally so that wasn’t going to be a issue on this trip. We had four youth here for the hunt. Jason Nichols brought his daughter, Madi Nichols, Paul Irby brought his son, Zachary Irby, and I had my two oldest, Tray and Columbia. Chris Watkins offered to come assist during the youth hunt so I divided my two and sent Tray with Chris and took Columbia to the hole with Madi and Zachary. Madi had never been hunting so this was her first trip. Zachary had bagged his first Mallard Drake a couple weeks ago and was back to try for another one. Columbia hasn’t hunted with me at all this year so this was our first trip for the season. All youth were shooting 20 gauges and hopes were high. Well, all youth had several ducks land in front of them. I think all 4 had ducks within 10 yards multiple times. I know Madi had ducks landing so close to her she had a few toe nail scratches on her head from the ducks dragging their feet across it coming in to land. Between the two girls they shot and shot! We’re not going to talk about the ducks that flew off and got away but I’m happy to report that Zachary got himself another Drake Mallard, Madi Nichols bagged her first duck, A Drake Gadwall, and Columbia bagged herself a Drake Gadwall also! I did see something I’ve never seen before. A Drake Gadwall landed less than 15 yards in front of Columbia. She fired over the duck first shot. Duck didn’t move….She fired over the duck the second shot….Duck bobbed and didn’t move…She fired way under the duck the second shot….Duck did like a matrix move but didn’t fly off. She handed me her gun, I reloaded it and handed it back to her. She missed the duck 3 more times!!!!!! It didn’t fly off. After reloading the gun a second time she finally put the bead on it and closed the deal. I’m not sure what was funnier, her missing a suicidal duck or her first shot of the morning when the 20 gauge kicked her back and she sat down on me. She said she forgot to brace for it. Well as normal, a picture always tells the tale better than I can.
A successful hunt on many levels.
Although this season is closed, I think in many ways it maybe just opening for some and future hunts.
Hope everyone enjoyed the winter event we had here in Central and South Mississippi this past week. I know my kids were excited to be out of school for a couple days…..as was their daddy 
Remember sharing the outdoors isn’t just hunting and fishing….it can be in snowy yards too!
Snow Ball fight!!!
Hope you shared the outdoors with someone new or young lately. If not you’re missing a great opportunity to impact someone in a way that you may never truly understand it’s positive life long effect. Don’t miss your chance to make a difference in someone’s life…..Share our passion and share our outdoors with someone new, young or old, next time you head out.