Memoirs of a Duck Hunter

While attending a local college Jim lived at home. He was just steps away from the Mississippi. Mornings before attending classes in the fall, he would take the 16-foot Polarcraft 5 miles north on the river, equipped with only a flashlight for navigation. His encounters with Mother Nature and ducks provide the adventure. Memoirs of a Duck Hunter is, in large part, a tongue-in-cheek of his hunting adventures. Beyond his stories - all of which are true, are photos, some dating back to the early 1900s, old stories, and even recipes!

Jim Keil's adventures while hunting waterfowl near Bellevue, Iowa, on the Mississippi River, fill the pages of this book. His memories from years ago - and even some of his not-so-old adventures - are true, even though they read like fiction! His memoirs also contain old pictures and stories from the early 1900s, as well as some of his favorite recipes he created from his bounty!

Jim Keil was born and raised along the banks of the Mississippi River, in the small town of Bellevue, Iowa. He and his dad spent hours hunting and fishing the fields, timbers, and the Mighty Mississippi. Jim graduated from Bellevue High school and went on to the University of Dubuque. He earned an undergraduate degree there, as well an his MBA from Clarke University, also in Dubuque. He married his high school sweetheart and returned to Bellevue where he and his wife, Barb, raised three children. After retiring from John Deere in Dubuque, Iowa, Jim utilized much of his time hunting, fishing, and floating on his pontoon with his wife on the Mississippi during lazy summer and fall afternoons. This is where he wrote many of the stories, which grace the pages of this book. He also spent time as a substitute teacher when the ducks weren't flying. Jim's love for the outdoors is shared throughout the pages of this book.