Lowell:
The Duck Club I belong to was also started in the 1920’s. I think transportation made it possible for people to commute from the city to the duck marsh without overnight stays. Our club was on leased land until the mid 1980’s when the owner died and his wife decided to sell it to us. She would only sell the marsh to us if we had a deed restriction keeping it forever wild. The original owner made his money trapping; furs were very popular and high priced during the 20’s. He would take 5000 plus rats from our marsh in the days when a fur brought $1.00. He would hire Indian families from Canada to come down and flesh furs and prepare them for market. Anyhow, I first hunted there in 1965 as a young man with my Uncle. Most of the members were real characters, worked hard and played hard. My uncle shot a Model 12 Duck Gun and a AH Fox CE grade. Breakfast before the hunt was always a big event with lots of leg pulling and joking around. Everyone met for lunch at the club house (a 1880’s farm house converted, since burned) for venison burgers, fresh duck and Muskrat stew (and plenty of scotch) .
As I said we bought the place, 1800 acres in 1986 for $230. per acre if you can believe that! We are still operating today with few changes. We now allow gas motors and spinner decoys (ugh!). Many of us are now shooting vintage guns just like the old guys. One of our original members is still alive but gave up hunting a few years back at close to 90. It is a special place, only a hunter truly understands. Life is good.
