Today, the day after the great flood of Dumas in 2001, Bill Doshier and I drove to Banfield with great trepidation. I thought I had forgotten to pull my boat out of the water and pull the plug on it last Wednesday after hunting. My memory was correct, unfortunately, and my boat was full of water.

After getting a friend with a 4 wheel drive pickup to pull the boat out of the water, I proceeded to start to bail the water out. How did I do it? I brought along my dog's big stainless steel food bowl in for just this occasion. Plus, I pulled the plug to start it draining and hooked up my bilge pump. After about 10 minutes it was done and Bill and I started loading all of our stuff.

By this time Scott Barnette had arrived with his friend, Gerald Garner, who played for the football Razorbacks while I was at the U of A a long time ago. In fact, Gerald told me he broke Frank Broyles in at the U of A. I invited Scott and Gerald to hunt with Bill and me. Scott thought that was a good idea since he would have the last pick this morning and I had the premiere hole today, number 5.

It was the premiere hole because we proceeded to shoot 16 Mallards this morning, 9 drakes and 7 hens. We think they were new ducks because nearly every group we called to responded positively to our "Banfield's Best" calls. The ducks were spaced out just right this morning. Only one group caught me with my mouth full of donuts and even then Scott took care of them until I could swallow and get in rhythem.

I have a friend in Iowa, Sparky Bentley, who would have described today's hunt as "Smooth". I can't think of a better description.

We had a good time today. Who wouldn't with a hunt like that?

More later.