Around here, they hardly band any local birds that I am aware of, except for a few on the refuges.
I know of more than one guy that has been chasing birds longer than I have been alive and they still have virgin lanyards.
But some people seem to have all the luck with the bling, so when I got my first band in 2007, a few choice words and dancing went on, that's for sure.
It was a couple of days after Christmas.
I had arrived right on time which was surprising considering the driving conditions. It was so foggy I was worried about finding my way to "the spot", but I remembered it's easier to see in the fog if you turn off your lights.
Once there, I set up my decoys, got my dog situated, and waited for shooting time. I love hunting in the fog.
The first ducks that decoyed were a pair of buffleheads and I managed a double. The next birds that worked the spread were a pair of mallards, a drake and a hen. They didn’t commit to the decoys, but they were close, and two shots later the drake was head up on the water. After a swatter shot to finish off the drake, my dog made quick work of the retrieve. When she got back up on shore I noticed something on its leg right away. My first bling!
On this solo hunt, I finished the day off with a few widgeon and a golden eye. I had my limit and my first band.
After reporting the band numbers, a couple of weeks later I got my band certificate and learned the bird was banded in Central Saskatchewan. That's about 1100 miles away.
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