RENVILLE, MINN. – Saturday morning in the Minnesota River bottoms south of this small town a few ducks flew about 10 minutes before sunrise. The state's waterfowl season had been open only a short while, and Will Smith and his son, Harrison, discharged a volley from their shotguns that splashed a hen wood duck into the water just beyond their decoys.
Similar efforts were being recorded at the same time throughout the state.
Win Mitchell and Jon Schneider, for instance, were in western Minnesota, hunting near Marsh Lake. Dan Gahlon and his bunch were in Douglas County on Lake Christina. Bill Marchel and Rolf Moen were on the Mississippi River near Brainerd. And John and Gary Graupman were on Swan Lake, north of Nicollet.
In days gone by, these waterfowlers would have been joined by tens of thousands just like them. Historically a haven for ducks and duck hunters, Minnesota for generations led the nation in the number of waterfowlers it put in the field.
Falling duck numbers and changing times have driven a stake into the heart of duck hunting, and now Minnesota often is subordinate to Texas measured by the number of federal duck stamps sold.
An embarrassment, yes, but in the end, it makes no nevermind. As long as Minnesota has water, it will have ducks, and with them residents who are drawn each fall to the state's wetlands and shallow lakes to seek thrills like no other while honoring a tradition that dates to the invention of gunpowder.
Mark.
Light was gathering more fully now against a low sky, and Harrison had alerted his dad to another squadron of wood ducks appearing over their decoys.