Whats up guys thought I'd share a little story. To understand why I think it's such a big deal I'll give you guys a little background info.

Here recently I decided that getting back to my roots was a priority. As a kid I grew up hunting, fishing, hanging out at the camp listening to old men tell exaggerated stories..you get where I'm coming from. Well, since I left home for college and got into a career, I found little to no time for the outdoors. I'd make the occasional hunt once maybe twice a year, but it wasn't the same. I was a grown man borrowing all my buddies stuff.. having people offer to clean a deer because it didn't seem like I knew how. I grew up in this environment, it was a shot to the gut to be treated like that guy.

Anyways.. I got a new job last year. I wanted a career change that gave me more freedom with my schedule. Hunting and fishing wasn't the reason I decided to make the change, but it sure was on my mind during the process. Once I made the change I vowed to get back into it...Find me a hunting camp, start fishing with my dad more, pick up some duck calls (i'm terrible), make more rabbit hunts with my good friends that always invited me. I just needed that little spark to get me fired back up.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago... A friend called and said he had a spot open for opening weekend. The invite was all the motivation I needed. Off to Academy I went, and I swear Academy's stock price went up after I left. I had so much stuff to buy that I ended up making 3 trips going back each time to get another thing I forgot.

Anyways this weekend came around and boy I couldn't sleep all week. Opening week of duck season and I had my gear, my gun, my shite.. I was ready to put it all to use. Saturday was awesome. Hit the first bird I shot at with the first shell fired from my gun. Wasn't the kill shot but definitely a hit. We ended the day Saturday with 6 Teal (3 men). Killed 10 but lost alot of ducks. Sunday we made a few changes and moved to a different spot, and boy did it pay off. We limited out.. 17 Blue Wing Teal and a Gadwall(hen).

The reason I typed all this up was how the day ended. We were at 15 birds and we were pressing hard to limit out. A lone Teal comes into the decoys and after multiple shots she falls a good distance away. I swap guns with my friend (my gun didn't have a strap something else I forgot), and me and one of the guys hop out to track the bird before it's lost. Worth noting, his gun was screwed. It wasn't cycling a new shell into the chamber. It was essentially a slower version of a crack barrel. Hey one shot make it count. Well as soon as we pick up the bird we shot, we hear a yip yip from the blinds followed by some quacks. Sure enough here comes about 6 or 7 teal. Me and my buddy crouch down as they start to circle in. The guy in the blind did a good job and turned them right back to us. My buddy gave a quiet 1-2-3 count. On 3 I rose, took a solid aim, squeezed off my only shot and watched a bird fall along with another killed by my friend. We were absolutely jacked. It was an awesome way to end the day. We tromp over to the two and as my buddy raises them out the water... I see the silver band...

I can't explain how excited I was... I don't even know how to explain it, it was just freaking awesome. After a quick talk with my buddy (who has killed a banded bird) he said the bird was mine. I wouldn't have taken it if I didn't think that it could legit be mine... Good hunting karma will come to him for being so cool with saying the bird was mine.

Called the band in and got some cool info. Bird was banded August 2015 in a city near Saskatchewan. I'll get more info when the certificate comes in.

Anyways I figured I would share because I'm always enjoying the good stories from the OB. A pretty cool memory from the weekend and a good story to tell forever. And yeah I'm completely hooked. Going back next weekend..and the weekend after. Probably to Arkansas with a group in a couple weeks as well... I'll be broke pretty soon, but it will be worth it

This post was edited on 11/9/15 at 4:18 am