Thread: Blessed to be Hunting!

Friends,

It’s been awhile since I posted, please forgive me! I appreciate all the prayers as I go through recovery and cardiologist appointments. Next check up is 1/31.

Now without further ado, let me tell you about some of my most interesting adventures as of late! Needless to say, I haven’t been crappie fishing, although the doctor has given me the all clear. You see, I am thoroughly obsessed with duck hunting. It is a sickness!! LOL. I missed the first half of the season, but was cleared to fish and hunt as of 12/21 last year.

Being that I’m recovering from my second heart surgery, I was reluctant to take out the trustee 12 gauge because of recoil. It’s only been 3 months!! The good news is, that gave me the perfect excuse and arguably justifiably so, to buy a 28 gauge for duck hunting. I purchased a Browning BPS, and you could say things are going pretty well.

I’m wearing a shooting vest with a padded shoulder and a ton of clothing under my waders. When I pull the trigger, it doesn’t hurt so I can’t complain. Sure, my payload is limited to 7/8 oz and I gotta get em in close, but I have learned a lot about duck hunting this year. Using bismuth to maximize my success, but ouch that bismuth hurts the wallet when you squeeze the trigger and they don’t fold! Funny how if they go down, cost of ammo never enters your mind lol.

I’ve taken out the boat a few times going hunting and been blessed to try some private land a bit as well. This year I’ve gotten maybe half a dozen gadwall, a few ringnecks and shot a red head out of my boat (a first time species)! Yes, the boat was anchored. I was in a blind lol. Also got my first ever green wing teal aka ducks that fly like a fighter jet! Bagged another first of a drake spoonie in eclipse plumage. Hollywood mallard!

The green wing teal was the tastiest duck I’ve tried to date. Cooked it up like chicken fried steak with white pepper gravy. It was awesome y’all! I need to get the scoop on those so I can load up. If that’s all I shot, I’d be good with it. So tasty!!!

Two weeks left on duck season to go. I’m hoping I can get a mallard and maybe a wood duck, if I am so blessed. 2023 was a whirlwind and I’m hoping to 2024 is a little more easy-going. I’m also hoping the ducks are easy-going as we enter the last couple weeks of the season in Texas. If you see some ducks around, tell em to head my way!

Wish me luck! Hopefully I can get a real pretty one that ends up on the wall, and if not, I’ll have some real good eating! I love love love duck hunting. Ever since the bug bit me 3 years ago, I spend all year scheming and scouting. Anxious for the next season and the next opportunity to enjoy God’s creation and these beautiful animals.

My good friend on the site, Mr. Jamesdean has been gracious enough to send me a fly tying vice that I look forward to using some duck feathers on!! Might be a few months before I can try em with life and family responsibilities, but what an awesome gift. Shoutout to Jamesdean!

I appreciate all you guys that have prayed for me and this forum in general. This is an awesome place to be a part of. Please enjoy these photos of some ducks that I have bagged. Glory to God for delivering them into my hand!! I’ll give everyone an update on my cardiologist appointment sometime in February on the other thread titled “Slab Apprentice”

Your brother in Christ,
Slab Apprentice



Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app