As a waterfowler that has hunted for 40 seasons, across all four major flyways in North America, that lacks 4 of the 32 huntable species of ducks…….I have been blessed to have traveled and gunned with some world class, dedicated and elite members of the duck and goose hunting fraternity. I’ve seen the sunrise over decoys in some of the most famed and hallowed grounds in the lower 48 that are available to the traveling waterfowler; but this one my friends, may be one for the ages. My planning and travels would take me smack dab in the middle of the Bering Sea, to a volcano born island, still inhabited by a proud Unangan/Aleut (native Alaskans) people that is famous for its spring/summer birding and home to 70% of the world’s population of Northern Fur Seals as well as Stellar’s Sea Lions. It is the land of fierce winter storms with sometimes brutal, hurricane strength winds that forces temperatures to drop below freezing with a salty spray that burns when you get hit in the face with it. It is a hub for the fleet of Alaskan fisherman to offload their catch including the famed fleet of crab boats who brave the elements for Bering Sea gold that include Red King crab and Opilio (Snow crab). It is also the only place on the planet to hunt to the beautiful King Eider, a large sea duck that looks like unlike any other waterfowl on earth sporting it's large lobe and baby blue head. It is a bird that stirs the emotions of seasoned waterfowlers like no other in their quest to take one. It is deemed by my guide and outfitter as Island X, one of the pieces of rock that is part of the Pribilof chain of islands.
Unlike most of my duck and goose hunting stories……by the subject title, I have to start with the first third of Rebel. I’ve probably been called worse by some, but it is my strong, independent and opinionated nature that this title derives from. For you to understand what this hunt would and ultimately mean to me, if you’ll indulge me, I need to explain the type of year I had in 2010 for you to understand. To start with, Texas had a brutally hot summer last year. It was anywhere from 95+ degrees and 100% humidity for about six straight weeks and right in the middle of this the A/C craters in my pickup. First thing that has gone wrong with it!! Before I could even get it to the shop for a possible cost I knew would knee buckling by vehicle repair standards; everything Theresa and I owned seemed to break! I’m not gonna go down the list; some things broke twice, but it was starting to send me over the edge combined with dealing with the damn heat. I love my home state, but the older I get I absolutely abhor the summer heat in Texas! I was hot driving to work, hot at work and then even more hot driving home!! Everything set me off and I stayed pissed off because no matter how much overtime I worked; everything kept breaking and was costly! Then on a personal level, I’m a middle aged guy who when I was younger would make fun of friends and co-workers that spoke of the “middle aged” crazies. Maybe it was the combination of everything else I had going on but my naturally rebellious state kept rearing its ugly head in the summer of 2010. I wasn’t happy with a damn thing and stayed mad just because I could. I was automatically against everything everybody else was for and was proud to tell you!!! I was at a point in my life where I started to second guess everything I had done excluding a couple things and that will wear on a man after a while. The one constant I had in my life was my second pending trip to Alaska. I’d be hanging off poles in the easement just sweating head to toe and just kept saying to myself……the day will come soon I board that plane to the “Great Land” again. The only other time I could focus was while I was working. I love my job….it has hazards but by following our safety rules and having learned to work efficiently; I stay focused like a laser while I’m working. It’s when I wasn’t at work that I turned into an ass…..then again maybe not; I bet some of my co-workers and Foreman would probably say different!!! LOL!!!
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