It's Duck Season!

Today was the first day of duck season in Virginia. So I got up at 5:00, got into my long underwear and waders and headed out to a area of flooded timber to try my luck. Since I was going to be hunting on pulic land, I was worried that someone would already be set up in the spot that I had been looking at. Fortunately, nobody was there when I arrived at 5:45.

It was below freezing when I started out to find the perfect spot. I broke through a thin skin of ice on the water as I tramped through. This would be the first time I had used waders and I was surprised when I would sink to my knee in the mud and leaves. I stayed dry and warm and that's the whole point of waders.

I found what looked like a good spot. A small point of land about 3 feet above the water with plenty of brush for me to hide in. I got out my decoys and started to set up my spread.

After setting up a few, I heard a loud snort and cough behind me. It scared me to death. I looked around and didn't see a thing since it was still dark. I hopped back up on top of the point where my shotgun was. Not that I could see anything to shoot at but I felt better about being closer to it.

Then I started to hear more snorts and coughs coming from several sources. There was a lot swishing coming from the water. I got out my flashlight and shined it over the water and saw 6 sets of eyes shining back at me. They were otters and they were curious about what I was doing. I relaxed considerably as I watched them swim about.

I watched them for about five minutes and it started to lighten up. Then I heard a buzzing of wings coming up from behind me. I froze as they came nearer. Suddenly, about 8 wood ducks flew right over me and turned to head down the water. It was neat to see them. I was amazed at how loud they were flying through the air. I looked at my watch, it was 6:05. Fifteen more minutes to shooting time. I set out the last of my dekes and settled into the brush.

Then another flight of woodies crossed in front of me from left to right and put in the water near the road. I couldn't see them because of the brush and I didn't want to stand up and scare them off. Hopefully, they'll get curious and swim up to me.

It was now 6:20. I heard several shots off in the distance as other duck hunters tried to get the ducks in their decoys. Minutes passed as I waited for the woodies to come my way. The otters were still playing around. The woodies made a loud splash and protest as an otter got too close. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a duck moving through my spread. I slowly turned to look and realized that it was one of my dekes and it was moving on it's own! Suddenly, a head popped up in front of it. An otter had gotten tangled up in the deke's line. He quickly got himself free and moved on.

I hadn't heard the woodies in awhile. I decided to try and sneak up on them and hopefully get a shot off when they got up off the water. I walked in a crouch over to where they had been and saw nothing. They were gone. I have no idea how they got out of there without me hearing. Then a black duck hen buzzed my dekes and headed on down the pond. I was too far away to get off a shot.

That was incentive enough to get back in my spot and see if anything else came. There had been more shooting in the distance and I hoped that the ducks would get stirred up enough and come my way. Sure enough, a group of what looked like pintails flew just out of range and land about 75 yards from me. They had landed just past another point. As I looked at it, I decided that I could walk all the way to that point and they wouldn't be able to see me.

I made my way to them. When I got to the point, I realized that the water didn't go back as far on the other side and I spooked the ducks. I put my gun up and quickly squeezed off three shots which I knew were futile. They were too far away.

In my excitement, I left my extra shells back on the bank. So, I headed back. As I tramped back to my spot, my boot pressed up against a stick stuck in the mud. I looked down and it had punctured my brand new waders. Watertight integrity had been compromised. My day was done.

I got back to my spot and started to pack up. Then I turned my attention to my dekes. I had to wade to get them. This was not going to be fun. I took a step into the water and felt nothing. Maybe my waders have some sort of self sealing feature. I continued to pick up my dekes and then I felt it. A slow, cold feeling taking over my right foot. There was a leak. It didn't feel like it was flooding, just a trickle. I had all the deks in the bag but two. One appeared to have drifted away from where I placed it. I picked it up and saw that the line had been chewed through, presumably by an otter. I then headed for the deke who had taken an otter ride. As I waded out to it, the water got higher and higher until I could go no further without flooding out. I tried to reach it with a stick with no luck. I shrugged, nothing I could do about it, I'd have to leave it.

I loaded my stuff in the truck and headed home. On the way, I passed a field with about 30 Canada geese feeding 20 feet from the road. I pulled over to look at them. They put a few more feet between us but there must have been too much good stuff to eat since they stayed put. As I scanned the gaggle, I saw a red collar on one of the geese. My mind raced, goose is in season, isn't it? I fumbled for my book of regs to check. Then I stopped. They were on private land and I couldn't tell whose it was. So I headed on down the road to home and dry socks.

European Security Level Update

The British are feeling the pinch in relation to recent bombings and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorised from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country's military capability.

It's not only the English and French that are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "shout loudly and excitedly" to "elaborate military posturing". Two more levels remain, "ineffective combat operations" and "change sides".

The Germans also increased their alert state from "disdainful arrogance" to "dress in uniform and sing marching songs". They also have two higher levels: "invade a neighbour" and "lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual and the only threat they worry about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

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Hat tip to The Corner.
John at Castle Arrghh! has it too.

Veteran's Day Message

I normally skip over these messages but I'm glad that I read this one.

QQQQ
SUBJ: VETERANS DAY MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 054/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/VETERANS DAY MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ORIGINALLY COMMEMORATED AS ARMISTICE DAY TO MARK
THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES KNOWN AS "THE GREAT WAR," VETERANS DAY
IS A CELEBRATION OF THE SERVICE AND SELFLESSNESS OF OUR NATION'S
VETERANS. THE TITLE OF VETERAN IS A TERM OF GREAT RESPECT DUE TO THE
PATRIOTISM, WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, AND DEDICATION TO A LARGER CAUSE
DISPLAYED BY THOSE WHO HAVE WORN THE CLOTH OF THE NATION THROUGHOUT
OUR HISTORY. WHETHER SERVING FOR A FEW YEARS OR FOR MANY, THESE MEN
AND WOMEN HAVE GARNERED THE ENDURING SUPPORT OF A GRATEFUL NATION.
OUR WARS HAVE TAKEN SOME OF OUR FINEST COUNTRYMEN IN THE HEYDAY OF
THEIR LIVES, AND IT IS RIGHT THAT WE REFLECT ON THEIR SACRIFICES
THIS DAY.
2. WE COME TO THIS VETERANS DAY A MARINE CORPS AT WAR. ALONG WITH
OUR SISTER SERVICES, WE CONTINUE TO NOBLY MEET THE LATEST CHALLENGE
TO THE FREEDOMS WE AS AMERICANS HOLD DEAR. JUST AS OUR FOREFATHERS
DID, MARINES TODAY ARE SETTING ASIDE THEIR INTERESTS, COMFORTS, AND
WELL-BEING TO SAFEGUARD THE SAME FOR OUR FELLOW AMERICANS AND
OTHERS. STANDING VIGILANTLY AROUND THE GLOBE TO THWART THOSE WHO
WOULD VISIT FURTHER VIOLENCE ON OUR HOMELAND, WE HAVE ALSO SHOWN
UNRIVALED BENEVOLENCE AND COMPASSION TO OTHERS WHO LONG FOR LIBERTY.
OUR HERITAGE IS ONE OF HELPING TO BRING FREEDOM TO MILLIONS AROUND
THE WORLD, AND WE CONTINUE THIS TRADITION TODAY AS WE PROSECUTE THE
GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.
3. AS WE PAUSE TO COMMEMORATE THIS VETERANS DAY, KEEP IN MIND THE
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR ARMED FORCES. KNOW THAT
YOUR SERVICE IS A SOURCE OF GREAT PRIDE TO OUR NATION, AND I ASK YOU
CONTINUE YOUR VALIANT EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER. SEMPER
FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE
MARINE CORPS.//
BT
NNNN

Bush and Kilgore Part II

From the Richmond T-D;
"Pesident Bush is expected to visit Virginia Monday to campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore, sources said this morning."

What was that talk about Kilgore running away from the President?

Alito Poll

Hugh Hewitt has a poll up on the Alito nomination.