VIDALIA — Cameron Ainsworth yearns for the outdoors after a full day of work behind a desk as an account manager at Callon Petroleum.

Ainsworth breaks free from the four walls that keep him inside during his workday when he and his 10-month-old Labrador retriever Maggie head outside to train to hunt ducks.

“It has been a huge adjustment working a job that is inside,” he said, “(The outdoors) is my happy place.”

The newly installed pond at the Vidalia Municipal Complex offers a training ground that mirrors the wild.

Ainsworth throws dummy ducks into the water and Maggie waits patiently on the shore for his command, then at his signal, she bolts into the water.

Once in the water, Ainsworth yells, calls and makes hand signals.

“Back, back, back,” he said.

Maggie looks back to her owner. After seeing the direction Ainsworth is pointing, she repositions herself.

Each time, she obediently brings back the duck.

A lifetime outdoorsman, Ainsworth grew up hunting deer.

After being persuaded recently by a friend to try out duck hunting, Ainsworth fell in love.

Not just with the sport, but also with his friend’s dog.

“His dog was so smart, and their connection was so strong,” he said.

Ainsworth told his wife, Brittany, about the dog. For his next birthday, Maggie arrived. The pair has been training since.

“My life is work, being a dad and husband and training, that simple,” he said.

Ainsworth and Maggie’s relationship is not dependent on survival. Even though they are training hard to make a perfect hunting team, their relationship is built on companionship.

“First and foremost, she is a great dog, a great friend and a great family member,” he said. “Maybe someday she will be a champion retriever.”