2021 first duck
So, a little backstory. I moved in June, and I have been struggling to find a spot to waterfowl hunt. After a while, I started my elk hunt. Then, two guys, who are my fathers coworkers, came to where I lived for a short range deer hunt. They went to their spot, and did not get their deer. They told me, "There were a lot of ducks and geese there."
It was public hunting land, and I went with them in the afternoon the next day, which was opening day of the season. I scouted around, waders on, gun ready, decoys ready, and I jumped six ducks. I fired a shot and took one down, then my gun got an empty shell jammed in the chamber, forcing me to go back to shore and fix it after retrieving the duck, which turned out to be a hen mallard.
After fixing my gun, I went back out and was not able to get anything else.
Still, first duck of the season! The hen was around 2 pounds. Not bad, but I have taken bigger hens.
By the way, I try my best to take males, but sometimes I get a female. State regulations say daily limit on ducks is 7, no more than 2 may be hen mallards.
Picture attached.
Jared