Duck Season: Preparations

I’m sorry I have been MIA, but there are lots of things to do in order to prepare for a duck hunt.  And of course, all these things could have been done within the last six months.  For some reason, my sons procrastinate as long as they can, and since both of my adult sons are not off this weekend, all the preparations fall to Termite and me.  Since Termite doesn’t drive, there’s only so much he can do without my help.

Last weekend, you saw how he built duck blinds.  This week, he’s been trying to bring up his math grade so he can be “un-grounded” and go hunting.  Today he proclaimed to me that his grade has come up one grade level.  Being the trusting mom I am, I took this for gospel truth and agreed to let him go hunting.

Go hunting?  Alone?  No way.  That means, I am going hunting.  Well, not hunting.  I will sit uncomfortably in the boat, behind tall cane, swat mosquitoes, try to take photos without flash and try to be quiet–almost impossible for me.

Early in the week, I ordered parts online for the mudboat and had them over-nighted.  Wednesday was Veterans Day, so we had a family supper out to honor The Captain and his tour of duty in Viet Nam.  My LilSis and her hubby RenRed came down and celebrated with us.  Thursday, I took RenRed fishing.  We caught 20 nice trout!!!  Thursday evening, with the help of The Mechanic, the new parts got put on the mudboat, while other problems revealed themselves.

Today, after a morning fishing trip with RenRed, I cleaned the fish and told him and LilSis goodbye.  I bagged the fish and went to see Widow Mary and give her a pack of fish.  While having coffee with her, I realized I didn’t have a hunting license and duck stamp–both required for me to observe.  That sent me rushing to town fto get that and a replacement fuel pump for the mudboat engine.  I got both, got back home,  and changed the fuel pump  before Termite got off the bus.  I needed to grease the shaft and bushings, but the grease-serts were rusty and the grease gun was missing.  That would have to wait.

Termite was anxious to check his duck blind before the hunt tomorrow, so we hopped in the little Crestliner and headed to the lease.   We drove straight into the duck blind, made sure the roseaus were bent down where he could see over them to shoot, chopped up some giant salvinia with the propeller ( I hate that stuff), timed our journey back home, making note of the location of all the crab traps we will have to avoid tomorrow at 5 a.m.

With high hopes of being able to use the mudboat for our hunt tomorrow, we  rushed back into town to get new grease-serts, a new grease gun, and grease before the hardware store closed at six.  While in town, those of you who read last year’s duck hunting story, will be glad to know I bought a NEW spotlight, which I will claim as my own.  And in so doing, hope it will miraculously work tomorrow, and work consistently all the way to the blind.  If not, we have four backup flash lights.

Will we take the mudboat?  No.  It needs a new primer bulb.  Or I need to run the fuel line directly to the gas tank and bypass the bulb.  But by the time we got home and brought all our gear upstairs, I was just too pooped to mess with the mudboat in the dark and mosquitoes any more.  We’ll take the little Crestliner.  It will be fine.

At this moment, Termite is putting strings and weights on the box of decoys he puppy-dog-eyed me into buying.  There’s nothing like a begging 13-year-old in the hunting department, surrounded by burly hunters watching to see if I am going to deny this kid his decoys.  Through gritted teeth I told him he was going to have to work these off and that I am making a note in my date book:  I WILL NOT BUY DECOYS EVER AGAIN!  Why?  Because I think he’s had about three dozen, and he has not taken care of them.  Oh, and let it be publicly known that he SWORE that he would take care of these.

Sorry there are no photos tonight.  I’m behind in blogging with you all, but it has been one crazy week!  It’s been a good crazy, though!  I’ll be back with a full duck hunt report, complete with photos, as soon as I can.  Okay?

So, dear friends, what are YOU up to this weekend?  Do tell!

BW