This painting was inspired by the beauty of the fully plumed head of the male widgeon, taken the day before the painting on St. Michael’s Hunting Property in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. When in full plume, the male widgeon wears a white colored helmet on its forehead. An entire flock of widgeon had attempted to land in the decoys as the hunting group consisting of Jerrod LeMaire, Sean Girard and the artist waded in frigid water behind a broken branch covered in moss. Despite the sheer number of ducks that ultimately hit the water from the flock, it is almost certain that neither Jerrod nor Shawn pulled the trigger and the helmets didn't seem to protect the ducks on that pass.
 
“He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”
Isaiah 59:17