Zeke and Maggie get the Call

I had been out a few times this season but came up short. The birds were just not flying when I was able to get out.  I did not bring home a single duck. This time last year I had a freezer full. Work had taken priority but now work had slowed down and December was here. This I knew would change.

Zeke, a Navesink River Hunting Retriever Club member and good friend, had asked me awhile back if I would take him out duck hunting. I said yes. I told him I would give him a call a day or so before to make plans, so be ready.  Zeke upland hunts quite a bit but had never gone out for ducks. He and Maggie, his 6-year-old female Golden, are avid pheasant hunters and he thought he would like to give duck hunting a try.

I made the call Friday night and told Zeke I had an open blind for Saturday morning.  Zeke replied, “Count me in, I’ll be there”.  5 am came early and Zeke and Maggie were on time. When I met them at the house I knew it would be a good day. The temperature had dropped to the mid 20’s and the wind was out of the N.West about 10 to 15 miles/hr. The small lake where I hunt is just 1½ miles off the mouth of the Raritan River in NJ. Around 85 years ago, industry had dammed up a small brook to give Dupont, Hercules, and National Lead process water for their plants. Now, fishermen and duck hunters enjoy its use.

            When we arrived it didn’t take much time to get the boat, a 12 ft Stealth, loaded up with the dekes, guns and gear. Then I noticed we had some work ahead of us. With the temperature around 25 degrees the lake had formed a thin layer of ice in the coves. This was good and bad. The good part was that the ice keeps the ducks from landing in the coves and forces them out to the middle of the lake where the channel is clear of ice. The bad part is that we had to break the ice for about 75 yds on the way out. Breaking the ice, at 5:30 in the morning, is no picnic but once out of the cove the ice was gone. We still had about a ¼ mile to the blind but it was smooth paddling.

            In front of the blind I set up a V –spread with the dekes facing S. East. I also placed 2 lone geese decoys out about 30 yds from the spread. Geese were in season too. I always bring the geese decoys with me. This lake has geese roosting on it in the morning.  The geese decoys seem to relax the ducks. I have actually had ducks come in closer to the geese decoys than the ducks decoys. So I use them.

            After I finished putting the dekes out we quickly got into the blind and settled in. You could tell Maggie was getting excited.  This wasn’t upland hunting but she knew it was hunting. At first light you could see the ducks start to work and so did Maggie.  She started watching the sky with intense concentration. The first ducks to come in were mallards. It was now shooting time and it didn’t take long before the first duck fell. It was a nice greenhead mallard that fell just outside and to the left of the dekes. Now it was Maggie’s turn to show her stuff. Zeke released her and she was off. She marked it well but when she hit the water something surprised her. ICE!

 A layer of ice had formed around the left side of the blind. Maggie tried to make the retrieve but the ice was stopping her. Given time, Maggie would have broken the ice to the duck but more ducks were working. Zeke called her back in. More mallards were on the way. With the familiar command “take-em” we now had two more greenheads down out in front of the blind.  Before Maggie had a chance to finish retrieving the second bird, woodies had circled us for a second time. That was all it took. After a volley of shots we now had a beautiful drake woodie in the dekes. Maggie was on it. She was having fun. We had a few minutes before the next wave of birds came in. With a little calling some mergansers came in for a look. They came in low and fast. With a quick eye and a good lead of the barrel we dropped a nice hooded merganser. Again, Maggie took charge and the bird was in hand.

            As the morning went on it started to quiet down a bit. It was time for the coffee thermos to be opened.  Happy Hour was coming to a close. It was a good morning. We had taken 3- drake mallards, 1- drake woodie (my favorite), and 1- female hooded merganser. Both Zeke and Maggie were hooked. After awhile it was time to load up and head for the diner. Breakfast would taste good this morning. Maggie and Zeke’s first time was a good one. I remember Zeke saying, “You can call me anytime. We’ll be there”.

Zeke- Paul Zurka   Maplewood NJ

Maggie- SR Trifecta’s Jersey Girl, CDX,JH,WC

By Mark Mulhollem