Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Idaho: Day 13.
So here it is, almost the end of the year and I finally had a day off to go-a-hunting. Dallas had to work yet again selling cars for the MAN but I had tuned enough skis and helped enough adolescent snowbaorders replace binding screws that I could take the day off. And what a day! I packed up the Volvo (Sweedish for truck) and headed for the lake. The roads were mostly clear and a light snow had started to fall. Unlike PDX, my town is sorely lacking in the white stuff. I arrived about 1/2 hour before shooting time.
My slough was still not frozen and is likely the only open water around that is not a massive and deep lake. Good news. As I made my way through the grasses and brush to the point, I was feeling good about my chances for the day. Rounding the corner I about shit my pants as the mornings complete silence was broken by, I don't know maybe 15, mallards taking flight from the water just behind where I normally sit. You may think it's a light pleasant sound but ask any H7HT member, birds taking flight near you are both loud and violent. They even wanted to circle and come back to the spot but it was still way dark and not even close to shooting time. I set down my pack and went out and threw 2 sets of 5 decoys into the water about 20 yards apart and just up from where I would sit. Walking back to my pack I about shit again as 10 or so of those mallards jumped up from the water for a second time. Boy they seemed to like my spot.
The light came up and I heard lots of geese flying behind me but, as you know, I can't hit a goose to save my life so I ignored them. I was waiting for Greenie. It took a while but soon enough a lone greenie flew into and landed in my spread. I jumped up and waved at him as he sat in the water. Deciding he had better places to be he jumped up also. Mistake. I folded him like a China-Man at the laundromat. Expert status: Bob D. rules.
About 40 minutes passed with nothing flying. My blocks were getting a sheen of snow on them now so I waded out into the water to knock the snow off them so they wouldn't appear "catatonic in a closet". Mistake mine. A Drake and Hen flew in looking for a place to land and almost considered it even with me in the water, without my gun. Lesson learned. I went back to my spot and called them like crazy but they were gone. Another 10 or 15 minutes passed and I hoped that that was not my only other chance. I didn't have to wait long.
From behind came the sound of whistling wings, lots of them. I knew the spot looked good so I stayed as still as possible and about 10 mallards circled in from behind. After the first pass another 15 or 20 joined them and all of a sudden there was tons of ducks flying and quacking and looking to land, all mallards. The first greenie dropped into the spread and then the rest started to dive in also. I picked up a greenie feet down and wings locked and leveled the Benelli right on him. Blam! 3 1/2 inches of steel dropped him right in the decoys. I was so excited about what I had just witnessed I totally forgot about the other 2 shells I had in the gun and the fact that I could continue to shoot at the others scrambling to get the hell away from me. I just watched in amazement at what was happening. It was right then that I missed my BFF Fred G. more than I have since I left Portland. He too would have loved that moment in time.
Of course he and Cliffy both would have missed.
As I retrieved my second greenie of the day I stood in awe of what I had just seen. With the "Expert" status clearly locked up I went back to my spot and took the picture you see here. And of course while I was doing that another duck flew right over my head and quacked at me as he bolted away. Another 15 minutes in 5 more mallards came by and circled my blocks. One greenie landed way-out and the others flew off. I tried to entice him over my way but he really seemed to like the water where he was. After 15 minutes of working him and also keeping my eyes on the skies I finally got up and started walking to where he was. The water line was far enough below the ice shelf that he could not see me until I was about 50 yards away but when he did he made like Pablo, and Cruised. That was it for the day. Final count for Bob D. 2 greenies. Brings me to 4 greenies & 1 hen pinny. Expert!
GBCH
Damn.
Below is a close up of the dam. Nice work boys! They have taken down some nice brush by my spot but have yet to reach the area I need for cover. Needless to say when this happens I'll have a different reaction, I'll call Dell.
You may not remember Dell from years back but man, he hated Beaver.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Where Have I Been?
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Merry Christmas
Let no Ducks die today
For this shall be the only time
To cut back on when we slay
Fred's knee is shot
He's out for weeks
And Bob D. works all days
O' tidings of comfort and Hoys
Southern Comfort and Hoys
O' tidings of comfort and Hoys
Greenie's safe we have to break
Let others have their fun
Because you know when we return
Their hunting will be done
We are the Best
We've always been
We're fastest with the gun
O' tidings of comfort and Hoys
Southern Comfort and Hoys
O' tidings of comfort and Hoys
So friends of ours relax this week
Enjoy your Christmas day
And if you're Jewish worry not
Cause being a Jews' OK
Kick back at home
And have a drink
Remember Hestons' ways
O' tidings of comfort and Hoys
Southern Comfort and Hoys
O' tidings of comfort and Hoys
Timely Retraction
Before Fred G, my BFF, the Shining Star of Portland & the man who taught me more about Pintails than anyone goes under the knife, there is something I must clear up. Seems that I recently claimed "Expert" status due to my recent slaying activities. I was wrong. We are "Co-Experts". Just in case he loses all use of his knee bone after this dangerous operation I want everyone to know, we are "Co-Experts". If he becomes addicted to pain killers and has to live in the gutter I want everyone to know, we are "Co-Experts". If the Doctor leaves his Swatch behind Fred's patella and it ticks like a time bomb, I want everyone to know, we are "Co-Experts". CASE CLOSED. Heston Bless us, every one.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
An Epic Battle
Idaho: Day 12.
Let the world know that the Expert title is back in the hands of Bob DaFolder. It was an Epic Battle today, and I have re-claimed the title after a hard fight. Here's my story.
What a difference a day makes. This morning I woke up to the sound of rain on the metal roof of my Idaho home. Rain! I could have been back in PDX on the highway for all I could tell on my ride out to Anderson Lake. The snow and cold of yesterday just a distant memory. What the hell is that all about?
I had decided last night to hunt today because I figured there had to be some ducks out there. Just because they avoided us yesterday did not convince me they are all gone. Dallas was working so it would be just me today and I prepped for the day with more decoys and a plan to hunt the other side of the slough. The rain had changed the landscape considerably. There seemed to be much more open water, a trick of the rain on the ice, and the lake level had dropped a few more inches. I set my blocks in a line down the slough and the receding water gave them the look of swimming against the current. Nice.
Right before shooting time three sets of ducks had flown over my head and the last set had buzzed my blocks looking for a place to land. They settled on the rain covered ice a hundred yards out, (much the way the video below shows) skidding to a stop well out of gunning range. The rain continued and a few divers came to look at the spread, then some geese. I took a shot at the low flying geese and all the ducks out on the water lifted up and flew around looking for another spot. Of course I missed all three shots on the geese. Seems I can't hit a large, slow, low flying target ever. Shortly after that a lone greenie came in from the right. I leveled the Benelli and winged him mid pass. He landed on the ice 30 yards away and immediately made for the open water and away from me. I took 2 more shots to bring him down but was unable to hit him on the surface of the ice, reloaded and then 3 more. By now he was heading towards the middle of the frozen lake and I started after him with my last shell. For Heston's sake, why did I only have 10 shells with me? What an Idiot!
I headed him off to the left and he started towards the end of the slough water that was open. I took my last shot and thought for sure I hit him this time. Nope. He made it to the water and swam back towards my decoys and the spot I shot him at. So now I'm running back to the blind and double checking for any more shells I may have before he is able to swim past me. No more shells so I grab a wading stick and I'm into the water towards him. I winged him good but his duck feet are certainly working just fine. Now he's swimming the other direction and is, of course, much faster than me in the water. I'm up to my chest but then again, so is he.
I'm sure you've seen the cartoon where the chase is on and they are running through the hallway with all the doors? In one door- out the other-repeat-ad infiniteum? Well, that's me and Greenie. He swims to my decoys. I wade towards him. He turns. I get close. He dives under the water and swims past me. I jump out and run down the bank before he can get too far towards the river. He stops and swims the other way. I get in the water and wade towards him. He swims to my decoys. I wade towards him. He turns. I get close. He dives under the water and swims past me. I jump out and run down the bank before he can get too far towards the river. He stops and swims the other way. Get the picture? This goes on for, and I'm not shitting you, 15 minutes.
Well, I've had enough. This time I take off all but my first layer and get back in. By now all the decoys are out of the slough and he can't hide under the icy overhangs anymore. I collapsed them all in. I get to the most shallow part of the slough and it's ON! He dives down and tries to mach past me again but not this time. With Heston like reflexes I dart my arm down 2 maybe 3 feet and grab him by the neck and pull him out of the water. Game over Greenie.
I'm out of shells and wet. Time to call it a day. Of course while the battle wages geese and ducks flew over my head the whole time. The whole time! There you have it, how I got the "Expert" title back and the reason why I only shoot Greenies.
GBCH
ON THE BOARD!!!
It Just Went Click.. .. .. Day 12 PDX
Remember
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Hip Hip (?)
The Water is Back! Idaho Day 11.
However, the ducks are not.
Today with the promise of new snow, Dallas and I went back to our spot on Anderson Lake. We have been trying to scout other places to hunt but none of them were accessible without a boat so back to the old spot it was. As you remember the last time we got shut out by Old Man Winter and his icy blast. All the water was frozen up solid. This time we didn't know what to expect but we hoped for the best and headed out.
Glory be to Heston, the channel from the river to the lake had opened up and the ice was gone. As a bonus the water level had dropped enough so that I was able to cross from one side to the other. Oh yes, slaying in all directions is now possible. With all the other bodies of water still frozen this was the only spot with open water for quite a ways. We set out a minimal spread and waited.
Nothing.
Time for some research here in the Idaho Panhandle. Are the ducks gone from the area? Is the Pacific Flyway starting to dry up this time of year? Was the warmer and calm weather to blame? All I can say is that nothing flew today except a few geese. We saw 2 divers the whole time we were out there and they landed right in our water. Came right in like it was the only hot spot in town (which it is). Other than that, nothing. So we pulled it up and walked over the snow covered lake back to the truck. Of course as we crossed the bridge over the CdA river a lone Pinny flew over our heads and made his way down to land in the only water in town, ours. Perfect. Hope for the next time I guess. Perhaps I should call "The Expert" Fred G and ask him what I am doing wrong, surely He would know, He's "The Expert" after all. Until next time...
GBCH
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
It's Only Natural
With the weather the way it has been it has to be good, right? This morning I head out to old faithful, Old New Spot. It's cold, weather dude this morning said 19. Cold. I pull up and two trucks are there before I am. I pack up and head out. When I get down by the water I hear a fellow slayer, sounds like a 10 gauge. Nice I think action! I break through the woods and onto the peninsula. I greet the other guy, he has big spread filled with wind deeks and a nice chocolate lab named Winsten. The guys buddy is hunting the other side of the slough, his name is Dave, and he just winged that duck and it's swimming away. His dog Gunner, (we met Gunner a few years back he helped us retrieve a few ducks of our own) was in the water doing what he does retrieving. The wounded duck swam into the middle of the slough and gunner was after it, but he did not have a bead on it and Dave saw this. Gunner was about 50 yards out searching and searching for the winged bird. After about 5 minutes Dave got nervous, the cold weather and the 20 mph winds blowing east, Dave started to try and entice Gunner back to shore. Gunner being who he is had no part of it, he was going to find that winged duck if it killed him. I turned to the other hunter and said "he's not going to stop until he has that duck." He turned to me and said "of course not that's Gunner." After a few minutes more Gunner spies the downed duck and within seconds it is in his mouth, gently of course. By now Gunner is now more on our side of the slough and the Dave wants us to call Gunner over to our side. So after another 5 minutes of coursing we get Gunner on shore, he is whipped and he does not want to give up the duck he so eagerly retrieved. Gunner sat on shore with a huge smile on his face, "this is what I do" he thought.
It's Only Natural Part II
But wait the day is still just getting started. Nothing but mallards and pintails for the rest of the day, no more shots were taken, I was pretty careful to take only shots that I knew I could fold and retrieve, that is what the H7HT do. But overall it was a pretty impressive day. To end it all off, as I am heading to the water to pull my blocks I scare up two hens and a greenies swimming to my spread to join the party. They fly down the shore a way and me being the expert now thinks that I can just walk down there and jump them. Well I jump them and they pick up and fly right into my spread. I give a good belly laugh and walk back, pick up my blocks and head home, my bag a little bit heavier than when I walked in.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
I Have No Shame...By Cliffy
Cliffy out.....
p.s.- when get a camera, I'll put pics up too.
Cliffy out........
Idaho: Day 10.
I read with amusement the post from Fred G about his last hunt. In said post he quotes "It's cold, the guy on the radio said it was 28 degrees. Cold." Well I'm here to tell you about cold. Cold is when the same spot you hunted 4 days ago is now complete ice. Cold is when the spot that never freezes over has frozen over. Cold is when the small hole you bashed into the ice in the morning has frozen over in 1 1/2 hours. Cold is when the thermometer in the truck says 6 degrees while you are putting on your waders. You get the idea.
So Dallas and I figured that it would still be okay to hunt the regular spot this morning. After all, it was only 4 days since I slayed there last. We headed out at 5am and when he first started the truck it said -2 but warmed up to the posted +6 by the time we arrived. Even on the walk out we could see how much the lake had frozen over but the spot we hunt is on the inlet from the Coeur d' Alene river and where that water runs in is supposed to be relatively impervious to freeze up. Not only was it frozen but we were able to walk across the inlet to the other side. About 20 yards out there was a patch of less frozen water and we cut a hole into the ice with a big log and threw in 2 blocks. (good job on the set eh? they look super realistic with the keel showing.)
We did a poor job of hiding in the short grass on the point but it didn't matter anyway, nothing flew near us. Must be that with all the lakes and waterways frozen solid the ducks have gone somewhere else. I kind of figured with the conditions it would either be epic or nothing, we got the nothing. So after an hour and a half we pulled it and headed home for the day. Lame!
Unfortunately I think that the season is done at this area of the state. It's not likely that that water will un-freeze anytime soon and without a Coast Guard Cutter we are shut out. Now we must start looking for open water hunting and try to find a spot that allows us get to it without a boat. Good times. So until next time.......
GBCH
Ass Holes !
By Heather Hintze
CORVALLIS, Ore.-- Staff at the Chintimini Wildlife Center say it looks like a Civil War prank went too far after someone spray painted a duck orange. "We all think this was obviously some prank done by some Beavers fan who did this as some sort of insult to the Ducks which unfortunately is really awful," says Animal Care Director, Cyndi Leech.
The duck--which is now being called Bill--was found on Thursday before the big game. He was completely covered in orange paint, and his legs were duct taped together.
After a couple days and several baths, traces of orange paint could still be seen on the duck's feathers and bill. Staff, however, say they're worried about the long-term affects the paint could have. "Birds preen, they use their beaks and their mouths to preen their feathers and keep them in good condition so he's ingesting all of that paint. These people were actually careless enough to spray paint it on his face and in his bill, so it got into his airway so we don't know how much of this he actually inhaled into his lungs," says Leech.
Beaver fans say they're disappointed someone would go outside the lines of friendly compeition. "The duck didn't do anything wrong. The duck's not a Duck fan," says Beaver Believer, Max Geiszler.
Staff at Chintimini say Bill will likely have to stay at the center until the spring because the paint stripped off his feathers' protective, oily coating. "He's doing well. He's eating, he's a healthy weight. He is a healthy, healthy bird to start with. So his prognosis is good," says Leech.
The duck was found near Linn-Benton Community College. If you have any information, contact the Albany Police Department.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Idioms For Idiots
The Old College Try
"Giving it the old college try," meaning a zealous all-out effort or to make a sincere effort, first appeared in a New York Times article dated October 19, 1919, written by future Hall of Fame pitcher (and former Bucknell University class President) Christy Mathewson. Describing the batting stance of future Cooperstown peer Frankie Frisch, then a rookie, Mathewson wrote, "Frisch was taking a long hold on his club and the old college try at the ball" (Frisch, the only Hall of Famer whose sobriquet denotes his alma mater, is known as the "Fordham Flash). The phrase first appeared in Merriam-Webster in 1927, and is in the New Dickson Baseball Dictionary.
Different Lattitudes
Knowledge Is Power
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Crutches
Idaho: Day 8 & 9
So I read an article the other day about hunting during the full moon. They say that it (the full moon) allows ducks and geese to feed at night and not need to move as much during the day, thereby reducing your chances of slaying in the morning. Furthermore, they say the afternoon is better to hunt because that is when the ducks and geese are going to need to move. They may be right. My last two hunts bear witness to this fact. Read on.
On Tuesday I went to Anderson Lake with Dallas and hunted the point we had been at before. The conditions were altogether wrong for slaying but we went anyway, wouldn't you? Full moon, warm, clear & calm was the forecast for the day and it was surprisingly accurate. I even purchased a rotating wing decoy the day before to improve our chances of attracting ducks on the big lake and from the wetlands preservee next door. There was hardly any action at all and we packed it up without taking a shot at 10am. Bummer.
Today though was a different story. The last two days have been COLD and I figured the ducks would need to move more often and the shallow wetland preserve may be starting to freeze over. Even with the full moon and sunny forecast things figured to be better. Remember now, I am the "Expert" and with that title goes all things relating to knowledge in the world of duck hunting. And of course, I was right.
Most of the water on the point had started to freeze so I worked the channel leading from the river to the lake. I set minimal blocks and my roto decoy facing the early morning sun so the birds would see them first and sitting on the open water. Not long after that the darkness started to break and hunting time was approaching. First light brought several fly-bys and a lone duck flew low checking out my spread. A single 3" round brought her down and solidified my "Expert" status for another day. I had another shot at a greenie that I missed (sun must have been in my eyes!) and shortly after the sun came up in earnest the action died out. I packed it up and headed for home. Mission Accomplished.
As a side note: Being a member of the HOY7 Hunting Team means something must transpire every day to remind me of my station in the world of high power duck hunters. I left the wings of my new roto decoy out in the blind, an hour away. Heston Damn it! Maybe they will be there next week.
GBCH
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
A Sauvies Classic
Idioms For Idiots
Meaning: Seize the opportunity! When we have the chance to do something, we should do it immediately. Otherwise it will be too late.
Origin: This saying refers to the blacksmith who works with iron. First he heats the iron until it is red hot and soft. Then he immediately hits the iron with his hammer to change its shape. If he waits, the iron becomes cold and hard again, and he cannot shape it.