Greg Nagel, 17, poses with a copy of Outdoor News that holds his second-place submission The Epitome of Ducks, in the Youth Writing Contest. Photo by Kelly Virden

Nagel, 17, a junior at Pine River-Backus High School, recently took second place in a prose division of Minnesota Outdoor News Youth Writing Contest. Youth writers submitted more than 100 entrants to the contest.

Nagel's descriptive piece, filled with colorful adjectives, tells of a pastime that he most enjoys: duck hunting.

His piece, "The Epitome of Ducks," about ringneck ducks, made him a second-time award recipient from Outdoor News. His entry on geese in last year's writing contest earned him a first-place nod.

Outdoor News Editor Rob Drieslein was one of a four-member committee judging entrants in this year's contest.

"He's a good young writer," Drieslein said of Greg. "It's nice to see a young guy passionate about the sport."

"The Epitome of Ducks," describes a morning duck hunting on Rice Lake and the thrill of observing (and shooting) a drake ringneck.

"There is no sight or sound in all of duck hunting like a screaming flight of divers: shearing across the sky, dropping vertically a full 80 yards, and skimming the swells right under my radar," he writes.

And, Nagel is of the opinion that "...no greater duck than the ringneck ever took wing."

Nagel started duck hunting at around 9 years old with his father, Bill, and has continued his enthusiasm for the sport to the present.

During duck hunting season he hunts almost every day, on lakes south or east of Pine River.

Nagel said that typically he'll paddle around and wait for ducks to jump.

Other times he sits in a duck blind, as he describes in his story.

Greg has experience cleaning the ducks that he harvests. He referred to an agreement he has with his dad: his dad buys the shotgun shells and Greg cleans the ducks.

"I love the taste of duck; it's one of the best meats on earth," he said.

And, it's a good thing he likes the taste of ducks as Nagel plans on duck hunting the rest of his life: "I do enjoy it a lot," he said.

Nagel said that he writes "as a hobby," and doesn't think he'll end up with a profession based on writing.

However, there is writer's blood in his family line: Uncle Craig Nagel, is an author and longtime columnist for the Lake Country Echo.

In fact Craig was one of the people, along with Greg's parents, Bill and Jane, that Greg asked to read his story before he submitted it.

Greg said that last year he was notified that he received first place in the writing contest; this year Drieslein called and told him he was in the top five. He didn't learn he received second place until the Dec. 26 newspaper came out.

Nagel and the other Youth Writing Contest winners will be entered into the national Outdoor Writers Association of America Youth Writing Contest.