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Date:1/12/2008 - 1/12/2008

New Duck Hunters and their first Duck! This past November I was excited to have some first time hunters. Hunters that had not taken their first duck or never been duck hunting before.

My first planned hunt was the youth season, but unfortunately I had a duck blind brushing accident and found my self not able to play host. But instead we postponed it for a Thanksgiving Day morning hunt. I had the pleasure to hunt with Steve Coffell (fellow Pro Staffer) and his 10 year old son Colton. While this was not Colton’s first hunt it was a very special hunt for both him and his dad.

Colton took his first duck while his dad (the birthday boy) looked on as the duck fell out of the sky 10 yards in front of him. The look on Colton’s face and the smile from ear to ear on Steve’s face displayed how excited they both were. I actually found myself re-living my first duck taken and got the shakes. It was a great morning with the afternoon hunt to continue with more success for Colton, more details later in this article.

On December 1, I had the pleasure in taking Greg and Brad hunting. A father and son duo, that won this hunt during a local charity auction. Although Brad had experienced duck hunting a few times, this was his dad’s first hunt. It was great to see the excitement in their eyes. As usual we were in the blind about 10 minutes early and the duck show began with the usual 10’s of thousands of birds flying over. It was still dark, but I could see do to their wide white eye’s as big as a kid’s on Christmas morning. It was time to load up. Greg was so excited he loaded up and forgot to chamber a round – only to find out on his first opportunity at a wood duck flying into the decoys and landing.

The morning after the Woody flew off was slow with not much potential to take his first bird. It was exciting to listen to the son every time a bird came into site (it might have been a mile away). His voice sounded like it was going to land in the decoys that second. The afternoon presented the father with multiple opportunities and his first recorded kill came with a double on a group of Blue Bills flying over the blind. My ears went deaf from the screams the father and son let out for about 5 minutes. Again, I found myself reflecting back to my football days and hearing the crowd go wild as we scored to win the title game. After the ceremony was over the duck experience continued. Both took their limits of ducks and the day was one the father stated he would never forget and this experience was his favorite hunting adventure in his 66 year life.

On the 8^th of December, I made a new friend when Dan actually came out to shoot a doe, during the special doe season. The morning presented about 9 does, but I felt we could take a larger, more mature doe that afternoon. We left the blind to warm up. As we were walking out the neighbor duck club was firing as if we were at home watching a WWII movie on TV. I told Dan to bring his duck stuff in the event we took a doe early in the day. Well after lunch and watching the birds pile into the duck fields, Dan asked if we could spend a few hours in the duck blind. 

Dan is new to duck hunting, and had taken his first duck before coming out, but had not been on a good duck hunt that presented opportunities with bids landing feet down in the decoys. The shoot began 5 minutes after getting into the blind with 3 birds down between the two of us. We stuck around for about another hour and we had 7 ducks in the bag and decided we would try the luck at a doe that evening. Dan changed back into his deer gear and we headed back out to the deer stand. We ended the day getting to know each other and a shot on a real nice doe. It was the first time in my life I had split a day of deer hunting and duck hunting and to add to it success on all fronts.  

I would like to continue the story regarding Colton. The 15^th of December saw him and his father returning for an afternoon hunt. It was not long after getting into the blind we saw two birds drop and again experiencing a first – Colton dropped his first Drake. Colton held on to this duck like it was his new pet. I also must say the first word before we even got settled in the blind was if I minded if he called along with me. I am a firm believer that the duck blind is not the place to practice your duck calling, but I throw that rule out the window when it comes to a kid that is eager to learn.

After we took a few birds and the day was wrapping up I told Colton he was on his own in calling the ducks. I helped him by telling him when to hit hard, to soften, and to lay off. I think he became a duck hunting addict during that time. Although it was after shooting time – he had a Drake come right into the decoys with feet down. I was confident it was going to land, but when I looked over and saw Colton’s eye’s bugging out of his head and the glare off his white teeth from smiling so hard I knew the bird had busted him! I later ran into him at a local sporting goods store and witness his passion growing as he was spending some of his Christmas money on a new goose call. This 10 year old made my season. I look forward to getting him back out on a good snow goose hunt. I can not wait to see his reaction when the snows fall out of the sky like rain.

The season still had 5 days left and we had yet another new duck hunter to experience his first duck taken. Scott a new found duck hunter got involved with Delta Waterfowl, never shooting at a duck. His passion to want to help wildlife and keep funds in the Metro St. Louis area is what attracted him to join Delta and become a local supporter. With his support and eagerness to jump in and aid The St. Louis Chapter I wanted to introduce him to duck hunting.

Now this story is going to sound made up, but I assure you it all happened as I state it. Scott shows up to the club house. He tells me his buddy has his 12 gauge and he brought his 410. We went up stairs to lend him a pair of waders and to introduce him to several members. I need to say at this point I have not seen a lick of camo, but a white and black flannel shirt, assumed he had a camo coat. As we went down to examine his 410 and shot gun loads – I noticed he had number 6 shot upland lead loads. You might be asking at this point if he had his license and stamps – that he did as I directed him were to go and what to pickup.

I decided at this point he would be shooting my gun and I told him we would be heading out in about a minute or two. I had to get the Mojo ducks out and sign in on my blind. As I walked out of the trailer – there stood Scott with green waders, white and black flannel shirt, and bright yellow shooting glasses and to top it off, a florescent orange stocking cap. We were ready to climb into the deer stand!

Scott was a good sport and we made light of it. Oh, yeah, we did duck hunt after I supplied him some camo. The duck hunting turned out to be a banner day. Cold, snow, and lots of working birds. Scott took his first duck, a beautiful Drake, about an hour into the day. But that would not be the only duck he killed that day. It took him a while to learn my gun and get the proper lead, but the opportunities to shoot at live targets presented themselves all day long. Scott picked a great day to learn duck hunting and ended up taking his limit home to brag to his family.

At times I thought Scott was passed out, he was so excited he froze in place and stood there shaking. This hunting experience will be one I repeat for years, I look forward to a good laugh with Scott as we embark on another duck hunt together in the future and rehash his first hunt.

I cherish the memories of every duck hunt I am blessed with. Although, the hunts I experience with new hunters or the hunts I see a child become a duck hunter always seem to linger with me from year to year. All to often, we are to proud to brag on our kill, but I thought I would share my story of those that experienced their firsts this year in lieu of my personal success in the blind.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and I encourage you to remember that neighbor, student, relative, or friend’s kid at work next time you plan your hunting adventure. Sharing what you know with a new hunter will not only reward you, but it will at times humor you and make long lasting memories.

Take a kid hunting today.

This is brought to you by Scott Wilson, owner of MidwestHuntingAdventures.com, also sponsored by the Moberly Group and the Charles L. Crane Insurance agency. If you would like to experience a hunt with Scott or his guides in SD, MO, or AR, you can contact him at scott@midwesthuntingadventures.com.