Young hunter holds his own on closing day
The last day of duck season boomed for some hunters and was a bust for others.David J. Sams, founder and CEO of Lone Star Outdoor News, spent his last morning in a blind with 13-year-old Dylan Nelson.
Nelson blew his hunting partners away with his calling skills and photogenic charm in front of Sams’ camera. He also leveled his gun on four birds — three mallards and a ring-necked duck.
He told Sams it was the best hunt he’d ever had. {mosimage}Sams shot three ducks — all greenheads.
Sams and Nelson were joined by Nelson’s father, Dave Nelson, for the Hopkins County hunt.
All three hunters were calling, but the boy’s blend of quacks impressed Sams.
“I told him he needed to enter a youth duck calling contest,” Sams said.The morning started calm, but the weather changed early. A blustery north wind started about 8:30 a.m.
It might have had the geese confused.
“We saw some snow geese flying north into the north wind,” Sams said. “They were at 5,000 feet.”
Maybe it also had the ducks upside down. Sams figured the weather would have them flying, but they did not have high numbers coming into their spread.
“They didn’t seem to be more active after the front,” Sams said.
On Lake Ray Roberts, Cable Smith’s last day of the season had him hoping for the opening day of next season.
His hunting party only brought in two birds, Smith said
.Lone Star Outdoor News Editor and Publisher Craig Nyhus was hunting near Waco in chest deep water and found his waders leaked super cold water into his seat. That did not bother him too much as he managed to take a couple of gadwall on the last day.
