JOe, nearer that hundred than that zero. I started duck hunting as a wee lad. Started going with my grandfather at age four. No gun for me at that age. Killed my first duck at six. A big fat black duck. Used Grandpaws 12 double with a little help from him. He used a hand to take most of the weight but I got to swing the gun. Rolled that black duck out of the air about 20 yards away. I was hooked on hunting, duck hunting and doubles.

Boat rides were always great at any age. We had hard marsh which was easy to walk. Before WWII they ran dairy cows out on it. Within the five family farms on the creek there were a dozen blinds. Setup so direction of wind or tide level never kept us from having a prime place to go. As a boy it was heaven.

Half that land is now a state owned refuge. Might as well be a parking lot at Walmart for all the ducks it now holds. But 50 years ago I could show you ducks. Wood duck, teal and local summer ducks early season, then mallards, grey ducks and black ducks. Out near the mouth of the creek we had couple blinds for red heads, divers and cans. I still have wood duck nesting boxes but rarely see any ducks on the creek anymore.