January - Part 2 - The End.

     The last few weeks of the season flew by, and although it wasn't the best year, it's always sad to see another one end.  We made an effort to hunt a lot during the last week or so, and to make the best of it.  Keeping with the rest of the season, there wasn't a lot of birds, but we had fun and took a few. We Finally got some cold weather and even a blizzard (my favorite time to hunt is during a blizzard). 
 
     In the end I made lots of memories and had fun with good friends, which is what it is really all about.  The birds are all just a bonus. 

Here are some photos I took during the last couple weeks. 

My friend Dave retrieving a pair of geese after shooting a fine double.

Two layout blinds hidden in the row dividing two crops.  If you can't see them, the mallards and geese surely couldn't.

Kyle watching a large flock of geese ignore our spread.  That's the way it goes sometimes. 

A classic Narragnsett Bay bag.  Two Brant and a drake black duck (the limit for each).

Love waking up to a little snow.

1965 Johnson and a handcarved black duck on the back of my brother's hand built barnegat bay sneak boat.

Bill catching a nap in his sneak boat. 

 My brother retrieving a black duck on an afternoon hunt.

 Bill retrieving a pair of geese.

Geese and black ducks on a cold afternoon in the salt marsh with Bob and Bill.

Josh and Bob braving the pounding snow and freezing temperature in their layout blinds.  All for a few ducks!

If anyone wants to question our devotion, this photo should help!

 Josh, How do you feel about hunting in a blizzard and freezing your hands chasing down a bird?

A self portrait before my hands got too cold to hold the camera anymore. 

Another self portrait. 

Josh on the final morning of the 2011-2012 RI duck season. 

There was no shortage of geese wanting in the spread.

A single goose that landed about 15 feet from us.  We were feeling generous and let him fly off. 

Icicles.

The duck bag for the last day for Josh, John, and I.  Mallards, black ducks, and wigeon, along with a few geese (not pictured) made for a great last hunt of the season.