Banded Ducks: Mean sprited and abusive.

Idaho: Day 13

Long days of Christmas work behind us, Clider and I went out to Anderson to see what the ducks are up to.  We planned to get there early because other hunters have been targeting the point due to the high water levels and the preponderance of ducks and geese loading into the spot.  Remember how Fred G and Cliffy have been getting mucho pressure on their spots?  Well, we have too.  People I've never seen before are gathering on the point at Anderson for their chance to slay our ducks.  I hate them.  We showed up just after some guys with a boat were unloading to go there.  Did I mention I hate them?

Well, not today.  We thought about The Blind but Clider went there a few days before (yet no post?) and the water levels were way down, 65 feet back from the shore.  Since Clider is a master of information, and has been talking and making phone calls, we knew that here in Idaho you can shoot things right from the roadside.  Yep, right from the side of the road.  Holy Heston!  So we drove to the other side of the lake and set up at a spot where we saw people having a picnic weeks earlier.  Turns out it was a good call.  Just off the road we put out a spread of swimmers, feeders, sleepers, dry landers and the roto. (Clider has been busy buying decoys don't ya know) and settled back into the scrub along the roadside.  Not long after the bell things started to happen.

My lone Greenie

No morning fly was there but the first set of ducks to fly in was a group of 12 to 15  and we took out 2 of them.  Bob D. with a greenie and Clider with a henny.  Team Slay! Peat was on his game and retrieved them both.  Good dog!.  Not long after we had good flying groups of 20+ but only small groups wanted in.  After a few missed shots I think it was me to fold next, a greenie, that came from the right.  I just winged him and even after 10 shots from our guns at him on the water he was still doing the Phelps and swam away.

Did I mention the new snow camo?

At this time I have to tell you that I made 2 mistakes.  The first was not folding the greenie properly and the second was not letting Peat go after him.  See, Clider and I know that a wounded duck will swim away if you go after him.  And letting him sit in the decoys and die peacefully is the way.  This duck was spry and the whole time Peat wanted in on the job.  He was sitting right behind me whining just begging me to go after him.  I should have let him do his job, even though I didn't do mine.  I'm not sure that he would have brought back the 'Phelps duck' but after we tried to finish him, and he swam past our effective range, Peat still wanted to bring him in.  I waited.  And with that waiting I think I screwed up.  A No Retrieve haunted me for the rest of the day.  Grandpa Clyde is mad yet again.

Peat.  Good Dog!

Clider folded another henny on a group that wanted in bringing his total to 2 that day and securing his spot as 'Expert' in the annals of H7HT lore, the first time ever for a new guy to the team.  Let's face it, last year he was just a guy with a gun and 6 decoys and a borrowed set of waders.  Now he is the 'Expert' with a retriever, all kinds of decoys, knowledge that surpasses me and a gun that knocks birds from the sky at an alarming rate.  I now defer to Cliders knowledge, preparation and judgement as he is the H7HT leader in slaying.  I wonder where he will take us next week?
GBCH.

Merry Christmas from Mitch, the best bartender ever.

Yea, that's what I thought you were gunna say. Jive Turkey.

A Holiday Tradition

Silent morn

Snowy morn

Blocks are set

Feet are warm

Soon the opening bell will sound

Patiently wait for ducks to come round

Shoot when their feet are down

Only when the feet come down

Silent blind

Concealed blind

There we sit

Peace of mind

Knowing that ducks soon will fly in

Their little black hearts so full of sin

Benellis ready to commit to them

Ready to shoot at them

Silent Greenie

Stealthy Greenie

Big and fat

Nice and meaty

You can’t see us as you fly in

Guns come up and shots do ring

Sleep in Hestonly peace

Sleep in Hestonly peace

Future Duck Slayer?

Idaho: Day 12

Or the day some like to call The Day Clider Took Over As 'Expert'.
I smelled death in the air this morning as I picked up Clider in the wagon.  He had convinced me to let him sleep in an extra 15 minutes and you can bet that won't happen again.  That extra 15 min gave him powers.  We decided on the blind out at Anderson and there was a stout wind, no precipitation and high overcast skies as we set up just in time for the morning bell.  The jerk string was useless due to the wind but we brought the full armada of blocks including the geese, teal pack and the roto along with Cliders new feeder blocks.  The water has come down and backed off the shore by 10 feet so we were sitting in the reeds on the shoreline.  We looked good.

Much of the morning fly came off the lake flying over us with the wind and I scanned from side to side thinking the birds would be landing from the left or right with the wind coming at us from an angle.  It wasn't long before I was looking one way and the greenie came in from the other.  Clider was looking and took him out, dropping him right in the spread.  Peat retrieved and we realized it was a massive greenie, the biggest of the year by far.  Clider was happy to have his greenie and beaming at his new status as 'Co-Expert' joining the Founders at the top of the board.  I waited.  Most of the birds coming in came from behind and dropped low then continued on to the far side of the lake.  Clider got cold and decided on a walk, which I thought was a great idea, and he and Peat only made it a hundred yards down shore when he found his scientific surprise (more on that later).  As he was getting ready to put the item away a duck came blasting in from the right.  My first shot hit and put him in the water where he immediately went under.  A diver!  He came back up and got another shot which had him swimming in circles and not long after he started to swim away.

We have started to realize that when you hit a bird and he drops into the water, it's best to let him sit and die peacefully on the spot.  Chasing off after them gets them swimming away and leads to bad things like the ever-unpopular Non Retrieve.  Unfortunately this one decided to bolt of his own accord.  I headed out after him and he went under, never to be seen again.  Not only does this count as a NR but the worst part is losing a duck that should be on the dinner table, not on the bottom of the lake.  We looked for a good while but he was gone.  Soon after Clider got cold again and took a walk in the other direction.  When he came back we decided on another 1/2 hour before pulling up and almost immediately 3 ducks came in from my side without me seeing anything but Clider pull up his rusty ass gun and fold another big fat greenie.  Crap Monkey!  Oh, and just to prove being sole 'Expert' was no fluke, minutes later he folded a fat henny too.

I seriously contemplated not giving him the surprise sammy I made him when we got back to the car but that would be mean.  For Heston's sake, the man's the 'Expert' now, give respect where it's due.  We loaded up and Clider put the worlds smelliest science experiment in my Sweeties wagon to bring with us.  I'm sure tomorrow she will enjoy the smell of it mixed with wet dog.  Tonight Clider has three big birds all ready for roasting and I, well, I have a feeling that I can smell death in the air.....

GBCH

Oregon, Crazy Long Day

Well today was a crazy day. Last week after hunting I was out in front of my house enjoying a beverage in my waders when one of my neighbors approached me. "Hi my name is TJ and I noticed you were a duck hunter, I hunt ducks too" Well that's how it started. TJ saw me Sunday and we got to talking again and I mentioned I'm heading out to Sauvies on Monday would he like to join me. Well. TJ picked me up super early and we made it in line pretty far back. When we got to the window we were denied a spot. I turned to TJ and asked him if he ever hunted the north unit. "Nope" he says so were on our way. Being the Co-Expert I lead him to my spot. After long walk all we find is mucho water. After we fight the elements we decide maybe it's better that we quit this and try to put our name on the wait list back at the shack. We get talking while we are waiting, and I tell him about our TJ, the Hooker. He tell's me he was named after the pitcher Tommy John, a pitcher who throws baseballs. After a long wait we get hunt 12, the shortie walk. We throw out my blocks settle in and start the waiting process. Things are flying but nothing I want. Well wouldn't you know TJ is a skybuster, the man named after a pitcher who throws baseballs. I say that reminding you all about the Dallas episode. Remember Bob DaFolders advice to him? If you could throw a baseball and hit it the duck is in range. The man was named after Tommy John!! I didn't have much to say after that, it seemed like that is the way he hunted, it seemed natural to him. He is a nice guy, but his brand of hunting was not mine. I basically gave up, after TJ scared a few more ducks we call it. He drops me off we shake hands and he says we should do this again. I'll need to have a talk with him over a beer someday. With the season getting later it seems as though Sauvies is all we have, unless the water goes out we're looking at 5 more days, maybe. Maybe over the summer TJ and I will have a chat about the finer ways of hunting the H7HT way. 

Gloves? My zeal for ducks and goose keep me warm.

Tiny Merganser

But oh how it feels so real 

Lying here with no one near

Only you and you can hear me

When I say softly slowly

Hold me closer tiny Merganser

Count the headlights on the highway

Lay me down in sheets of linen

You had a busy day today

Idaho Day 15-16ish???

_{Busy, busy, busy.  Run into work, drive out to hunt, comeback, clean duck, go to work. This had been the schedule for the last few weeks as I get settled into my new job at the mountain, squeezing in some hunting when I can.  This is my catch up day, no work, just some early morning slaying with Bob and Peaty.  Most of these past days have been exploratory, checking out some sweet spots that tried to bury me up to my hips in mud or areas where there is only 10 feet of water before plunging off a shelf to a certain death.  Some days were spent chasing a stray goose decoy that had been expertly tied to the weight by Bob, good thing waders don’t have laces.  Actually it seems to be the line because this has happened 3 or 4 times now. Not much shooting happening during most of this.}

_{First I must explain something about Bob’s last post.  I got my second consecutive merganser fairly soon after finishing Bob’s widgeon for him.  It was a very small, some may even say “tiny merganser”.  Consequently, one well placed shot was all that was needed to drop and kill him.  I may even have said something along the lines of “ that’s how you kill a bird, one shot”.  A little while later I may have gotten a little excited about some buffleheads that had just landed at the outer edge of the spread.  This may in turn have resulted in immediately jump shooting one to try and bring the expert title back into reach.  That bird may have continued to swim/fly well out of range and eventually rejoin his buddies in the center of the lake.  Due to the fact that I saw him fly a short bit later I had tossed around the idea of not counting him as a NR but I am pretty sure he is no longer with us today.  I blew it again and I am sorry.}

_{Main event}

_{The forecast has looked amazing the last few times Bob and I have headed out, wind rain/snow, cold temps and Ducks.  Sadly it just keeps getting nice each time we get excited.  Well today looked beautiful, all the right conditions for ducks.  We got an early start in the ultimate duck hunting Volvo wagon and arrived with plenty of time for a leisurely stroll out and a well placed armada. The blind on the north eastern end of the lake was the spot and the water was as far up as it goes. Both of our packs were bulging with decoys, the roto, jerk rig and I had my flocked birds.} 

_{The morning was quiet, no one was shooting anywhere, a few lookers but no takers.  Until a single bird came in from the left, low and fast with wings locked.  I deftly lept to my feet, out of the blind, shouldering my weapon as I moved and in a single fluid motion fired a solitary shot.  It rang out like Thor’s Mighty hammer, a single punctuating thunder in the still beauty of the foggy morning.  The beast lay dead on the left side of the spread, floating delicately in the midst of the mighty armada. Then a greenie came in and set up in front of Bob, he missed a bunch so we went home and I cleaned my teal.}

  

First Greenie Debt Paid

Coming Home with....

Nothing

Water Water Water

I'm standing here in water.

The water that was just at my feet.

But now...

It's up to my waist.

It's gotten deeper.

It keeps getting deeper.

I'm standing waist deep in the water.

Wondering if will ever go out.

No matter where I go, 

or where I turn, 

I never seem to get out of this water.

I hope my waders do not leak

It sucks my expertise 

it never seems to end.

I will hunt in it or drown in it

waist high in the water, 

I know what will happen.

The water will get deeper.

Deeper until I drown my expert status, 

greenie will drown with it.

When the water leaves, 

out will it go with me.

It's only waist deep, 

for now I am still afraid.

A Symmetrization

WTF? is really all I can say. You guys in Oregon are such losers.  Lets go back a few weeks.  Honestly your first day out to Sauvies was a monumental day for you wackos.   Cliffy nice job working that double of shovel.  (I kill myself) You stepped right up no pressure, within minutes, bam your on the board.  Then an oh my Heston moment, bam and you got three now, but too bad it was a NR.  By the way Fred G. the effort you made looking for my friend Pinnie was commendable, how you made your silly team mate go out with you after shooting hours and spend 30 minutes looking for her well, made my eye tear up.  No it did not!  I hated that chick, beyotch could not hold her smoke, what it was.  Glad she's gone. 

Me and Julio hanging at the school yard.

And then the rain comes early this year.  First you complain there is not enough then there is too much.  You make your 40 minute hike and find more people than ever hanging out in "your" spots.  Boo f'n hoo.  Deal.  I commend you fools for going out week after week, thinking you are the best, you are not.  Trying to find some dry land so your little bottles of wikki don't get wet and give you the giardia.  But I laugh at you instead, you are losers!  I see you every morning, but there is soooo much aqua, (means water) that I could go anywhere I want, and that does not mean hanging out with you d'bags.  I saw you early morning at the racetrack, oooh, racetrack!  You realize I could see you in that stupid blind miles away?!  And then I saw you at MY super secret spot, how you guys found that spot I don't know.  I must say you were well hidden in your lay down blinds, I didn't even see you guys when I flew in.  But I am so awesome I smelled you out, you guys do stink. You could not even raise your silly little guns to me.  

Remember that camera you dropped in the water?

So keep up your valiant effort, you see where it has gotten you so far, for Heston sake Fred G. you have only shotten your gun twice in Oregon.  You don't even have a cil here.  Pathetic. Those quackers in Idaho (I kill myself)  you took down were stupid lazy park ducks that live in IDAHO for Heston sake.  They might even be from that crappy town of Kellogg.  Again, pathetic.  Time is ticking and I'm winning!  I quack in your general direction.

Idaho: Day... 12 maybe?

It's been a while since I posted.  Snow came to the Silver Valley, work heated up, customers want to bother me and I've been busy.  Not too busy to hunt, just too busy to post.  But unlike some of my other teammates who shall remain nameless, (Cliffy and Clider) I am taking time from my couch nap to make this post.  What a guy eh?

Mr. Widgeon.

I hunted a couple days by myself after the last greenie shooting incident I posted here. A day at the Blind on Anderson and a day at the Point that were both unsuccessful but much needed.  The most recent day I went with Clider to the Point and we put out a massive spread which resulted in a widgeon to add to my totals.  I was forced to shoot him because he bolted by me so fast I couldn't see that he was not, in fact, a greenie.  All I saw was the white underbelly he flashed coming from left to right and my natural reaction was to take the shot.  I dropped him with one pull of the trigger but Clider had to finish him off as he was closer to the little bastard when he attempted to get away.  Clider may have shotten a duck too but you will have to wait for his post to learn more.

Today I thought I would be working but the reality was me having the day off so the only reasonable thing to do was to get up ass crack early and head out into the cold darkness. We recently had a cold front move in and with the snow and cold it brought I'm sure some ducks came with it.  The good news was that the mountain finally got busy but the bad news was that I did too.  Even though I missed the brunt of the system I still had some good looking weather ahead.  This morning brought a layer of snow on the ground and some below freezing temps.  I left a little early to account for the bad roads and being sure I got to the Point first.  The walk out was stunning, with 3/4" snow that had fallen so lightly that it covered every twig and branch in a layer of light airy snow.  I was careful not to bump any branches near the blind and it looked fantastic being all white and covered just like the surroundings area.  Noisy mallards were scared up form the waters around the blind as I made my walk and many more were calling on the lake as I set up.  Seems that the refuge on the other side had frozen up and I was surrounded by greenies on my lake before the opening bell.

boredom set in

There was a bit of a morning fly but soon after the light came all I could see were geese and divers.  Mergansers flew around me the whole day but I opted to wait for Greenie and while I did Mergies Bufflehead and Geese all made appearances and landings around me.  I contemplated shooting them all but the widgeon from the other day reminded me to measure my shots carefully.  Nothing presented itself (except when I was pulling up of course) and no shots were taken.  I'd rather think of this day as one for the scenery books than one for ducks.  It sure was gorgeous.  Tow days from now I will be back at it with Clider and Rocky the Bartender, wish me luck.
GBCH

Founders Tour: Day 5

The afternoon before day 5 we cooked up lots of delicious duck.  I learned how to make confit from Fred G and we tried a double batch of Duck chilli from a DU recipe I found on line.  Food was everywhere and we feasted on the famous Vodka Sauce from 3DD that my friend had brought all the way from home.  (quick note, he packaged the frozen sauce inside foil wrapping covered with plastic and then bound with tape.  It looked like something out of an episode of Bordertown Cops.  Not surprisingly it got searched and sampled by the T.S.A.)  The cabin smelled like the best place in the world to be, which of course it is, complete with the best slayers in the Pacific Northwest. I think I still have enough chilli in the freezer to last until next season.

Rather than waking up early and taking a 40 min boat ride in the pitch blackness we slept in and made our way to Round Lake after the sun rose.  Remember that Round Lake is the place where all the old-timers say you shoot your limit every day.  Rocky and I had scouted there and built a blind earlier in the season but never having been there for hunting we were cautiously optimistic.  Taking the boat out during the day is much less daunting but still has its share of tension.  Last time there it ran out of gas on the way back and, even though I had plenty of gas this time, rowing back from that far out was not on my list of things I wanted to do.   The St Joe river winds its way out along the banks of Round Lake on the right and another body of water on the left. It’s a beautiful ride along tree and long-grass shores complete with deer and the occasional moose.  Nice.  When we got to the hunting spot the water was down far enough to take the prebuilt blind out of play so we improvised at a new spot not far from the original.  Fred G threw out a perfect looking spread of blocks and I built a small blind in a tangle of trees with views downriver on the left and over the lake to our right.  We were set, and looking good.

 

Another thing the old-timers say is that clear skies and calm weather make for poor duck hunting.  They are right. High flyers were the order of the day and all the highball calling in the world did nothing to bring them down.  We did our best to enjoy the sunshine and new surroundings but in the end decided to pull up and try another spot on the way back to the truck.  That spot too was unproductive, and it was getting late so we motored back to the put-in as the sun retreated over the mountains.  Another day with not much in the way of slaying but large in scenic beauty.  The magic of the first days perfect conditions and many ducks was giving way to the more typical H7HT results but even without greenies we still managed to have a great day with still more hunting to come.

GBCH

Founders Tour Day Six

The final day of the tour we knew where we wanted to go, we knew the spread we wanted to throw out, we knew it all.  We procure the point.  Having not been there in a year I must say things looked good.  The boys kept up with the foot path I blazed last year and they built a sweet blind.  Water was down a little bit from last year, and I would have loved to have  seen it as Bob describes it now with the water 5 feet from the blind.  The weather was sunny and warm with a drizzle thrown in here and there for good measure.  The morning fly was slow and it spilled over into the rest of the day.  There were shots we could have taken but did not due to the flavor.  Bob went for a walk to scare some ducks up for me, trying to put me on some birds.  I was enjoying the sunrise over the mountains leaning back in my chair, gun not even close to me when a set of mallards came in. I could do nothing but watch as they flew in wanting to party and then turn and land 50 yards out.  I figured it would be a good idea to at least look alert, so I pull my gun closer and adjust my shades.  Bob is behind me on the other side of the slew when a set of mallards come straight in at me.  "I could really use this one to pad my lead" I said under my breath.  Full fold green head bastard even landed on dry land.  Only regret was not pulling the trigger on the other monster because I was looking on in awe at my folding prowess.  The sun broke through and the day turned nice, we decided to pack it up and head home.  Another Founder Tour comes to an end.  Thanks Idaho Chapter it was fun, really fun.  Signed.

The Expert.

GBCH

Founders Tour: Day 3.

East shoreline of Killarney

So on day three of the Founders Tour we decided to take the boat out to Killarney and shoot all the ducks in the entire area.  Something I have not mentioned about the boat yet, it scares me.  Motoring about in the light of day in the summertime when the water is nice and warm is one thing, quite another when it’s pitch black dark and you have on 5 layers of clothes.  Oh, and just listen to the horror stories about your waders filling with water and dragging you down then go out at 4:30 am and try to see where you’re going with a flashlight and a large person sitting 2 feet in front of you.  Let’s not forget the boat is loaded with 400lbs of hunters and 100+lbs of gear too and then consider the little motor bouncing off the mud and logs on the bottom of the lake now that the water is down.  No big deal you say? come on out and try it, Nancy. So, of course, off we went.

Cleaning the prop with mud

After a nice ride of terror I was able to land us right back at the exact spot Clider and I hunted the week before.  We didn’t see much that day but no other guns were going off around the lake either so we hoped today would be different.  It was.  We had good flying in the early part of the morning and the decoys looked good.  I don’t remember the exact sequence of events but I can tell you we missed some shots before the greenie came flying up.  I dispatched him with a round of Black Cloud Close Range.  Turns out he was, in fact, too close for that particular shell as I basically removed his rear section with the shot.  He fell from the sky and almost hit Fred G. on his way to landing mere feet from us.  If only I had reacted 1 second sooner it may have been one for the ages, oh well.  Not long after Fred G also shot a greenie who immediately dove underwater and disappeared never to be seen again.

After a while we pulled up and motored over to the other side of the lake where Clider and I had seen all the ducks the previous week.  On the way we hit a big rock or log which smashed the motor out of the water and scared the shit out of me….again.  We set up on the bank for a short time but the ducks were elsewhere that day so we pulled it and headed for some tasty beverages and more ducey.  It was planned that the next day (Thurs) we would chill and do some cooking of the many ducks we had.  The World’s Best Duck Chilli was on it’s way and we prepared by drinking a lot of wikki.  I think this was to be the evening we argued over the state of the world and scared my Sweetie and the cat into not coming anywhere near us.  Remember, we are the Founders and we are pretty!

Photo Essay (Revisited)

Founders Tour Day Four

Clider had a plate and screws taken out of his leg two days ago and doctor told him to take it easy for two weeks.  So we pick Clider and Peat up really early so we could get to the point before anyone else, and we could use the boat to shuttle Clider out so he doesn't have to make the walk.  Well wouldn't you know it those same mother f'ers were there before us again!  Plan #7.7, Bob and Clider pack up the boat with all the gear and boat down to the blind and I take the truck and drive down to the path and hike it in.  I hand my gun to Clider to pack into the boat and he asks me what I'm doing?  He reminds me of the fabled moose with eight foot eyes he saw on that path and recommends that I take my gun and put a shell in it.  "Oh Great!" I think to myself not wanting to sound like a pussy, now I have to deal with the cougar and a moose!  I high tail it down the path making sure my headlamp only see's the ground so I don't shine it into the moose's eyes. 

Moose are not usually aggressive towards humans, but can be provoked or frightened to behave with aggression. In terms of raw numbers, they attack more people than bears and wolves combined, but usually with only minor consequences. On the American continents, moose injure more people than any other wild mammal and, worldwide, only hippopotamuses injure more. When harassed or startled by people or in the presence of a dog, moose may charge. Also, as with bears or any wild animal, moose that have become habituated to being fed by people may act aggressively when denied food. During the fall mating season, bull moose may be aggressive toward humans due to the high hormone levels they experience. Cows with young calves are very protective and will attack humans who come too close, especially if they come between mother and calf. Unlike other dangerous animals, moose are not territorial, and do not view humans as food, and will therefore usually not pursue humans if they simply run away.

Like any wild animal, moose are unpredictable and should be given a respectful amount of space. They are most likely to attack if annoyed or harassed, or if their "personal space" has been encroached upon. Moose that have been harassed may vent their anger on unwary victims, and often do not make distinctions between their tormentors and innocent passers-by. Moose are very limber animals with highly flexible joints and sharp, pointed hooves, and are capable of kicking with both front and back legs. Unlike other large, hooved mammals, such as horses, moose can kick in all directions including sideways. Sideways! They can kick sideways!

Enough about the moose.  I greet the boat and pull it toward shore and we unload Clider and the gear. After we set up an awesome spread we settle into our spots and await the morning fly.  An american widgeon wants a part of our party and Clider has to deny this one at the door.  He drops her and again she starts to swim away.  Clider calls out to me "Fred I might need some help with this one," me forgetting he just had major surgery two days ago.  I jump out and head to the water to put the finishing touches on her.  I turn and there is Peat and Clider making their way into the water, Clider just can't stay out of the action.  Peat makes another long retrieve and Clider is moving up to expert status quickly. Clider comments on how the water therapy feels good on his newly rebuilt leg.  So good that within a few minutes he's out there retrieving a hen mallard, but again she is swimming away trying to drop his totals like I drop my alarm clock every morning.  This time she's too far out and Bob has to make the assist and retrieve in the boat. 

For some reason Bob is in and out of consciousness all morning.  Clider and I seem to be hunting by ourselves which is okay because action is steady but not great.   Bob is out for a walk with Peat trying to stay awake and on his way back in two geese start coming into our spread. They want us, the goose decoys I bought for the team seem to be working.  They are gliding in slow and low.  Clider's and my mouth are watering.  Clider gives the order "Lets take them!"  Two come in and only one leave, I fold mine.  I'm in the water retrieving and Peat is right behind me like a good boy charging at the goose.  Peat gets to the goose and wants nothing to do with the monster and walks away.  Let me just say geese are tough.  It's getting late and almost time to call it.  I tell Clider one sure way of bringing is some birds is to unload your gun.  So I unload my gun and tell Clider to keep his loaded, oh yeah Bob is sleeping now.  Sure enough about 8 mallard come in wanting us in the bad way.  I silently reload my gun and as the last shell goes in a green head bastard puts down it's gear right in front of me, needless to say the easiest retrieve ever for Peat, and he wanted nothing to do with it.  Bob started the day as Expert, but I leave being the Expert, feels good, pretty good.