Amidst a dizzying array of shotgun ammo that filled a particular aisle of the L&M Fleet Supply in Park Rapids Minnesota, I found myself lost somewhere between the 3's and triple b.

I had ventured north from the suburbs to hunt ducks with my uncle and cousins for the very first time, and while I was excited for the adventure, I was new to the bog and the blind.

Many moons have passed since that day and what began as occasional weekend hobby, has transformed into a passion that keeps me busy from Labor Day though New Years.

Chasing after waterfowl and whitetail across north central Minnesota, with my son by my side, I find the better parts of myself and the better parts of the world around me.

As for the L&M, I managed to walk out of there with a box of 12 gauge F’s in hand, and while those would never fit in my grandfathers Ithaca 16 gauge, they make for a great story which is why I return to the field, bog, and blind every chance I get.