A shotgun weekend

One of the biggest frustrations for an all-around sportsman is trying to squeeze in as many expeditions in the limited time frame of fall and winter. A lot of the big game and small game hunts, as well as good fishing seem to be packed in such a small window of time you better not blink or you'll miss good a opportunity! My brother Anthony and his son, Tyler came down and we were able to squeeze in a two-day duck hunt in central Oregon this fall. 

Sometimes it's hard to switch from big-game to small-game when you have more big-game tags in your wallet, but once you are out there in the duck marshes, the sound of whistling wings and shotgun blasts will quickly remind you why waterfowl hunting should be a major  priority when the bird migration is at it's peak. 

This was a trip none of us will forget.    

Mac had to work at getting this bird back to the blind as it would dive and pop-up several feet away in the open water. 

I'm proud of my nephew as it was a struggle packing gear and ourselves several miles to where the ducks wanted to land. For the first hour he looked a bit pale and sick (dehydrated), but quickly he got in the groove and started knocking down some birds.

We had constant bird activity, but Anthony hung around out in the open marsh to get a great picture with a beautiful fall backdrop

We spent the day in ankle to knee-deep water. I won't complain as I had chest waders. Mac on the other hand had reason to complain as he was constantly wet, but that's the beauty of a good dog's personality...he loved it as it beat loafing around the yard! 

Packing gear...

Now this guy can shoot!

Anthony with his old Winchester pump

The first day's bag which included a banded gadwall

Father and son

It was a long haul out to the hot spot and Ifigured day two we would take it a little easy and not pack WAY out there again. I was wrong. The boys, blisters and all, were ready to get more shooting, so we hiked even further than on day one! It was a good lesson in hard work pays off!