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A Short and Sweet Hunt by Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioner Mark Pinkerton, District 1

I was informed there were some teal using my friend’s pond, so I decided a hunt was in order. On a crisp morning, I arrived an hour before daylight to set up.

Sunrise-640x353

With a moderate breeze from the south, I put out six teal decoys, two mallards on a jerk line, and a Mojo teal and mallard.

decoys

As the sky started to lighten I could see about 40 teal on the middle of the pond. They looked relaxed and in no hurry to leave anytime soon. It was enjoyable to watch the ducks swim and playfully chase each other about. After a bit I was starting to wonder if the birds would ever become interested in my decoy spread.

Then, without warning, a pair of teal lifted off the water and flew toward my decoys, landing nearby. I stood up and the birds immediately took flight to escape. I missed the first bird but dropped the second one. With all the commotion the rest of the ducks took off and disappeared.

I thought I might have to swim for my bird out in the deep water, but much to my relief the wind pushed the duck back into the shallows where I was safely able to retrieve it without having to get wet.

It was the end of a short and sweet hunt.

Teal-image

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