AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 • NEBRASKAland 43
That day at County Line, we were about to reap the rewards of Keith's
and the Friends of the Rainwater Basin's hard work. My first year in 2014
was a learning experience as I had never hunted teal before then. As
the sun rose, birds catapulted across the sky. We crouched low in the
reeds, looking skyward and in they came like mini fighter jets buzzing
all around us from different directions. These small ducks took me by
surprise with their speed and low-flying acrobats, and it took a few
shells before I connected with my first bird. As I picked it up, I proudly
showed it to Keith, and he smiled and said, "There's more where that
came from."
The 2015 opener was no different. With the morning light, the birds
came in, and being rusty from months of no shooting, I took several
shots before downing my first bird of the season. By mid-morning, we
all had our teal. But more importantly, I felt that I was now a permanent
part of my family's tradition.
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