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FARMINGTON BAY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA -- Earlier this year, local duck hunter and outfitter Tony Smith got an online inquiry about a new hunting boat he had recently designed -- from the other side of the world.
The inquiry was from Mike Stutts, a Blackhawk helicopter pilot for the United States Army who was stationed in Iraq at the time.
Stutts and several fellow duck hunters he met in the service had seen an online demonstration of Smith's boat and liked what they saw.
That got Smith thinking about a unique way to thank the troops. Knowing Stutts and his unit were set to return to Fort Drum, N.Y., in October, he invited Stutts to bring as many people as he wanted to experience the world-class hunting for duck and other game birds that Northern Utah offers.
"Other than my screen name, he didn't know who I was," Stutts said. "He gave us a discount on a couple of boats, and invited us here to show us how to use them and thank us for what we do."
Smith started doing research, and tapped his own resource pool of experience and fellow hunters, to arrange a full week of hosting the soldiers in hunting for ducks, pheasants, and even swans.
"These guys put their lives on the line for us, so it's really the least we can do to give them a little vacation," Smith said. "I've been doing this for 24 years, so I kind of know where to go to make sure they have a good time and a successful trip."
The idea came in part from similar "take a veteran hunting" programs across the nation, in which military members who are sent to new, unfamiliar areas are matched with hunters in those areas who share similar interests and have a feel for the local landscape.
"I was in the military too, and I know it can be hard for deployed hunters in a strange land," said Rob Friedel, a local hunter who accompanied Smith and the soldiers on a recent outing.
Asked during mid-week about the trip, Stutts said it definitely didn't disappoint.
"I've duck hunted in five different states, and this has been the best," he said. "We shot 56 ducks between eight guys yesterday, and they called it a slow day."
Smith said duck hunters in northern Utah can bag up to 13 species of ducks on any given day. The daily limit is seven ducks, and individual restrictions apply to various species.
He started his company, Lake Bonneville Layout Boats, to showcase his main product, the Apparition layout boat.
The Apparition resembles a wide, flat-bottomed kayak. Anchors attached to the front and back hold the boat in place.
The hunter climbs in and lays back, shotgun at the ready, waiting for ducks to fly within safe range. When an unsuspecting duck flies near, the hunter abruptly sits up, aims, and pulls the trigger.
A person laying down in the boat is so inconspicuous that ducks will often fly within a few feet.
"It's amazing," said Jeff Kneer, a platoon leader who is also based at Fort Drum. "They can't see you until they're right there."
Smith started designing the boat six years ago, after searching in vain for something on the existing market that met his needs and preferences.
"It's been very successful," he said. "You have the opportunity to shoot your limit every time. But it's not just for shooting -- it's also good for bird watching and photography."
Utah's 107-day duck season ends in mid-January. Smith said he tries to get out and hunt about 80 days every season.
While it may be somewhat of a stroke of luck that Smith and the duck-hunting soldiers found each other online, it's no surprise.
The Internet is an important way for troops stationed overseas to maintain connection with friends and family back home, and to pursue their interests, even if vicariously.
"In Iraq, you've gotta do something to take your mind off of what's going on, and Web sites help us keep in touch," Stutts said.
It's also a favorite way to pass down time in the middle of the night or during stormy weather, said Aaron Mongeon, a crew chief who mans the Blackhawk's guns.
"I watch a lot of duck videos when I'm on the night shift," Mongeon said. "It's so great to be here experiencing the real thing."
Smith said he hopes to start hosting troops on leave for future hunts on a regular basis.
"We want to make it better every time," he said.
For a small group of soldiers and avid duck hunters facing another deployment next October after only a year off, Smith's gesture provided a welcome respite from the grind of everyday military life and the stresses of conflict.
"It really gave us something to look forward to," Mongeon said. "It doesn't get any better than this. This whole trip was put together so well, and they have been so generous."
Smith is quick to shrug off the praise.
"It's nothing compared to what they do for me."
