Hey Sandy Creek enthusiasts, buckle up for a tale of last-minute decisions, unexpected twists, and a sky filled with teal – it's a duck hunting adventure like no other!
The story begins with a last-minute decision to chase teal in north Mississippi for the September season. A scouting trip the day before the season opened turned into a monsoon-soaked escapade, leaving us with little hope for a successful teal hunt. However, a lifeline call from a friend opened up the possibility of a spontaneous trip to a marsh in north Kansas, a location that had yielded success in the previous year.
The decision was made, and within hours, gear was hastily gathered, bags were packed, and the crew was on the road. The destination: a marsh in north Kansas, 14 hours away. The plan? Arrive with enough time to scout and determine if the teal numbers were promising enough for a hunt.
Upon reaching the boat ramp, the reality hit – it was hot, buggy, and felt more like a Louisiana Swamp in July than the beginning of duck season. But that's teal hunting for you! Teal were already taking flight as soon as the boat touched the water, and a quick run down the overgrown boat ditch revealed that we needed more guns. A flurry of calls went out, and soon enough, 15 crazy friends were en route to join the adventure.
Meeting other groups at the boat ramp and getting the green light from a game warden, we headed to the chosen spot as the sun began to set. Setting up 2 dozen mojos and three dozen teal decoys, we transformed the marsh into our home for the night, complete with stories from past seasons, Coleman stove-cooked food, and a haze of smoke to ward off mosquitoes.
As the stars faded away, the teal arrived in droves. Thousands of birds filled the air, and the anticipation built for the first light's flight. Legal shooting hours arrived, and the scene unfolded like a cinematic masterpiece. Groups of teal dive-bombed the spread, and 18 guns erupted from the blind, with 4 dogs working tirelessly to retrieve fallen birds.
The action was relentless, with hundreds of birds continuously rocketing into the spread. In no time, we found ourselves just one bird shy of an 18-man limit. As we counted the final birds, a lone teal entered the scene, one shot later, and we had completed an 18-man limit before the sun even rose.
This unplanned, last-minute adventure turned into a teal hunting triumph, filled with camaraderie, laughter, and the thrill of a successful hunt. Stay tuned, Sandy Creek fans, because you never know when the next spontaneous duck hunting escapade might unfold!