An All-Women Duck Hunt on the Potomac: Camaraderie, Calling, and a Black Duck Dog Named Sneak

There’s something special about sharing the water with like-minded women—especially when the mission is a duck hunt on the Potomac River. I recently had the privilege of joining the Virginia Prois ladies for an unforgettable experience, guided by the legendary Teddy Carr and Lenny Baird of Carr’s Waterfowl Company. This wasn’t just a hunt; it was a story waiting to be told, filled with connections, camaraderie, and one black duck dog that stole my heart.

Arriving at the blind and setting out decoys

The Morning Fog and First Flights

We launched in the dark, the hush of the river broken only by the soft murmur of the guides and the distant calls of waterfowl stirring in the marsh. The air held that crisp bite of late-season hunting, the kind that wakes you up before the coffee does. As we set the decoys and settled into the blind, anticipation crackled like a cold breeze through the reeds.

The first flights came in low, wings cupped, their silhouettes barely visible against the rising sun. The calling was perfect, a chorus of experienced women reading the birds and working them into the spread. The thrill of seeing ducks commit, hearing the rush of wings overhead, and watching the first shots ring out reminded me why I love this sport so much.

Falling for Sneak, the Black Duck Dog

Myself and Sneak

Every good duck hunt has a hero, and this time, it wasn’t just the sharp shooting or the skilled calling—it was Sneak, a black duck dog with the heart of a lion and the soul of a true waterman. Watching him work was mesmerizing. His patience, drive, and sheer determination to retrieve every downed bird was poetry in motion.

Between flights, I found myself drawn to him, running my fingers through his fur as he sat at my feet, ever watchful, ever ready. There’s something about a good retriever that makes a hunt complete, and Sneak was no exception. He was more than just a hunting dog; he was a partner, a guardian of the water, and by the end of the trip, a friend I didn’t want to say goodbye to. There is something special about Sneak and you can feel it being next to him. Teddy told us how Sneak came to him and how he has helped his family through some difficult times and you just know it was meant to be.

A Special Connection Behind the Lens

Gabe of River to Land Productions

This hunt was also special for another reason: the presence of photographer Gabe Colon of River to Land Productions. There’s an art to capturing the spirit of a hunt, and Gabe did it with effortless

skill. From the mist rising off the river to the raw emotion of the moment, he froze time with every click of the shutter.

We bonded over a shared appreciation for storytelling—his through the lens, mine through words and lens. It’s rare to meet someone who sees the world in the same frame-by-frame way that I do, understanding that a hunt is about so much more than the harvest. It’s about the people, the place, the unspoken moments in between. Gabe didn’t just take pictures; he told the story of our adventure in a way that will live on long after the season ends.

More Than Just a Hunt

This trip wasn’t just about ducks. It was about a group of women coming together in the wild, proving that we belong out here just as much as anyone else. It was about the lessons we learned from our guides, the unbreakable bond between a hunter and a retriever, and the friendships forged in the cold dawn of a Potomac morning.

As we packed up and headed back to the dock, Sneak sitting faithfully beside me, I knew this hunt would stay with me forever. Some hunts are about filling the strap, but the best ones—like this—fill the soul.

Until next time, Potomac. And until we meet again, Sneak.

Sneak