The uphill grind

There is no doubt that the opening day of the duck season is the biggest day of the year. Bigger than Xmas. Bigger than a wedding anniversary. (Maybe not as big as the wedding day itself but that’s a life changing and extraordinary event). Every duck hunter is in the same boat this week, distracted, a waste of space in the work place (yesterday in a business conversation with a client I may have secured a new goose hunting spot – put 2 & 2 together to figure how a sales discussion got to that happy place!), a nuisance to partners, children and generally a black hole into which information pours and a glazed over look accompanied by a slight smile emerges. Sleep patterns are disrupted. Secret accounts are taxed and new gear is stuffed into bags before it is discovered by the missus. Dogs pick up on the vibe and become anxious and excited.


This week is like ground hog day and is replayed every year with very small differences. It’s been the same since I was 9 years old and allowed to go for my first opening day.

For all 35,000 of us duck hunters in NZ, this week is like an uphill grind. But we’ll get there as we always do.

I wish all of you the very best for the season.