5 White Lies Heard in the Duck Blind

By Brian Lovett author of The Duck BlogDecember 21, 2017

Waterfowlers Sometimes Tell Harmless Fibs

Everyone has told a little white lie now and then. Maybe you did so to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, or perhaps you fibbed to ease a potentially tense situation. It’s not right, but we’ve done it.

Those seemingly innocent falsehoods extend into waterfowl hunting. In fact, you’ve probably heard a few white lies in the duck blind or goose pit. Here are some of my favorites.

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1 | Yeah, I Knew it Was a Hen

Maybe you did, but maybe you didn’t. Even those drab-brown hen mallards can fool you now and then, especially early in the morning or if you’re looking into the sun. There’s nothing wrong with shooting hens within legal limits, of course. Just don’t blurt out this line after bragging about all-greenhead straps earlier in the day.

Photo © Jeffrey Weymier/Shutterstock

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2 | No, I Meant to Put the Decoys Like That

OK, I’ll buy that … even though your long lines are ridiculously tight, or you have three mallard blocks sitting on their sides in muck. If you can justify your spread and explain your strategy, this statement gets a pass. Your buddies will call you out, however, if birds flare or you run over anchor lines with the motor.

Photo © Craig Watson

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3 | That Was the Duck I Was Aiming At

Sure it was. Three tightly grouped ringbills zip across your decoys at Mach 2 and you calmly picked out the second one in line? OK. Hey, ducks are fast, and everyone loses a bit of shooting precision during the fog of hot action. But if you aim at one bird and kill another, it’s usually best to admit it.

Photo © Bill Konway

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4 | This is Where I Meant to Set Up

Now you’re just being stubborn. Hey, it was dark, and you’d never hunted this area before. It’s OK to confess that you picked the wrong point or stopped at the wrong pothole. Your buddy might buy this fib if he’s never been to the spot. But he’ll eye you mighty suspiciously if ducks keep dive-bombing the place you obviously should have hunted.

Photo © Craig Watson

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5 | No, I Don’t Think My Shot Hit Your Decoys

Deny it all you want, but the truth will emerge when you pick up. Somebody smoked the head on that magnum canvasback, and because you lobbed six rounds at a crippled bufflehead, you’re the No. 1 suspect. Sure, your buddy probably couldn’t prove it in court. However, you’ll buy a lot more good will if you admit your gaffe and offer to replace the decoy.

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