In one of the hunting books of the 50s of the last century, it is written “What other hunting, in terms of its color, can compare with hunting for spines with ducklings and geese in flight?”. Another world. I will talk about the hunt this time with quotes from her. Moreover, I am almost sure that reading such literature - not a daily activity for you, will be interesting.

Nowhere does the change of seasons manifest its rights so brightly, so violently, as in water - on lakes, rivers and swamps. The reservoirs do not have time to be cleared of ice, as various water and marsh game appear in masses, and every day on the swamps and lakes it becomes livelier and noisier.

And from the second half of August, duck stools begin to fly for bread. In the morning they return to their favorite secluded corners in the swamps and reeds. The places of the beds are usually deaf, well-closed, hard-to-reach floodplains, on which you can find a lot of feathers from molting ducks.

Here, the hunter requires a lot of endurance and the ability to combine the qualities of a good scout and shooter. The success of duck and goose hunting depends precisely on reconnaissance: it is necessary to determine the feeding places, the direction of the flight of geese to reservoirs, etc.

Floodplain meadows and river valleys that flood in spring are favorite stations for the fledgling waterfowl. The numerous desolate lakes, straits, old-growth and nomadic marshes interspersed with river valleys are excellent feeding grounds.

Often lakes from the shores are overgrown with reeds in a wide strip, and it is impossible to approach the water. In this case, it is necessary to get a boat and, using the knowledge of the land by local hunters, try to swim to the open folds, which are usually found in thickets of reeds. Having chosen one of the paddocks, through which duck stools fly especially often, find a dry hump and, if you are hunting for a pike, arrange a reed hut.

Exceptional affection for the owner, hunting ingenuity and wit, Natasha's ease and obedience, innate ability to feed killed game, gambling on hunting, endurance and strength make spaniels (retrievers, kurtzhaars) one of the hunter's favorite dogs. Hunters successfully use them to hunt ducks, pheasants, walleye rashes, grouse and other wild game, marsh game and even hare.

Versatile BBQ sauce for game

The ingredients in the sauce are complex, but proven and the best recipes with game are English, French and Canadian (I think so). This sauce is easy to prepare, it is suitable for any bird - from quails and waders, to teaks and water ducks.

• 25 ml vegetable oil
• a pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 70 g of good ketchup or tomato sauce (I took the classic Heinz)
• 50 ml maple syrup (can be replaced with honey)
• 2 tsp. tabasco sauce
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 2-3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 50-75 ml of port wine, whiskey or cognac

We arm ourselves with a 50ml glass, measure and mix all the ingredients for the sauce.

We process the bird like a tobacco chicken, making an incision with a bird knife between two pieces of fillet and unfolding the feathered game like a book. Marinate for 5-15 minutes (you can take longer!), periodically turning over. Preheat the oven to 180 C. We spread the bird on a baking sheet and generously grease the future crust with marinade sauce. Cook for 20-25 minutes (depending on the size of the bird, duck and partridge - up to 45-50 minutes). Served with mashed potatoes polentaor vegetables.

With a duck it's even easier. Stuffed and ripe bird stuffed with quince, greased with oil and put in the oven at 180C. After 20 minutes, start regularly lubricating with a mixture of olive oil and honey. Until a crust forms. The bird is ready in 40-100 minutes (depending on the size).