It was the best of times.......

IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES.

So here it is, only 5 days until the opening day for the HOY7 hunting teams first day of the season. Scouting day if you will. We had already received bad news about Lisa's DEQ report, a failing grade for CO2 emissions, and a potentially costly repair on the horizon. Fred G took it in stride because he knows that she is merely trying to get some attention before the many miles we will put on her in the next few months. An appointment was made and plans were put in place to have her healthy and happy again in time for another stellar year of folding action.

The real disappointment was just around the corner, literally. We went to the old old spot for some preseason blind building and water level checking. Now, we knew full well that the parking area had been changed and a new lot was being built this summer but the extent of development was unexpected. As we walked through the woods on the same old trail we rounded the corner to find that a access trail had been built to accommodate the 'General Public'. (We hate the General Public) I can't begin to express our surprise at the graded and graveled trail stretching off into the distance toward the old old spot. And at the end, scant yards away from our established blind, a bird watching station complete with handicap accessible ramps and people friendly viewing areas.

Do you remember the old commercial with the Indian (feather not dot) shedding a tear for the rape and pillage of the land that he once loved? We felt his pain.

By our casual estimate this new development will bring in hundreds of people within yards of OUR spot. People with dogs to scare the ducks. People with binoculars to scope out our blinds. People with kids to play on the pristine shores. People with their filthy mouths and bad attitudes. Now here at the HOY7 hunting team we believe that all people have the right to enjoy the great outdoors, but not when it interferes with OUR enjoyment of the outdoors. Damn those people and their free access to OUR freedom.

So we discussed Eco Terrorism as an option. We mulled over sabotage of the parking area. Heck, even pungi sticks and pit traps were on the agenda. But in the end we just abandoned the old old spot for the time being. By the time the winter rolls around new options for blinds and folding areas will become available at the old old spot. Plus the water was really low.

We figured that the old new spot may be worth a look-see and Lisa obliged us with a trip down the road. Cutting brush and brambles along the way led us to believe that few had been out this way for a while and we were pleased to discover that at least the old new spot was undisturbed by the developers shovel. As we climbed down the embankment to the mighty Columbia we rounded a corner to find.......

Greenies. Big Greenies. Big Fat Greenies. Several Big Fat Greenies. Just hanging out eating some food and waiting for someone to shoot them. I have to confess, we're just the people to help them with that. Of course they flew away when we broke out of the cover of the willows but those trusting greenies came back and circled around at least 4 times looking for a place to land. We can't wait to see them on Monday. So we scoped a blind and set our timetables and gave a little shout out to how great this season is going to be. So stay tuned to this very Blog to see who folds the first duck ($10) and the first Greenie ($10) and the first banded duck ($50) and remember:
GBCH