In the dark of an October night, the four hunters of Team Duckbusters were plotting and planning.  The Michigan Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club was having its first annual duck hunting   tournament the next morning and due to the summer-like weather, the ducks have been taking their time making the trip down the  Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways.  Team Duckbusters would need a special plan.  Getting up before dawn, heading out to the draw at Fish Point State Wildlife Area, and hoping to be called early would not be enough for this hunt.  The types of decoys and their configuration had to be just right.   So the plan was hatched, and  all four hunters were happy with their work.  They settled in for a good night’s sleep.  Thunder and his pup Smokey were also settled in for the night.  They needed their rest for the big  duck hunting tournament.  Thunder was a bit restless.  He could hear the ducks in the Refuge.  He knew that the next day was very important for Team Duckbusters.  He paced a bit, waiting for the blare of the alarm clock to signal the start of the hunting.

The morning was warm with a light wind.  The four hunters headed off to the draw with their 2 dawgs and their special plan.  Luck was on their side because their party was called as one of the first ten parties.  Anyone who hunts managed areas will tell you that the earlier your number is drawn the better, because sometimes there are too many hunters for available hunting areas.  But on this day, the hunters would have their choice of hunting areas.  YES!  The plan was working.  They selected their spot and headed out.  They placed their decoys exactly as they had planned the night before.  The hunters were hopeful.  The dawgs were still restless.  Then they waited; decoys and guns at the ready, eyes scanning the sky.  Thunder and Smokey waited also watching the sky.  It was just minutes until shooting opened.  Would the plan pay off?

Although there were a few missed shots, Team Duckbusters splashed 6 ducks.  That meant 6 retrieves for Thunder and Smokey.  (Well Thunder would have taken all of the retrieves because he is a Duck-Alcoholic, but he was urged to share with Smokey.)  The final tally was 1 large American Black duck, 3 Mallards, 1 Pintail, and 1 Bufflehead duck.  But would that be enough to bring home the trophy?  After all that glow-eyed dawg from Team Animal tried to put the HOO-DOO on Team Duckbusters and The Duck Marsh King claimed he would reign supreme.

It appears the only thing that glow-eyed dawg put the HOO-DOO on was the camera because it malfunctioned and so there are no pictures of Cindy, (who is Thunder and Smokey’s breeder and Thunder’s co-owner), from Team Duckbusters being declared the winner and awarded the first annual Michigan Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club Duck Hunting Tournament trophy.  But are photos really needed when a legend is born?  (Actually I believe there are some pictures on Cindy’s camera and she has promised to share. 🙂  Hopefully soon there will be pictures to post of the winner with the trophy and the dogs with their ducks.)  In the meantime, how about a picture of Cindy with Thunder boy taken the day after the victory.

Congratulations to Cindy and the rest of Team Duckbusters…Jim, Chris and John!  Also a special congratulations and thank you to Elbert aka The Duck Marsh King for organizing such a fun event.  Better luck next year! 

The day after the big tournament, the hunters had only a bit of luck with one retrieve for Thunder.  The weather seems to be finally changing so hopefully the hunting will improve.  Follow this link to a PDF of Fish Point’s Waterfowl Count Estimates.   This page has links to the various waterfowl counts from all over Michigan.