One Shell, One Drake: A Solo Hunt with Nothing Extra
No boat. No spread. No buddies. Just a single decoy, a sliver of riverbank, and one greenhead that made it all worthwhile. If all you need is one good duck, you don’t need anything else.
🏞️ The Setup You’d Never Brag About
I wasn’t even planning to hunt. I had an hour before work, a shotgun in the truck, and a spot I’d glassed once on the way to a fishing trip: a narrow bend of river with just enough current break to hold a duck or two.
No blind. No layout. Just me in brown canvas and a single Avian-X floater tossed 15 feet off the bank.
Wind in my face. No calling. No motion decoy. Just stillness.
🦆 The Bird That Slipped In Like a Whisper
At 7:21 a.m., a lone mallard circled once, silent, low, tight to the water.
I didn’t move. Didn’t shoulder my gun until he backpedaled.
One shot. One bird. Splash.
I walked in, boots half-soaked, and picked him up myself. No dog. No photos. Just feathers in hand and steam off the river.
🎙️ “You don’t need a pile to call it a success. You just need one perfect moment.”
🧠 What the Solo Hunt Taught Me
✔️ Low-pressure spots still produce
If it’s hard to access or unglamorous, chances are the ducks feel safe there.
✔️ Minimalist hunts are often the most rewarding
You hear the wings. Feel the air. Think through every move. And it pays off.
✔️ You don’t need a dog to do it right
Would it have been easier? Sure. But doing it all myself hit different.
✔️ One clean shot > three loud ones
This wasn’t about numbers. It was about control.
✔️ Quick hunts remind you it’s not always about the time spent
It’s about being present when the moment shows up.
🧰 The Few Tools That Made It Work
| Item | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|
| Benelli M2 12-Gauge | Fast, simple, and flawless on one cold barrel |
| Federal Black Cloud #3 | Clean drop, folded the bird on first shot |
| Avian-X Mallard Floater (Single) | All I needed for realism in a calm pocket |
| Drake Eqwader Pullover | Dry enough to sit, warm enough to focus |
| Gator Waders Swamp Bootfoot | Kept me dry retrieving the bird in shallow muck |
🌟 Final Shot: More Isn’t Always Better
The hunt lasted 37 minutes. I never fired again. I still think about it weeks later.
🎙️ “If all you need is one good duck, you don’t need anything else.”
📍Filed under: Waterfowl Hunting
🕯️ Difficulty Level: Simple, Quiet, Effective
🦆 Result: One Greenhead Drake
🌊 Location: Riverbend Pocket, Central Flyway
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