BHS Gal Has Done What Virtually No North Dakota Hunters Have Done

A Bismarck High Demon girl has done what virtually no waterfowl duck hunters across America have ever done.  She shot one of the most elusive ducks in the world.  A King Eider.  More on that in a moment.

Meet BHS 10th grader Grace Nicolai.  Waterfowl hunttress extraordinaire.

Grace has been hunting since she's been old enough to carry a gun.  In fact, she shot her first quail at the tender age of 6 and her first duck at the age of 7.

She's working on attempting the feet of shooting every North American waterfowl species.  She's up to 32 by the way after shooting her King Eider back in early January of this year.  Grace has already shot all 7 species of North American geese including the sought-after Emperor Goose.

Virtually nobody in America has shot one of these beautiful geese as they just started allowing hunting of these majestic birds again back in 2017.  Grace shot hers when she was only 11 years old back in 2018 in Cold Bay, Alaska.  Did I mention they only allow 25 non-resident tags in Alaska to hunt these birds?  Grace is not only good, but she's lucky too.

Grace started out hunting birds using a 410 shotgun like a lot of us hunters but recently stepped up to a 20 gauge youth model gun.

Her Father Chris Nicolai is thrilled to have his daughter as his favorite hunting partner.  Chris says he believes Grace will be a hunter forever.

What is Grace like when she doesn't have camo on?  Pretty much like a regular Bismarck teenager.  She has a job, plays soccer, and enjoys hanging out with friends.

She also enjoys helping out her father in his shop with taxidermy projects and another passion they both share is decoy carving.  In fact, Grace shot her King Eider over a decoy she helped her father make.

Chris Nicolai says Grace gets a kick out of the boys in her school who brag about shooting Mallards and Canada Geese.

Try getting into a 14-foot Zodiac raft in the middle of the Bering Sea and dealing with 10-foot waves while you try not to lose your lunch and then try to hit a duck at the same time.

According to Grace's father, she was never scared.  I wish I could say the same.  I was petrified. Believe me, I know.  I too shot a King Eider in the Bering Sea, and it is an adventure like none other.  Something you'll never forget.

Congrats to Grace on accomplishing what many call the pinnacle of waterfowl hunting.  Shooting a King Eider.