This morning I got up early and headed to the river for hunt. I finished building the blind and setting the decoys almost 40 minutes before legal shoot time. So, I sat there on my chair, poured a cup of coffee, turned off my headlight and just listened. I heard the sounds of water running through the riffles in front of me. I heard the occasional sounds of cattle in the pasture. As it got lighter I started hearing the sounds of birds in the trees surrounding me.
As it inched closer to shoot time I caught glimpses of movement from birds flying up or down the river. Over head I saw stars, and storm clouds as they slowly worked their way across the sky.
My dog came over and laid her head in my lap, and I petted her as I sipped my coffee. I heard a lot of different sounds, but what I noticed most was what I didn't hear, or see. I didn't hear any voices. I didn't hear any cars. I didn't hear any radios, or TV's. I didn't see any city lights.
What I saw and heard was nature. I was completely and utterly removed from any human influence...and I loved it. I was exactly where I was born to be.
This morning I was witness to wigeon landing on the gravel bar just after shoot time. I saw them highlighted against the pale morning light as they silently glided down river. They briefly disappeared into the shadows and were gone for an instant, and then suddenly were there, wings backpedaling and feet down as they touched down on the rocks in front of me. I was treated to the sight of wood ducks as they darted in and out of my little cove, and was thrilled to hear their distinctive whistle as they traveled the river in search of others of their kind. My dog and I sat in our willow branch blind while mergansers swam and dove no more than 10 yards away. We were privy to the jerky flight of kingfishers as they chattered back and forth, looking for a nice morning meal.
There is no place on the planet that I would rather be than in a duck blind. My absolute favorite time of the day is from just before dawn, until just after. Most folks will spend their entire lives in bed sleeping through that magical hour, and they will have no concept of what I'm talking about. What they are missing is something they will never experience "on the streets".
That's a shame. A real shame.
