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Sunday, December 30, 2007
We Present Our Arms
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Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
A Letter From Mr. Greenie
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I Quack in your general direction.
Day Fifteen & Sixteen.
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On day sixteen Fred G slept. It was a rough holiday and he needed the rest. I tried to kill some ducks but fell short of my goal of 7 greenies. I did see a nice fat one just out of reach, and therefore, did not shoot it.
On day fifteen I slept (see picture) so I don't know what happened then. Stay tuned.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Introduction To What the Team Is Using
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If the Model 870 were introduced today, it would be hailed as a major advance in pump-action shotgun design - the ultimate in strength, durability, silky-smooth bind-free action, and sleek classical lines.Yet this remarkable shotgun has been around for almost half a century, and has become the best-selling shotgun of any type in history, with over nine million made.
Friday, December 21, 2007
A Christmas Song From Us To You
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas song, sung to the tune of O' Christmas Tree
Hoy7 hunting team, Hoy7 hunting team, we kill greenies not their mothers.
Some other teams don't have the skills, and hardly as many kills.
Hoy7 hunting team, Hoy7 hunting team, we are the best damn folders.
Hoy7 hunting team, Hoy7 hunting team, we build the best concealed blinds.
Hoy7 hunting team, Hoy7 hunting team, our spreads of decoys look so fine.
The ducks come in and good they feel, but they will soon be full of steel.
Hoy7 hunting team, Hoy7 hunting team, your jealousy is so well grounded.
Each week we go out to fold, impervious to the rain and cold.
Hoy7 hunting team, Hoy7 hunting team, we are the best team ever.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Day Fourteen.
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It all started with a trip to the 'poker chip' area of Sauvies island. Fred and Lisa picked me up at 4:15 and we hit the road to Sauvies with the intention of picking the lowest number ever. Unfortunately on the way in the radio was playing nothing but crappy 80s' music. In total darkness Fred reaches up into the CD collection and pulls out a disk for our listening enjoyment that so happens to be none other than Lynyrd Skynyrd. He must have used all the mojo, luck, skill or whatever normally allows him to pick the low numbers at poker chip because we ended up with #108. (I picked #117, typical.)
As we walked to the shack for our blind choice we were terrified to learn we were second to last for picks. Mr. Warden suggested Steelman #7 (always a good choice #7 is) and off we went. After setting a blind that made the existing one look like a tar paper shanty, and throwing out a decoy spread that would attract ducks from miles around. we settled in for some fine killin' action. The ducks weren't really flyin' and that prompted a new bet for $10 first kill. The picture above shows the result of that bet. Bob $10 richer. Notice the shoveler like bill and white stripe. Think you can identify that duck? Neither could we. (It doesn't count if you look it up Cliffy. Oh, and by the way, I retrieved this myself. Does it count?)
After a delicious lunch and a nice nap we called it a day. After all Fred G. has some work to do before the holidays. Stay tuned for Wednesdays adventure with the HOY7 hunting team.
GBCH. 8
Fred G. here.
Just a few things I would like to add to day 14. Bobs up most confidence shined trough today in his Benelli Pump Master after folding, get this a folding of a duck on each of the last two hunting days. If he keeps this up by the end of the year he may have 17. We head out to the New Old New spot on Wednesday, a perfect place for John V. to join the team in some slaying.
Peace Out
Thursday, December 13, 2007
More Jack Handey
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Day Thirteen
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PS To the three guys who walked trough our blind today just doing a "scouting" mission. STAY OUT!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Throwin' Down the Challenge.
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Day Twelve
Guest editor
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Thursday, December 06, 2007
And On the Eleventh Day.......
Lisa
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Day Ten
Day ten had lots of weather.
It all started without our best piece of hunting gear, Lisa. She was at the doctors and we had to go hunting in the Volvo. Sure other hunters may have laughed but were they part of the fabled HOY7 hunting team? NO. So off to Sauvies island we went in the comfort, luxury and safety that only a Volvo can provide. After running the gauntlet of fallen trees (actually we had to turn around and go the other way) we made it through the storm to the 'wait in line' section of the island. By definition we were only the second car in line that morning, but there were also 30 trucks. Our patience was rewarded with spot #7 in the mudhen unit.
After a soggy walk we set up as best the driving wind would allow. The rain hammered and the wind blew and some shots were taken. I'm positive that we did not fold any ducks that day because leading the punks was damn near impossible in the tsunami like conditions. Strangely enough we stayed pretty darn dry and had a fine day. Play the video above for a glimpse at day tens' conditions.
GBCH
Monday, December 03, 2007
Day Nine
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Word Out From The Old Side
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Fred G.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Rest in peace old friend.
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Yesterday the world of bad-ass hunters lost a good friend. Most people don't know Evel was a duck hunter and regular reader of the HOY7 hunting team blog. In this photo we can see Evel getting ready for some hunting of his own. Money for a Greenie bet, a watch to tell when shooting time begins, a cane for who knows what and his trusty .38 for those pesky ducks. We sure will miss you Evel.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Be Prepared.
Smartwool liner socks. Smartwool heavy weight sock. Polarmax midweight base layer bottoms. Columbia Widgeon fleece pants. 3mm neoprene waders with 1000 grams thinsulate boots. 2 Smartwool tops, layered. Camo fleece turtleneck. Columbia Ducunder 600 fill down liner jacket. Columbia Widgeon parka. Paige Taylor original fleece balaclava. Manzella thinsulate gloves. H7HT hat.
Not being able to lift my arms, priceless
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Absotively
Friday, November 23, 2007
Day Seven & Eight.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Arctic trip by A.C.L.
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As she traveled to the city of Hegrestervack she was greeted by this ancient Inuit formation called a "kladstrack" or "pile of rocks" by the literal translation. It is good luck to leave an offering of smaller rocks at it's base and some ammonium nitrate to counteract the effects of the massive radioactive facility in the background.
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Saturday, November 17, 2007
Guest editor.
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Thursday, November 15, 2007
Day Six.
The day started with one of the most beautiful sunrises you could ever imagine. Red sky's lit up Mt. Hood and thousands of geese flew over our heads on their trek across the island. Even though this is prime time for morning ducks we had to stop and take in the beauty before us.If you had a camera you certainly would have taken a picture or two, maybe even a video to share. I did.
Some good opportunities presented themselves for folding and we had some good shots, but alas,no ducks were downed this morning. We did however have some good photo opps and anyone in their right mind would have gotten some good pics. I did. As the day wore on we had a nice lunch, some more good pass shooting and the chance to share some stories. Of course there were also more times when you would want to mark the day with a nice photo. I did.
So, once again I must apologize for the lack of a good picture for today's entry. I happened to take a nap as I usually do sometime during the course of the day. I also happened to let Fred G. use my camera. I will leave it to your imagination as to what the outcome of this decision was but suffice to say there is no photo for today's blog entry.
GBCH
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Retribution?
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From last year:
On day six I had great reaction time and folded a duck at the old new spot. It landed in the water and slowly floated away from the point at which I could retrieve it. The wind and tidal influences took the downed duck all the way across the river to an area which I could not get to. After a feeble attempt to cross the river I was thwarted by high water over the giant hole in my waders and my fear of drowning. Dwayne, as we named him, died an unnecessary death.I told this sad story today because I'm sure my Grandfather would not be pleased with my hunting skills. I learned something today. Don't shoot beyond your ability to get your duck. Always wear the waders without the giant hole. And finally, I need a good dog. Rest in peace Dwayne.
I tell this story from last year to tell you this story from this year:
Day five unfolded exactly as planned. With the return of cold and rainy weather to the Willamette Valley the HOY7 Hunting Team set out to the West side of Sauvies island known as Poker Chip. Fred G pulled the impossibly low number of 9 while I pulled 167. Still there were six groups of hunters in front of us, all who seemed to know the wardens, strange. We picked Mud Lake unit #5 and set out in a light rain to set up for the day. After waiting for sunrise we saw some good action and waited for the 60,000 geese to stop flying in front of our guns.
I took a short nap, of course, and Fred G brought down the second duck of the season, a nice hen mallard followed shortly by a Hen Gadwall. The rain was coming in sheets and the wind was blowing hard. The action was fast and furious but being Sauvies and all, the ducks are scared. After a short while I noticed a nice Greenie swimming in our spread. I prepared to jump shoot him and as I broke cover he tried to fly but was wounded with a broken wing. Knowing that there was no good outcome for him I shot him and added him to our days take.
I tell this story because I don't feel all that great about shooting a duck in the water. My teammate reassured me I did the right thing and that this duck did not die in vain. I remembered Dwayne from last year and hope that in some cosmic way this evens our score. I will now return to the Tom Foolery you have come to expect from us here at the HOY7 HT.
GBCH
Sunday, November 11, 2007
I Like This Thing Called Haiku
History lesson.
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Sauvie Island has had various names throughout its history, including "Multnomah Island", "Sauve Island", "Sauvies Island", "Sauvie Island", "Souvies Island", "Wapato Island", "Wappato Island", "Wapatoo Island", "Wappatoo Island", "Wappatto Island", and "Wyeth Island". In 1891 the U.S. Board of Geographic Names made "Sauvie Island" the official name.
In 1792, Lieutenant William Broughton of the British Vancouver expedition visited the island and named the northern end (downstream tip) of the island "Warrior Point" and, according to some historians, he named an upstream point "Belle Vue Point." Other historians say Kelley Point, across from today's Belle Vue Point, is Broughton's Belle Vue Point.
In 1805 and 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition called the island "Wappato Island" after the Indian word for arrowhead root which grew in the marshes of the island.
Between 1834 and 1835, Nathaniel Wyeth, an American entrepreneur, built Fort Williams in an attempt to establish a fur-trading enterprise in Hudson's Bay Company territory. The Fort was constructed on the island near the confluence of the Willamette River with the Columbia, about five miles from Fort Vancouver, and named for one of Wyeth's fur trade partners. Wyeth was unable to get a foothold into the Hudson's Bay Company trade and he abandoned the project in 1836. Some early maps used the name "Wyeth Island". By 1838, the Hudson's Bay Company was utilizing the island to graze cattle and horse, and by 1841 four dairy farms had been established on the island to supply milk, butter, and cheese. Settler's began arriving on the island by the 1840s.
The lettering "Sauvies Island" appeared on Preston's 1856 Map of Oregon, and in Bancroft's History of the Northwest Coast (Vol.2) it states the island was named after Jean Baptiste Sauve. However, according to McArthur in Oregon Geographic Names (2003):
"... In the files of the Oregon Historical Society is a letter from George B. Roberts to Frances Fuller Victor, dated November 7, 1879, in which he says that Sauve Island bears the name of a Canadian, Laurent Sauve, also called LaPlante. ..." George B. Roberts arrived as a member of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1831, and Frances Fuller Victor was one of the authors of the Bancroft publication. To read more about this check out the McArthur publication.
A post office near the mouth of the Willamette River named "Mouth of Willamette" was established in June 1851. In March 1852 the name was changed to "Souvies Island". This post office was discontinued in August 1860. A new post office named "Sauvies Island" was established in May 1866 about two miles south of Reeder Point.
Poetry for day Five
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Day Four
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Saturday, November 03, 2007
Just When You Think It's Safe To Go Back Into the Water
Sometimes the H7HT slays in other ways. Today was Andy's birthday and look what he got. He got a 10 pound steel head salmon, he named him Norman. Normally 357 Like the Magnum is a catch and release kind of guy, but not on this day. Congrats Mr. Inquisitive and Happy Birthday! We'll update you later with the details of how it was prepared and enjoyed.
(Note: This picture would have been a hell of a lot better if Cliff was wearing his official H7HT hat. )
Friday, November 02, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween From the Hoy 7 Hunting Team
Halloween Party
A man and his wife were invited to a swanky masked Halloween Party. The wife got a terrible headache and told her husband to go to the party alone. He, being a devoted husband, protested, but she argued and said she was going to take some aspirin and go to bed, and there was no need of his good time being spoiled by not going. So he took his costume and away he went.
The wife, after sleeping soundly for one hour, awakened without pain, and as it was still early, she decided to go to the party after all. In as much as her husband did not know what her costume was, she thought she would have some fun by watching her husband to see how he acted when she was not with him.
She joined the party and soon spotted her husband cavorting around on the dance floor, dancing with every nice girl he could, and copping a little feel here and a little kiss there. His wife moved on up to him and being a rather seductive woman herself, he left his partner high and dry and devoted his time to the new stuff that had just arrived.
She let him go as far as he wished; naturally, since he was her husband. Finally he whispered a little proposition in her ear and she agreed, so off they went to one of the cars and had a little romp.
Just before unmasking at midnight, she slipped away and went home and put the costume away and got into bed, wondering what kind of explanation he would make for his behavior. She was sitting up reading when he came in and asked what kind of a time he had.
He said, "Oh, the same old thing. You know I never have a good time when you're not there."
Then she asked, "Did you dance much?" He replied, "I'll tell you, I never even danced one dance. When I got there, I met Pete, Bill Brown and some other guys, so we went into the den and played poker all evening. But I'll tell you... the guy I loaned my costume to sure had a real good time!"
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Lore
Saturday, July 08, 2006
A Srory Of Mud And Mud Backwards
Hello Friends.
Being there I must interject just a little. It's a story of the mud and a boy named Tommy. Many years ago, myself and some guys named Curieye, Bubba L and Domino (sorry about those sunglasses by the way) decided to take to a day on the CT river. I myself being so large decided to hog all of the ski and knee board time myself, it must have been at least 6 hours straight on the water, I was wasted. Needless to say my massive pythons and thick thighs were k'd. Curieye decided to moor the boat about a half mile out from the beach and said "lets swim to shore" cause being from the east coast we call it the shore. Anyway to make a short story even longer, about a half mile into it, my pythons being as tiered as they were wanted to quit. I couldn't go any further, I decided my destiny was to die right there in the CT river. I was done, I was ready to meet my maker. My life flashed before my eyes. Then lo and behold a young lad out of nowhere said " yo Fred G with your pythons so large, jump into my blow up raft and I shall get you to shore safely". Not to let the young lad down I jumped in and he got me to the shore with some cold berf waiting, safely no less. Well today was a day that brought me back to the day that a young man named Tommy saved me from certain death. I was the man stuck in the quicksand like mud up to my waist today. My long time hunting buddy, companion, my bffe, came back to save his friend because we are a hunting team. HOY7HT is what we call ourselves. He risked his own life to save me from drowning in a mud puddle. After hours of risking uncertain death himself he and myself were able to free myself from the python choking like mud, the more I struggled the more it sucked me down to certain death. After freeing myself we sat and tried to drink some whiskey, we couldn't even, thats how bad it was....you know the whole story now, I just wanted to make sure the MAN named BUBBA got his props, you too TOMMY. I LOVE YOU GUYS....I'm not afraid to say it, I love two men. I'm here because of you twos.
Thanks.
God BlessFred G
Monday, October 29, 2007
A Break In the Action
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