BAND TALES: The Magic Marsh

Jax Urben, like many of us, started waterfowling as a 12-year-old and has become quite the avid duck hunter. His grandfather, Bruce, says that was to be expected since him, Jax’s father and his uncle are all passionate about the sport. While Jax has only been hunting for four years, he’s developed quite the resume of successful hunts.

“Jax began as most 12-year-olds with a youth-model 20 gauge and became quite proficient hunting woodies from the family’s marsh in Pulaski, WI. Eventually, he lobbied his dad for a 12 gauge for an early Christmas present in 2023 and cut his teeth hunting divers in a layout boat,” says his grandpa.

That family marsh would prove to be a special place for young Jax.

In November of 2023, with family and friends in the blind, Jax made a passing shot on his first mallard drake, and—you guessed it—it was banded! But Jax wasn’t done. During the 2024 season, the young hunter’s luck at the family marsh kept running strong.

“On Oct. 6th, hunting at the family marsh, we were seeing a lot of migrating ducks. A small flock of pintails came into the spread and only one made it out. Two ducks were down on the water and Jax’s bird landed in the cattails. He trekked over to try to find his bird and soon we heard a yell—Jax harvested his second band from the property, a drake pintail banded in North Dakota!” Bruce notes.

Then, once again on the family marsh just a few weeks later, Jax killed another drake mallard, banded in Minnesota earlier that year. “Most of the family in our group tries to hunt near Jax, as long as he has that lucky horseshoe,” says his grandpa. We would too!

Congrats Jax, what a way to start a waterfowling career!

Send your Band Tale to Ryan.Barnes@OutdoorSG.com

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