Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The Opener with the Rabid Outdoorsman- Balancing pessimism against optimism and how the tides turn... PART ONE

2:59:55, 2:59:56, 2:59:57, 2:59:58, 2:59:59, out of here!!!

My day at school officially ended and I bolted for the car with my new McCain/Palin sticker in hand. Since I have a post office box, I had to use my school address when ordering from goptrunk.com and it only took me 5 weeks to get my yard sign and sticker. But that wasn't why I was flying high, figuratively and literally, actually I found myself at the threshold of a master plan that had been in the works for weeks now. Today was the day before opening day, and I promised my great buddy Steve that I would attend the opener with him. We had been exchanging phone calls and emails nonstop over the past week. The time had come and I slapped the sticker on my wife's Camry without any hesitation, jumped into the seat, and pulled out of the staff parking lot.



From the previous paragraph, you can assume several things...

1)I am a Republican and excited about my first ever purchased affects of support
2)Steve and I get way into our duck hunting, but I wouldn't have it any other way
3)I did not consult my wife about the sticker, guess as you may, but for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction

My eternal joy must have been neglecting the fact that once I hit Route 1, the two and one-half hour trip into the setting sun would be nothing short of miserable as I prayed for a low lying cloud anywhere to just get between me and the sun. I still trudged on, with the fullest intentions of keeping my promise to be in Steve's driveway by six. With the gear packed last night and some basic provisions, I had no intention of stopping at all...




But a curse must have come with the McCain sticker, I explained to my wife that I would rather have the sticker on the car since we take the car everywhere. Her response was that it didn't matter who or what she supported, no sticker should be on her car. Bad move on my part, but that was an argument that could wait until tomorrow. As of right now I was flying high and fast approaching Bucksport, realizing that I was almost halfway. Then the unexpected occurred...

As I hit the blinker and pulled right into the “slower traffic” lane, a light blue car pulled beside me and neglected to pass. I then looked over to see this older women flipping me off. So I waved back and smiled, it was a Prius and the passenger obviously took the time to read my bumper sticker that had been on my car for just one hour. I laughed and thought to myself, “frigging moonbat wife and her Prius driving bastard, bet you ain't getting 48 mpg right now”...

Unphased by this random act of kindness by a friendly liberal, I continued my trek in hopes that the duck blind would be right next to their property so we could continue appreciating each other. Good things were in my future although the sticker was getting me into a little more trouble than I wished...

I continued into the ever-dropping sun and did manage to find some low lying clouds as I turned onto Route 3 in Belfast, if these held for the next 40 odd miles then I would be golden. But that wasn't the case, help only lasted for about 10 minutes and honestly, it got frustrating and exhausting. Battling the glare off of the windshield while trying to get to Steve's on time was getting the best of me...

At 5:52, I arrived at Steve's to see this jovial man in camouflage chanting “Duckman, Duckman" as he was presenting me to his oldest son like I was some type of celebrity. I quickly talked some smack, bragged about my arrival before schedule, and dismissed the strenuous nature I endured getting there. Steve said his good-byes and we quickly loaded my gear into the boat already situated in the bed of the pick-up. Within two minutes, the landing stood before us as if we had been welcome all along...

My take: both highly optimistic, but I had several instances of perplexity and visual impairment

To check out the Rabid Outdoorsman's take during the same time hit the link below!!!
The Maine Outdoorsman

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Amazing, truly amazing...


Eider and Whitewing Scoters decoys...

So the wind was crappy blowing only between 20 and 30 mph this morning from the west, and my father and I waited until 8:30 this morning until we cast off the marina. Within ten minutes we had twenty decoys, eiders and scoters, set out in a traditional feeding area. The only ducks who even came close were some patch heads (surf scoters), but they weren't interested at all. By noontime we had shifted into a proven channel way and again saw little action. As the wind shifted to the Northwest, we shot across the channel only to watch several small unimportant flocks travel by where we just departed. The highlight of my day was when this freaking black duck flew directly at us and I took it out quickly. It rapidly descended after the first shot, and fell westward to the southeastern point of the island shown in the picture below. Never have I shot a black duck while eider hunting, so I can honestly say again... the limit was satisfied, but then again you are only allowed one black duck...


Southeastern tip - left part of the island...



The Downeast Duckhunter with his limit for the day...

Thursday, October 2, 2008

On Deck!!! Eiders and Coots!!!

It's hard to believe, but I'm scrambling again to be ready for this upcoming weekend.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Addicted to "Quack", I'm a "Quack" Addict!!!


Foliage on the water...



The Downeast Duck Hunter's first freshwater duck hunting experience...



Some impressive retrieving and one proud owner...


Note: There is some great things coming on this one, however I had to post some photos on my first time gunning fresh water... The Rabid Outdoorsman and myself found some rust early on, especially for me who hadn't fired a shotgun since 12/16/07, but perseverance paid of as I scored my first freshwater mallards... One thing I want to mention is that this was the first time ever that I've opened a season and my pressing concern was "what angle will my blog take"???

I'm already in the works on my side of the story... This should make for some interesting reading as the Rabid Outdoorsman and I discuss the differing points of view formulated from the same time, place, and action...

Stay tuned... It should be interested... God Love it!!!


The view from "Quack Head"

Friday, September 19, 2008

I'd rather go hunting with Sarah Palin...



What is up with these stupid polls??? 50% of those polled would like to watch a football game with Senator Obama compared to just 47% for Senator McCain... That's about as ignorant as more Americans would rather have a beer with President Bush than John Kerry... So here's what I think, stop dumping on one another and get damn clear about how you intend to lead our country because unlike me, there exists a drove of voters who are balancing the two choices (well three if you want to count Ralph Nader)... I can't stand looking through the websites looking for relevant material to better educate my students on our ever changing world and find an article about the two month waiting period for Sarah Palin's frameless glasses or Michelle Obama's rise to the best dressed celebs... But nevertheless, I would love to go hunting with Sarah Palin and I wonder if she's a better shot than the Rabid Maine Outdoorsman...
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