The Perfect Mississippi Duck Hunting Morning

Last updated : January 3, 2013

A few days prior to the Christmas break, I was able to experience one of those rare mornings that duck hunters' dreams are made of. Hunting with guys from the Quiver River Duck Club group as the sun came up and birds began moving, I looked out in awe while a hundred or more mallards and pintails began descending in a tornado on the harvested corn field, maneuvering for space to land. Fortunately for me, I was observing this marvel of nature from the cover of our blind in that very field, located on the banks of Rattlesnake Bayou in the Bayou Basin near Fighting Bayou Hunting Club. It's one of the four areas included in the MS Delta Ducks shared duck leases program.

Our duck hunting stage was a flooded field with two to three dozen decoys along with a Mojo for movement. I didn't have to hit them hard with calling. Feed chuckles along with a few low, high-balls was the right formula on this morning to get their attention. Though I was pretty pleased with my decoy set up and duck calling, it was our good fortune that the ducks wanted to be in this particular spot on this morning. All the factors combined for one of those once in a season hunts.

There is nothing more exciting in a duck hunter's world than the sight of the sun glistening on a greenhead with wings cupped and feet down as he floats effortlessly into the decoys. I am grateful that my good friend and volunteer field staffer, Jake Chandler, was in on the experience. He was able to bag a perfect, beautiful, fat greenhead that he has been looking for several seasons as a mount for his wall.

I take hunting seriously but did come armed with a thermos of coffee planning on a slow, relaxing Mississippi Delta December duck hunt. It was a cold morning with temperatures in the upper 20s and a light northwest wind. Every time I started to pour a cup, it ended up spilled with the rapid fire action that transpired. I even managed to shoot a mallard while holding a half-poured cup of steaming coffee. It just doesn't get any better - a great group of guys ending the morning with 28 ducks (16 mallards, 6 pintails, 3 gadwall and 3 northern shovelers).