Flooded Timber-Alabama Jewlery
Ben Cole 01.15.19
Hunters know the value associated with harvesting a banded duck or goose. It’s more than a prize to simply display around your lanyard for all to see. It tells a story about the bird harvested which is more satisfying than the band itself in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I find great joy in harvesting a banded duck every time is occurs. There are some hunters who are fourtant enough to harvest large amounts of banded birds in their hunting careers but others, like myself, who have managed two in the twenty plus years of chasing fowl.
It was a cool, rainy January morning in North East Alabama that usually indicates good hunting weather. Jared Force, Amber Davis, Kelly Cobb, Don and myself headed into a private timber hole in hopes of harvesting some mallards or whatever wale decided to meander through the spread. As the sun broke through, as much as it could, the clouds the woods erupted with the quacks of mallards and gadwall along with the occasional squeal of a wood duck. Not long after loading our guns a group of teal buzzed the spread at an impeccable rate but the time wasn’t right to shoot, thus we watched them fly about the trees. As time passed by, reaching that precise hour, more and more groups of teal, woodducks, and ring necks worked out spread giving opportunity after opportunity for close range shots.
We shot several times, dropping birds out of each group, but there was a wood duck that gave my shooting skills a run for their money. Although my efforts were strong, he escaped without losing a feather. As the morning passed, too quickly, one last bird decided to make a run through the decoys. Without hesitation Don shouldered his gun and made an outstanding long range shot, bringing the bird down in the trees. Jared went to retrieve the bird and let out a shout of joy when he found the green wing floating about. At this point I thought he had fell in or something had happened but I soon found out what the excitement was all about.
The teal had been banded in 2015 in North Dakota and was harvested in North East Alabama. Needless to say this was the icing on the cake for everyone involved in this hunt. Furthermore I was full of excitement for Don who was the rightful owner of the prize. Out of all my years chasing fowl never have I encountered a banded teal on a hunt, much less green wing teal in this part of Alabama.
Seeing the thrill on everyone’s face, which was dirived from the harvest of this rare bird made the hunt one to write in my book of hunts to share with my kids one day. You know sharing your passion with others is something that brings a lot of satisfaction but the friendships one makes afield will not soon be broken.
Gear List:
Remington Versa Max
Remington Hypersonic Ammunition
Banded Waders
Sure-Shot Game Calls
To keep up with my hunting endevours feel free to follow me on Instagram- benjamintcole
