Canvasbacks are king of the ducks and mallards probably top every hardcore hunter’s list but bagging wood ducks were on the top of my bucket list.
Finding wood ducks became very elusive for me, an avid duck hunter. I spent many chilly mornings in blinds or flooded wood timbers…ten years of hopping…to get a glance or shot at my first wood duck. Two states and five guides later…I bagged Mister Woody. I could not believe luck had changed!
My time was well spent in nature as I learned many valuable tips and insights from great duck hunting guides about these little spooky ducks. I finally decided how to have my perfect specimen and pose of a wood duck for my trophy room…it was placed in one of the most important first glance places. I loved that duck and his beauty surpassed all my other ducks hands down.
When I returned from a black tail deer hunt in California, I picked up Shaka, Deutsch Drahthaar from Camp Chuck, her trainer. She was running wild and crazy through our trophy room and sniffing for any new mounts. I noticed she was quiet and not to be found. Holy crap! She had retrieved Mister Woody again. On command she dropped my prize possession. Only thing…Mister Woody was missing his left foot! Another quest…to find a left foot for my wood duck. I sent out an SOS to every wood duck hunter across the US to come to the aid of an orange left foot. To no avail, I was once again on the hunt for a left orange wood duck foot.
I finally called upon my favorite duck guide in Oklahoma and he had the perfect small slough in a brushy spot. I booked and bagged two drakes and a hen. Only to notice none of them had orange feet.
