Idaho: Day Six

So there I am at the highway exit for Rose Lake, the turnoff to go to my old slaying grounds outside Harrison. I still have another 30+ miles to go and it's complete whiteout conditions. Plows have yet to cover this stretch of rural byway because it's 5am, a full half hour after I left my house. The highway trip that should have taken only 10 minutes took a half hour. The snow is about 8" to 10" deep and coming down full force. I still have 1 1/2 hours until shooting time for the 40 minute trip but I have to wonder if this is a smart way to discover if Reccos Automotive really did fix my 4x4 system correctly, or if they missed something like before. I push on.

I make it to Anderson with just enough time to set up before first light. 4x4 engaged at 35mph the whole way. Twice the blowing snow allowed me to see nothing beyond my wiper blades for seconds at a time. Very long seconds. The snow is still coming down as I throw my decoys into the water being careful not to make tracks in the snow that would seem out of place to a passing mallard. It doesn't take long for the ducks to fly in, it's cold and slightly windy and the snow is pushing the ducks down from above. I shoot at the first duck and miss. The second time a mallard comes by I shoot and miss again but this time I have a good second shot chance. When I pull the trigger again my new, warmer Cabellas glove is stuck in the trigger guard not allowing my trigger to fully release and, even though there is another shell in the chamber, not allowing me to shoot. More divers pass and some land and then twenty or more Canadian geese glide right by gunning range. Nope, I'm waitin for Greeinie.

Then low and slow, straight at me, into the wind slowing him down, feet extended comes a lone greenie. The perfect shot. I miss again. Once again the second shot is stymied by the glove in the trigger guard but this time I free the glove in time to take another shot, which I do. By the time this all happens he is farther out than sensible but I wing him and he falls to the water still very alive and swimming to get away. By the time I get into the water and have a chance to finish him he is well beyond me and I wade out until I'm chest deep, the bird is now at least 50 yards away. Shit.

Regular readers will be familiar with the picture on the right, it's my Grandpa Clyde. He looks happy sitting there on the back patio with some Heinz ketchup and whatever else is on the table. At this time he has no idea his grandson will someday take a foolish and ill-advised shot at a mallard and have no choice but to watch it swim away to likely die without being fire grilled or combined with fresh ingredients in some way. If he did know I think there might be a scowl on his face, a sign that he is NOT happy. According to my dear Mother he would never let a downed duck get away.

After that I had one more good shot but I never even took it. The duck was over deeper water and I wasn't going to risk wasting another duck. I had tried to walk the shoreline to see if the wind had brought the duck in but the deep snow and thick reeds made progress slow. By the time I got back to the blind I knew my day was likely done. Soon after the snow tapered off and I packed up to head back. In what has become far too typical fashion as I was throwing the last of my decoys in the bag a fat greenie landed in the shallow water just twenty or thirty yards to my right. He quacked at me three times and flew off. Hmmmm?

GBCH

defying the odds

Contributing member, Cliffy V, has been training for Aconcagua. As ducks are flying, I have been climbing (fortunately for Greenie). My latest venture took me to the second most climbed mountain in the world, Mt. Hood. I started off hung over, with my well rested companion named Steve, at Timberline around 10 am heading up to our high camp at 9,200 ft. Cold and cloudy weathertook its toll on us (me), taking 5 hours with a 60 lb. pack in knee deep snow. At close to 4 pm with our tent dug in and snow a meltin', the cloud base finally descended below us and we had clear skies. Sisters and Jefferson were the only thing staring at us as we had the mountain to ourselves. A rare and gloomy feeling. Our plan was to start the rest of the ascent to the summit at 6 am and claim victory at 10 am. Steve started rumbling in the tent around 4:30, and I had to remind him about the 6am start. Thank Heston, he just had to pee and it was so cold we decided to push back our start time to 8 am, a blessing in costume. With temps around 15 degrees, we started our push. Insulated water bottles froze on impact outside our sleeping bags, but we still kept pushing. Nothing but clear skies 'till we hit 10,400 at the Hogsback. Then it came in on us. Temps dropped, wind picked up, and we were in a whiteout. So glad I wasn't on the summit at that point, so glad!!!!!!! With Steve leading the search for our tent, his footprints disappeared three steps ahead. Without a missed ridge, we were at our camp in an hour struggling to pack our packs for the trip down with our gloves on. We would take the gloves off for one minute to put something in, then gloves back on for ten minutes to thaw. This process went on for two hours. Brutal. When we finally got to start the descent, my glasses had frozen over. So every fifteen minutes I had to take the "glove warmer" out of my glove and place it on my eyes because my eyelids were freezing shut. Ya, that cold. Using my GPS, we made it down the Palmer and to the car in another 2 hours. We high fived and cracked a beer, but the beer was frozen. Ya, the beer in the car was frozen. Thank Heston I had whickey leftover in my backpack. Thank Heston! More to follow as I can hunt this weekend!

Day 3.2 Oregon Chapter

Two Down None to Show

The day started at 2:15 this morning. The morning

weather predicted early morning showers turning

into snow showers. Arrived ay Sauvies at about

3am, with a full moon, in line and looking good. After a several hour wait I pull up to the check in station. Several good options but one stands out, I say "I'll take Mud Hen 7" The woman behind the counter says "how about number 9?" I ask why and she informs me that the water there is good now and it's at the end. I walk out with some Hawaiian dude who said he had 9 last week and he limited out. He also mentioned the lack of crap ducks and how the influx of mallards and pintails in the morning fly was up. Visions of grander dance in my head. I throw out my blocks all the way to the left to entice some action at my own "private" end. The hawaiian dude said that the ducks will fly out of the corn field just behind me to the left early beware. The weather was just as predicted, far off in the distance the hills slowly being covered with a blanket of snow, soon the temperature will drop and it will be snowing here as well, much anticipation, the "perfect storm". The hawaiian dude had everything right. At first light the flight was furious, many passes with which I should have have taken some "Sauvies Pass Shots", looking back on it now I should have taken those shots because later in the morning it changed. Mallards and Pintails changed to Widgeons and Gadwalls with a few mallards peppered here and there. Remember I'm at Sauvies, it starts, sky-busting, frustration, my H7HT shooting skills are out the window (see fine Italian Steel video), I see red and they are not dead. In my short time I see four birds shot out of range go down and never and tried to be retrieved. In my short time out there I pumped out 14 shells. I winged two birds the birds greenies cause it was all I was really going for, don't get me wrong if a Widgeon or Gaddy came into my spread feet down I would have taken them, but I'm not going to sky-bust them. So the two birds I winged were coming into my spread, I shot and they were not clean but enough to bring them down slowly. Both times they flew towards the reeds in the middle, that's when the "dudes" across from me decided to shoot and retrieve my birds. REALLY!! The first time I was actually in the water by the time the other "hunter" decided to put a shell into it. "Hey Vern look that duck is coming in real slow I'm going to take it." It'a 10 am, a beautiful morning, lots of flight, a light snow, I have four shells left and not a lot of whikey, hence the 14 shots. Would I go back? Of course I would, there will always be sky-busters, it's beautiful, it has ducks.

Tomorrow

Weather for Harrison Idaho. Sounds Ducky eh?

Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 22. North wind between 8 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Monday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 13 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -4. North wind between 5 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Weather for Portland Oregon

Bob hate to chime in on your post but we as well have some duck weather coming our way and Monday is a Sauvies day. Stay Tuned.

This Afternoon: Showers. High near 42. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight: Showers, mainly before 10pm. Low around 32. West southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday: A chance of rain showers before 10am, then snow showers. Snow level 600 feet lowering to 200 feet. High near 37. West wind between 7 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday Night: Snow showers likely before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Greenie?

Reunion 2010 Poetry. (For day Four)

Oh great sandwich how you do please
Your meaty innards and grainy bread wrapper
The spice of mustard and creamy mayonnaise

Taking in your nourishment and flavor
Recharging a weary hunters depleted soul
Making the days chill depart in haste

All your attributes help level the day
You make us happy and help us forget
The disturbing lack of ducks we view.

Fine Italian Steel

Some Idaho Beauty

Day 2.3 Oregon Chapter

Day 2.3. Where do I start? Seriously. Lisa, Long Hike, Must have Been the Wrong Place, At the Right Time. Start Me Up. Mt. Hood In my Mind, Where!!!?? Where Do I start!!!?? Look to the picture to the left, what does it say to you? Look! I think maybe only 2 or 3 people will get this. Boot Sucking Mud. Ever hear of it? Did I mention the Hiccup with Lisa? I'm going to go at this real fast. Met Cliffy at the parking lot at Sauvies at just before 4am. Lisa no start again, jiggle some wires she fires up. Cliffy was going to climb Mt. Hood same morning leaving "base camp" at 2am. Ask him, he needs some encouragement to write. What does the H7HT do most? we learn right? I know there are a lot of questions here but there are many answers . Today Lisa reverted to the old days, stall and can not restart. Me and Cliffy hike aimlessly in the woods with packs on for one and half hours. Me and Cliffy put down in the wrong space in the wrong area at the wrong time. Many ducks and mucho geese fly over our heads but no chance for slaying, why? because no water, tides, and boot sucking mud. Tides on Sauvies? Yes learn them, they help. FRUSTRATION !!!! I know the answer, it cost me much money, will not pay again. May Heston have mercy on my soul. Speak up Cliffy you have more to say.

Idaho: Day five.

Last night I watched the weather channel and they promised me a low pressure system descending from the north, bringing with it colder temps and possible snow. I took the bait even though it is a Saturday and there should be plenty of other hunters out gunning for Greenie. I woke early and packed the truck, had a nice bowl of Cheerios and headed out into the crisp morning air. As I was leaving the driveway I made a mental checklist of all my gear but something was nagging me, something missing. About 10 minutes into the drive I realized what was missing was that after 5 solid days of 'Reunion 2010' my ole' buddy Fred G was not sitting next to me. Who would critique my musical selections? Who would marvel at all the places the ducks actually were? Who would make the morning sandwich while I watched? I guess today I was going it alone.

Nobody was out on the point at Anderson Lake as I set my decoys and settled in for the morning fly. Birds were whistling over my head in the pre-dawn darkness and I hoped to bring home a nice prize as shooting time neared. I thought back to last week and the last time I planed on coming to this point..........


Reunion 2010: Day three.

By now the tradition had been set so I walked into the room of the sleeping Fred G and woke him up with an ass trumpet of epic proportions. He was grateful. We were heading out to Anderson Lake again today and everything was going just as we planed. Of course, being the H7HT means being able to adjust on a moments notice, so when other hunters beat us to the punch on the Anderson Point we had no choice but to go elsewhere. I knew there was another way to access the shoreline form the other end of the lake. Fortunately our expert sense of direction and perfect timing put us in a secret spot I had never been to before.

Blocks were set and birds were flying. After the previous days adventure with the greenie that just would not die we were primed to put the bead on some nice ducks. We didn't have to wait long. I can't remember now if I shot the greenie or the wigeon first but I do know my trigger finger was hot! Fred would congratulate me with each kill but I knew full well he was itching to get on the board as I brought my total to 5. Then, out of the left at a rockets pace, two ducks came in hot. Fred G took two shots from his trusty old Remmy (Warren made it special for Heston's sake) and brought down 2 mergansers. The drake was enormous and as pretty of a bird as I have ever seen.

We had some more looks and some other shots but four ducks would be the total that morning. A nice sammy and we were off, back to the cabin to clean some fresh meat. A bit later in the day it was decided to head off to Killarney Lake for the evening fly and a trip in the totally sea-worthy jon boat.

I'd love to report that the Killarney trip was as fruitful as our morning trip, but that would be a lie. It was however as scenic and beautiful a spot to hunt as any around. We sat in the too warm sunshine and watched an empty sky until hunting hours expired. A quick row back to the dock and on to a delicious meal. About as good of a hunting day you can get (without a limit of fat banded greenies). That was then................


Idaho: Day five.

No ducks graced my bag today but I did have a nice mallard fly just outside my gunning distance. He slowly made his way toward my decoys and I considered jump shooting him but left him alone, better as a live decoy. He bolted when I moved from one less than comfortable seat to another and that was the only mallard I saw. As the sun started to break through (thanks weather channel) I was fixin' to get ready to head home and in true ironic fashion five big pinnys flew right up. Two landed right away and the other three circled, looking for a spot. Of course my Benelli was just out of reach as I was picking up some other hunters spent shells and putting them in my bag. Knowing full well how this would turn out I still tried to get to my gun before the other three left only to scare the first two off as well. Crap Monkey! I realized as I packed up that if only Fred G were here I would have been more patient and had the camaraderie required to stay and shoot those pinnys. Then again, tomorrow is another day, right?

GBCH

Fishing Time with Andy Vershaw

So a couple of weeks ago the Oregon Chapter of the H7HT did a little Steelheading on two mighty rivers, the Snake River and the Clear Water both in southwest Idaho. We had a guide courtesy to Cliffy with his expert bidding at a fish function auction. The mans name was Dave, Dave was a nice man who promised to fill our cooler with Steelhead Salmon. Every morning we awoke with Daves empty promises of putting us on some fish in his favorite spots, he's been fishing these rivers for 30 years now. Anyway, enough about that for now, there will be some more excellent stories about that later, but this is about Fishing Time with Andy Vershaw. A few years back Andy took another old man out fly fishing, for the first time no less, and look what he did. Listen to the commentary as to how excellent of a job Andy did. I guess what I'm gunning at is, who needs a guide when we have Andy? Enjoy.

The Seven Step Program

Just a little something something about my trip to Idaho, I just wanted people to know that Bob gave up the best spots to me to help insure a good time was had. Then I'm reminiscing some old video and I find this, a man named Bob DaFolder sacrificing himself so that I may have a gem of a time. Enjoy.

Guest Editor.

HA! It is I Greenie, and I RULE!

I read with amusement your posting about your so called 'reunion 2010'. By now you must know that I am just playing with you and laughing at your weak shooting skills. That's right, I flew into your decoy spread with every intention of eluding you. Surely you don't think that I would fall for the pitiful attempt at realism you tried to display. Fail! I spotted the poor decoy set from a mile away and knew it could only be one set of stinking hunters. You.

Imagine my surprise when you had the nerve to take a shot at me while I was touching down to crap in the middle of your lifeless impostors. Being that you were using only 2 3/4" shells I was able to shake off the barrage and continue on like nothing happened. The feathers I left behind were nothing more than my calling card. I hope you liked them as that is all you will ever take from me.

I'm thinking about making my way down to Oregon, or maybe staying here in Idaho, just to laugh at your haphazard hunting skills. Wherever I turn up rest assured that I will be the Kahn to your Kirk. The wet foot to your wader. The broken lighter to your fresh pack of smokes. I am Greenie, and I RULE!

Day Two OR. Chapter in ID.

"I'm Going to Put You On Some Ducks Today"

Clutch, Check. Guns, Check. Whikey, Check. We were set we were looking good on day two. Bob was confident about his spot on Anderson Lake, it is his go-to spot. A bit of a haul in the truck but the short walk down a 43° degree cliff with shard ankle-breaking rocks (is nothing easy in this state?) made up for it. Bob knows the area well and he knows the block set he wants. Feeder ducks over there, sleeper ducks there, roto there and sentry ducks there. Like I said we were set & we were looking good. No blinds needed just a crawl up into the brush and make yourself comfortable. Pre morning fly, and all morning fly for that matter is just a spectacle. The sounds are just amazing. To our left is a large duck refuge

where they know they're safe and our job is to lure them out of safety and kill the little mo foe's. The chatter all morning would drive any other hunters insane, but being the H7HT we were able to keep our emotions in check. After a few sets of divers and crap ducks fly through our spread the ever elusive Mr. Canadian Greenie shows his face. And his face I shot, I saw red and I thought he was dead. Greenie either fell for our spread or was just playing with us. He came in full tilt over the roto deek and I put my bead on him, pulled the trigger, watched him crumble, watched a cloud of feathers fall to the earth, then watched him fly away! I just put what I thought was a massive hurt on Mr. Greenie, the dude got up shook it off and flew away! what makes him so strong I do not know. A little later I think he sent his woman around to get some pictures of the looks on our faces, cause she flew in taking the same path as he did and all I could do is put a 2 ¾ little scare into her. She too was gone laughing the whole way back to where ever they are from. After another hour or so, a couple of delish sammys I look over to Bob and he don't look so good. Inquire whats up? and he says " really thought I was going to put you on some ducks today, I've never seen it so slow here." Always time for kill'in tomorrow Bob. We pack up and like a billy goat I'm up the embankment of ankle breaking shard rocks and back to the truck. Saw and heard some amazing stuff today, and know how I knew it was a great day? Cause I got to use my 870.

Winning Season Name

Winning season name "Can You Smell It?" takes on whole new meaning with Idaho Chapter and Oregon Chapter merging on Park Circle Road.

Latest Migration Information

Dear Fred,

A roller coaster pattern of storm fronts has brought freezing temperatures
to the north and then risen to record highs in some areas. Despite the
radical changes, the weather has provided a steady stream of ducks and geese
to all four Flyways this season.

While waterfowl hunters in the northern third of the U.S. have not been
filling a limit everyday, there are enough ducks to make shooting
interesting and keep hunters heading to the field. The great news is there
are still plenty of birds to the north and good shooting to come

For the latest migration information, visit http://www.waterfowler.com today.

Lisa and the New Old Spot

This was only a test. As we all know by now Lisa had a really bad summer, a summer filled with hiccups. Alternator, rear brakes, parking brake, rear end differential and carburetor all replaced this year. It's hard to get into a truck you love and drive even 25 miles without the constant nagging in the back of your mind "is she going to make it?" Well after much speculation I decided to take her on the road to the Old New Spot. Thinking an evening fly would do just the trick, go scope out the water situation and drive during the day so if something were to happen it would not be 5am. Remember the trepidation I felt having to cross the great Quinipiac River in the last post? Well I'm having the same feelings now as well sitting out there by the river. Well happy to report on a few things: Lisa was a champ! we all knew she would be, but.... and the Old New Spot was just the same as we left it last year, and as well all know "new way in and new way out". The water is up and due to some nice sand migration able to walk out a fairly decent way to put blocks out and retrieve ducks when the time is right. (sorry TJ we will need you soon enough) So after a few passes by some Brants and a hunting Baldy, which did better than me, I pack it up. Day two Old New Spot.

Just a quick shout out to some people that make it all possible, Bradshaw Motors. They love Lisa almost more than we do, they took really good care of her this year and it shows. And when they forgot to bleed the air out of the brake lines after replacing the brakes they were very apologetic and sincere, I even later got a letter in the mail thanking me for my business. Thanks guys.

Pay Up Suckers

Strictly Ceremonial

With the first slay of the year and the first greenie

a well deserved 20 in his hand by 5am

(still awaiting your 20 Cliffy)

Day One OR. Chapter in ID.

Truck stuff aside on day one, it was a very majestic introduction to hunting in the HO. As Bob said we did have to cross the river Nile to reach this spot, after we crossed the river I then thought to myself, "we should really be wearing some blaze orange!" It was a good 15 minute trek through woods, and with the amount of poo on the ground it looked good enough to slay some elk in. We scared some diver birds up on the approach, find a nice spot and throw out some blocks. Not a lot really happened after that, not even some enjoying of some fine whikey or chokes on my behalf, with the crossing of the Bering Strait looming on the way out I was a little hesitant on the consumption. With some fine encouragement from my hunting buddy I make it across the grand Mississippi with out any problems make it back to the car and we enjoy some fine sammys with talk of how much we are going to slay this coming week.

Reunion 2010

For the last week the founding members of the HOY7 hunting team have been reunited in the great state of Idaho with one goal in mind, Slaying ducks. Rather than try to contain all the thrills and chills in just one post I will start at the beginning and work forward in a cohesive and potentially entertaining manner. Here's how it all started.

I'll begin with the story of Reccos Automotive here in my home town. Just as all H7HT members are fluent in folding ducks, we are also experts in our everyday jobs. Normally when you go to work in the morning you do your best to not only accomplish the basics of your job description but also strive to do that job well. Apparently at Reccos doing most of the job is good enough. Last week, at great cost, they replaced the slave cylinder and clutch in ole Big Betty. Trusting the job was done right I just drove home and parked, took the Volvo to Spokane and picked up Fred G at the airport. Drive home, have a good meal, maybe a beverage or two and get ready for what will surely be one of the best days of hunting ever.

4:00am. Although I never intentionally set out to create a special morning wake up for this trip I had no choice but to wake my friend with what can best be described as the Bronx Cheer. (He is a Yankee fan after all) I'm not sure it was appropriate but to me at least, it was hysterical. Breakfast and a quick packing of the truck and we are off to Anderson lake. The clutch felt a little out of sorts and by the time we got off the highway it was inoperable. I jammed the truck into gear and limped back to Reccos where we were able to coast into the middle of their parking lot and abandon not only the truck but also any chance of morning fly. The 30 min walk back to the house at 5:30 was quiet and uneventful.

We took the Volvo to Kingston and tried to hunt the river and small pond nearby to no avail. Even though the scenery was great the duck action was not. The best part of hunting that area was crossing a fairly good sized waist deep river with a swift current. Regular readers will know that at least one of us was not happy about that. After a couple hours of reassurance that this was not indicative of Idaho hunting we headed back to Reccos where they returned my truck with a statement of "yep, air in the lines". Not to be mistaken with "we're sorry, we forgot to bleed the lines before returning it to you" or maybe "sorry to F up your day of hunting", more of a statement than an apology for not being thorough. Bastards!

Well, that was day one. Stay tuned for more. GBCH

Lore Day Eight 2005

Like I said before stuff too good, enjoy.....

Day # 8 was only an hour old when the H7HTeam left the confines of smelly old Portland for the great open spaces of eastern Oregon. Leaving at 1:00 am for a hunting trip was new for us but thanks to the power of Boo-Koo (the mega energy drink sold exclusively at 7-11) sleep was not an issue. Amazingly, we arrived in time for the lottery and were rewarded with the only duck blind worth having, #7.

Fantasy: Following an amazing sunrise we folded ducks steadilly untill we
reached our bag limit with only the fattest Mallards.
Reality: Following an amazing sunrise we saw few ducks and fewer shots.
We left blind #7 before noon for the potentially shoulder crushing shooting
opportunities of blind #1.
Fantasy: Blind #1 filled with fat Mallards and we folded them faster than
Superman on laundry day.
Reality: Same as blind #1. Don't mess with the fantasy, we know the reality.

We learned somethig that day. Sometimes the best plannig and hard work don't always equal the end result you're looking for. That's okay because we spent the day in a terribly scenic and new place that few people are
willing to experience. (pics are from there) The comeraderie and thrill of new hunting opportunities are what drives the Team to distant parts of the state and our limits of Boo-Koo consumption. And, at the end of the day, it's all about the experience, not the death toll.

God Bless Charlton Heston.




P.S. All that stuff about the expierence is a bunch of crap. We wanted to
kill ducks.

It won't be long now....

Before the two founding members of the HOY7 Hunting Team are together again. Fred G is coming to Idaho, land of plenty, to slay ducks in an effort to regain his title as 'Expert' slayer. I promise to defend my status by folding many green headed ducks and possibly some other variety in my bid to remain the 'Expert' forever. Stay tuned to learn of our great adventures in the field. I'm sure wikki, simultaneous slaying arguments, car troubles, leaky waders and potentially heated political debates over which president would have been the best member of the H7HT will be on the menu. Not to mention many tasty ducks. Heston help us all.

While We Were Out

After the Mallard drakes abandon their mates to the job of raising the young, they fly to a secluded area and undergo their annual molt. The molting of their wing feathers leaves them temporarily flightless. They are no longer displaying their courtship plumage, but a drab "eclipse" plumage is similar to that of a female. It provides better camouflage against predators while their wing feathers grow back. The entire process takes 2 to 3 weeks. The hens go through a similar molt once their ducklings have fledged.

Mallards molt, a process in which their feathers are shed and replaced, twice a year. Juvenile males reach sexual maturity and begin molting into the bright plumage of the adult male as early as September. In June or July, adult male mallards lose their colorful breeding plumage and return to the brown coloring of the female. This is called the "eclipse plumage." Male mallards replace their head feathers first, which provides them with better camouflage. For about a month, when the birds' wing feathers are being replaced, they are unable to fly. By August or September, the males once again molt into their bright breeding plumage.

Idaho: Day Four

Today was a surprise of a day. Dallas called me and rather than going to Montana ('I would like to have seen Montana') he wanted to go hunting again. I was all too happy to oblige. We discussed the merits of both Anderson Lake and the new spot on Killarney and decided to try the morning fly on Killarney. Loading up the little jon boat we headed out before first light to set up on the little point from day 2. The rain fell consistently and there was no breeze.

I took a while but eventually ducks started flying. One large group circled in for a landing and Dallas was a little too excited and shot as they were over our heads. After apologizing many times the next group to come in went better. I had one wet hand halfway inside a wet glove when a group of small ducks came by. They circled once and made the final approach as I told Dallas to take them. He shot and dropped one of the birds while I was still wrestling my glove. The duck was winged and it was great fun to watch Dallas chase him down with the jon boat to the other side of the lake. Not soon after the constant rain and lack of flying ducks conspired to put an end to the day but not before one fat shoveler had been taken. Sweet.
GBCH

More Lore 2005

This stuff is just too good to forget, enjoy......

Welcome to day three of the HOY7 hunting team update.
First off I would like to welcome a new member to the team, Mr. Benelli Nova
pump. He comes outfitted with the Max 4 HD camo and the uncanny ability to
accept the larger and more powerfull 3&1/2 inch shells. They make for a
better bruise on the shoulder as well as improved duck folding power.

Today was an off day for the fantastic hunting at the permit areas of
Sauvies island. We decided, in our infinite wisdom, to go to the North Unit
of Sauvies instead of the regular old spot. (Remember that last week the
old spot had no action whatsoever.) Thinking that that is where the
birds are this early in the season we planed to get yet another early start so
that we would have time to find and set up a great new blind.

There are however, some things our infinite wisdom do not cover. Water.
After hiking to some private property, a dry lakebed, and through prickers
and brush we found the best of all possible spots, a puddle the size of a
duck, maybe two. Then we encountered another thing the wisdom didn't
expect. Mud. Bootsucking thick-ass mud. We found out that wearing a heavy
pack, waders and mud make for a fun excersize in being hopelessly stuck.
The next half hour or so we learned how to move two steps in the mud.

Much later, back at the car we congratulated ourselfs on being the best duck
hunters ever. Someday I may even load my new gun and see some ducks to shoot at, untill then, word.

God Bless Charlton Heston.


Hello Friends.

Being there I must interject just a little. It's a story of the mud and a boy named Tommy. Many years ago, myself and some guys named Curieye, Bubba L and Domino (sorry about those sunglasses by the way) decided to take to a day on the CT river. I myself being so large decided to hog all of the ski and knee board time myself, it must have been at least 6 hours straight on the water, I was wasted. Needless to say my massive pythons and thick thighs were k'd. Curieye decided to moor the boat about a half mile out from the beach and said "lets swim to shore" cause being from the east coast we call it the shore. Anyway to make a short story even longer, about a half mile into it, my pythons being as tiered as they were wanted to quit. I couldn't go any further, I decided my destiny was to die right there in the CT river. I was done, I was ready to meet my maker. My life flashed before my eyes. Then lo and behold a young lad out of nowhere said " yo Fred G with your pythons so large, jump into my blow up raft and I shall get you to shore safely". Not to let the young lad down I jumped in and he got me to the shore with some cold berf waiting, safely no less. Well today was a day that brought me back to the day that a young man named Tommy saved me from certain death. I was the man stuck in the quicksand like mud up to my waist today. My long time hunting buddy, companion, my bffe, came back to save his friend because we are a hunting team. HOY7HT is what we call ourselves. He risked his own life to save me from drowning in a mud puddle. After hours of risking uncertain death himself he and myself
were able to free myself from the python choking like mud, the more I struggled the more it sucked me down to certain death. After freeing myself we sat and tried to drink some whiskey, we couldn't even, thats how bad it was....you know the whole story now, I just wanted to make sure the MAN named BUBBA got his props, you too TOMMY. I LOVE YOU GUYS....I'm not afraid to say it, I love two men. I'm here because of you twos.

Thanks.
God Bless

Fred G

Idaho: Day three.

Good news and Bad news on the home front today. First the Good news.
Yesterday afternoon Dallas and I went to a new spot on Killarney Lake. We had scouted this area a couple days ago and had once been to the far side of the lake in an ill fated attempt to hunt the rice fields last year. We borrowed a small jon boat and rowed out to a point on the other side near to the launch. Without a motor exploring the far side of the lake would be nearly impossible so we settled on an area we had seen the day of our initial scout trip. The reeds were 8ft tall and made for good cover so we set up a few yards off shore and pulled the boat in.

It was warm and sunny, not a good forecast for ducks, as we waited for the hours around sunset. We did not see a single duck until one flew into the spread and landed with a splash. Dallas jump shot and missed and that was the extent of the action we saw. About 15 min after sunset we pulled up and started the row back to the dock. In typical fashion 5 or 6 flocks of ducks flew right over the area where we had been just minutes before. We watched from the boat as the last light of the day illuminated ducks and geese making their way to the shallows for the night. Next time we stay longer and come when the weather is bad.

Now the Bad news.
My Heston Damned clutch is shot. Not able to fix it until next week when the parts get here. This means no more solo hunting for 'The Expert' unless I get a ride or can figure out teletransportation in the mean time. Stupid Truck!

The Funny Pages

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.

Three duck stew in the slow cooker. Mmmm.

Lore Day One and Two 2005

How things have changed and not, enjoy........

Day 1.

4:00 am. Woke up this morning with the promise of a wonderfull begining to
the new season. Overcast and a little chilly, not a bad day for this early.

5:00 am. Picked up Fred with enough time to get to Sauvies Island and get
in line for the lottery to pick the best blinds for the day. Fred does a
great job of picking a low number and we go to the warden to try a new spot.

5:35 am. Warden informs us that Fred has brought the wrong licence.
Although he's already purchaced the correct one, it's back at his house. (25
min away)

6:30 am. After a visit to the local 7-11 to try to buy another licence,
(the machine was broken) we're back at Freds to get the right licence.
Resist urge to leave him there as we are a team after all.

7:25 am. We are now all set up at the old shitty Lewis and Clark spot of
previous years. Conversation resumes.

7:30 am to 2:30 pm. Wait for ducks.

2:31 pm. Go home.

Well there you have it. The first day of the season and we are off to a
roiusing start.

Day 2.

Fortunately for us lessons were learned and today (wed) was
much better. Fred shot the first Greenie of the year and made a cool $10 in
the process. I missed 8 ducks 5 times because I'm sure my gun is bent or
something, not to worry, I'll be getting a new gun soon and all my problems
will be solved. Remember it's allways the arrow, not the Indian.
Speaking of new guns I've been lusting over the new Benelli nova pump
shotgun for almost a year now. Finally I've got the many layers of approval
I need to get one and I'm very excited. I should be able to pick it up next
Sunday. Then, this morning, my best pal shows up with the Benelli Super
Black Eagle semi auto full crumbler. He even let me hold it. Hey, what are
best friends for.

That's it for this installment of the new season of hunting. Maybe in the future
we will have some photos to go with the text. Hope you enjoyed it.

God bless Charlton Heston.

Idaho: Day two.

After a day of scouting other spots it was back to Anderson Lake. Dallas and I were supposed to go hunt this new spot he was talking about but it seems he forgot to go get his Duck Stamp from the post office. Instead we did some scouting in the Killarney Lake area and realized more than ever that we need a boat to access all the goods that the area has to offer. The Coeur de' Alene river splits many of the lakes and marshlands off from the roads. The river is only 20 yards across but there is no way to cross without a boat and bridges are nonexistant. Bummer. We did find a hikeable spot on Killarney but it didn't look too promising. We'll see.

Armed with that knnowledge I woke at 4:00 and made the trek back to Anderson Lake. Setting up in the same spot as last week I was once again careful to be on the alert for Cougar, lest one eat me before sunrise and my chance to see it first. Sounds stupid right? Well, I also think it's stupid but at 5:30am in complete silence and darkness in the tall grass by yourself the mind is a terrible thing. So I waited for shooting hours and the breeze picked up a little. Ducks were talking amongst themselves off in the distance and others flew over my head in the pre-dawn dark. A couple good opportunities came up and I missed a fat Greenie that buzzed my spread. Two shots and still he refused to fall to earth. Once again there were black divers everywhere and they made for nice live decoys just in front of me. As I waited some mallards landed just to my left and started having a little party just out of gunning range.

The light morning fog lifted and a duce flew into the spread. Bang! Folded the hen "like a cheap lawn chair" (thanks for that one Jiggitty). Then all the ducks in the general vicinity got up and bolted like a Kenny Chesney concert just started. They were flying everywhere and none of them wanted anything to do with 3" Black Cloud pellets coming from my hyper-accurate Benelli. Now that the sun was breaking through the fog and everyone had left I put out the spinning wing motor decoy, banned in OR & WA, but not here in the great state of ID. Then the fun started.

My decoys were shining and the motor deke was flashing bright and those mallards just wanted to come right on in. I was being careful now to try to pick out the drakes for three reasons. A. leave the hens alive to make more ducks. 2. There is a bag limit of two hens, and D. The big money on the line for 'first Greenie of the year'. The first group came in, 5 or 6 ducks, one flashing his big white belly at me. Folded. A few minutes later another group. Missed. Then another. Folded my second Greenie. After a while the action dried up as the sun warmed everything up and the ducks settled down to eat and lounge. My left wader boot was full at that point too and I pulled up and headed home. All in all a good trip. Stay tuned....
GBCH

Year to Year

A Late Spring Interlude

No Spilly

Starring Bob DaFolder

Day One Portland Chapter

Why should this first day be unlike all the rest? Set departure time was 4:30 in the a.m., have to get to the Old Spot early due to the closure of the Old New Spot. Cliffy picks me up this morning a little past 5:00. Load up the truck and we are on the way, a little trepidation as to the swarm of hunters we expect to greet us due to the again because of the closure of the Old New Spot. We arrive and to our astonishment we are the only ones there, this is where I get nervous because we are the H7HT we sometimes get things wrong, I'm thinking to myself "maybe hunting season has not started yet, or better yet maybe today is bring a small child into the woods, for hunting that is". As you can see if was foggy this morning so when we happened upon some water we took it. Andy threw the blocks out and I built a blind a little off shore, so we didn't stick out like a sore thumb I also "planted" some branches all around the blind so as no to stand out. After a few hours of a few gun shots from the distant hunters with boats I'm feeling a chill, expecting the sun to be out I did not plan accordingly with layers and need a walk to warm the trigger finger. I walk down towards The Old New Spot and find a place I think will be better for cover, and along the way scare up a few different sets of mallards. After getting the Expert on the line and get the OK to move we do so. We throw out a few blocks and hunker down in the brush. Well the fog burns off and few mallards fly over a few sammy were had, did I mention that Cliffy thought his whikey bottle would hold more? Well I'm dry now, me bottle it is, me feets are wet, and we decide to pack it up. One of our missions with the H7HT it is to make things easier, well there is Lewis and Clark and then there is Fred G. On the way out I decide to go a different way, usually this goes badly but today it was awesome! I discovered a way to get to the Old New Spot from the Old Spot parking lot! only a mere 15 minute more walk. Along this walk I learned two things no make that three. First, horses get spooked by people they don't know caring guns, dressed in camo and with big packs on, we were asked to stay still on the path and walk backwards. Second, some lesbians don't care for me caring guns in the woods. Went a little something like this: "Sir excuse me excuse me sir!" yes I replied, "I do not appreciate with you walking through the woods with a rifle." She says this to me as I just watched her dog take a shit on the path and not pick it up. So I channel a little Jiggity and in Jiggity voice I reply "listen lady I would never walk through the woods with a loaded gun and I do not APPRECIATE your dog shitting on the path and you just leaving it there." That was day one, a beautiful day with a side of knowledge.

Overdue Poetry.

Fall is upon us, you and I we know
First beautiful foliage, then cold and snow
The weather that we live for
The best time of year
Out to the duck blind, a hunting we will go

A cold and early morning, perfect for a walk
Building up the old blind, then the trash we'll talk
Setting out the decoys
A sip to warm you up
Sit low and work your call, the perfect way to stalk

The sun nears the horizon, the birds do start to fly
Now some greenie mallards, they try to pass on by
Your decoys look perfect
Your calling is sublime
The greenies fly on in, now it's time to die

Tradition

"Time To Kill"
by
Bob DaFolder

*
*
You packed up and left the truck over an hour ago.
Sometimes if the moon is still bright you don't even
need a headlamp to make your way out to the area
where you want to set up. It's cold out but the long
walk with the pack on makes you sweat inside your
waders and under all the layers. As you set your
decoys in the still water surrounding your blind, your
body cools and you can feel the chill in the air again.
Finally, with everything complete, it's time to wait
for sunrise.Just before the first light of day you can
hear the whistle of ducks flying near you. Wondering
what they are is almost torture. Are they the fat
greenies you hope to see again at first light, or are
they another brand, something you have never seen
before? Not long now till you start to make out shapes
and can see a little bit better as the sun comes closer
to the horizon. Now, as the other creatures of the woods
wake up and start to move around, you know that the
time is here. Time to kill.

*
Circa 2006

Over?

Hi Fred G.

My name is Mark Stevenson. I manage the Oregon State Parks in the Columbia River Gorge and I am also a duck hunter. The ruling for emergency parking in the Gorge along I-84 is one that has been posted for years but has often been overlooked by OSP (Oregon State Police) impart because they are so under staffed. The reason for the fencing has nothing to do with being allowed to hunt or not, this land is managed by US Forest Service. You are allowed to hunt in the area still, but when ODOT planned for the contract for the new fencing, it needed to go on the edge of their right of way.

It is not legal to park on I-84 from Portland to Cascade Locks, even though we have all seen it happen, or in our case have done so to hunt or fish. Though I understand your concern , ODOT, State Parks nor US Forest Service are going to be able to say it is ok, as it is a safety corridor and parking except for emergencies is not allowed.

I feel your pain and wish I could offer a close option for parking, besides the Thousand Acers Parking, which is around 1.5 to 2 miles from where you hunt.

Good luck this Saturday... please call if you would like to talk further.



Mark Stevenson
Columbia River Gorge
Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.
503-695-2261-224 or cell 503-969-8256

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A Letter to the Parks Department

Hello.

I am a duck hunter who has been duck hunting the slews at Lewis and Clark Park in Troutdale for about 16 years now. Recently the state ODOT has replaced old fencing along I84 west and blocked our entrance at about 2 miles past the Corbit on ramp making it impossible to park and hunt in that area. It is one of the most beautiful places in my opinion to hunt. I've contacted ODOT and received a prompt response saying they do not own the land beyond the fence that's why I'm writing you. I'm wondering if there is any way we could re-open the area to hunters? Thank you for any help and your time. I've also enclosed my corresponds with ODOT.

Thanks again.

Fred G.
Hoy 7 Hunting Team
www.H7Ht.Blogspot.com

A response within seconds:

I have forwarded your inquiry to District Park Manager, Mark Stevenson, at Rooster Rock State Park. You can also reach him directly at 503-695-2261.

Richard Wilde
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Information Center
800-551-6949
M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
park.info.@state.or.us
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/

Wow! A Response

I am the District Manager for this section of I-84 and will respond to
your question.

The new fence is part of a project required by Federal Highways. All
interstate freeways are access controlled and the original fencing had
been cut, taken down or otherwise in poor shape. The recent contract
restored the fencing and installed fence where it should have been. The
area you area asking about is perhaps one of those new areas.

Parking along I-84 is only allowed in emergencies. There are regulatory
signs in place that make this enforceable. I cannot say it's
permissible to hunt in the area you have done so in the past because I
don't know who owns that property. State Parks and the Forest Service
own property along I-84 as well as the railroad. There are some private
properties, but those are few. It could be ODOT's property but it's
unlikely since our R/W doesn't extend beyond the fence line.

You asked about installing a small gate. I believe our contract is
nearing completion. If you are accessing this area from a parking lot,
we may consider that. If it is from the freeway, we don't want to
encourage that access and likely would not want to do this. Call me if
you would like to discuss this. (503-665-4514)

Larry Olson

A Letter to the ODOT

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is the correct venue for this if not please point me in the right direction.

I'm a duck hunter and hunt the slew just past Corbitt.

Recently there was a fence installed at a pull out on 84 west just past Corbitt to the Lewis Clarke park just outside Troutdale. I was curious why.I stopped by and saw that there were no new signs stating "no parking" and "no hunting" so I'm assuming that it still is okay to hunt there. I know this is a far fetched request, but I'm assuming that the fence may have been installed for livestock or to prevent game for crossing the highway, here is the far fetched request, would it be possible to install a small gate?

Any help and information would be helpful.

Thank you very much.

Fred G.

Hoy 7 Hunting Team

www.h7ht.blogspot.com

America Rules!

Idaho: Day One

The real day one started with a plan for just one hunter, me. I had no choice but to go back to Anderson Lake because the attempt to meet with Dallas a couple days ago and see a new spot ended badly. The good news is that the cold has returned and I was greeted by a frosty windshield and my breath hanging in the air yesterday am. It's about 50 miles to the lake so I poped in some NRBQ and hoped that the trip would not be in vain, with no ducks flying.

It was a little scary on the walk out to set up for two reasons. I didn't hear a thing from the duck world on the way out. No quacking and milling around in the pre-dawn darkness. No whistling flyovers of ducks you can hear but not see. And for another reason, My Sweetie told me about her friends husband who had to shoot a cougar last year while duck hunting. Seems that the cougar was stalking him in his blind and he happened to see the big cat getting ready to jump. Bang. So I really don't think that the spot I go to at the lake has any kind of cougars nearby but I'll tell ya, at 5:30am in the total darkness walking through tall brush in complete silence with nothing but your small headlamp, this story was on my mind. I loaded a shell just in case.

To my great delight there were lots of ducks flying though. Right about the time I got set up small ducks starting strafing my position in the grasses. There were a couple mallards or so that flew in to take a look and I probably should have taken a shot at them but, like our title says, I wanted to "foldem with their feet down". I'm not sure but I think I saw a pinny too in the groups of ducks that came by and I worked some mallards with my call from the other side of the lake right in to my spread but for some reason they didn't like the set and off they went.

I've added some Teal decoys to my set up and let me tell you, it seems to have made a difference. All morning long Buffleheads and some kind of black looking diver ducks were everywhere. Today's picture shows some of the groups that came by for a visit. I didn't want to take them because they are not the best eating (although I hear Teal are extra tasty) so I was content to have some live decoys in my spread. Along about 10:00 or so the sun finally broke through the fog and low clouds and the action dried up. I packed it up and headed home for my 2:30 round of golf. I love America!

Not bad for the first day of the season. I hope to head out again on Thursday with Dallas to check out this new spot he found. I'll keep you posted. On a side note: My sincerest condolences to the Portland chapter of the HOY7 Hunting Team on the barricade of the Old New Spot. That kind of shit will not stand. Remember what these fine men said....

Dare to do things worthy of imprisonment if you mean to be of consequence. ~Juvenal

Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one. ~Chinese Proverb

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it. ~Albert Einstein

No radical change on the plane of history is possible without crime. ~Hermann Keyserling

When leaders act contrary to conscience, we must act contrary to leaders. ~Veterans Fast for Life

It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong. ~Voltaire

If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. ~Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobediance, 1849

Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape! -- You Know Who!

Maybe Heston Is Not Right!

Maybe Heston is wrong, maybe it is time to sell the guns,

maybe it's time to hang up the boots. What's next a dog run

at the Old Old Spot? Wait there is one there already. Hopefuly

some badass hunter will not put up with this, this thing they call

fence, and bring his badass snippers. Why?! A solid, meaning well built,

4 foot fence. Can't realy get a leg over safely with out tearing a sack.

And wait! Where would you park?

Maybe it's time to call it.

No signs say no hunting.

No signs say no parking.

You still can't dump.

WHY?!

Yet another Jiggitty Jeff update:

In response to my latest post about getting skunked on my first day of the season Jiggitty responded.....

That sucks. My first day of hunting went off with a bang. Only it wasn't a mallard getting shot and folding like a cheap lawn chair! Instead I ended up piss drunk with a lot of my "Suburban Neighbors" and decided it would be a good idea to discharge an AK-47 in my back yard 3 times. Needless to say my neighbors are pissed at this beaner! But not in a bad way, in a "Why so fucking crazy" way. Anyway, Jiggity-3 Neighbors-0.

Keep up the good work Jiggitty. We of the HOY7 Hunting Team are proud to have you as one of the Charter Members.
GBCH

Info.

http://www.ducks.org/migrationmap/

Day One ?

So here it is 7:08am on Thursday morning. I just got home from what was supposed to be my first day of the season. I had spoken to Dallas yesterday and we set a time to go to the new spot he had scouted out with my old boss from Dave Smith Motors, Tom. This new spot is much closer than Anderson Lake and had some ducks in it the other day when Dallas went fishing there. We agreed to meet up at 5:45 this morning and would rally out and see what we could find in this early season heat wave. It's been in the 70s and sunny so I don't expect much except maybe a morning fly, but still a possible slaying opportunity.

I waited at the designated spot. And waited. And called. No answer. And drove by Dallas' house, no lights and his truck in the driveway. Then I drove home to lament the fact that I have been blown off. Bummer.

So here I sit at the computer to share my first day of hunting, if you can call it that. Does this leave a bad taste in my mouth you ask? Nope. I know in an hour or two my phone will ring and Dallas will apologize for not knowing or showing or being abducted by aliens last night. Whatever the reason, I'm sure the hunt will go on. I'll keep you posted....

GBCH