Opening Weekend in Michigan

[Jeff S]

Every fall I spend opening day on the family marsh in Montcalm County, Michigan. Dad started hunting on the "pond" in 1948 and I've been out there very opening day since 1968. Fortunately for all of us, during the 80's Dad bought the property around the pond, and the neighboring lake, so we have our own little duck hunting world. When the sun comes up over the cattails it's a beautiful thing.
This year I decided to go "old school". I left my Super Black Eagle in my truck and headed out to the blind with my 1924 Fox A grade. This is the one that Silvers called "Right as rain". I bought the gun in December because I've wanted an A grade for a long time. I really didn't plan to hunt with it. I just wanted to own one. Let me tell you, a guy couldn't ask for a better duck gun. It was a joy to shoot and those 1oz. Rio #5's really stopped the ducks. In Michigan we are allowed 6 ducks a day, but no more than 3 can be woodies. By 10 o'clock I had 3 woodies, 2 mallards and 1 widgeon. I always enjoy looking at other people's pictures so let me share a few with you. Happy hunting to all of you.

[Mills]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing. That is a special place you have there

[birdawg]

What a great way to open the season. Thanks for posting.

[tnmike]

Beautiful pics. Really love your blind.....and gun. What are the chokes if I may ask?

[Jeff S]

The card says IC on the right and Full on the left. Lori Bacheldor referred to it as a pretty tight full. When I checked the pattern at 40 yards, slightly over 80% of the bb's were in the 30" circle.

[TOOL MAN]

Way to go, Jeff!! "A Fox gets the game." What a neat, little haunt. One of those outings would sure make a great story for our news letter!! Beautiful pics too! Good hunting.----S

[Fin2Feather]

Great pics; thanks!

[bbman3]

Glad you had a great hunt with a great gun. Bobby

[Mother ducker]

Sweet!

[Researcher]

Great pics. Gotta love those straight grip A-Grades. This fall if it ever cools off enough I'll be starting my 50th season with mine.

[Jim Cloninger]

Hi Jeff, great hunt and photos! I am trying to remember, are you the one that hauled wood for your blind in the winter on the frozen lake?
Jim

[Jeff S]

As a matter of fact, that was me. However, this is a different blind. I did the same thing 3 years ago and built this blind on our small pond. It's about a half mile walk through a cattail bog so I've found that it's best to do major "construction" when everything is frozen. I might use the "new" blind Saturday morning. It depends on the wind direction and weather conditions in general. For what it's worth, I went out last night and never got a shot. On the other hand, the colors were beautiful and a beaver kept swimming around, smacking his tail on the water. Life's good!