9781422283165

8 about the big day that lies ahead. As you hike along in the dim light, the fresh scent of pine fills the air. The natural world is all around you, from the fallen leaves crunching softly underfoot to the dew-tipped branches brushing your sleeve. Already it’s a beautiful scene—and when the yel- low sun begins to peek over the horizon and wash the forest in golden light, the whole group pauses to take in the breathtaking sight. This is nature at its best, and you are in the middle of it all! By the time the group nears the blind, the soft morning light brings the whole area into view, including a wide, quiet pond lined with tall grass. You slosh through the shallows toward the blind on its banks, feeling grateful for the tall rubber boots keeping you dry. It’s harder walking than the dry path, but the changing scenery offers plenty of entertainment along the way. Luckily, there will be plenty of time to enjoy that scenery from your front-row seats in the blind. Right now, though, it’s time to get settled in and dive into that breakfast in your backpack! Your hunting guide lifts a camouflage flap to let you step into the wooden duck blind, which has a seat for each hunter and even a special platform (complete with a ramp into the water) for Cher. The long walk has worked up a big appetite, and it feels great to sit down and fill up on a healthy breakfast. You’ll need that fuel for the hours ahead: hunting requires a mix of concen- tration and patience, and you want to be sure you have the energy and focus you need. Today you’ll be hunting for ducks, so your gear includes a duck call and decoys, as well as binoculars and a youth-sized shotgun. After breakfast all the gear gets organized in the blind so it’s easy to reach when you need it. Your guide walks with you back into the marsh to position decoys in the water, where ducks will see them. Then he helps to load the shotgun and shows you how to stow it safely with the safety on until it’s needed. Now it’s time to wait. After a while, a pack of ducks flies overhead. You blow through the call to make a loud quack, drawing the ducks’ attention to the sound while you stay hidden in the blind. A duck draws near, coming to settle in the water near the decoy. Carefully you raise the shotgun to your