Idaho 12-18-13

Otherwise known as 'The day I realized I was never going to be the "Expert" ever again.'

Holy Heston.  Today Clider and I went out to Anderson Lake to get the boat ready for winterization.  He had planned to take us out to Anderson from the parking lot boat ramp, and maybe later, down to lake CdA for some shooting of the elusive bastard, Greenie.  It's been a while since we have seen that fat punk in our spread of ducks and geese and we thought that today would be a good time to trick him into the spit of water that has formed over the point of Anderson.  The river was iced over from the ramp and we realized that the boat would have to wait for another day.  We had to make the short walk out and decided on 'The Tip' rather than 'The Point' because of the water level and the chances of good shooting lanes.  When we got there the water was open and Clider went about setting the blocks while I made up a couple small blinds on the grassy bank along the river.  Of course while we were working, the only flying ducks of the morning spun overhead.

We settled in and after what seemed like a non duck forever Clider decided to take a walk to keep Peat from shivering into a seizure.  (Remember that whenever Clider takes a walk on Anderson he seems to shoot ducks.)  I stayed tucked away in the blind to take advantage of the dozens of mallards he would surely scare up in the process of walking the channel. I had mentioned that should he see some ducks to blow his call to let me know that there were ducks in the air and then I could shoot them.  He did not have his calls.  Soon after I heard a very human "quack quack" and looked up to see a lone henny rocketing down the channel.  I didn't shoot and she spun off towards the big waters of lake CdA.  Not long after I saw a lone henny, perhaps the same one, coming back from the direction of the big lake.  Not wanting another repeat of minutes before I took my fist shot with a solid lead that was too far.  The next shot was errant as well and the third and final shot was over my shoulder and too far away to make a difference.  She was gone. 

At that point I drank for missing and figured that my best chance for a duck was gone.  I was correct.

Minutes later I see Clider walking along the near-side river bank back to the blind.  As he gets closer I first see the smile on his face and then realize he's got something in his hands.  Turns out that he's got a pair, greenie AND henny, of mallards in his clutch.  Both alive and both HAND CAUGHT by Clider.  They were hiding in a hole in the river bank that he had been walking. He reached into the hole and pulled out the henny and then saw the drake behind her, pulling him out as well. (this picture is them feeling secure and happy)  I marveled at his ability as he released them into the air after wishing them well. He figured that they deserved to live and set them free.  The greenie went first and flew only feet before landing in the channel and swimming away towards the river.  The henny flew even less and made a ruckus as she, and he, obviously wounded, swam away.  We conferred and Peat was dispatched to retrieve.

Again.

Peat was away and into the icy water swimming after her and after a stellar retrieve, including being beat in the face and head by henny wings, brought her in. (Here's where the shit goes down by the way.)  When Clider gets the henny in hand he realizes that it's a banded bird!  Yup, another banded bird!  Hand caught!  He goes after the drake and Peat brings him in too.  So now Clider has just added to his totals another greenie and a banded henny.......all without firing a single shot.

How do you compete with that?

Ladies and Gentleman I give you "The Expert"
Damn straight!