With our last bird down and Todd's burly black Lab, Ivan, tracking it down in the running tide, we sat back to enjoy the continuing show. As still more eiders splashed into the blocks Duncan offered, "These birds really aren't the brightest bulbs in the box are they?" Billy, usually the quiet one, quickly countered, "Maybe so, but after what we've been through the past coupla' days in their pursuit, what does that make us? Rocket scientists?"

Point made. Point taken… by all of us.

"You're right, Billy," Duncan came back. "I guess all I really know for sure, is this hunt sure has been fun."

As we continued to enjoy the eider parade Duncan, a competitive taxidermist by avocation, bemoaned the fact that he didn't have a really good, fully mature hen bird to match up with the drakes he's set aside for mounting.

"I can fix that," Todd volunteered confidently, obviously itching to get in on the action. Though he'd killed a couple of the oldsquaws, he hadn't opted to shoot any eiders to that point in our hunt.

So we sat back to watch "the man" at work.

It wasn't long before Todd found the bird he and Duncan wanted, then fired.

"Did you get it?" I asked, having kept my head down.

"I shot didn't I?" came the answer in a purposely exaggerated, cocky tone befitting his youthful 36 years, that could only bite him in the end.

"I'm goin' to take a drake too," Todd then added, explaining, "I haven't shot one in a while."

After looking a few over he sprang to his feet and missed a close-working single twice! There was some indecipherable grumbling from his end of the boat, but not another word, wisely, was said. Then he tried a second drake. The result, I'll admit amazingly, was the same. "Oh well," he said shaking it off, "It's time to pack 'er in anyway."

Conclusion
When I asked him later why he didn't make the most of the opportunity, Duncan just pointed to his head, and with the wisdom of his 50 some years, said, "It's in the bank. Let the young guy chew on it for a while. I'll save our little story for another time. A time when I'll no doubt need it. And the good Lord willing, I will be back in time. All the kidding and B.S. aside, I've far from gotten my fill, thanks to our buddy, Todd, of the sights and sounds of these special birds and the naturally wonderful surroundings in which they thrive. For now," Duncan continued, "let the games continue!"

Editor's note: For sea duck hunting out of Searsport, Maine, contact Todd Jackson, Penobscot Bay Outfitters, 118 Nickerson Road, Searsport, Maine 04974-3932; 1-888-Sea-Duck; email: info@seaduck.net.