Good Morning and Happy New Year’s Eve Eve everyone! As we turn the page to yet another year, we look back at the year or year’s gone by and can only hope as we move forward the sun continues to shine brighter on the Happy Camp Wilderness. As fall fell into winter, right now we are sitting at -44 degrees and yes this Fahrenheit not Celsius, the bitterness just stings. If my figuring is right in C, the temps would be like -90. Either way, that is damn cold!!!
Waterfowling was put in my blood I guess from Dad or Grandpa. As I get older, its harder to get going especially in the cold, but Magoo nudegs me very early each weekend morning in hopes of a new adventure.
So for this Saturday Magoo and I hunted the shores of Lake Sakakawea near Coleharbor, North Dakota. Decoys were set and we waited for the Honkers to come back for water, I looked at Magoo and the white muzzle she now has and as I gazed into her eyes, many of our memories came to mind. So many adventures, hunts and travels we have gone thru, both above and below the border. Soon a lone goose flies into the spread, BOOM, the Goose thuds onto the ground. OFF is Magoo and the familiar, fantastic snort she has as she carries the 10 pound plus Canada Goose come back to hand. I have been so blessed to have such wonderful hunting companions, from Buster, Shadow and now Magoo, each of my Labs have been wonderful. Great companions and world class hunters and retrievers.
Magoo is nearing 11 years old and as I write she is laying at my feet. To walk and hunt with world class retrievers that you have worked with from the 49th day brings a pure sense of joy from within! To have the retriever work like an extension of your arm, turning on a dime to the whistle and working flawlessly through heavy marsh, woods or whitecaps is simply breathtaking. Being raised a waterfowler I am often reminded of how wonderful it is to reach Greatness, just below Perfection. To have that special companion at your side ready, waiting for their next direction is something that makes a heart swell like the Grinch on Christmas Day :))
I remember a few years ago hunting on White Otter Lake in the first bay in early November. The Webster and Kent Crew’s were in the woods chasing Moose while Magoo and I sat near the decoy spread waiting for ducks to lure in. Out in the main lake the wind roared and it was completely white. In the first bay it was windy but not white yet but the day was still early.
In the duckblind, the coffee cup empty so Magoo and I stood and stretched. Magoo’s head quickly turned to the east and locked on a small black dot in the sky. Quickly the dot became a small group of birds winging their way to the spread. Magoo trembling was shaking and drooling with excitement as the group of a half dozen or so divers swung out wide of the decoys.
I reached for the duck call making the diver putts and brrt’s which brought them immediately out to the west and the hooked towards the spread. As they neared the line of white decoys, 3 broke off and went north as the rest set their wings and sailed into the spread. I emptied the gun and 3 Buffleheads were down, 2 in the spread and the other swimming toward the main lake. Magoo was off for the swimmer. Magoo pumping fast was hard to see her black head as she was about half way out in the bay. I guessed Magoo was about 400 yards as she caught the duck turned and headed back with the retrieve.
Magoo finishes the retrieve to hand, shakes off, sits down and says “what’s next boss?” Times like this I am often reminded I am so blesses to be in the presence of greatness. It is really hard to explain but I simply say, I hope everyone has the opportunity to be near or part of greatness in some capacity at sometime during your life. Greatness does not come easy, nor should it, but once you reach and experienced , it is simply the greatest addiction one can ever have, achieve or experience!
2022 will ring in new greatness and perhaps perfection. I have been blessed being part of greatness and can not wait for the next drip of greatness to come our way! Hopefully this will take place at Happy Camp and we can hope for 2022 to bring us back together. Until then, hug your hounds, loved ones and raise a cup of Cheer in remembrance of those lost before us and the Perfection or Greatness we all may strive for and Experience!
God Bless everyone and Happy New Year!!