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Brenda is NWTF
Spokeswoman
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Field Notes
Reelfoot Duck Hunt Benefits Wheelin' Sportsmen
By
Brenda Valentine
First Lady of Hunting®
January, 2012
I am the first to admit that I am not a passionate waterfowl hunter, however, I do enjoy being out on the water with good friends and having the opportunity to fire my shotgun every once in a while. Such was the situation last week with NWTF CEO George Thornton, my husband, Barney, and Mark Osborne, coordinator of the Porter Wagoner Golf Tournament for Wheelin' Sportsmen.
Historic Reelfoot Lake in Northwest Tennessee was formed in 1811 when a major earthquake caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards for three days. The catastrophe buckled and cracked the earth, sending river water rushing into every basin and low area. This resulted in a shallow lake of several thousand acres soon to be named after a local Native American Indian Chief with a malformed foot, Chief Reelfoot. Reelfoot Lake is famous for crappie fishing, huge bald cypress trees, bald eagles and waterfowl. The lake is a natural resting place for ducks and geese traveling up and down the Mississippi Flyway, plus, the abundant agricultural fields make it particularly attractive to migrating as well as resident birds.
The first hint of dawn cast a violet halo around guide, Duke Turnage, as he spiffed-up the decoy spread on the calm backwaters.
That magical time before shooting light is the best time of the day, no matter what I'm hunting.
I couldn't help but compare how similarly everyone's head popping up through the brushy blind reminded me of prairie dogs up out of their holes to catch the warm morning sun.
After a hearty breakfast and lunch cooked in the blind it was time to take a scenic boat ride back to camp with our mixed bag of ducks.
Many thanks to Dwayne Dunn and his great crew for the Reelfoot duck hunting experience. Dwayne donated this hunt to the auction at the Porter Waggoner Golf Tourney in Nashville, which is a fundraiser for Wheelin' Sportsmen.
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