Well not technically my birthday but still pretty close! I usually tend to get a bit lucky on the ducks around my birthday and thought it might have skipped this year since Sunday's hunt was tough and only netted 5 birds for me. Decided I'd take my gear and my puppy with me to work today just in case I got my stuff done early. Managed to get to my spot around 3:30 and noticed a good flight regardless of the blue bird weather. Headed out to my blind and set up with the sun at my back in a stand of willow trees. Birds started slowly but picked up fast and before I knew what was happening the mallards were piling into my dekes. Within 30 minutes I was already at 5 and decided I had the ideal conditions for a little "band hunting". It was tough letting group after group of fat mallards set into the dekes or at least drop their landing gear and give me a looksie before flushing them off waiting for that flash of bling. Finally had a drake hen combo set up and drop in to my right. I thought I had spotted something on his leg but wasn't sure since he landed in some shadows. Decided to shoot first and ask later. Good choice! Band #1 for the season in the bag. 1 bird to go and still had the right light to look. Drakes were landing literally at my feet, but no jewelry, no shooting. Got to be patient to bag the trophies... 4 hens dropped in for a quick right to left swing and as they begun to climb out of the zone I spotted it, tough shot since my gun wasn't in my hands already and she was already climbing away from me. Missed on shot one but managed a broken wing on shot #2 and down she goes. My 6 month old BLF made a dandy retrieve in some tall grass on the cripple and Band #2 was mine!
It may have been a few days late, but well worth waiting for my first 2 band day!
