Fair warning: this blog will focus on duck hunting. So if you really dislike or disapprove of hunting, you might want to take a pass.

However, we are in the midst of Wisconsin's hunting season and this story might shed some light on the question of whether hunters can be good bird conservationists.

The first point is a bit different and is a tribute to a special category of mom and dad. Many of you reading this have fond memories of being introduced to birding, hiking, gardening, hunting, or fishing by your parents and those must be fond memories. But many of us had parents who had no interest in outdoor activities, physically could not participate in them, or were working so hard they had no time for them. Some of those parents, though, recognized that, for Lord knows what reason, their child wanted to watch birds or fish or camp, etc. They'd make special arrangements so their children could have those opportunities. I will always remember and cherish the memories of my Mom giving up afternoons to take me fishing. She'd sit in a shady spot at a local lake reading or, as a devout Catholic would, saying her rosary, while I fished for a couple of hours. Looking back, I hope the hours of peace and quiet were as good for her as for me, although I'd disrupt them with loud shouts whenever I caught a fish, especially a bass.

Fast forward several years and one of my younger brothers and I dragged in the house from three days of the wettest, most tiring, most unsuccessful duck hunts ever. Mom said, “I can't do anything about ducks but I can take you out for a nice meal.” We were sitting in one of Little Rock's nicest restaurants, when Mike, one of my Mom and Dad's oldest friends, walked in. Mom remembered that for several years after my father had died Mike said that he'd be happy to take the boys duck hunting at his little club. Mom jumped from the table, ran to the front door, and said," “Mike, will you please take my boys duck hunting?”

This was probably a breach of duck hunting decorum, but Mom was desperate to help her sons and Mike was always the kindest and most generous of gentlemen. Two days later, we were in the car at 3:30 AM, leaving Little Rock for Mike's duck hunting club near Stuttgart.

Mike's little club was 700-800 acres of flooded willows and huge patches of smartweed. As we motored through the dark in a little jonboat to where we'd be standing in the thigh-high water, we heard the darndest racket, like God throwing bowling balls through the willows. As the sky lightened, we saw that the sound was made by thousands of ducks flushing from the water. This might be a really good duck hunt, I thought.

We had our limit of drake mallards in about 30 minutes. We had spent more time just watching ducks than shooting. Every species of puddle duck and goose in the Mississippi Flyway was swarming about along with lots of other water birds. Watching intently with us and springing into action was Moon, Mike’s medium-sized black Lab and one of the finest dogs I'll ever be privileged to know. Moon was sitting quietly on a platform. Unlike most duck hunting situations where the shooting and birds falling are going to be in one direction, we were shooting in a full 360 degree circle surrounded by those willows. Moon could not see many of the birds but he watched, he LISTENED, and he'd launch himself at every downed bird. He was 100% successful in every retrieve, as he was in every hunt I ever shared with him.

Mike had rules for his duck hunting. Everyone had to be out of the woods by 10 AM with no afternoon hunts, and could only shoot at mallard drakes. If you shot another duck by mistake you had to contribute $10 to a duck conservation organization. Every duck was cleaned properly and immediately, and were prime table fare.

A major and minor claim are often made by hunters, duck hunters in particular, with regard to conservation:

Hunters preserve critical habitat for many species, including lots of non-game species, and
A well-trained retriever aids in conservation.

On the latter point, Moon made sure we did not lose ducks. That helped ensure we were hunting ethically and did not shoot over our limit.

On the former point, Mike's land held thousands of ducks and other birds through the season in the perfect habitat for what they needed to do in that part of their life cycle—that is, stay safe and return to their breeding grounds in healthy, prime condition. Mike and his partners killed very few ducks relative to that population and then only drakes of the species there in the highest number. Lots of herons, egrets, coots, birds of prey, and many little birds in the willows loved hanging out at MIke's place. Mike was a conservationist in many other ways. Usually in an Arkansas duck hunting situation, when Mr. No Shoulders in the form of a water moccasin meets a duck hunter he is introduced to Mr. 12 Gauge. Not Mike. I remember the last hunt I had with Mike in a very warm spell that had the moccasins out. One snake in particular was out every morning when Mike and his friends returned to the little boat landing. Mike made it very clear that no one was to harm the snake. Lucky snake and a wonderful final memory of MIke.

Mike died early this year after a long, happy, and productive life filled with wonderful family, friends, and memories.

*Otsego Marsh, Madison Audubon property. Madison Audubon photo*

There is a local connection to Mike, at least for me. When I learned of his passing, I thought of Ostego Marsh, Madison Audubon’s beautiful wetland and woodland property which had no waterfowl breeding habitat until this year when the organization purchased the 36 acres of upland future prairie. This will be lovely habitat for ducks and other waterfowl to nest in. And while hunting is almost entirely prohibited* at Madison Audubon properties, I made a contribution in Mike's honor and memory (you can too, in honor of a bird- or nature-loving loved one). When the nesting habitat is restored, I'm going to make a visit and try to connect with some mallard and teal hens… I'll be telling them of just the place to spend their winters.

Topf Wells, Madison Audubon board member and advocacy committee chair

*Hunting is not permitted on Madison Audubon properties with the exception of limited, pre-approved deer hunting to control deer populations. Approval is granted by the sanctuary managers, and 2020 deer hunting opportunities are full.