Duck Hunt (Journal)


Billy Petersen
Professor Williams
12/4/19
Duck Hunt

              The first week of November is always an exciting time for my friends and I. Colder weather brings the migration of ducks across the country. The weather forecast called for cold weather and steady winds, so my friend and I decided to head out at 4:00am one morning in hopes to see some ducks.
              We started our adventure early in the morning sipping hot coffee and telling some of our favorite hunting stories. The hour and a half drive passed quickly as we were both excited for our first hunt of the season. We parked our car on a gravel road alongside the Brazos river. Unexpectedly, the sky was lit up by a full moon and shooting stars sparkled across the sky. I got out of the car and was immediately hit by the below freezing temperatures. Every breath I took you could see a cloud of air from the frigid temperatures. Once I had on my waders, jacket, and gloves we headed off to our spot.

              Wearing headlights, we trekked down the steep river bank, waded across the river, and finally came to our destination. With only thirty minutes until sunlight, we quickly set up our decoys and hid in the brush surrounding the river. I was cold and full of excitement anticipating our first line of ducks to fly by. Within seconds of legal shooting time, we could see a line of ducks coming upstream from the south. I scrambled to get ready for the ducks to come in. The ducks circled our decoys numerous times attracted to my friend calling and eventually came in. They set their wings and pitched downward flying fearlessly toward the water.

              I don’t remember taking the shots; I remember the unspeakable delight when the birds hit the water for the first time of the season. There is a deep sense of accomplishment going somewhere for the first time and calling in a group of ducks. Duck hunting is a culmination of art, skill, and science that only some people will understand.

              Although we didn’t see any more ducks flying that morning, we felt accomplished and headed back home with a meal for the night. Although some people don’t understand why people hunt, it is a great way to build relationships with family and friend. Being out in nature brings a sense of the unknown and makes you respect our environment. At the end of the day, whether you have a successful hunt or not, you create memories that last a lifetime.

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