1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: Welcome to this Country Life. I'm your host, Brent Reeves 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: from coon hunting to trot lining and just general country living. 3 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: I want you to stay a while as I share 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: my stories and the country skills that will help you 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: beat the system. This Country Life is proudly presented as 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network, bringing you the best 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: outdoor podcast the airways have to offer. All right, friends, 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: pull you up a chair or drop that tailgate. I 9 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: think I got a thing or two. The teacher ducks, 10 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: trees and danger. A journey can start at any moment, 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: but a lifelong journey has to start pretty early in 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,319 Speaker 1: a person's life. It was ducks for me, and I 13 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: took my first step on that trick at eleven. And 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: I'm going to tell you a lot about what went 15 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: on when I was chasing those critters around Arkansas. But 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: first I'm going to tell you the I had all started. 17 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: I had the pleasure of being invited to go on 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: a duck hunt last weekend with a group of friends 19 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: that I coon hunt with, and I have to say 20 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: I missed it more than I thought. After a twenty 21 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: six year marathon grind of guiding duck hunters every available day, 22 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: stressing about water, duck camp, maintenance, boat, motor, upkeep, leases, 23 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,680 Speaker 1: no rest, little sleep, downward trend and duck numbers and 24 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: upward trend of duck shooters, and the collection of birthdays. 25 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: My brother and I quit. I hung up my calls 26 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: and did other things. A bowl hunted, a fly fished, 27 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: a coon hunted. But the main thing I did was 28 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: enjoy myself during hunting season. Duck season used to be 29 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: my reason for being. It was what I looked forward 30 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: to most. When it wasn't duck season, I thought about it. 31 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: I counted the days until it was now. My dad 32 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: wasn't a duck hunter, but my older brother Tim just 33 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: decided one day that he was. And if he was 34 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: doing it, you could bet that I was going to 35 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: try to do it too. For anyone that's new to 36 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: the podcast, I grew up in the country, and I 37 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: loved to hunt and fish and do just about anything 38 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: that's outside except for chores. Now being raised on a farm, 39 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: there was always something to be done, Something needed doctored 40 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: or stacked, split, loaded, unloaded, disked, raked, painted, planted, burned. 41 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: Then on was ain't gonna burn themselves, you know, toaded, 42 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: picked or a combination of any number of them. Now 43 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: I didn't really care for it. None of that has changed. 44 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: I got a four wheeler trailer sitting in my backyard 45 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: right now that I begrudgingly filled with limbs two springs 46 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 1: ago before the moving started. Now, this was all under 47 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: the direction of my workaholic wife Alexis, who lives by 48 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: the proverb that idle hands are the devil's workshop. Well, 49 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: that trailer is still sitting there full of limbs, and 50 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: when I have time, I'm going to haul them off. 51 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: But right now I'm busy being retired and thinking about 52 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: duck hunting again. I was eleven on my first duck 53 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: hunt in nineteen seventy seven. My brother Tim and Joe 54 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: Tyree took me to Star City, Arkansas, to a beaver 55 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: pond that was located behind a mena farm on Cane Creek. 56 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: The beavers had a large section of hardwoods flooded with backwater, 57 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: and Star City is on the edge of the Arkansas 58 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: River delta. With the river close and flooded rice fields closer, 59 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: that beaver pond was a natural resting spot for Mallard 60 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: ducks looking for a place to snag a few acrens, 61 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: take a nap and hunt up a gall to roll 62 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: back north with. When the time came, I was sporting 63 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: my first pair of uninsulated red ball waiters, an early 64 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: Christmas present from Tim and my sister in law, Barbajean. 65 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: The suspenders were green with several buckles, just like my brothers, 66 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: with two layers of socks, a red Union suit you 67 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: know the kind with the flap in the back for emergencies, 68 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: a flannel shirt, a green Army filled jacket, and a 69 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: brand new Ducks back canvas hat. I followed Tim and 70 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: Joe for the half mile walk to the flooded timber. 71 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: I didn't have a light, so I stuck close to Tim, 72 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: and when he pulled his foot out of a track, 73 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: I stuck mine in there. And that would be the 74 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: template that I would use for many years until he 75 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: encouraged me to go ahead and do my own thing, 76 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: and he even started following me some. That's a good thing. 77 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: That's how you evaluate the lessons getting passed down. Just 78 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: like our father and all the adults and the more 79 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: experienced folks that we looked up to had done for us, 80 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: and the ones that came before Dad had done for 81 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: him that's how it worked works, Tim said, be careful, Brent. 82 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,119 Speaker 1: There's a big beaver. Run right here. Step extra long 83 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: so you hit the other side and don't fall in. 84 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: And it's deep, and if you get wet, you gonna 85 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,119 Speaker 1: get cold because we ain't going back to the truck 86 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: until we're done hunting. Well, I stood in the spot 87 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: where he'd more or less jumped from, and the muddy 88 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: water was up to my behind, and I wondered, step 89 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 1: extra long? How long is that? He's like twice as 90 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: tall as me. I'm gonna fall in, but I don't 91 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: care because I'm going duck. And before I could finish 92 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: that thought, he reached and grabbed me by the hand 93 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: and said jump, and I did, and he snatched me 94 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: over that beaver built abyss and we waited on him 95 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: telling me where the logs and the sticks were that 96 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: I had to step over. He taught me on that 97 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: trip to slide my feet when I couldn't see the bottom, 98 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: and not to put my weight forward when walking until 99 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: I planted my foot firmly on solid ground. Now I 100 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: can't even begin to estimate how many I passed that 101 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: on to duck hutting clients. Some of them still dripping 102 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: wet from learning the hard way. It was still dark 103 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: when we got to the spot, and I could see 104 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: the stars shining through the opening in the trees, and 105 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 1: Tim let me help put the decoys out in the 106 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: water that was just above my knees. Me and you 107 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: will stand right here by this tree, and Joe will 108 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: be standing by that one. He pointed over to my 109 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: right with his flashlight, and I could already see Joe 110 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: propped up against that oak tree, shot gun hanging on 111 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: a nail, his hands in his pockets, he just waiting 112 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: on daylight. The wind was blowing from my right to 113 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: the left, and the sky was starting to turn pink 114 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: behind us. Tim poured some coffee out of his thermest 115 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: bottle and gave me the cup while he dug out 116 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: a cigarette and lit it. And that coffee smelled good 117 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: and the cup felt good in my cold hands. We 118 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,559 Speaker 1: shared that cup back and forth and warmed our enters 119 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: as we talked about wearing when to shoot, and when 120 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: I could look at the working ducks, and when I couldn't. 121 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: Now I'm glad he's quit smoking many years ago, but 122 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: I'll catch a whilf of a cigarette smoke occasionally, and 123 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: it'll remind me of similar times. Coffee does the same thing. 124 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: It's funny how smell and all that is connected with memories. 125 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: It seemed like forever, But eventually I could look over 126 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: at Joe and I could see his outline. He hadn't 127 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: moved an inch, and I could see the silhouettes of 128 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: the decoys as they moved back and forth in the 129 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: hole where we'd set them. We heard duck wings whistling 130 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: overhead and ducks quacking out in the timber. I'm not 131 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: sure I even blinked. I was about to pee in 132 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: my breeches, and not just from excitement. I hadn't drink 133 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: a lot of coffee up to that part of my life, 134 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: and it was making short work about dixie cup sized bladder. Tim, 135 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: I got a pee right now? Yes, he said, Well, 136 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: get over you uder and get it done, shooting irises 137 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: in five minutes. Well I got it done. Once I 138 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: was back by the tree, Tim gave me a handful 139 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: of shells to put in my pocket, told me to 140 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: load up. That's what I was waiting to hear. I 141 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: checked the safety and I put three of them in 142 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: that remyton eleven hundred checked the safety again, and I waited. 143 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: The ducks started flying in big groups and were bypassing 144 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: our little spot. I was getting discouraged, but Tim told 145 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: me to be patient. Soon the sun was high enough 146 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: for the decoys to be seen, and the ducks started 147 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: acting interested. Tim was calling to one group that was 148 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: circling when four or five dropped in that we never 149 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: saw coming, and Tim and Joe each shot one as 150 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: they hovered over the decoys. Well, I was peeking at 151 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 1: the group that was still circling when they shot, and 152 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: it scared the fire out of me. It's a good 153 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: thing i'd gotten rid of that coffee earlier, but they 154 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,199 Speaker 1: might have scared the pee out of me too. Now, 155 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: you got to be ready. I'm gonna tell you when 156 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: to shoot, But sometimes they slip in on us, Tim 157 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: told me. He said, so when they do, you gotta 158 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: be quick. Well, I was listening intently and watching the 159 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: sky when a big, old fat mall of drake started 160 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: making tie eight circles and losing altitude as he burned 161 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: off speeding. Tim continued his lesson. I said, no matter 162 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: how many come in, just pick out one and forget 163 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: all the rest. Of them. Now. I guess he saw 164 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: my eyes following that duck that was dropping in, and 165 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: as he was looking up to see what I was saying, 166 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,839 Speaker 1: he continued his lecture with be sure to give him 167 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: some lead, and then give him the lead. At that moment, 168 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: that drake looked as big as a wing shehutling pony, 169 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 1: and he was inside the trees in front of me, 170 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: about fifteen feet above the decoys. Went. To Tim's surprise, 171 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: I showed her that eleven hundred punched off the safety 172 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: and put him belly button up in the decoys. Tim 173 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: calmly finished his lessons with just like that man alive, 174 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: that was number one Numero uno and the match that 175 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: lit my fuse. I handed in my shotgun and I 176 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: waited out amongst the decoys to retrieve my prize. And 177 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: I couldn't have been more proud, And Nita contemn. I 178 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: hung onto those curly tail feathers for years and years 179 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: until they got lost. Like things like that do. My 180 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: mama made a big batch of duck and rice out 181 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: of that rascal and some others that we brought home 182 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: that day. I can smell it cooking right now, and 183 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 1: see how that whole hunt played out in my head 184 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: like it like it happened this morning. That's the thing 185 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: about memories. They're the little movies that played in your 186 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: head anytime you want them to. And that one, well, 187 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: I was reminded of it a few days ago when 188 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: I was watching ducks swinging around after we called to 189 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: them and dropping into decoys, just like I'd seen a 190 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: million times before. It was a tail. I thought I 191 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: was done with. But me and duck hunting never officially 192 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: broke up. We just took a three year vacation. And 193 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: that's just how it happened and how it all started. 194 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: Now here's a duck story that happened twelve years after 195 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: my duck hunting journey started, and believe it or not, 196 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: it was within a half a mile of that very spot, 197 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: in the same flooded timber, but under extremely different circumstances. 198 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: This is the time my journey nearly came to an 199 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: abrupt and violent halt. So gather the young'uns, and y'all 200 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: listen up. The reeves boys are out doing dumb stuff again. 201 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: Remember Cane Creek, like from ten minutes ago, the creek 202 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: that the beavers had dammed up and created the pond 203 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: and the flooded timber where I shot my first mount 204 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: of duck. Remember well, fast forward twelve years and it's 205 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: now a one thousand, six hundred and seventy five acre 206 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: lake within the two thousand and fifty three acre Cane 207 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: Creek State Park. It's a beautiful park in the lake 208 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: in it so it's approving great fishery under the care 209 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,079 Speaker 1: of the Arkansas State Parks and the Arkansas Gaming Fish Commission, 210 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: and it's all there for the public. When all the 211 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: land was purchased, construction began and a big levee was built. 212 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: It took a while, but the lake area flooded and 213 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: as a result of the timber inside eventually died, leaving 214 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: standing snags that would fall and be reclaimed by Mother 215 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: Earth and all her witness. Now, during that time, we 216 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: took full advantage of the water and for several years 217 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: we put a pretty good smashing on the ducks. Now, 218 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: this was still a few years before we started our 219 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: guiding business, and on this day it was me Tim 220 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 1: and our good friend Andy Johnson. Andy and I had 221 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: worked together at a forester consulting business, and he liked 222 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: a duck hut as much as we did. By the 223 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: time of this hunt, most of the timber had fallen down, 224 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: so just traveling around the lake was pretty risky. You 225 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: had to go slow and pick your way around the 226 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: boat lanes and watching for logs that had drifted into 227 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: the routes that were cut out, and you had to 228 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: make sure you didn't hit a stump if you had 229 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: to go around one that did. The timber having nearly 230 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: all fallen presented another challenge as well. Where you're going 231 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: to hide? Now, none of us like hunting out of 232 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 1: a boat, even though that was a very productive and 233 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 1: a safe way to shoot ducks in those conditions. No, 234 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,599 Speaker 1: we were purist, and you duck hunt standing beside a 235 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: tree and knee deep water, just like folks in the 236 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 1: Bible did. Well, we figured they did anyway, So we'd 237 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: make the treacherous trek, dodging snags and blowdowns out to 238 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: a spot that when the timber was alive, it was 239 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: tailor made for duck hunting. It was a hole about 240 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: forty yards wide and ringed with material trees. The water 241 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,439 Speaker 1: was knee deep in there at that stage of the 242 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: lake's progression, and the ground was mostly solid with a 243 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 1: few old stump holes here there. The stump holes had 244 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: silted in and looked solid from above the water. But 245 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: if you stepped in one, you'd sink up to your 246 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: straddle and you'd think you were headed to the other 247 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: side of the planet. Because you'd rarely ever touch the bottom, 248 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,559 Speaker 1: you'd get wet, and someone would usually had to come 249 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: help you get out. That was what we worried about, 250 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: stepping in a hole or snagging a limb causing you 251 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: a leak in your waiters. While we walked around putting 252 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: out decoys or picking up ducks, or just traveling from 253 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: one spot to another. The thought of being driven in 254 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: the ground like a tent peg never crossed our minds. 255 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: And it was cold and crisp and a blue bird day. 256 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: The only thing missing was when, which if it had 257 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: been blowing, we wouldn't have been hunting in that spot 258 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: because of all the dead timber. We would have been 259 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: on the bank somewhere and relatively safety hidden among the 260 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: live trees on the edge of the lake, where there 261 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: was no threat to our health and safety. But like 262 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: hunting from a boat, that wasn't what real duck hunters did. 263 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: Real duck hunters got out in the middle of the 264 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 1: hardship and embraced the struggle. I'm glad, I'm over that foolishness, 265 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: but on this day I was still very much in 266 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: that frame of mind. We got in that spot way 267 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: before daylight, put out the decoys, and everyone picked out 268 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: their place to stand. Tim and Andy were about fifteen 269 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: yards apart, standing by medium size standing snags, and I 270 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: was kind of quartered across the hole, not in the 271 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: line of fire by any means, but standing by the 272 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: biggest oak snag in the whole area. Now, we set 273 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: the decoys where the ducks had to land out away 274 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: from where we were all stationed, and had a hard 275 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: rule that no one shoots below the limb on a 276 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: snag at the shooting end of the hole. Cripples were 277 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: dispatched by who was closest and always in a direction 278 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: away from everyone, and only after making sure where everyone 279 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: was and that we all knew someone was about to 280 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: shoot on the water safety something we took very seriously. 281 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: It's rule one, and it still is. We started scratching 282 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: out a few ducks out of the groups that worked 283 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: in that hole, and only liked one or two each 284 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: for a limit. When the mid morning Love came around. Now, 285 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: every duck hunter's familiar with that, and this one rolled 286 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: in around ten am. If you're not familiar with it, 287 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: it's when the ducks just all of a sudden quit 288 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: flying before eventually starting to get up and stir around 289 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: a little bit more. Now we could have left with 290 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: a good mess of ducks already, but that ain't what 291 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: duck hunters do. Come on, man, you got to stay 292 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: until you get all the law allows. Anyway, the mid 293 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: morning Love, the conversation amongst all of us had died 294 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: down to nothing. We were just all kind of just 295 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: standing there, lost in our thoughts. No birds were singing, 296 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: There was not one sound to anything. I looked up 297 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: that tiring snag that I was standing beside, and I 298 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: marveled at how big and straight he was. It would 299 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: have took all three of us to reach around it. 300 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 1: There was three big limbs that had grown out from 301 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 1: the trunk, and the lowest one was about I don't know, 302 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: twenty five feet above my head. They were all on 303 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: the opposite sides of each other and had broken off 304 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 1: at about the same distance from where they sprouted. Back 305 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: when that tree and the ground that grew on was 306 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: claimed by those cats and friends. It was a big 307 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: tree and it had been there a long long time. 308 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: I remember looking back over at Tim and Andy and 309 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: they were looking at me. No one said a word, 310 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: and then a loud pop broke the silence. That wasn't 311 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: like a firecracker or a kid's cork gun going off. 312 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: It didn't sound like Dracula opening up his coffin lid. No, 313 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: it was quick, it was heavy, and it was a 314 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: thick sound, like the sound of a humongous tree top 315 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 1: breaking away from its base and plunging toward Earth at 316 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: terminal velocity. Now I knew exactly what it was, even 317 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: though I had never heard that exact sound before my life. 318 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: Now you want to talk about time standing still, it did. 319 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,479 Speaker 1: I was looking at Tim when it popped, and I 320 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: saw his eyes get wide and his face loose all 321 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: its color, his expression going from indifferent to absolute horror 322 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: in an instant. Now, during that same instant, I took off, 323 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: running as hard and fast as I could in the 324 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: knee deep water, and I was instinctively running toward my brother. 325 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: He was my protector, just like always, and he'd save 326 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: and protect me again. I just had to get to him, 327 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: and I was running to him like my life depended 328 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: on it, because it actually did. I taken four or 329 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: five strides toward him, putting as much distance as I 330 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: could between me and the base of that tree, solely 331 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: focused on him. Having never looked up. He started screaming 332 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: wrong way, wrong way, wrong way, perfect three hundred and 333 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,400 Speaker 1: sixty degrees on the compass, and I choose the one 334 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: direction that was going to get me pounded like one 335 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: of John Henry's railroad spikes. I hadn't had kids yet, 336 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: I hadn't ever bought a house or ridden a motorcycle. 337 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: The motorcycle thing was really bothering me because I was 338 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: wishing I was on one at that exact time and 339 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,679 Speaker 1: riding it away from that tree. Well. I stopped, and 340 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: I turned to go back the way I came when 341 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: I heard the rush of wind that that tree top 342 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: was making as it fell, and I felt the areas 343 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: that went by my shoulder, landing flat in the water 344 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: less than a foot from where I had turned to 345 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: make my retreat. My shoulders were hunched up and my 346 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: eyes were closed, and I turned away from that wooden 347 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 1: buzz bomb that was about to hit me. When a 348 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: wall of water came crashing down on me. Tim and 349 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 1: Andy said I completely disappeared behind the water, and they 350 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: didn't know if I'd been hammered in the ground or not. 351 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: But before that water had a chance to run off 352 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: of me, Tim was standing beside me and checking to 353 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: see if I was all there. I got my first 354 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: look at that tree top. It was enormous, and it 355 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: would have easily sent me to the happy hunting grounds 356 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: that it hit me. Two hunts in the same area 357 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: twelve years apart. One lit the candle and the other 358 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: one dang near blew it out. Contrasting stories, to be sure, 359 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: but both very important in my continued growth as a human. 360 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: We didn't hunt that place anymore. I remember going back 361 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:34,200 Speaker 1: after all the timber had fallen, but not many times 362 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: before it all did. We found other places and other 363 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 1: opportunities to maim and kill ourselves. But that's a story 364 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: for another day. But I missed duck hunting more than 365 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: I thought, a whole lot more. And it's not the 366 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:54,199 Speaker 1: duck hunt so much as it is the fellowship, sharing 367 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: the sights and the sounds of ducks as they respond 368 00:20:56,800 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: to a call, and pitching the decoys after circling around 369 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 1: and shining in the sun like feathered emeralds is a 370 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 1: sight to behold. I sat on the bench in that 371 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: blind the other day beside my host and we talked 372 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 1: about old times and places we'd been to while our 373 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: other friends were shooting ducks, and I was okay with that, 374 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:26,720 Speaker 1: so was he. Thank y'all so much for listen. I 375 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: really enjoy telling these stories, and from the responses we're getting, 376 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 1: apparently you folks enjoy hearing there's more duck hunting to 377 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: come along with the everyday common household buffoonery you've grown 378 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: accustomed to, which reminds me of something my friend Michael 379 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: Roseman told me the other day we were going coon hunting, 380 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 1: and he said that when they're listening in and shopping 381 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:51,479 Speaker 1: building lights that he hears that acoustic guitar music start playing, 382 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,640 Speaker 1: someone will say, brins fixing to do something dumb. Don't 383 00:21:55,680 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: play cards with them, folks, they're pretty sharp. Until next week. 384 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: This is Brent Reeves sign, and all y'all be careful