It Just Went Click.. .. .. Day 12 PDX

Being my last day to slay before my operation I head out to the old new spot. What is today? Yes it is Wednesday, the middle of the week, hump day some people call it. Four trucks in the lot when I pull up!! Must win Power Ball tonight, for Heston sake it is 77 million, that's 77. Like I said Four trucks!!! and I'm just going to come right out and say this, two were Canadians!!!!! I'll tell ya this right now, it wasn't Consuela waiting for me with some hot coffee and a fresh hot egg and sausage breakfast sandwich. No!!, 3 Canadians getting out of their trucks, they were going hunting for pato. I scobby doo right past them in a quick flash I was gone. I get to the water and give it an ole looksie, find where the the other two hunters are and make my way in the opposite direction and also to an area where I know the Canadians wont find. I cross the water and head to the small little ponds behind the Old New Spot. I come to the first pond, up jump six mallards. Continue down and get to the next pond, still frozen over, continue over to the river I spied a few birds off in the distance, nothing to really get excited about. I stand and ponder a bit "where will I be best off" I think to myself. I say if I go back to the first pond and more duck jump that's where I will settle in. Sure enough I get there and two more mallards jump. The small pond is like the Retenare hunt area on Sauvies. It's a narrow long bit of water with brush and trees all along it. I decide to go minimal, I throw out just four blocks then find a comfortable place to stand in the brush. I'm there only minutes, light a choke and and nine mallards fly over my head and heading for my small spread. I don't jump the gun, I raise my gun take aim, pull the trigger and the Benelli goes click! By the time I get another shell in the chamber they are gone. I must have bumped the butt of the gun somewhere and it knocked the shell. For Heston sake!!! For sure it would have been a multiple slay, you can't imagine the following conversations I proceeded to have with myself. By now the rain is coming down pretty good, a set of Pintail fly through at mach 2 and a few more sightings off in the distance of more mallards. Sitting there, although really disappointed about the missed opportunity, really appreciating the fact that I am seeing a lot of ducks at the Old New Spot. It's now that I am really missing my buddy Bob, I'm soaked and cold, the company would have been nice. I knew that today he too was hunting out there in Idaho, but today he would have enjoyed the Old New Spot as much as I. I call it, I pack it up and head out As I am about 150 yards away I turn and look back two massive mallards fly and land right where I was, go figure. Disappointed but with a smile on my face I make it back to Lisa, thinking about the day my gun went click and not bang.

Remember

Remember when these two guys used to hunt together?
Today was a nice day hunting, but it could have been a little bit better.

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Hunting Together

The Two Would Make it Rain Ducks

Today it Just Rained

Hunting In Idaho

Hip Hip (?)

It's the day before Cliffy has to go under the knife, so of course the best thing for him is a full day of slaying, a good bottle of whikey, a pack of smokes and a delicious sammy. We rise and shine at about 4:30 have a small breakfast, sprain both of my thumbs, pack the truck and head out. Remember it has been cold and the decision was lets hit The Old New Spot. We're on ole interstate 84 and almost to Troutdale when the big sign says "Highway Closed At Toutdale" which means no way of getting to the Old New Spot. We stop and ask the guy sitting in the truck, making double time cause it's Sunday, "when do they think the highway will be open?" He says they are going to evaluate it at about 8 am. Slightly befuddled Cliffy and I head back to the casa thinking that we will just go home get a little more sleep and then head back at about 7:30. A few exits down I remember that we could actually make it to the Old Spot if we drive through the town and take the back roads. I must admit the roads were a little scetch, but Cliffy and his expert driving got us there only to find, of course, 6 more trucks already there. Never the less we pack up and head up, Cliffy is not too psyched, his fine backpack frame the rest of the team had bought him for his birthday was still home in the corner of his room. This meant a very unpleasant walk out. (not to mention he had also packed a chair in his pack, while I was going commando.) After the long walk we find the Old Spot to be completely frozen over, although very beautiful not very hunt able. Being the expert that I am, I know the area like the back of my hand. I give the orders and we're off, within minutes I have us on a nice spot with open water. Cliffy threw out the blocks and I made a blind. Just before the opening bell a few greenies fly over our heads, it seems to be a promising day. After a hour or so we see nothing, I decide being their Expert leader I have to lead by example. If it aint happening make it happen is my motto. I'm going to take a walk and flush some ducks up or do some good ole pass shooting. I make it about a 1/2 mile down the slough and find a lone block washed up on shore, I could use him I thought. I picked him up wrapped up his string and called him Lucky. On my walk down I notice some ducks jumping and landing down by the Old New Spot. Since the highway is still closed there are no other hunters down there. What the heck I think I make it down to the awesome blind I used last week and through out Lucky. I sit and wait, and wait some more. Nothing. After searching for my lighter and missing my bottle, I decide to hike back to the blind. I wade out wrap up his string and 2 greenies are flying right at me over my head. I drop Lucky and unload the Benelli. Nothing, I heard laughing and I think they even said "you don't call that block Lucky, you call him Shithead." I pick up Shithead and head back. I find Andy in the blind and it's all lit up and the blocks are now on dry land. My wisdom brought us back to the truck, we ate the awesome sammys I made, packed up and we were on our way to the Old New Spot, our day was not over yet. It's now 12 in the afternoon, we get to the highway, still closed. We go home.

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

It's About Time.

Current weather: Snow.

Forecast: Snow.

Future outlook: Snow.

GBCH

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

Gunner has the duck back on shore and everything is cool. I turn to fellow hunter and say with respect "you mind if I set some deeks some ways down?" I think with that statement he knew exactly who he was dealing with, who else shows such respect for other hunters but the H7HT? He says have at it and wishes me luck. I make my way down the slough to a familiar place, me and TJ, feels almost like home, except someone has made some home improvements, for the better no less. You could fully stand up, protected by the wind and even a small log bench for sitting. It's kinda like that drunk dude on Sunday nights on ABC who fixes up dem poor peoples houseses. I set my blocks get back to the blind and start to put another layer on, it's cold! My waders are around my waist, my head is going through a thick turtle neck and I have one arm in a sleeve when three greenies fly into my spread. Startled and pleasantly surprised I pick up the Benelli and unload 3 shells, only feathers my friend the elusive greenie survives another day. Wait the day does not end there I just got there remember? Some diver ducks then fly into my spread and land. No shots taken who wants to clean and eat a diver duck? They are happy and content, I could walk around the blind, jump up and down they do not care. I'm also happy they are there what is better than live deeks? So now I have a Nike swoosh and some live deeks and I have to tell ya my spread is looking good. Soon enough more ducks are flying, just as they were at the end of last year, open water it is. I hear shots down the way, my fellow comrades are slaying, it is on! You know what Sancho Clause rides every Christmas to deliver them there goodies for all those girls and boys? Well Sancho dropped a massive hen mallard right into my spread and that's right the answer is slay. One shot, goodbye. It's Only Natural that I am the Expert.

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.

I Have No Shame...By Cliffy

Being my first post and all, I'm sure I'll screw this up and have to call Fred G. A few weeks ago I started out watching some wild beasts. While on a walk with these wild beasts, I came upon a spot I have never C-I-L'ed at. Now, there are quite a few of these places. And quite a few of these places I have hunted at. And since I've been there twice now, it is still one of those places. Back to the story. It's a Saturday afternoon, high sunny skies, LOT's of water like a freaking ocean (though aparentley, there was none two days later) and ducks galore. I mean a ton of ducks. I spook up 100 mallards easily while walking to the blind. Throw some blocks out and get ready because.....it's ON! Birds are all over the place. Ten minutes goes by and I cooerce 8 mallards into my set. Three shots, no ducks. Then I get some pintails in, same result. Then more mallards, then more pintails, then more mallards, then more pintails.... see where I'm going with this. I took more shots that day then I have in the previous two years! And what do I have to show for it you ask? I have a dirty room with dirty laundry, mounds of papers that need to be filled out, I still haven't finished unpacking, an empty wicky bottle, empty pack of smokes, grocery shopping that needs to be done.......all those things the majority of the other people do on there one day off. Not ME, because I'm one of the BEST hunters EVER!!!!!!!

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 !

Civil War Prank Goes Too Far

December 6, 2009

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.

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

I heard that Fred G. is out slaying at Sauvies.
Meanwhile I am out snowshoeing in the mountains.
Who is having more fun?

Knowledge Is Power

(picture shows Cliffy with a duck, does not represent this year)

Cilffy. We all know him. We all know the dude has knowledge. The other day Cliffy went out scoping North Unit at Sauvies Island. As we all know, especially Steverino, that the North Unit ain't all that. Well with the recent influx of blistering cold weather it became something and Cliffy is the one who discovered it. As I said, Cliffy went out scoping on Friday after work and he happened upon a place called Cunningham Slough. I'll leave it at that. I know you all are dying for more information, but Cliffy is now "authorized" to post on the blog, so I will let him splain about his discovery. With Cliffys information in hand I decided to head out for a morning hunt at the North Unit. I pack up Lisa and head out. It's cold, the guy on the radio said it was 28 degrees. Cold. As I'm traveling Sauvies I take in a beautiful sunrise, I also notice that there are many hunters waiting in line, it won't be me today, I drive past. I arrive at the North Unit and there are two trucks already there, could it be that Cliffys words have already traveled? I worry not, where I'm going I don't think they will be there. I was right. After a 30 minute hike along the Mighty Columbia I get to the turn off point. Remember in the past the Cliffy always had the information, but sometimes it's not always correct, this was some what the case this time as well. His idea of a lot of water is different than mine. In the past I have seen the Cunningham Slough completely filled making almost a small lake, what I found was flooded marsh land. The rest of his info was spot on. Remember it's cold, really cold. That flooded marsh has a good crust of ice over the top, walking is a little difficult. The sun is now peaking out and I spied in the back of the slough right where Cliffy told me, mega waterfowl. I mean Mucho Holmes. But there were several downfalls. One being the crust of ice, travel was not easy and I was not able to find any open water. Fourth, it is a wide open area next to where the ducks are no real blind per se, so I had to set up about 100 yards from where they were hanging out and bust through some serious ice to put my blocks out. Click on the picture to left to see my ordeal. I'm set, I'm looking good now. Yo check me out! Birds are flying everywhere. If it were goose season and I could pass the damn goose test, I could have shot my limit ten fold. Mallards, maybe 100. Pintails, also 100, easy. They were in some open water just picking up then dropping down again, the cold had them on the move. When they flew overhead they flew in flocks of 10-30. So little ole me with my small hole in the ice with 5 blocks was not going to entice any birds my way. Or was I? After several hours of watching all these ducks frolic in front of me I'm thinking of hanging it up. Just then a hen mallard flys into my meager spread, bam! Folded. Folded right onto the ice, she's dead and she ain't going nowhere, I now go into "Oh My God!!" mode. When I shot her it scared up about 100 ducks. I'll work her little friends that came along for the ride, but my head is spinning, they are everywhere! I'm not able to entice them into my little pothole. More time passes and more and more ducks don't want anything to do with me. I bail. With a beautiful walk back to the truck, Mt. St. Helens all lit up, I think of Sunday. It will be about 10 degrees warmer. Yes!

Crutches

 

Synonyms is different words (or sumtimes phrases) with identical or very similar meanings . Words that are synonyms is said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn (σύν) ("with") and onoma (ὄνομα) ("name"). The words car and automobile is synonyms. Similarly, if we talk about a long time or an extended time, long and extended become synonyms.

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

First Slay - Hunting - Spot

First Slay - Hunting - Spot

A Sauvies Classic

I know I know we have all heard it before, we all know why we hate/love Sauvie Days. Do I need to remind us all? Listen, let me get it out okay? Me and Cliffy show up for an afternoon hunt at Sauvies, we have some good choices, we choose Mud Hen 6. "But Fred I have been reading the blog and the harvest report says Johnson Unit is giving it up" you say. First of all you guys just said Johnson Unit, but the answer is yes it was but with out rain the Johnson Unit is dry. We hike out and find 4 guys in number 7 with about 60 blocks in the water plus a jerk string, and they were throwing out some good calls. I'm thinking these guys are good, I'm gonna respect their space, we work our ducks they work their ducks. Until they showed no respect, and while working some ducks in our spread they decide because they have 60 blocks in the water the ducks were working would be better suited in their spread. So they work our ducks over to their spread and they land in the water about 40 yards out in front of them.

THE HATE PART. They proceed to shoot the ducks on the water, they wound three and they fly/swim away in different directions. It's now 3:20 we have a mere 40 minutes left until cil time is up. Below is a picture if the 3 butt heads out in the water searching for their 3 ducks they winged. Click on the picture to see how far out they were. They searched for about 20 minutes out in the water in front of us. Remember the time? Also ducks don't like to land where people are wading, so the ducks we did see were going to have nothing to do with us.

THE LOVE. We love Sauvies cause you are guaranteed to see some ducks. With 10 minutes left we WORK a set of ducks into our spread. I stand and shoot "BAM" one shot and a folded shoveler. Fred G. is on the board! Some pressure is off now but we all know that Bob is lurking. With maybe one more hunt day left for the Portland Chapter things look bleak, Cliffy and I are due for surgeries come middle of the month. Cliffy for his hip and I for my knee. We wish Bob all the best! Maybe he will tell stories of yore to his new and improved hunting buds, we hope. Also with Cliffy out for awhile maybe he could pick a book on photography. I did all I could do with this picture.

Team Has New Wood!

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Cliffys New Wood

Idioms For Idiots

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Strike While the Iron Is Hot


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.

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A message from Jenny X.

Recreational Update:

Bob DaFolder makes first turns of the season!*

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*Turns shown in this picture may not be actual turns made today.

Yo Yo, check me out.

Click the "Yo Yo, check me out" link stuff up above.

If you see me, shoot me.

The Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens), also known as the Blue Goose, is a North Americanspecies of goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The genus of this bird is disputed. The American Ornithologists' Union and BirdLife International place this species and the other "white" geese in the Chen genus, while other authorities place it in the more traditional "grey" goose genus Anser.

This goose breeds north of the timberline in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and the northeastern tip of Siberia, and in warm parts of North America from southwestern British Columbia through parts of the United States to Mexico.^[1] It is a rare vagrant to Europe, but a frequent escape from collections and an occasional feral breeder. Snow Geese are rare visitors to the British IslesBarnacle, Brent and Greenland White-frontedferal population in Scotland from which many vagrant birds in Britain seem to derive. where they are seen regularly among flocks of geese.

Idaho: Day 7

Or the day I like to call 'Heston is mad at me' day.
Today I'm hunting by myself because Dallas is off to Montana to hunt deer or elk or something other than ducks, I would have liked to have seen Montana. Anyway, it's off to an early start because there is snow in the forecast and I have an hour drive to my spot on Anderson lake. The roads were clear and I had plenty of time to set up and arrange a nice decoy spread in the shallow water surrounding the point. It's quiet in Idaho at 5 AM, almost eerily quiet, and it's interesting to hear all the animals come to life in the early morning. I could hear the quacking of far off ducks on the other side of the lake, and the wave of snow that started to fall came to me first as the sound of soft snow progressing over the waters surface.

I sat in the light snow and watched as the dark of night turned to the light gray of a snowy morning. Ducks started to fly. I was calling quite a bit because the snow had reduced visibility and I wanted the ducks to know where I was. Several Mallards landed nearby and a couple swam near my decoys. When they were within 25 yards I jumped up and they took flight, my first shot missed but the second took the Drake down. The Greenie hit the water and dove down into the reeds, a natural response I guess, but he must have gotten caught up down there. I saw where he landed and knew that the water was no more than thigh deep so I made my way out to retrieve him but after a fruitless search I came up with nothing.

Regular readers may remember the post on this very blog about my Grandpa Clyde. I first wrote about him because of this very issue, retrieving downed ducks. The HOY7 Hunting Team does everything in our power to retrieve our birds and today was no exception. I searched a grid pattern by walking the whole area he could have been, hoping to jar him loose from the reeds. There was no chance he swam away as I had a great view of the waters surface. Still, I came up with nothing. Grandpa Clyde, I am sorry.

Of course Grandpa Clyde would be sad but he does not have the power of Heston. Only the Great Heston could have punished me for this transgression. And he did. I went through most of a box of shells today and never made another shot after that one. I missed the Geese that flew 20 feet over my head. It's not like they surprised me, I saw them coming at a blistering 5 mph for 40 - 50 seconds before I lifted the Benelli and took careful aim. 3 shots, nothing. How about the group of greenies that circled my blocks twice? 3 shots, nothing. The teal or widgeon that blasted from left to right? 3 shots, nothing. And finally, here's the capper, the group of 12 or so Snow Geese that flew right over my head, again I saw them coming and had all the time in the world to make a good shot. You guessed it. 3 shots, nothing.

So now I have a week to think about what I could have done differently and how to make this up to the duck population and the great Lord Heston. Some act of contrition that will ease my conscience and make up for what I've done. I'm considering joining Delta Waterfowl, my membership will help restore habitat and maybe a cute little baby duck will be born because of my donation. later I hope to shoot him. Whatever happens I hope next week Heston will allow me to slay ducks and geese, and bring them home to my table.

GBCH

The Rainbow Room 2009

The Next Reader

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IS NUMBER 7000

Idioms For Idiots

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Patience Of Job


It refers to Job’s refusal to condemn God when Satan was allowed to destroy his family and his livestock, essentially turning him from a rich man into a childless pauper overnight. Instead he entered into a series of dialogs that culminated in a fascinating conversation with God Himself. In the end Job saw the error in his ways, sought forgiveness, and everything was restored.

The main idea running through the Book of Job is that when we justify ourselves, by saying that we don’t deserve to experience catastrophic loss, we condemn God, in effect accusing Him of being unjust.

Had Job not been a sinner, God could not have authorized Satan to torment him, and through his patient attempts to understand this, we learn valuable lessons. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Red Necks and Google Maps

A day starts off at a place we never made it to last year and this year I've been there twice. Twin Falls. Twin Falls as we all know by now is out past the Old New Spot at Dalton Point. I think it should be re-named, more on that later. Andy and I are both DL hunting (disabled not down low) so the short hike out makes for an easy on the body hike, but same difficulty rating on the bottle. The anticipation by no means is high. While we are setting up I spy a low fly'er and then another, maybe it's going to be a good afternoon. While we are sitting there enjoying the mighty Columbia, it's magnificent vastness and it's unadulterated beauty, Mr. Red Neck with shitass dog show up. I call that dog shitass because he took a huge dump right by our blind. Mr. Red Neck approaches us, "hey guys how's it going? how's the hunting here" he aks us. "I Google Mapped this here place, it seemed to be a darn good spot". (Not speaking to Mr. Red Neck but making an observation) My question to you is when for Hestons sake did dumb shits "lern" themselves on a computer? Was it the library? Why is it the Google Earth/Maps changing the face of duck hunting? Can we, being the H7HT, sue the guy in charge of Google, what's his name? I turned to him and blew smoke in his face and said "listen Hill Billy why don't you pack up the way you came in and take your stink ass dog, and he does stink, then take your "computar" back to Ikea, and forget that you ever saw this place, I think you would have better luck hunting at some damn park or golf course". He then said "Well dude don't freak on my ass I read about this place on some hunting blog...the Hoy 7 Hunting Blog!!" I said "shut up beyatch we are the H7HT, next time you see any of our vehicles make like a tree and blow!!". Senior Red Neck high tails it out of there not wanting any part of us. Hunting presumes. Time passes and Cliffy, once an expert back in 2005, spy's a set of green heads. They were flying high and not wanting any part us. It made me think, being where we are we have to make the best of what we see. If we see some ducks, any ducks we have to make the best of it. In other words we have to "Strike While The Iron Is Hot".

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Twin Falls? I don't think so, the name that is, the Twin Falls have dried up I think due to global warming. I think we are almost out of water. Just look at the Mighty Columbia. I think Twin Falls should be called "The Rainbow", not like gee, but like a water spectrum. "The Rainbow Room". Have you never seen one there?

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It's Not the Best But It Is Ours

How about an afternoon hunt at the Old New Spot I asked myself? Sure what the hell I said. Got out of work and on the road at about 2pm, only need a couple of hours I said. Hell I have "The Patience Of Job".

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It's not the best place in the world to hunt, it's not even half way decent this time of year. But it has something a lot of other places does not, solitude. Imagine if you could a place you owned that you could go out and sit in peace, you are what you make of it. Imagine winning the old Powerball, and being Wednesday I did. I sat among the grasses with my seven blocks out, with my whikey and my wides doing just that. This is what it's going to be like someday, I thought to myself. But one thing will be different, there will be ducks. I'm not bitchin, it's a 20 minute drive and a 10 minute walk, easy enough even in my condition. I sat proudly being a part of the H7Ht, wearing my hat and hunting the way we always have done in the past. Reprezentin I call it, I knew the chances of seeing anything was slim to none, but there I sat. Reprezentin. Hunting the way we always have done. Reprezentin.

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A few hours passed and it was time to call it, I pulled the blocks, packed the bags and hiked out. Lisa greeted me and we were off. It was a good day. I was able to hike out to the Old New Spot, I sat and enjoyed the peace, Mt. Hood peaking over the closer mountains all lit up by the evening light. It was almost perfect.

Idioms For Idiots

Jump the Gun

Meaning:
Begin something before preparations for it are complete.

Origin:
'Jump the gun' derives from track and field races and was preceded in the USA by the phrase 'beat the gun' (or pistol). This has been known from the early 20th century, as in this example from Crowther and Ruhl's Rowing and Track Athletics, 1905:

False starts were rarely penalized, the pistol generally followed immediately on the signal "Get set!" and so shiftless were the starters and officials that "beating the pistol" was one of the tricks which less sportsmanlike runners constantly practised.
The earliest citation that I can find for 'jump the gun' isn't directly related to athletics, but is a figurative usage, as we use the phrase today - from The Iowa Homestead, November 1921:
"Give the pigs a good start; jump the gun, so to speak, and get them on a grain ration before weaning time."
The use of 'jump' in both phrases derives from the 'make a sudden, unexpected movement' meaning of the word. This usage is apparent in earlier phrases 'jump someone's claim' and 'jump ship' and the later (mid 20th century) 'jump the queue'.

Another Day Number Unkown

One bad knee and one bad hip walk into a bar and the bartender says "what's hoppining?"

Get it?

So Cliffy and I decide not to let our time here on the great planet earth just pass us by, we decide to head out to Sauvies on Sunday. I know what you are saying, "On a SUNDAY?!" "Hunting Sauvies on a Sunday?" "Fred G. is it not the busiest day of the week?" "Aren't you two lame guys?" (lame being disabled by the way) It is. And we are. Being the BEST we figured it out. One word, Afternoon hunting. I pick up Cliffy, after a good night sleep, a tasty breakfast, and a little work around the house, at a reasonable time 12:00 pm. We head to Sauvies pull up to the check in station walk right up pick a blind, Mud Hen 11, and by 1:15 we are set up and ready to slay. We have 2 hours and 45 minutes. Sauvies is different as you all well know, cause you all read the blog, you see ducks and you hear other guys skybustin. After a few flights of ducks way over heads I remember something. They love the whistle!!! How did I forget? I guess being out three times all ready this year this was like the first real day. After a little whistle blowing I worked some ducks into our spread, something that does not happen very often on Sauvies, and some shots were taken and some birds flew away. It's getting closer to dusk now and we have about 20 minutes to go, birds are flying. (note picture in story and picture in header) With a little more whistle I work a set of ducks into our spread, it was then that I "Jumped the Gun". Lets just say it is good to know the Benelli works just fine, hopefully first of the year jitters are gone. We will be back.

Dropped my Tiparello part duex

Meniscus Tear

There are two menisci in your knee; each rests between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). The menisci are made of tough cartilage and conform to the surfaces of the bones upon which they rest. One meniscus is on the inside of your knee; this is the medial meniscus. The other meniscus rests on the outside of your knee, the lateral meniscus.

These meniscus functions to distribute your body weight across the knee joint. Without the meniscus present, the weight of your body would be unevenly applied to the bones in your legs (the femur and tibia). This uneven weight distribution would cause excessive forces in specific areas of bone leading to early arthritis of knee joint. Therefore, the function of the meniscus is critical to the health of your knee.

The meniscus is C-shaped and has a wedged profile. The wedged profile helps maintain the stability of the joint by keeping the rounded femur surface from sliding off the flat tibial surface. The meniscus is nourished by small blood vessels, but the meniscus also has a large area in the center of that has no direct blood supply (avascular). This presents a problem when there is an injury to the meniscus as the avascular areas tend not to heal. Without the essential nutrients supplied by blood vessels, healing cannot take place.

How does the meniscus work?
The knee joint is very important in allowing people to go about performing almost any activity. The joint is made up of three bones: the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the patella (knee cap). The surfaces of these bones within the joint are covered with a layer of cartilage. This important surface allows the bones to smoothly glide against each other without causing damage to the bone. The meniscus sits between the cartilage surfaces of the bone to distribute weight and to improve the stability of the joint

A meniscectomy is a surgical procedure that is performed to remove a torn meniscus from the knee joint. A meniscectomy may be recommended if the torn meniscus is causing symptoms of discomfort. The meniscectomy is an arthroscopic procedure, performed through small incisions with the aid of a small camera inserted into the joint.

How is arthroscopic surgery performed?
Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure that is used to look inside a joint. Through one small incision (about 1 centimeter) a small camera, about the size of a pencil, is inserted into the joint. Using one or more other small incisions, your surgeon places other instruments inside the knee to remove the torn cartilage.

New Feature

A new feature here at the blog. English Idioms. An idiom is generally a colloquial metaphor — a term requiring some foundational knowledge, information, or experience, to use only within a culture, where conversational parties must possess common cultural references. Therefore, idioms are not considered part of the language, but part of the culture. As culture typically is localized, idioms often are useless beyond their local context; nevertheless, some idioms can be more universal than others, can be easily translated, and the metamorphic meaning can be deduced. Got one send to us and we will publish. We will call the feature "Idioms for Idiots". Stay tuned.

Idaho Day 6

Today is what I like to call the secret spot day. The picture you see is the new 'secret spot', it was discovered 2 weeks ago. Dallas and I went hunting at Anderson lake and then we drove around to see what was on the other side. Maybe another place to set up? The chance of a flooded rice field? Perhaps another lake all together? What we found was a small bay on the other side of the lake, chock full of Mallards. We knocked on the nearest door and found the name of the property owner. Dallas made the call.

"We were wondering if we could hunt on your property? My Uncle Delbert gave me your name." Now apparently Uncle Delbert passed a few years back but by the grace of Heston it turns out the property owner worked with Uncle Delbert for 27 years in the lumber mill. Permission was granted.

So this morning we packed up and headed to the 'secret spot'. We had to bushwack for about 15 minutes in the chilly darkness (I left my headlamp in Fred G's bag last week, awesome!) and came out in the small bay. The bottom was not too muddy and fairly shallow for quite a ways out, good conditions for setting blocks. The sunrise was from behind us and we had good cover. Only one thing missing. Ducks. We debated the fickle nature of ducks. Weather conditions, wind direction, fog, rain, cold, nature vs. nurture, what the hell? I guess sometimes those little bastards have a mind of their own.

We did have a few solid morning fly-bys. We could have shot some divers. We missed a couple chances and took a few shots. But for the most part the mallards we saw two weeks ago just weren't there. I guess that's why they call it 'hunting' and not 'killing' sometimes you just don't get what you expect. Don't worry though, there's always next week.

GBCH

Is this potential? Or is this a loser?

Ladies and Gentlemen of the HOY7 Hunting Team meet Clayton. Could this man be a possible duck slayer or just another one of the 'wannabes' that have professed to want to go hunt with the HOY7 Hunting Team? I know for a fact that he has the ability to make his own schedule, he is able to possess a firearm, (praise Heston) he has tasted whiskey before and he is not afraid of Greenie. Being that I am back to the great state of Idaho after my weekend of fun, I know that someone has to step up to the plate. For Heston sake, Fred G hunted for 3 hours without seeing a thing or having anyone to talk to. Somebody help him.

So I throw out the challenge. Is this the one? He sure seems confident. Ladies and Gentlemen, place your bets.

Day 3/5 or 5/3 depending on your location.

Today was day 5 for Bob D. and day 3 for Fred G.
It was Cliffords birthday last night. We went to the party.
We went hunting the next morning.
To quote Forrest Gump "That's all I have to say about that."
GBCH

Bob D. has a New Job!

The time for jealousy is here. Expert slayer and new Captain of the HOY7 Hunting Team Bob DaFolder is now employed by Silver Mountain. As of today I am now the King of the tech shop on the top of the Silver Mountain ski area. My job description includes skiing a lot and making sure everyone else skis fast on their perfectly tuned skis and snowboards. In addition to the jealousy you are feeling for my job I must add that my commute to work will now include riding a gondola to work every day. Suck it 9 to 5'ers.

Now you may be thinking, " Bob D. Aren't you employed by Dave Smith Motors? Aren't you the best car salesman ever?" I'm sorry my friends but that title still belongs to Mr. Dallas Y. friend of the HOY7 Hunting Team and slayer of an undisclosed species of duck. I had to give my 2 minute notice to D.S. Motors yesterday and moved on to bigger and snowier things. While I enjoyed my time selling forty thousand dollar trucks to mustached ranchers from Montana I had to return to my outdoor roots. And since the lottery winnings have not yet arrived to allow Fred G and myself to have our dream job, I will continue in the ski industry.

So do your research and check out Silver Mountain ( www.silvermt.com ) and get ready to suppress your envy as I embark on my new career. But don't forget, my true destiny is to fold ducks like a Loose leaf Binder at the lunchroom bell. And stay tuned for the finest day of hunting exploits yet to come.

GBCH

Idaho: Day 4

Well well well. It seems there's a new expert in town boys. Say hello to Bob DaFolder, expert.

That's right day four in Idaho has been good to me. Slayer extraordinaire Dallas and I set out extra early due to daylight savings time and drove to Anderson Lake. We had been there before with not much success, but due to the lack of hunting spots we know of, it was on the agenda. As we arrived and packed in our blocks a misty fog settled over the lake. It blocked out the nearly full moon that was hanging over the area. A double group pattern was set and this theoretically left us a shooting lane right in the middle of our decoys. Of course I overestimated how much time daylight savings time subtracted from the normal shooting time. Turns out daylight savings time is one hour, who could have known. So we waited in the morning chill and fog.

Ducks appeared out of nowhere, as if emerging from thin air, and flew past our spread. We hardly had the chance to shoot before they were out of range. A 'V' of geese came from our right and Dallas, not knowing the distance, and I not wanting a goose, let them pass. From there on out it was game on. I called repeatedly to let the ducks know we were there and several groups of teal or widgeon came and went. A couple shots were taken but nothing fell. As the fog lifted 3 bufflehead locked up and landed right in the spread, pretty as can be. Then they flew away.

So, I know what you are thinking. "Bob D. what about the ducks you did fold? What's the story there?" Let me tell you, it was sweet. Two big ducks came straight in and flared just as they passed the spread. I put a bead on the bigger duck on the left and.... Blam! Dallas shot him dead. He retrieved what I thought at first was a Pintail but it was not. In fact I have no idea what it is. Some research is in order because I sure know what a Pintail looks like, Fred G shoots them all the time, but this one? Who knows? Shortly after that 3 ducks came from the right and turned into the spread. My Benelli met his outline, followed him and folded that green headed bastard like a notebook. After that the fog cleared and just that fast the action died. That is of course until we pulled up the decoys. Several volleys of ducks flew right over our heads without a care in the world.

We packed up and did some scouting. Driving to the other side of the lake we found a cove holding about 50 - 60 Greenies. Dallas rang the bell of the nearest house and a lady in her bathrobe came to the door and told us the name of the guy who owns the property. At this point the huntability of that spot is in question but a phone call has been made. Next time there may be even more Greenies to add to my Expert totals. Stay tuned because the next hunting outing will be special and thrilling all at the same time. I guar-an-tee!

GBCH

Idaho: Day 3

Day 3 started like no other day before. Expectations were high because I was scheduled to hunt a flooded rice field with a pit blind. We even had to take a boat to get there because it was on the other side of the river and inaccessible to anyone without one. Holy Crap! this is going to be great! It was going to be so good in fact, I called my former hunting partner Fred G. It seems as though Fred has some kind of knee problem. He has Ebola of the knee, Plague to the ACL, Hernia of the patella or some shit like that. Good thing he was self medicating or else he may have made me try to feel bad about the fact that I was going to hunt a flooded rice field. Instead he gave me his blessing and made sure I felt good about hunting without him. (and if you believe that...)

I met Dallas and another co-worker named John at the local IGA and we headed out at 4AM. It was foggy and fairly cold when we put the boat in the water and were led to the take-out spot by another group of affiliated hunters who also had a boat and another spot. We walked to the left like we were told. But due to the darkness and the fog, I think we walked in circles until we were stuck in the mud. At any rate, we were hosed. When the sun finally came up we saw...

I pause at this time to ask a basic cooking question. One that everyone should know the answer to. What is one essential ingredient to making rice, outside of fire? (we all know if fire was necessary that I am the master of the one match fire) If you said 'water' you would be a winner. There was no water anywhere. Now, another question. If you wanted to slay ducks what is one essential ingredient? Good guess. Water. And finally if ducks wanted to fly near you what would they wast to see? Yep, you guessed it, water.

So there it is. Water, water, water. My picture will reflect the conditions we were in that day. We got back in the boat and met the other 3 hunters who were sitting in a mud puddle waiting for duck to fly also. The only thing that made them more pathetic than us is that they stayed and waited. We got back in the boat and left for home where I made it in time to watch the Giants get destroyed but the Cardinals. The Freakin' Cardinals!

Now some would say that it was a waste of a day. But I say to you; it was GREAT. Never feel bad about the opportunity to hunt a new place, to see new things and to slay new ducks. Next time is going to be great. Now let's take this time to wish Fred G a speedy recovery so that he may have his chance to prove to all of us that he is the EXPERT and pray to Heston that I will get there first.

GBCH

Permanent Disability Permit Information

Permanent Disability Permit Information
Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit (pdf)
In order to be considered a person with a disability under the wildlife laws, a person shall provide either:
1. Written certification from a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner which states that the applicant:
is permanently unable to walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, scooter or walker;
is restricted by lung disease to the extent that the person's forced expiratory volume for one second, when measured by a spirometer, is less than 35 percent predicted, or arterial oxygen tension is less than 55 mm/Hg on room air at rest;
has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person's functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV, according to standards established by the American Heart Association
has a permanent, physical impairment that prevents the person from holding or shooting a firearm or bow or from holding a fishing for in hand; or
has central visual acuity that permanently does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses, or the widest diameter of the visual field is no greater than 20 degrees; or
2. Written proof that the last official certification of record by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States shows the person to be at least 65% disabled (ORS 496.018)
The "Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit" is not a license or tag. Hunters must still obtain a hunting and apply for and/or purchase appropriate tags prior to specified tag sale deadlines to hunt in controlled and general big game seasons. You must be in possession of your "Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit", license, and tag while you are hunting (even holders of a Disabled Veteran/Pioneer license and tag). All license and tag fees are at regular rates. In addition you may only hunt in the time period specified for the tag you possess. Holders of a Disabled Veterans/Pioneer elk tag must also possess an "Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit" to be eligible for an expanded bag limit or to hunt from a parked motor vehicle. An "Oregon Disabilities hunting and Fishing Permit" does not allow the permit holder to travel on any closed road by means of a motor-propelled vehicle.

OVER?

Day Two 2009

Curiosity. Curiosity is what over came me the next day. Last year we saw ducks while scouting in the afternoon and this year we saw ducks while scouting in the afternoon. Was I missing it? After a relaxing day I decide to pack up and head out to the Old New Spot, maybe the time to hunt is in the afternoon, maybe it's a spot where the ducks like to settle down for the night. I arrive at 1pm, I make my way out and would you not believe it but there was a truck in the lot, a truck in the lot on a Monday and a Sauvies day no less. Well I hike it out and luckily the spot I wanted was vacant. I set out some blocks and build a small blind. It's a commando day, a day when I go in with minimal equipment. 10 blocks a gun and a few condiments. The afternoon was beautiful, my blocks lit up and a small west wind. In a while 3 ducks fly over my head from behind, almost perfect, I forgot my calls no way of getting them back. Damn! After a few more hours I decide to pack it up. It's four o'clock, maybe I could catch the end of the Yankee game. Hiking out hoping Bob has just a good day if not better tomorrow.