Years ago, we went teal hunting and had the normal experience where we spend more time swatting mosquitoes than hunting ducks.
As often happens, we heard the teal before we saw them. We raised up, managed to zero in on them and dropped a pair. Well, to call it a pair is a bit generous. It was a teal and a half. One was very small. No doubt it just got its flight feathers that morning.
Well, my friend giant chessy named Amigo, hits the water, brings one back, drops it and repeats. Very nice.
While we were swatting more mosquitoes I noticed the dog licking and kind of mouthing the small teal. As soon as my friend moved toward the ducks to move them further away, the teal was gone. I kid you not, one giant swallow. Even as I watched it happen, it just didn't seem possible.
Well we laughed it off until about mid afternoon when Mr. Teal didn't settle to well. The dog had gas that could peel the paint off a car. After about 30 minutes of this punishment, we heard a horrible deep guttural sound, and Mr. Teal reappeared coming back up the way he went down. Let me tell you, a small bird hanging around in digestive juices all day is not a pretty sight. Both of us began gagging (and laughing at each other) as well as we tried to push the nasty mess out the door of the blind.
We didn't bring that one home.
As often happens, we heard the teal before we saw them. We raised up, managed to zero in on them and dropped a pair. Well, to call it a pair is a bit generous. It was a teal and a half. One was very small. No doubt it just got its flight feathers that morning.
Well, my friend giant chessy named Amigo, hits the water, brings one back, drops it and repeats. Very nice.
While we were swatting more mosquitoes I noticed the dog licking and kind of mouthing the small teal. As soon as my friend moved toward the ducks to move them further away, the teal was gone. I kid you not, one giant swallow. Even as I watched it happen, it just didn't seem possible.
Well we laughed it off until about mid afternoon when Mr. Teal didn't settle to well. The dog had gas that could peel the paint off a car. After about 30 minutes of this punishment, we heard a horrible deep guttural sound, and Mr. Teal reappeared coming back up the way he went down. Let me tell you, a small bird hanging around in digestive juices all day is not a pretty sight. Both of us began gagging (and laughing at each other) as well as we tried to push the nasty mess out the door of the blind.
We didn't bring that one home.