By David DiBenedetto

On Saturday morning, Pritch and I tagged along with my two of my nephews as they took us to their favorite wood duck hole in Greenwood, S.C. It would be Pritch’s first duck hunt. Was I nervous for my pup? Heck, yes. It was 26 degrees at 5:30 a.m. I knew the swamp was thick with growth, old stumps, and the occasional barbed wire fence. And trudging through the muck was not unlike walking through peanut butter. But I zipped Pritch up in her vest and off we went on a 15-minute slog.

Once there, my nephews and I quickly discussed a strategy and set out six decoys. Then we chose our spots. Mine was soggy patch of reeds next to an old gum tree. As shooting time approached, I took a few moments to take stock.

There I stood with my nephews and my dog. I had watched the boys—Robert, 18, (pictured above) and Tommy, 19, grow up. Tommy was home from his first semester at Wake Forest University, and Robert is headed into his last semester of high school. They are both serious hunters and excellent shots (unlike their uncle).

My pup was at my side, like she has been for the past 10 months. God knows how many hours I’ve spent training her—not to mention being altogether consumed with the thoughts of it. So far I had participated in every milestone of Pritch’s life, and this was very much a high point for me. Not the end game but a confirmation that I had hopefully done a few things right.

There we all stood, bound not only by familial bonds but by nature and its timeless rhythms, watching a dark sky turn grey. Listening. Waiting.

Honestly, is there anything better than being in the swamp with your family and your pup?

Well, yes. It gets better when you hear the faint whistle of the wood ducks, and your nephew whispers, “Dave, here they come.” When you look down at your pup you notice she’s already locked onto the birds, as if she’s been doing this for years. In fact, she’s letting out a slight but excited whimper. Then you see your nephews raise their guns.

I know I’m preaching to the choir, folks, but there’s nothing finer in this world.

More on the Pritch’s performance in the swamp later this week.

Comments (13)

from pinopolis wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

couldn't have said it better myself.

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from ejunk wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

great post! excited for you and for our (WV) second season opener on Wednesday!

yrs-
Evan!

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from MLH wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

You're definitely the proud daddy ... and uncle. Good stuff.

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from kelmitch wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Your leaving us all hanging Dave.Great writing! Pritch didnt nock down all those doves earlier in the year.These are the stories that are missing out of the magazines.

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from muskiemaster wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Can't wait. I've followed your stories all year, having gotten my puppy almost the exact same time you got pritch it's like I'm there with you. The first time my pup flushed a grouse I was overwhelmed with joy as I'm sure you will be when pritch retrieves her first duck.

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from Ontario Honker ... wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Well, at least she didn't fart in the car. Dave should start a blog on what the experts do about that.

I'm on the edge of my seat for the next installment. I remember when each of my dogs got their first birds. And I've had more than a few hunting dogs. Those are memories that I'll still be able to vividly recall when I take my last breath. Wish everyone could open a window into my brain and see them too. Thanks for opening one into yours for us, Dave.

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from coho310 wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

This'll make for good memories, Dave!

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from Brittle wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

well what happened
but great job looks like pritch is almost grown up my lab is 7 months

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from Douglas wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Please leave some woodies for us who live where the swamps are froze.
Sounds like you have some long and fruitful years coming to enjoy with your pup.

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from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Kelmitch, Ejunk, et all, Thanks for the kind words.

Honker, Yes, those first birds are something special.

Brittle, How's the pup coming. You using those bumpers you won here?

Muskiemaster, Glad to see you back around.

Douglas, We'll leave you some. Gotta admit they were flying in thick. -D

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from earlyriser81 wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Wow. Just the totality of it all would make for a great hunt. I look forward to hearing how the hunt went.

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from Douglas wrote 2 years 22 weeks ago

Dave
The woodies are thick down your way because I don't have a swamp dog to retrieve them. We are afraid to shoot the ducks for fear of losing them.
The call of those wood ducks trumps a loon call, in my opinion, as the "call of the wild".

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from ScottyBee wrote 12 weeks 2 days ago

It's great to see how gun dog's progress. It's good to see how far they come along and in how short of a time. I heard the guy over at www.duckcommander.com had one trained in under 2-3 months of full-time training. She was the best pup they had later on.

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from MLH wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

You're definitely the proud daddy ... and uncle. Good stuff.

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from pinopolis wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

couldn't have said it better myself.

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from ejunk wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

great post! excited for you and for our (WV) second season opener on Wednesday!

yrs-
Evan!

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from kelmitch wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Your leaving us all hanging Dave.Great writing! Pritch didnt nock down all those doves earlier in the year.These are the stories that are missing out of the magazines.

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from muskiemaster wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Can't wait. I've followed your stories all year, having gotten my puppy almost the exact same time you got pritch it's like I'm there with you. The first time my pup flushed a grouse I was overwhelmed with joy as I'm sure you will be when pritch retrieves her first duck.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Ontario Honker ... wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Well, at least she didn't fart in the car. Dave should start a blog on what the experts do about that.

I'm on the edge of my seat for the next installment. I remember when each of my dogs got their first birds. And I've had more than a few hunting dogs. Those are memories that I'll still be able to vividly recall when I take my last breath. Wish everyone could open a window into my brain and see them too. Thanks for opening one into yours for us, Dave.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coho310 wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

This'll make for good memories, Dave!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Brittle wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

well what happened
but great job looks like pritch is almost grown up my lab is 7 months

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Douglas wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Please leave some woodies for us who live where the swamps are froze.
Sounds like you have some long and fruitful years coming to enjoy with your pup.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dave DiBenedetto wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Kelmitch, Ejunk, et all, Thanks for the kind words.

Honker, Yes, those first birds are something special.

Brittle, How's the pup coming. You using those bumpers you won here?

Muskiemaster, Glad to see you back around.

Douglas, We'll leave you some. Gotta admit they were flying in thick. -D

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from earlyriser81 wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago

Wow. Just the totality of it all would make for a great hunt. I look forward to hearing how the hunt went.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Douglas wrote 2 years 22 weeks ago

Dave
The woodies are thick down your way because I don't have a swamp dog to retrieve them. We are afraid to shoot the ducks for fear of losing them.
The call of those wood ducks trumps a loon call, in my opinion, as the "call of the wild".

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from ScottyBee wrote 12 weeks 2 days ago

It's great to see how gun dog's progress. It's good to see how far they come along and in how short of a time. I heard the guy over at www.duckcommander.com had one trained in under 2-3 months of full-time training. She was the best pup they had later on.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.