OUTDOORS: Savoring memories of the hunt

We ended up with four ducks for the morning and each will be the main course for a game dinner provided by our own hunting efforts. A Thanksgiving meal of sorts, that stirs memories and appreciation for our years of outdoor adventures.

On Friday evening for supper Mary cooked one of the black ducks I got back in December. She also made wild rice, butternut squash, Swiss chard and homemade apple sauce. The duck breasts had been marinated overnight and were delicious.

 While we ate, I thought back to the hunt. It was during deer season and my brother Barry and I had decided to take the day off from chasing whitetails to canoe out to our blind and set up for ducks. I’m glad we did because it turned out to be one of my most memorable hunts of the year.

 We arrived in the dark, set out the decoys, then climbed into the blind to wait for legal light, which is a half-hour before sunrise. A few ducks started flying as the sky lightened and soon small flocks began circling the area. The sunrise was spectacular, lighting the swamp with vibrant colors like you see in a fine piece of waterfowl hunting art.

 Some of the ducks flew closer. Barry watched intently waiting for the right opportunity to use his old wooden duck call and when he did some of the blacks and mallards set their wings and glided down toward the decoys. It wasn’t long before I had my first black of the day followed soon by a handsome drake mallard.

 We ended up with four ducks for the morning and each will be the main course for a game dinner provided by our own hunting efforts. A Thanksgiving meal of sorts, that stirs memories and appreciation for our years of outdoor adventures.

 Proposed turkey hunting changes: MassWildlife is considering changes to wild turkey-hunting regulations affecting bag limits, fall season dates, and the Youth Hunt. MassWildlife recently initiated a review of turkey-hunting regulations to evaluate potential changes that create new hunting opportunities and increase participation. The public is invited to provide feedback at two upcoming information sessions. The meeting dates are Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. at MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westboro, and Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Palmer Public Library, 1445 North Main St., Palmer.

 The suggested turkey-hunting regulation changes are: increase the annual limit to three turkeys (two bearded birds in the spring and one of either sex in the fall); increase the daily bag limit to two per day during the spring season; expand the fall season (archery only) to coincide with the archery deer season; expand the Youth Turkey Hunt Day hunting hours to a half-hour before sunrise until 5 p.m.; allow Youth Turkey permits issued to youth aged 12–14 for use in the fall turkey hunting season.

 Hunting season corrections: MassWildlife reports that despite several reviews prior to publishing, there are several hunting season date errors in the printed version of the 2019 Guide to Freshwater Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Laws involving the bear, snowshoe hare, and furbearer hunting seasons. While all digital versions of the guide have been corrected, hard-copy versions distributed at state offices, retailers, and other license vendors contain hunting season date errors. For more information visit the MassWildlife website or call (508) 389-6300.

 Standish Sportsman’s Show: Next Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 2-3), the Standish Sportsman's Association is holding its 40th annual Southeastern Massachusetts Sportsman's Show at its clubhouse on Burr Lane in East Bridgewater. There will be numerous displays and a full array of outdoor products for sale. The club will also be raffling a .22 caliber rifle.

 A partial list of exhibitors includes: kayak and canoe dealers; saltwater, freshwater and fly-fishing tackle; archery dealers; Maine guides; Ford trucks; guns and ammo dealers; knife dealers; outdoor clothing and embroidering; taxidermist and outdoor power equipment.

 Saltwater fishing licenses will be available from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Other exhibitors include MassWildlife; Environmental Police; Mass. Sportsmen's Council; Plymouth County League of Sportsmen; Mass. Striped Bass Association; Trout Unlimited and Mass. Beach Buggy Association.

 Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults. Children under the age of 15 are free.

For more information, call Hugh Hurley at 508-243-5699 or visit the club website at www.standishsportsmans.com. Bring a copy of the show flyer or bring a copy of this column and receive $2 off admission at the door.

Randy Julius’ Outdoors column appears Sundays in The Enterprise.