So it’s about 4:30 - 5:00 am,
and I’m sitting in a blind on the edge of a rice field.
I’m in water up to my knees in a place called Schlater
(actually pronounced slaughter) Mississippi,
wondering to myself... How did I get here?
Polaris invited me to attend their Mississippi Delta Duck Hunt to experience first hand how their ATV’s and Side-by-Sides fit in with the hunting crowd. I was a little apprehensive at first, because in reality, I’m not a hunter, but I was eager to find out what the attraction was.
Now since I wasn’t licensed to hunt, I attended only
as an observer. That was cool with me, because
what I was after was to get a better understanding
of the passion that so many of my friends and family
share for the hunt. Me, I was always into engines
and things that went fast. Plus, I always had plenty
of opportunities to enjoy a meal of wild game, so I
never felt the need to actually go out and harvest an
animal myself.
This brings me back to sitting in the duck blind well before dawn, cold and watching these plastic decoys bob around, wondering to myself, where’s the fun in this? But then a strange thing happened... The first duck of the morning began to cup its wings, preparing to land within range of the shotguns. Instantly I felt the rush and anticipation of what was about to happen, and I wasn’t even taking a shot. Unfortunately nobody else was taking a shot either, as the bird came in a little sooner than the guys in the blind were prepared for. By the time the coffee cups were put down, and in the commotion of guns being brought up and safeties turned off, the bird spooked and took off. Score one for the birds!
After some good natured ribbing about being ill
prepared to take the first bird of the day, Jeff Felts
from Wildlife Inc., the lodge hosting our little
expedition, assured us that there’d be plenty more
birds to come. And he was right, sort of. That
morning, perhaps a dozen or so birds came within
range, and our small group managed to take 7 or 8
ducks. Being new I had no idea if this was a good
count, or if the bird traffic should have been heavier,
but to me it didn’t matter. What I found more
interesting was the life in the blind. There were 4 of us
all together, and between shots, mostly missed, there
was plenty of conversation as we got to know one
another, and I had plenty to ask the guys
about what drew them to hunting. With
no preconceived notions of what to
expect, I had way more fun than I
expected.
After the morning hunt we headed back to the lodge for a huge southern style breakfast that included biscuits and gravy. Then after rolling away from the table we were pretty much on our own for the day. Some of the crew went back out to have another go at the fowl, but I chose to stay back and get some ride time in with the Browning Edition’s and learn a bit more about how they fit in with this hunting thing.
Bo Prestige, the owner of Wildlife Inc., spoke about how the ATV’s and Side-by-Sides allowed him and his business to get hunters in and out of the blind sites much quicker, along with scouting areas where birds are, and how the vehicles have become a crucial part of building his business. He also spoke about how he bought the first Ranger for Wildlife Inc. He told the story of how a local dealer approached him with a proposal to buy a new Ranger, and of fered to demonstrate the capabilities of the machine. Bo accepted the offer, and told the dealer rep that if the Ranger could drive across his rice field without getting stuck, he’d buy one. The dealer then proceeded to not only drive across the field, but all over the field, and then back again to where Bo stood watching. He was so impressed he bought two of them, right on the spot! I knew I liked this guy.
Watching the crew around the lodge use the Rangers to shuttle guests and gear around the property, I quickly gained an appreciation of how these vehicles fit in with this crowd. I also came to realize how camouf lage plays a huge role in how hunters use their vehicles. Apparently it’s much more than just a fashion statement! The Browning Edition Polaris machines come with a Mossy Oak breakup patter n, and detail touches such as the Lock and Ride gun scabbard, in addition to the regular features and benef its of the Polar is Sportsman and Ranger lines.
After spending a few days experiencing a hunt and how the all terrain vehicle, especially ones factory built with accessories targeted to the hunter, I can now appreciate this segment of the ATV market. This is something you hunters have figured out long ago, and while I understood the theor y on paper, I simply hadn’t had the opportunity to fully experience how well ATV’s and hunting went together. Before this trip, I’ve never even been dressed in camo!
I learned is that an ATV
offers more opportunities
for the hunter. In the
adventure, an ATV can be
used as a tool to help
achieve what their passion is
"hunting" for.
I also came away from this hunt with a better understanding of what drives this passion for hunting. The camaraderie, the adrenaline of the shot, the adventure, the food, and the whole experience has given me at least a little glimmer of what fuels this passion. While I still don’t describe myself as a hunter, I do find myself looking forward to the next time I get a chance to experience a hunt. Could this mean camo might become part of my regular wardrobe?
This brings me back to sitting in the duck blind well before dawn, cold and watching these plastic decoys bob around, wondering to myself, where’s the fun in this? But then a strange thing happened... The first duck of the morning began to cup its wings, preparing to land within range of the shotguns. Instantly I felt the rush and anticipation of what was about to happen, and I wasn’t even taking a shot. Unfortunately nobody else was taking a shot either, as the bird came in a little sooner than the guys in the blind were prepared for. By the time the coffee cups were put down, and in the commotion of guns being brought up and safeties turned off, the bird spooked and took off. Score one for the birds!
After some good natured ribbing about being ill
prepared to take the first bird of the day, Jeff Felts
from Wildlife Inc., the lodge hosting our little
expedition, assured us that there’d be plenty more
birds to come. And he was right, sort of. That
morning, perhaps a dozen or so birds came within
range, and our small group managed to take 7 or 8
ducks. Being new I had no idea if this was a good
count, or if the bird traffic should have been heavier,
but to me it didn’t matter. What I found more
interesting was the life in the blind. There were 4 of us
all together, and between shots, mostly missed, there
was plenty of conversation as we got to know one
another, and I had plenty to ask the guys
about what drew them to hunting. With
no preconceived notions of what to
expect, I had way more fun than I
expected.
After the morning hunt we headed back to the lodge for a huge southern style breakfast that included biscuits and gravy. Then after rolling away from the table we were pretty much on our own for the day. Some of the crew went back out to have another go at the fowl, but I chose to stay back and get some ride time in with the Browning Edition’s and learn a bit more about how they fit in with this hunting thing.
Bo Prestige, the owner of Wildlife Inc., spoke about how the ATV’s and Side-by-Sides allowed him and his business to get hunters in and out of the blind sites much quicker, along with scouting areas where birds are, and how the vehicles have become a crucial part of building his business. He also spoke about how he bought the first Ranger for Wildlife Inc. He told the story of how a local dealer approached him with a proposal to buy a new Ranger, and of fered to demonstrate the capabilities of the machine. Bo accepted the offer, and told the dealer rep that if the Ranger could drive across his rice field without getting stuck, he’d buy one. The dealer then proceeded to not only drive across the field, but all over the field, and then back again to where Bo stood watching. He was so impressed he bought two of them, right on the spot! I knew I liked this guy.
Watching the crew around the lodge use the Rangers to shuttle guests and gear around the property, I quickly gained an appreciation of how these vehicles fit in with this crowd. I also came to realize how camouf lage plays a huge role in how hunters use their vehicles. Apparently it’s much more than just a fashion statement! The Browning Edition Polaris machines come with a Mossy Oak breakup patter n, and detail touches such as the Lock and Ride gun scabbard, in addition to the regular features and benef its of the Polar is Sportsman and Ranger lines.
After spending a few days experiencing a hunt and how the all terrain vehicle, especially ones factory built with accessories targeted to the hunter, I can now appreciate this segment of the ATV market. This is something you hunters have figured out long ago, and while I understood the theor y on paper, I simply hadn’t had the opportunity to fully experience how well ATV’s and hunting went together. Before this trip, I’ve never even been dressed in camo!
I learned is that an ATV
offers more opportunities
for the hunter. In the
adventure, an ATV can be
used as a tool to help
achieve what their passion is
"hunting" for.
I also came away from this hunt with a better understanding of what drives this passion for hunting. The camaraderie, the adrenaline of the shot, the adventure, the food, and the whole experience has given me at least a little glimmer of what fuels this passion. While I still don’t describe myself as a hunter, I do find myself looking forward to the next time I get a chance to experience a hunt. Could this mean camo might become part of my regular wardrobe?
