Duck hunters in Rockport watched 10 area guides compete for prizes in the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation’s Second Annual Port Bay Guide Cup.
The young guides at the 100-plus-year-old Port Bay Hunting and Fishing Club had the unique opportunity to step away from taking customers to the club’s blinds and cleaning ducks to compete for prizes, including a shotgun, and better yet, bragging rights from getting their name on the trophy.
The rules were simple. The guides leave the dock in a skiff loaded with decoys, motor to the blind, throw out the decoys, shoot at three clay pigeons thrown by the field judge, shoot and retrieve a “cripple,” load the decoys and return.
One of the “cripples,” (damaged decoy) was banded, with the winner receiving a $100 gift card to Academy Sports + Outdoors.
One-minute penalties were assessed for shots missed and failure to attach the kill switch when running the skiff.
This year, a twist was added. The competitors were advised that they were participating in a hunting scenario and were charged with knowing all hunting and boating regulations. Then, even though they weren’t hunting, after completing the course, they were asked if they had their hunting license in their possession.
