In 1996 we built a duck blind at Hospital Point, on the New River. Hurricanes Bertha and Fran demolished it. For the next couple of seasons, we just boat hunted, trying different locations on the river. After trying out Rhodes Point and having great success on Bluebills, in May 1998 I designed and constructed what I considered to be the most weatherproof blind ever built. I think that I was pretty close to the mark. The Rhodes Point Blind weathered through 15 land falling hurricanes since then. The blind was battered, broken and sometimes submerged for 2-3 days. But when the tide finally receded, there it stood.
Until the second weekend of September, 2018, when Hurricane Florence roared ashore. Only a strong category 1 hurricane, but enough to finally destroy the Rhodes Point Blind. A couple thousand Bluebills had hung from my duck strap, on a hook just inside the door of that blind. Two great retrievers spent their lives there, sitting, watching impatiently, from the dog porch. Young hunters learned about shooting and duck hunting. Great friendships were made. Lukewarm coffee was consumed by the gallons.
I am an old man now. There aren't as many Bluebills around as there used to be, and the limit has been just two birds for the last few years. My last retriever passed away back in February. My time is about passed, and I have decided not to tarnish the memories of the great shoots we had there. I'm not going to build another blind. None could ever equal the Rhodes Point Blind.
