Hunting With The Principals
I had the pleasure of Guiding 2 Assistant Principals (Ray & Steve) from North Garland High School, of Garland ISD. It turned out to be one of those days that everything just came together. The weather gave us a Blue Bird Day, with a slight wind out of the North, and within 30 minutes of sunrise, I knew that is was going to be a one of those days to remember. We had groups of mallards, from 5 - 35 in a group breaking in on us like they were on a mission. Just a little of easy, laid back work on the Duck Call and the groups of birds were banking 180 degree’s to set up in the wind for a in your face approach. With the decoys set up was within 3-4 feet of the Duck Blind and we had the Greenheads trying to land at our feet. It was something like the 3-4 groups of birds that came in, before I ever got Ray & Steve to drop a bird. With the birds just about landing in our laps, it took a few groups to get their bottom jaws out of their laps, and their eyes back in their heads. And to be honest, I was bug eyed also. Some of the most beautiful bird work I had ever seen in many years, and undoubtedly the same for Ray & Steve also.
It was evident from the start, that we were just going to be shooting 1 bird per person out of each group, the biggest, fattest, Drakes were the targets of the day. If we were to just open up and go to cut’n birds, the hunt would have been over in 20 minutes, and some of the best parts of the hunts would have been missed. In situations like this, I like to slow down the pace of the shots, so that clients can enjoy more birds working, which just adds to the memories that they take home with them. We were limited out with nothing but Big, Fat Greenheads, within a couple hours. It is just a humbling experience to see the Wildlife and Outdoors as God had built. There is just “NO” getting enough, when a day comes together like this day.
There was no doubt that the Principals had realized what kind of experienced they had just witnessed when the questions was asked: Do you have clients for tomorrow morning, to which I answered “NO” I guess I will be packing up and heading home. They looked at each other, then looked at me, and said: If we stay, will you take us again, in the morning. With a big grin on my face, I needed to say nothing more than: I’ll see you at the Boat Ramp in the morning. The next day was just a repeat of the day before, and I have the principles booked for 3 days next season. It doesn’t get more enjoyable than to see 3 grown men (2 Pricipals & Me), with smiles on their face that reminds you of children on Christmas morning. keith
November 29th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I am one of the guys Keith is talking about in last year’s hunt. I have been doing a little waterfowl hunting for 30 years and never had such wonderful hunts. We hunted with Keith for two straight days and it was the most incredible, in your face, all mallard action I have ever seen. We ended up going again right before the season was over for a couple of days and it was “full straps” again. Keith will have the birds located and knows how to get them in. He also owns, breeds, and trains great dogs. I have a total of 5 days booked with Keith for this season. I am really looking forward to sharing this with some of my friends. I told them about it last year so they can’t wait to experience it theirself.