I am 26 years old, and have hunted every duck opener since I was 13. This year I get to miss opening weekend because one of my best friends scheduled his wedding for saturday afternoon 7 hours away from my home.

I have no point to make or question to ask, just using this as a place to gripe about people who get married during hunting season. :D


Dusty

I know what you are going through. I hunted every opening season since age 13 or so. When I got married, my wife picked August 27th as a wedding date. Well, dove season started Sept. 1 when we were on our honeymoon in Hawaii. I was going through withdrawls cause there are dove all over Hawaii - some little tropical dove but they look just like a smaller morning dove. I got to the point in Hawaii where I would take a piece of fishing line, make a noose and put it on the deck with bread crumbs in the middle. Lay down in the hotel and wait for the dove to land in the noose. Caught a few but let them go cause I had no way to cook them. Eased the addiction though. Hang in there, you are scoring many kitchen passes and buddy points by doing that. Take a duck call to the wedding and give an all out, heart felt comeback call at the appropiate time - the bride will love that!

Eyez,

You wouldn't happen to be coming to Isle Mn. for that wedding, are you??

I'm supposed to go to one in Isle that day also.

I skipped one opener for a buddy. Now he is divorced... He asked me to be in his next, and I said no, I will be hunting. He is divorced again ;)

A few years ago, my stepson got married on the opener. Of course, I had to skip opener for that. But I told him if he ever gets divorced I will beat him up! ha! :) He is actually going with me on Saturday this year, and my little grandson will in a few years.

Now-a-days I skip any wedding in October/November or early May.
My reasoning - - they won't miss you if you are not there. It is their day, not yours. And besides, I spend opener with my Dad and brother, and now step-son and soon grandkids. When my time comes, and I am asked, if you rather get an extra day to spend at somebody's wedding, or would you rather get an extra day to spend with your Dad/brother/kids/grandkids out in the marsh or field or on a lake... you know what my answer is. I will take the memory of the hunt.

Also, my Dad almost isn't with us due to health problems, but he is getting a second chance now, and we all look forward to this opener and hopefully many more. No sir, no weddings here in place of duck hunting :)

Have fun though, and your buddy now owes you a deck building day ;)
-Box

http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=103808

I'm not really sure if any weddings should be allowed in October!! Longer ago than I like to realize, I came back to MN while in basic training and got married. October 15th. We went to grampas farm in western Mn for a quick honeymoon---and of course some duck hunting on the lake on the farm. A good sport, she was. However, she didn't seem to understand that Oct 15th was a seasonal duck movement period in Minnesota, nor did she care to hunt on our anniversery during the period we stayed married. Just couldn't convince her there was surely romance waiting in the cattails or how sexy she looked in camo.

Sure glad my duck buddies and I formed our Saskatchewan plans early this year as my future wife has a niece getting married Oct 2nd and we will be in the pea field that day.

One of my cousins got married on duck opener some years back, this is what happened! When the pastor said you can now kiss the bride. Every one of the grooms guys standing up for him and many in the church pulled out their calls and started cranking on them. It was pretty funny,eveyone got a good laugh.

BIRDDOG

FOR BETTER OR WORSE FISHING AND HUNTING COME FIRST

:7 I feel for you Eyez.

Dkooser......... On your honeymoon, in Hawaii, and your leaning out of your condo/motel room trying to noose doves!?

LOL!

I love hunting too, .......but probably not that much! ;)

Bullhead,
That was between .....uh......sessions, ya know, during a little downtime......

LOL

I feel for you too. I recall missing an opener for a wedding and they are divorced also.

I strongly feel that weddings should be held in late Feb-Mar 30, then after August 30 until Sept 15. Is that so much to ask?

Rapid City. It's gonna be a good time, some other old friends live there too and I haven't seen them for a year or so. I just wish it wasn't on duck opener. :D


Dusty

I made a bold statement a few years ago when my buddy got married around prime migration in October and called his request to attend his wedding rude. I created a little stir in my social group, but everyone knows me well enough to understand.

I should have not gone instead of making my statement.

I did end up going and had a good time, but I spent a lot of time staring at the sky for birds.

Go and have a good time at the wedding.

How 'bout a Body Double..................

Dkooser: Thanks for clearing that up for me...... ;) LOL.

Crost: How've you been old timer? I tried to email you a week or so ago. Maybe you've changed addy's?

Beam me one over if you would, so I've got your right address. Thanks! (Hard to let you in on the secret bite if I dont have the right email addy!!)

ryan_r_collins@msn.com

I had a friend once ask me to be his best man on deer opener. I said sure as long as you change the date. They changed the date!
I'm not really proud of that. It was a work friend in another state.
We're not friends anymore so it worked out fine.

There was a time when an opening week-end wedding would have been missed by me! Even my own, if planned that badly. LOL.

You are doing the right thing, Dusty. Go...Drink the free Booze...enjoy the moment....... for what it is....(it is a -NOT hunting- moment...and a poor substitute for hunting!)
LOL!

We go to Montana every Oct. pheasasnt hunting. One year one of the guy's daugthers planned her wedding on opening day and dad said, "I'll pay but won't be there. You know i've hunted opening day for last 15 years and I'm not changing." She changed and dad went to the wedding -- in late NOV. :-)

rod bender bob