Well I would have said the swoosh sound you hear right before you see them but someone else said that. I love the the story telling and complete BS stories people tell in the blind. For some reason I also like when something goes wrong and we are not quite sure how we are going to figure it out...I guess the figuring it out part is actually the fun part. I love it when someone falls when placing decoys or they miss a shot. I love it the moment someone figures out they have a hole in their waders and we are just getting started. I love that feeling when the hunt is complete and the trucks are loaded and it's time for breakfast where we discuss all the stuff we screwed up on.

It's always something, isn't it? Keeps you going back for the one or two days a season where everything clicks.

You know, I just realized I messed up and said my two favorite things.

My ONE favorite thing about waterfowl hunting is waiting until we're back at the cafe having breakfast and saying "Marc, how come you never pick up the decoys, anyway?"

No doubt about it....this is it!! To those who have never experienced it, you need to...

HPJ (also an Arkie to TX)

The ability to get out of it what I put into it...new places to hunt, dog working, calling, etc.

Most of all, the marsh coming alive in the morning.

Watching the birds work is what gets me going every mourning.

Keep saying it...maybe it will be true this year. I figure if you are always going to say that then I'll just stop picking them up so you can actually be right.

Nice

Most Excellent!!!!!!

Lots of great posts.

I am fairly new to duck hunting and I will have to admit the sounds of wings going by overhead before LST is awesome.

But so far the greatest thing I have experienced is watching them commit to the call. Great feeling when you know you got em!

Sitting there with good friends right at legal when the first greenhead grunts right over the dekes, kicks off the morning just right

What's a greenhead?

Watching my wooden decoys skim and bob on the water. And my CBR pimping around like he does when he fetches a big fat Canvasback.
Just for a brief moment I can almost imagine myself as a market gunner on the Bay in the old days

Landing big groups in the timber and cold boat rides....

I love cold crisp blue bird mornings, and having a group of greenheads start working about 9:00 mallard time.

That special time just before LST when you know you are blessed to be alive one more sunrise.

Spending time with Friends, Kids and dogs, the rest just make it possible

Spoonie

Having the ducks splash into your decoys about 5 minutes before LST and sitting there for 5 minutes waiting for LST...

Right after the last deke is out,and everyone is stating to settle in while smack talking at the first sign of color on the horizon,and it happens. Wings overhead and the whisper to hunker down and shut up starts the adrenaline! Yup that is it for me,because it is a brand new day with nothing but high hopes!!!

first shooting light

Birds in large flocks hitting my decoys

I like to go eat breakfast and taking a nap after an early morning limit. If it was up to me I would shoot the first limit possible and be done. That way my toes don't get cold.

complete commitment