Day One as Reported by Bob DaFolder

Today was a very strange opener for me here in the great state of Idaho.  I will list all the things that do not coincide with a normal opening day for me but one thing should come as no surprise, I went to The Point. Well, two things actually, but more about that later.

First off you will be surprised that I arrived at The Point by boat. I hate boats right? Not my new kayak though.  I was loaded up and ready to go this morning in my new sit on top kayak with all the necessary gear for a regular day.  The paddle out was simple as can be and saved me tons of time and hassle over the normal walk out.  I didn't even need a cougar shell in my Benelli because no cougar can swim as fast as I can paddle.  Stupid cougar.  The kayak easily held 10 blocks, my roto, a tripod chair, gun, my gear bag and even extra clothing in the off chance I had to take a swim.  The fog coming off the river and lake was no match for the worlds most powerful headlamp and after a few minutes of vertigo I learned to look at the water in front of the boat, not the fog. The trip took only a few minutes. I arrived quickly and not covered in sweat.  The kayak was simple to hide and set up was easy.

Second thing was that I had not built a blind at The Point yet.  Unfortunately someone else had spent what I can only assume was a buck fifty building a crappy blind by cutting down big chunks of tree branches from way too close by.  They required a good remodel and in addition a cleaning of 3 1/2 shell hulls from their likely poor shooting.  I settled in by myself.  That's the third thing, I was alone.  Normally Clider would not miss the chance to be the first Idahoan to shoot, cil and claim 'Expert' status.  Seems he was too busy attempting to shoot bambi or elkie or maybe a grouse.  Who can really say what he's been up to. He never posts anyway.

I saw ducks, brandt, geese, divers, mergansers that I thought were Pinnys at first, but I never had a good shot at any Greenies.  They were around but not interested in The Point and my decoys.  It was a nice morning and after a bit I decided to check in with my phone which was dead.  Realizing that people might be worried about me the kayak saved the day.  I paddled back to the Jeep and plugged in to recharge and calm any fears that I was dead hunting alone. The fact that you can get to the parking lot and back in only a few minutes was an eye opener. I dig my kayak. It was typical point hunting after that.  A few chances but nothing good and no ducks fell.

This brings me to a new possible X-factor in the land of the H7HT.  Old friend of ours and owner of a shitty ACL/MCL, Clayton, has decided to buy himself a gun.  Well, another gun really. This one shoots shotshells rather than military rounds.  Seems he wants to be a slayer.  It also seems that he has an Uncle who has a penchant for murdering ducks as well.  He went out opening day and immediately solidified his reputation by dropping two pinnys and something else.  Of course this year you are only allowed one pintail so that makes him C.T.P. right off the bat.  Maybe, just maybe someday he will hunt with other H7HT members and learn the ways of our team.  Until then he just has to stay Clayton The Poacher.  Included is a picture of the two of them in a boat on the Oregon coast coming from a day of shooting more ducks than the whole team combined. 'Me and my Uncle, went riding down, south Colorado, west Texas bound'

Stay tuned.
GBCH.