TN I sort of had the same thing but the opposite reaction. Me and a friend took this newbie out. Just like you it was late in the season. The 3 of us were sitting in the blind and I saw a lone duck coming up the river. I could tell it was either a black duck or a hen mallard and it was high. I started high balling it and it turned toward and I started to chuckle at it. It passed by and I give a come back call. This went on for a couple minutes with it circling the dekes. Finally it locked up, dropped altitude and was coming in and was perfect. Coming right at us at about 30 yards and as it saw something it didn't like and started to climb I said now wanting our newbie to shoot. He just sat there and watched it fly away. I said why didn't you shoot. He replied I was waiting for it to land. I told him you don't shoot ducks on the water and it don't get any better than that! My friend was just looking at him in disbelief!!