The Fast Moving Teal

 

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My brother Craig and I loved to hunt the wiley duck.
My favorite duck to hunt as we went out to try our luck,
Was the fast darting and turning, swift flying Teal.
This small duck was a challenge with all of their zeal.

 

 

 

 

 

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The Fast Moving Teal

 

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In the Texas Panhandle back in the days we did hunt ducks,
There was a special Teal season for us to try our luck,
That started four weeks earlier that the regular season,
As Teal came through early for some unknown reason.

I think I got more ducks that you did today Craig. Love those over and under shotguns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Teal ducks were “dabblers” because of the way they fed,
By sticking up their butts as they ate algae with their heads.
If you saw them sitting on the lake feeding together,
You might think they were shaking butts at each other.

I just love to dabble early in the morning, don’t you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We hunted at Blue West Cove of Lake Meredith then,
The weather was still kind of warm when we did begin.
Making it a pleasant experience out there in the weather.
Craig and I had a lot of fun out there in our blind together.

Here come the Teal Craig, I’ll take the front bird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Teal was about half the size of the Mallard drake,
But they seemed to fly at twice the Mallards speed rate.
One Teal baked up just right with a fine wine sauce baste.
Makes for fine a meal for two with an excellent taste.

You’re kind of runt duck Mr. Blue Wing Teal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As we sought those Teal in those early season hunts,
We saw three species of Teal that we often did confront.
The Cinnamon Teal was the most beautiful of all,
With a cinnamon head plus blue & green wings so small.

Cinnamon Teal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We also saw the Blue Wing Teal looking so very fine,
As they swooped on by our blind in almost record time,
Awing us with both their natural beauty and a flying speed,
So fast we could not always get a shot off at their breed.

Blue Wing Teal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Then there was the Green Wing Teal out there too,
Looking good too as on by the decoys they flew.
There was always so many in groups coming in at a time,
Which made the Teal hunting nearly always so fine.

Green Wing Teal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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When big groups swooped into our gun range view,
One of us would shoot at a front bird as by they flew,
The other would pick a bird in the middle then shoot,
With close formations, six birds would drop at our boots.

Large group Blue Wing Teal swooping in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Craig and I made quite a team as we hunted those Teal,
Just five miles from my house which seemed so unreal.
The only thing bad about our fun duck hunting thing,
Was you had to be in a blind before up the sun did spring.

Nice limit of ducks Craig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This made for some mighty early mornings for us.
But we both loved getting out in nature and didn’t fuss.
And I’m sure glad we made those memories together,
That I can recall in living color for my personal pleasure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Bill

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for reading The Fast Moving Teal,
Bill