Pork Fried Rice

Colusa Rice Killing Trip Part II:

Geese from blind no. 2

We arrive at the trailer we go over the house rules; no tp in toilet, don't kill Brennan and don't give hard liquor to Kevin.  And after I broke something there was an amendment, don't break anything.  Have a few beers waiting for Kevin to show up so we could head out to the goose fields.  Kevin shows up and we head out on the Ranger and drive about 2 miles to a field and set up 160 dozen goose deeks.  We hunker down and "brush up" and wait for the mass of geese to fly in so we may shoot our limits.  Sitting there in the field it had to be 60 degrees with no wind, we watched as the sunset with our first  dreams of killing our limits.  To my surprise Tom Foolery was in the Little Red Ranger and he thought it would be funny to push me out at 30 mph.  After a small tumble in the gravel, where I did not spill any beer, we headed back to camp where Tom was waiting.  Tom had the fire feature lit to symbolize the beginning of the end.  When I mention fire feature I don't mean something like you would buy at Crate and Barrel,  something along the lines of the Olympic flame, more of something that you can and will burn full pallets .  This thing was lit once and burned for the three days we were there.  These guys are the Mayors of Duck Club for sure. 

Cliffy putting out Leroy blind no. 2

Rice fields at night

A great meal of rack of pork loin lightly smoked with grilled squash and grilled polenta.  The full moon is blazing and I notice that ducks are dancing out in the fields.  We stand on the back porch and take it all in, deciding what our plan will be to slay all of those ducks in the morning.  We do the dishes in the fire pit and we notice that Tom Foolery is now dancing around the fire pit.  I then break a rule, I feed Kevin some Irish wikki.  Oops.  Pallets and I beams are thrown onto the fire, Cliffy is buzzing around the property, all 300 acres of it, on the ATV.  Trees are being brought back from the woods, the fire must have raised the ambient temperature 10 degrees.  Mario the sheriff shows up and I hand him my bottle.  He hands me a beer and jumps in the ATV with Cliffy and Kevin.  Brennan and I sit and shake our heads, he feels his re-election of Mayor for next year may be trouble if this keeps up.  Juan the care tacker of the farm shows up with his house mate.  He brings an awesome rojo salsa that he made.  Tom Foolery and Mr. Mayhem are dancing on the ceiling now.  The ATV rodeo is in full swing, it's getting late and with the ducks dancing and singing in the rice fields it made me sleepy.  With the sheriff now in town I think there are not enough beds now, I take my bed roll and climb into the back of Cliffys truck.  Quiet now.  Now when the crew gets home I'm out of the way, I'm asleep.

Rice With Cabeza and Lengua

The Killing Fields Part III

Cliffy all brushed up

I awoke to "dude aren't you cold?"  Cliffy was telling me it was time to get up and kill all of those green head bastards we saw the night before and I listened to in my dreams.  The clear sky brought freezing temperatures and winds.  Brennan, Cliffy and myself took blind #2 and Kevin and Mario, the sheriff, took blind #9.  "Hunt the weather" was Kevin's motto of the day.  We arrive at the blind and wade out to the center of a rice field in calf high water.  To my surprise all the blocks were set up so all there was left to do is set up Leroy and Brennan's Mojo.  We jump in the pit and watch an amazing sunrise, but not one duck in the pre-morning fly.  Killing time is upon us and still nothing.  From the distance towards all of the refuges it sounds as though there is a war going on, "what about us?" I mutter under my breath.  Geese.  Geese is all we saw all morning flying over our heads, and they're smart enough to know how high they have to be to be out of range.  Bastards!  So with the amount of geese flying what do these smart guys do?  We head over to the goose field that already has the goose decoys set up, "hunt the weather boys" rang in my head.  Head back to camp and refuel, Kevin and Mario are done, they left, wives things.  So the three of us head out to the field and hunker down and brush up.  It's early about 12:30 and I'm thinking a nice nap will be in order.  But no, as soon as we settle in two sets of geese are wanting us.  Must have been something we did or did not say, they bolted.  With the sun shinning in my face and about 58 degrees of warmth surrounding me I fall asleep.  I wake up to Brennan calling some geese in, I'm ready!  Same as before, nothing, but we are encouraged to be seeing more geese than we did the day before, were thinking evening fly is going to go off.  Well mid-afternoon turns into sun setting over our shoulders with nothing to show.  Cliffy and I took a couple of shots at a set coming in but nothing.
  

Mr. Mojo risin

Were back at the club now, it's quite, fire still smoldering.  Ahhh.  A nice dinner of aged rib-eye a good night sleep and hit the fields in the morning.  There's a knock on the door.  "Bueno" I respond knowing who it is.  "Juan!" we all exclaim.  It's Juans birthday and he has invited us all over for tacos.  We look at the steak sitting on the counter and think, just a couple of tacos and we'll be back to you later.  Well Juan stuffed us with cabeza and lengua tacos.  He was quite the host very proud of what he has put in front of us, and we were very happy too.  The steaks go back in the cooler, a night cap is had and 8 hours of sleep are in front of us.  This is living.

Morning brings another day.  There are two other teams there vying for some ducks and we get blind no. 7.  What could be better I think, last day and we get no. 7.  This blind is not in the middle of a field but on the side.   Freezing temperatures and winds greet us as we settle in and wouldn't you know it there is a pre-morning fly!  We are seeing ducks!  Our mouths are watering, "hey did ya see that?" we would keep say to each other.  Morning bell rings.  It was as like the ducks were soaking wet and the wind just dried them up.  Not another duck was seen the rest of the morning.  Geese Geese everywhere.  Even unloaded my gun at one in frustration.  With a long ride ahead of us we call it at 10.  Get back to camp pack up and say our good byes.  Even Juan came over to see us off, I think he got a kick out of us not getting any ducks every day.  With the camp in the rear view mirror we are on our way home.  No ducks killed not even a goose, and an experience I would do all over again.  Thanks Brennan and Kevin, like I said at the end you guys are always welcome here, and we will show you just as many ducks.  


GBCH.






  

Idaho: Day 20+5

With my season quickly drawing to a close I planned a solitary day out on Anderson. As always my sleep was broken and I checked the weather each time I woke as snow was in the forecast. Imagine my surprise when the final wake up at 4:00 revealed massive snowflakes and about 2 inches of accumulation. I packed quickly. This is without question the most sketchy hairball drive out ever, more so than even the "Artic Blast 08" scenario. The highway was covered and no plows had made it there yet. The Pepsi truck that tried to pass me blinded me for an eternity and then pulled off the exit to wait. I made the Rt3 road in twice as long as usual. Wet snow traction was nonexistent and after I finally passed the plow doing 20mph some guy in an 18 wheeler hauling logs tried to drive me off the road and crush me. Oh, did I mention that it was positively dumping snow sideways the whole time, THE WHOLE TIME!

By the time I reached the lake I was nervous and tense on the walk out but after settling in to the blind all the stress slipped away. It was beautiful with a light snow falling and the new snow covering everything that wasn't open water. I was ready to slay. After a bit a lone greenie flys right down the pipe and I took my shots. Being the end of the season I had a mixed bag of shells in the Benelli. A Black Cloud 3" 2 shot, next a Kent 3 1/2" 2 shot and finally some red shell Willy gave me with 1 shot in it. They all missed. I think my 5 layers of jackets and wool prevented me from properly shouldering my weapon, that's my story and I'm stickin' with it. The snow slowed and temps rose out of the teens and revealed a winter wonderland.

More ducks flew but all wanted the big open water further out. The only thing that wanted in was a dumbass goose who flew right into my blocks and immediately swam right to the blind. Willy was sleeping soundly somewhere else and I only shoot greenies so I took these nice pictures of me scaring the crap out of the ignorant Honkey. Stupid geese! Not much action after that and I decided to leave my decoys there for the night because the next day was my last of the season and I would soon return. The walk out was light as a feather and I made it home just in time to take a well deserved nap.
GBCH

It's Official!

Willy is a killing machine!
Yesterday he went out to 'the tip' on Anderson and successfully slayed one of his nemesis birds, a fat goose. Congratulations go out to Willy on his first slay. (No word on how Peat dealt with the retrieve) The ballots are now open for Willy's new H7HT name. Please vote in the comment section below. The winner gets a all expense paid trip to hunt with the H7HT*


GBCH
(* of course you pay for all incidentals)

Found Your Cougar

Local hunter slays deer by himself then
takes self portrait.

Idaho: Day 19+5

Willy and I planned a day of slaying, of course Peat was along for the thrills too. We arrived at Anderson in time to set an armada of blocks so big that ducks would be foolish to ignore them being as they were perfect in every respect. The morning fly was minimal. We waited.

Geese flew by out of reach and taunted Willy. Ducks flew far overhead and taunted us both. Willy then took a walk out to the left where the water used to be to check out the far side of the lake. The picture shows the amazing show I saw as the sun broke through the clouds, it lit up the trees in the far hillside over our blind. I watched as the sun came blasting through the fog to light up the day. Beautiful!

Warm temps have ruined the chances for late season slaying that I have come to expect from Anderson, the water usually frozen up and the only game in town is the sliver of water right in front of us. Not this year. As he made his way back Willy set a couple of mallards near me but not near enough to shoot. We waited more. Then about 8 ducks flew into the blocks, turned and made another pass circling again and again right in front of us. Willy was looking to me to call the shot but I was waiting for the 'perfect shot'. The one where they come into the dekes all locked up and ready to land, not realizing that the perfect shot was when they pass overhead thinking about it. Our blocks were 30 yards out after all. My mistake, opportunity missed. I still feel bad about it to this day.

Then it was nothing but remorse. Should have taken the shot. We packed up and waited for the ducks to fly over us as we were packing up but none came. Should have taken the shot! Tomorrow is another day.
GBCH

Hello Losers!

Yep, it's me Honkey! My bestest buddy Greenie told me about this little trip some of the H7HT is taking to CalifornIA and I figured I'd tag along. Seems that in Idaho that Willy guy is just plain inept at shooting me down, even with BB shells, so I flew south to that crap hole of a state, CalifornIA. Warm weather, beaches and many fine Honkey ladies to pass the time with. Of course I figure that you and your new friends are just as bad with your shooting skills as you are up north so my profile pic shows you my opinion of you, asses. Get used to it. I will fly low and slow right by those unrealistic plastic things you think will fool me and then I will gracefully swing around for another taunting pass. Good luck losers, you can't hit me with that 3 1/2" shell. For all I know they are loaded with cornmeal just so I can get a snack as I'm flying away!
See you later on the golf course. I shoot 7 under by the way, how about you? I thought so!
HA.

A Parable About the Picture

Believe it or not where I am standing is completely under water full time.  If you were to be looking  at pictures from the Island at the Old Spot where my fantastic blocks are floating, that used to be all land.  Bob is standing in water while taking my picture.  Gosh things sure have changed.  We even slayed there a little.

Idaho: Day 18+5

Well here it is, the holidays are over and the long work weeks are behind me and it's been a long while since I have been out hunting by my lonesome, but today was going to be great. I packed up ole' Big Betty and although the temps were too warm for the smell of death in the air I was looking forward to seeing what the morning would bring. I arrived early to Anderson and walked out to 'The Tip' over barely frozen ground that last time out was covered in snowy goodness. The blind had been decimated by a recent windstorm that had ruined our snowpack and blown down trees on the ski hill. I had work to do before hunting time.

I set all the decoys I had out far on the now more open water and threw only 2 mallards and my Teal Pack close to my blind. The early arrival gave me time to reconfigure the devastation of the windstorm back into a reasonable hiding spot for me to wait for the impending storm of ducks in the morning fly. After toasting the day and Heston I waited.

Few ducks flew by in the pre-dawn darkness and geese called out from the far side of the lake telling me that they were possibly the only game in town. I waited. And waited. The picture you see is the absolutely georgeous sunrise that graced me that morning. Heston in all his glory! First it was divers buzzing the spread then some seagulls. Finally a bevy of Geese came from behind me and then some highflyers from behind too. At this point I figured that I should also look to the south for ducks as that's where they seemed to be coming from. My back got some good stretching form all the looking over my shoulder but it was thin.

About 2 hours in my phone rings and it was old friend of the H7HT Brother B Hopf. I had to answer. So there we are chatting away and the Brother asks if he should call back when I'm not in the blind. No I say, and of course just then a set of 2 flies right down the pipe over my head. As I continue talking they fly in again and just that fast my only opportunity for slaying that day is done. Geese fly by but no more good looks for ducks happen but that's why they call it hunting, right? I wait for another hour and although there are high flyers and a few divers the good action is done.

Here in Idaho the same warm weather that has gripped the rest of our nation has screwed us too. The ski areas are fighting to stay open and the ducks are not motivated to move around, both of which are making my life less than perfect. I can only hope that the good Lord Heston will put a stop to this Tomfoolery and bring me some nasty cold and snow post haste! We only have 1 more week here in the the panhandle in which to slay. I don't know how I can possibly face the legions of fans this blog has without "The Expert" title firmly in my pocket. Fred G and Cliffy are headed to a private reserve to slay ducks and their lead will be insurmountable unless I shoot my limit everyday until the close of the season. (Knowing the outcome of my next day hunting already does not help)

Pray with me....
Lord Heston
Bring on the cold
Bring on the snow & rain
Bring on the ducks
GBCH & GBH7HT

Fine Italian Steel

 

Report From the Valley

Waterfowl numbers continued to increase in the Sacramento Valley through early December with the arrival of additional migrants, particularly wigeon, shovelers, and white geese. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s early December surveys reported more than 1.2 million ducks and 481,000 geese on the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex alone. Pintail numbers on the Complex peaked in mid-November with over 774,000 birds reported. By mid-December, a significant number of birds had dispersed from the west side refuges to other portions of the valley, as is the norm.

Hunter success was relatively poor in most of November but a howling north wind on the afternoon of the 30th brought hunters excellent success throughout the valley. The best hunting in the Sacramento Valley usually occurs in December in conjunction with stormy weather. However, this past month was the driest December on record and consequently, hunter success suffered. Good hunting during December was sporadic and generally tied to strong north winds since there was really no significant rain, fog, or south winds to take advantage of. Good afternoon shoots were reported from both the east and west sides of the valley during strong north winds.

The birds are here in the Sacramento Valley but hunter success for the remainder of the season is going to depend on weather, especially for rice field hunters. The weather forecast for early January is not encouraging. However, if the storm door opens by mid-January, hunting season should finish very strong.

 

UUHHH?

So recently I bought a pair of waders on e-bay and scored a great deal. 

 New in the box shipped to me casa for $34.00, what a deal huh?

So I check back periodically and ....

got to love the sun glasses on in the house



Warning: Due to the graphic nature of this video a big boy drink is advised!

Day Sixteen Oregon

Today I hope the Idaho Chapter had a better day than me.  Dropped Kathy and the family off at the airporto got home packed up Lisa and headed out to what I thought was going to be a prosperous morning of slaying ducks.  Weather man said big front moving in with high winds.  Excellent I thought.  After much reading on end of the season hunting one of the points was weather fronts, follow them it said because ducks are.  I had only one place in mind today, Old Spot.  I wanted a nostalgia hunt, a good ole days hunt.  Two D-Bags had the point with a dog named Max, which was fine by me cause like I said Old Spot for me.  Throw my blocks out, more on that later, hunker down in the brush, I think I'm looking good.  Sparse my friends sparse.  The only action was the two D-Bags taking 8-10 shots to kill two buffleheads, they took their shots at a set of pintails and a set of mallards but their guns didn't hold enough shells.  Those two buffleheads were out there, Max I must say did a great job swimming 100 yards plus to retrieve their downed birds, poor guy must be whipped.   With the wind slamming my massive blocks I had to set and reset them often, was not special, only upside is that I saw no birds while resetting.  So I'm off to buy some bowling balls to tie them to to keep them put, also it's time for the 2012 license, don't forget.  

Do I Look Worried?

The other day Cliffy calls me and asks me to put out Leroy cause he's going hunting the next day.  I must admit mixed emotions ran through my veins like Jameson's on a cold January morning in the blind, all crazy and stuff.  "Damn" I think "I'm only one kill up, this is not good."  I asked where he was headed and he said out to Troutdale so I felt a little better due to the fact of the lack of action.  Then he text me and says he was too tired to even go out.  Phew another tragedy nearly averted.  So now my hand is forced, being up only one I must head out in the morning.  With the vision's of shooting my limit two days in a row down in Calli vanishing before my eyes, due to conditions and such, I have to make a push here. 25 days left in the season with really only 7 hunting outings remaining I'm worried.  But do I look worried?

Warning!

Full moon is on the rise!  When?  Of course this weekend when we head off to Willows CA.  With no weather in sight plus a full moon and the fact were hunting near a reserve you guess what's going to happen.

Flocked and Looking Good

So Leroy comes to me and and says he needs a make over for the big trip to Willows next week.  A little paint and a little flock fixed him up good.  He is now a killing machine!  

Idaho: Day 17+5

It had been snowing for a couple days when Willy picked me up to head out to Anderson. Rocky the bartender and his Dad were supposed to meet us out at the blind making 4 guns working 'The Tip' that day, a lot to be sure. We arrived in time to put out a lean set up and reconstruct the blind which had been vandalized by Mother Nature. Peat was very excited.

As the shooting hour approached and knowing that Rocky was running late, we watched ducks do the morning dance. A heavy overcast with no moon and the bright white snow surrounding us made for a strangely beautiful sight. Impossible to pick ducks out in flight but hearing the whistling of wings made the anticipation even better. Geese were honking out on the still open water beyond the point and all the wishing in the world would not make that particular patch of water freeze over in the next 5 minutes. Shooting time. Things slowed down.

A couple ducks sat on a thin stretch of open puddle behind us and of course the geese were still out beyond our reach. (Willy hates geese and brought along some BB shells just for them.) Something catches my eye from the left where the thin ribbon of the channel passes us. It's a greenie walking along the shore who had snuck up behind us. I jump, he flys, well not really he takes 4 wingbeats then lands again, and I realize he is wounded and can't fly. I have no choice but to put him down. I don't feel good about taking him and only count him as a .5 in the race to "Expert" status, but it needed to be done. Willy is ready and on some ducks when Rocky and his Dad come down the hillside towards the blind. They have on super sweet snow camo sheets from Sportsman's that only cost $17 and I realize I need some of these. Maya, Rocky's Chessie is along for her first hunt ever, she is almost a year old and aside from the drooling, is ready to retrieve.

The criminal part for both Peat and Maya is there is nothing flying and therefore nothing to retrieve. I take a walk North along the path and drop down on the other side of the open water to scare up the geese and ducks sitting there and enjoying the calm weather. The geese fly the wrong direction but I was able to put some ducks up over the boys in the blind. A few shots ring out but nothing is folded. The waiting continues and Willy too takes a walk. First towards the other side of the lake where the sound of massive ice cracks send him back, then towards the geese again. Did I mention Willy hates geese?

After a bit more waiting with nothing flying we call it and begin to pack up. As if on cue a pair fly over, then another, then some geese. Willy is angry. Truly angry, that he missed an opportunity to take a shot at the geese. I think I have discovered his nemesis is not Greenie but the Canadian Goose, lets call him 'Honkey'. The dogs have a good play and I give Maya the greenies wings to play with and scent on and then it's back home but not without one important stop. The other day on the way home I stopped for a snack at the Harrison Trading Post. I say to the nice lady, "I'll have one of those corn-dogs please" She says, "They aren't corn-dogs they are breakfast saussage wrapped in pancake batter, would you like syrup with that?" Heck yea! A new after hunting ritual is born.

R.I.P Jackson, My Friend

I went over my friend Jacksons house to see if wanted to catch the MNF game, his wife Janet said he was dead and that the H7HT was responsible.  I curse you for cilling my friend right after Christmas.  I did hear that it was fast and painless, thank you.  I read in the rag you f'd his face up pretty bad too, he was always one ugly mother f'er to begin with.  Janet was sad and lonely, so I doinked her.  Jacksons loss is my gain!!!  Ha ha ha ha ha ha I now laugh in your general direction, beyotches!

Janet and I fornicating

My looks form last week. Sure, you're thinking "looks pretty good" right? Nope. Nothing.
All my ducks have flown down to Arkansas. maybe tomorrow will be a good day. I passed up on going hunting this morning due to working through the holiday season and thinking that I would be better served by sleeping in and waiting for another day. Maybe tomorrow will be that day. Only time will tell. Wish me luck!
(On a related note let me congratulate Cliffy on his newfound Greenie. Nice work Cliffy!)

I think I broke my nose

Well, first off, I would like to congratulate Bob (a little late) for joining the 'Green Team'. I wasn't worried one bit considering you have so many Expert titles under your belt. This morning started out unlike our past mornings. I arrive to Fred's and low and behold, he's carrying two guns out to my truck. This could mean only one thing, E-7 is coming out with us. But, where is E-7. We text, we wait. Nothing. After a long 10 minutes, we cruise. We get out to the parking lot and there's a few cars by the bathroom and only one by the path that leads out to the point by the old old spot. After a brisk walk, we arrive to the point and find we are the first ones there. Even though the water was up, we wade through the upper waist high water out to the island and set up our blocks and Leroy. Fred makes a few patches to our blind and we go through the morning rituals. I have to say, with Fred's last venture out here and seeing not one duck or hearing one shot, I was a little worried. But only for a few seconds because a duck just flew over our heads and gun shots were in the distance. After a little time goes by and Fred is starting to doze off, I see my first opportunity. A merganser coming in low and hot. Being careful of Fred's really expensive decoys, I miss and sip. A little more time goes by and a big fat greenie notices Leroy and takes a direct path for us. Not wanting to disturb Fred while he is texting, I decide to take this one myself. He gets closer, not wanting to commit, but gets close enough. I put a shell in him and he drops. He drops hard! There was no splash to send our decoys crashing into the shore because he landed in the sand and there was a loud 'THUMP". Fearful that he broke a rib, I went out to make sure the landing only tenderized him. Oh yes, tender he shall be................buuuuuuuttttt probably broke a rib. After a little more time, and a few high fliers, we call it.

Merry Christmas Everyone

O Benelli, O Benelli, How lovely is your trigger! In beauty camo will you slay Through the mud and rain. O Benelli, O Benelli, How lovely is your trigger! O Benelli, O Benelli, You are the gun most loved! How often you give us delight In brightly shining in the morning light! O Benelli, O Benelli, You are the gun most loved! O Benelli, O Benelli, Your superior fire power will teach Greenie That his hope for life shay end you see The way to joy for the H7HT.O Benelli, O Benelli, Your superior fire power will teach Greenie

A Holiday Tradition

Said the morning sun to us in the blind
Heston blessed the H7HT
Your shooting skills are perfect and sublime
Heston blessed the H7HT
A duck, a duck
flying towards our gun
Soon, his flying will be done
Yes his flying will be forever done

Said the gusting wind to us at sunrise
Heston blessed the H7HT
I'll blow some ducks to you from up high
Heston blessed the H7HT
A duck, a duck
dropping towards the spread
Shots ring out they are dead
Benellis ringing out and they are dead

Said the driving rain to us at midday
Heston blessed the H7HT
Low flying ducks are yours alone to slay
Heston blessed the H7HT
A duck, a duck
flying low across the water
Next thing he is part of the slaughter
next thing he knows he is part of the slaughter

Said the falling snow to us at night
Heston blessed the H7HT
I'll bring you ducks tomorrow so sleep tight
Heston blessed the H7HT
A duck, a duck
sleeping in the dark
The only safe place is the park
the only safe place for you is the park


Heston Bless us, every one!

I Thought He Was Mr. Obvious

So a couple times now I drop some words on the people of the masses.  Within those words were doors, doors to be opened by Cliffy.  Shot a duck, Leroy and now we should road trip.  I left the road trip door wide open, guess I have to walk through it, here it goes. A while back Cliffy says he was invited to head down south to his buddy Brennan's place to do some duck and goose hunting, Cliffy mentioned me and asked if it would be okay if I came too.  (why they would want the Expert there I don't know)  Some of the following facts are not correct I will embellish the best I can.  I will give you all the important stuff I know. This friend of Cliffy and his buddy bought 3000 acres of flooded rice fields outside Sacramento CA with  11 other people.  There they have 12 blinds set up that they rotate the blinds amongst themselves.  Brennan set up a 50 foot trailer on the property that's equipped with stuff.   Brennan wrote to Cliffy and gave him the down low on what to expect:

- We have decoys out at all the blinds, we also have 3 mojos and 2 wind-ducks that we can set up at whatever blind we hunt. Leroy looks sweet so feel free to bring him as well. Also, new friggin development...Kevin and I just bought 18 dozen silhouette wind-socks for goose hunting...I know kind of budget and not as good as shells, but there is a ton of geese flying and we need to find a way to get in the goose hunt! We can hunt ducks in the morning and geese in the evening. - We typically hunt the morning, take a break and hunt the evening, but we can do whatever. If it's shooting then let's keep hunting! - We're hunting flooded rice fields. We'll be in a blind with stools and flip top lids...except when we go for geese, then we'll be in a goose pit/dry field. -Right now the trailer has a charcoal grill, gas stove, and a cast iron skillet. I'm in the process of bringing more shit up there in terms of pots and pans, salt, oil, etc. No need to bring up that shit since I need to get it in there anyway, just let me know what you need.   So the deal is that we drive down Friday January 6th leaving real early so we could hunt the evening fly.  Hunt all day Saturday and Sunday morning and come home Sunday night.  Cliffy and I provide some good food and drink.  In my dreams we kill so much the first two days that were tired of cleaning ducks a geese that we just come home on Sunday.  I guess it's time to buy some goose shot.  I wish I had more to say, Merry Christmas and GBCH.

Lies

This stork who says he knows me is a fool and a liar.  I've never mingled with the sort, have you ever seen a duck hang with one of those things?  Has a duck ever landed in a goose spread? No.  I never gave him any codes he is trying to sneek in your back door, no not that way bitches!  I am Greenie and I quack in your general direction. 

p.s. nice try on the point the other day.  I watched you from a far, warm drinking HoHo CoCo from 3 Doors Down Cafe, you sat cold drinking your swill.  How was it seeing nothing?

Me Too!

First Hockey season, then Boxing Day is coming up and now this. My old pal Greenie gave me the codes to your lame blog and I'm all aboot hacking. Wait, wait, YOU guys are the hacks! Get it? Hacks? Man am I funny eh?

I'll be here all week.

Try the Veal.

Idaho: Day 15+5

Due to the lack of ducks in our general vicinity (not even a good morning fly) Willy and I took out a $65,000 loan from the National Bank of Idaho and built this blind further out on "the tip" of the point. In the one photo you can see the old blind, now high and dry, in the background. This new blind will give us 360 views and shooting possibilities now that the channel is low enough to cross. I just may have to try it tomorrow....
GBCH

Day Thirteen Oregon

Other hunters on the Columbia rigging their special decoys

Damn we've been hacked, Greenie bastard.  Day Thirteen was a Monday and a Sauvies Day.  I didn't go to Sauvies cause I wanted to roll old school and have an enjoyable hunting day.  Being this time of the year hunting starts real late, killing time was 7:16, so no need to leave the house super early which meant I could stay out a little later the night before with Kathy and our friends.  Well morning comes super early and I am not too psyched, I actually stand in the kitchen and contemplate the pro's and cons of leaving a warm bed with a sorry head.  Being the Expert right now there really is no reason for me to leave the comfy confines of my abode I thought.  Well that's BS!  Got to get out there.  Pack up, head out, walk out and find the water is right where I knew it was, low.  Wade over to the million dollar blind on the island and find that it's all still there set up from the last time, even the stick I put in the water to mark the level was still sticking in the mud, bonus.  I have a pretty good feeling this morning, the spot is just cherry, my blocks are sublime, and I've got the whole area to myself.  Morning rituals, christen the blind, christen myself, choke and so forth.  Well that was it.  Did not even see a duck.  Nothing.  At 10 I call it, can't even believe I made it to 10.  Where are all the ducks?  Maybe it's time for a road trip to go find some ducks, any ideas Cliffy?

I Am Here!

This is a picture of me skiing on
Anderson lake, I saw you there in your
stupid blind.  I was out playing you
were drinking your wikki, fools.

I've finally done it, I've hacked your silly computers!  I should have been invited many years ago, I've been here just as long as any of you fools.  Finally I have a say, I can now laugh in your direction too.  

Lets talk about a few things.  These blocks you have, the one's you're so proud of, "oh look how real they look, they are the best!" you rant.  Do you really think that shit fools me?  Do you really think having a bunch of dudes in the water will entice me to land?  I am not into dudes,  okay that one time I was doing a nickel in a Mexican jail was different, I was a pitcher not a catcher, anyway I'm into beyotches.  What about this thing with a stick up it's ass, the one you call Leroy.  I knew a Leroy back in 2001, we hooked up right after a new years eve party, we thought it would be cool to go get rid of our hangover, from drinking Cold Duck, out in Troutdale.  It was the last I saw of him he was fooled by some d-bag named Mitch.  Not me, I saw those dogs a mile away.  Anyway this "Leroy" doesn't even have any legs, it doesn't fool me!  Oh and what ever happened to "I only shoot Greenies Bob DaFolder?"  I call you "Mr. Clean" because you clean other peoples ducks, you've only slayed  4 but you've cleaned 8.  Sucker!  I'm here to stay, get ready!

I am Greenie and I quack in your general direction.

A Photo Essay

Idaho: Day14+5

Otherwise known as Greenie time!
Finally I gots me a Greenie. More on that later. It was looking good for the morning. Cold temps and a light snow started to fall as we left the cabin. The cold had been in effect for a few days running and even though my last day was lean to say the least I was excited for another day on the Point. Willy and Peat picked me up and we made it to the Point just in time to set some blocks and settle in for the morning fly. Ducks whistled overhead as we made our plan of attack for shooting time. The last few days taught me that the best shooting time would be shortly after the opening bell. The first set came in right down the pipe and I told Willy to take em. A miss. Not an auspicious start but good to get the jitters out.

A few more flyers came by and a couple landed far out on the open water. Problem was the lake has not yet completely frozen over and the open water further out was much more attractive than the thin ribbon of water we had to work with. All the ducks moving in landed out there rather than coming in to see us. Rotisserie working, decoys looking good after brushing off the snow and as always the calling was sublime. The snow which had tapered off started to pick up again and some birds started moving around.

Geese took flight from the open water on the lake and swung our way. Willy asked if he should take the shot and I said something to the effect that I would not shoot (knowing how difficult it is to knock them down with 2shot) but if he felt the need... They swing right over our heads and Willy takes 2 shots. Incredibly, the lead bird starts falling and I'm amazed. Willy is shooting 4shot and he has done the deed, the goose is doing it's impression of the Memphis Belle! The picture is the impact mark it made as it landed without it's gear down and slid across the snow covered ice. Tough bastards that they are the thing gets up and walks to the open water while Willy and Peat run after it trying to put him out for the count. No luck.

And so it gets quiet. Too quiet. Willy is bummed and sure that he has to rethink his shot selection. Peat is confused as to what his job is too. I think his 1 year old dog brain was not ready for a big ass goose being so close, but yet so.... strange... so big... so 'what the hell is that'? We wait some more. It's quiet again and I'm thinking nothing else is going to happen, of course that's when it does.

A double comes in from the 12:00 and flies right down the pipe. Willy is out front and I alert him to the shot. They make like they are landing and we stand to take a shot. Stoopid Greenie flys left and towards us and Willy shoots, they swing in front of us instead of away and I shoot 2 at him. Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! I go out and deliver the final blow and that Greenie is mine, my first of the year. I bring him back in and Peat is confused again but before long Peat is so interested he can't keep his nose off it. Shortly after I have to call it as I have a "customer service clinic" to go to but I feel bad because Willy is stoked to stay and shoot again. Well, Tuesday is not too far away.
GBCH

Click this link........and watch........and learn.

http://www.ducks.org/eblasts/2011/yearend/crosby/

Heston would be proud.

Day 13+5

I wish that I had something good to report. My day looked like this,
except a little more on the clarity side of things.
That's all I have to say about that.

Day Twelve Oregon

Christmas season is upon us so are Christmas parties.  Cliffy had his final Christmas party for Provvista Specialty Foods, due to the buy out, and I knew he was going out hot.  I suggested an afternoon hunt on Sauvies Island so the man could get some sleep and work the cobwebs out of his head.  I pull up next to Cliffy in the parking lot and he don't look so good, I open the door and he greets me with "it's youth hunt day!"  If you all remember Youth Hunt Day is a day you bring a little children hunting and you get a blind, all the roam units are available to the public.  Well we talk it over and think that it would be great to get a Footbridge or Dead Willow unit, those units have been killing it.  We pull up to the shack at about 11am and there are many people waiting, not a good sign.  I walk up to the window to put my name on the list and notice there is a Footbridge available. I said we'll take it, walking away scratching our heads wondering why no one else took it.   We squeeze in between two other groups and throw out a minimal amount of blocks due to the water level.  Nestled in the corn rows we look good, but I know Cliffy ain't feeling to good until that first sip of wikki passes his lips.  I hit him right away to set things straight.  First hour or so we see many ducks we even take a shot each and bag some misses.  The D Bags to our left have a "good" dog and are Busters, they're making a lot of noise and folding there share of ducks.  It makes me uneasy hunting around them they force you to become more of a pass shooter rather than folding them with their feet down. The weather is not as cold as we hoped the sun was even coming out.  A few more hours pass and the D Bags are gone and so is the guy to our right it looks as though we have the whole unit to ourselves, I'm relaxed now.  The weather turns for the better, grey clouds roll in on a wind from the north, it's chilly.   I hear Cliffys cap spinning must be time to take a sip, as we are a shoveler comes in committed, bottle in one hand and gun in the other I was confused as what to do, I may have shot Warren style, from the hip with one hand.  Cliffy was in the same boat but he got two shots off and folded the beyotch.  Then my turn I think "can't let him get that close."  Hen mallard fully committed comes in front of me landing gear down I let two loose on her missing both times, each time aiming better and better the third one was the charm, I saw full red, dead.  But at the same time Cliffy pulled his trigger and let one loose on her ass, he rejoiced thinking he folded it, I had to deny him, I saw RED!  Good thing about afternoon hunts is that you know when to call it, it's now 3:40 we have 20 more minutes, it's slowing down and the sun set with the grey clouds is beautiful.  I decide to break out the camera and snap a few, damn!  Hen and drake come in low down the pike on my side, I mean all set up, wanting our spread, perfectly spread apart, set up for the perfect double. I don't have my gun in my hand!!! "Cliffy take'm!"  I yell.   He folds the hen first she's behind the drake, drake still flying perfectly through the spread, takes two at greenie...comes up short.  I'm screaming for joy the whole time as this is unfolding in front of me.  Even after he missed greenie just to see the true possibility of a double I was elated.  I turned to Cliffy "dude what happened?! you had the double!"  He turns to me and says "I think I broke my nose!"  For this I will end this story here.  If he would like to add something he will, if not ask him next time you see him.  GBCH.

Idaho: Day 12+5

Yes, I know that the moon is nearly full. And yes, I know that the weather has not been cooperating. But for Heston's sake I haven't been slaying and neither has Willy or has Peat been able to retrieve, so out to Anderson we went.

About 17 degrees in the morning and the moon has allowed us to see shadows but at least it's cold and foggy. We set up in a nice open slice of water in what has traditionally been a good spot for late season hunting. Anderson Point. Minimal decoys and the addition of the rotisserie duck spell potential. The blind was frosted over with beautiful white glaze and the fog was low and close. I hoped for the best. Not soon after we set in and Peat was resting at Willy's feet did the AM fly start working. Ducks were flying around and some even looked to be fat Greenies or Pinnys. Maybe this morning would be a good one.

A set from the left passed by with nary a shot. Then another. Soon a pair of Greenies landed out beyond the confidence decoys and swam towards us. Willy saw them first and wondered if they were in range. "Not yet, wait for them to swim in past the first swimming blocks them jump them" I say. of course they take their time and while we wait while a couple of Buffles land in the slew behind us. Peat is watching them like a hawk but not giving anything away and the Greenies work towards us slowly. I tell Willy about the finer points of jump shooting and soon enough it's time. He jumps. They sit. I yell "booogolie booogolie boo" and they jump away. Willy shoots. Both his eardrums pop and he thinks that he has ruined his hearing for life and does not take a second shot. Not to worry, they were leaving anyway and his ears just had to adjust. I tell him to shoot again to be sure that he is not deaf to the world and things settle into place. All is well.

Not much happens after that and soon we call it for the day. I'm dissapointed once again at the high pressure system that has dominated the last 2 weeks here in Idaho but know that soon enough the massive cold front will move down from Canada and bring with it the bounty we so rightly deserve.
Patience is a virtue Heston would say. Tomorrow is another day.
By the way, I don't 'chew' but I found a product called Jerky chew. Don't ever buy it. According to Paige it's the remnants of the jerky that falls on the floor while they make the real Jerky, just like a Newport Menthol 120. Salt and MSG or maybe salt and jerky fat or maybe salt and meat assholes. I'm not sure that it isn't salt and rhino penis.
GBCH

December 10, 2011

Like the song says, "I see a full moon a risin..." This weekend another full moon, it's like we get one of these things every month or so.  So what are we going to do to combat it?  Anyone?  A couple of things here in Oregon; Old Spot has no food so will it effect it there? or maybe an afternoon hunt at Sauvies.  I did look up the numbers for the last full moon, on Sauvies they were pretty strong but I can't tell if it was morning or afternoon.  Anyway food for thought, plan you hunts accoringly.

Idaho: Day 11+5

We are all familiar with the famous Icebreaker ship the Yermak, a Brittish built icebreaker for the Russian Navy. According to the design of Admiral Stepan Makarov and under his supervision. Makarov borrowed the main principles from Bob DaFolder and applied them for creation of the first polar icebreaker, which was able to run over and crush pack ice. Between 1899-1911 Yermak sailed in heavy ice conditions for more than 1000 days.

Although 1000 days ago the ice on Anderson Lake was nonexistant I still had a cold morning of icebreaking to contend with. The tempatures had droped into the 20's for the past few days and even though skies are clear I hoped for some good flying on the newly frozen waters. See, I have a 'honey hole' at the end of my point, usually clear of ice and ready to bring the ducks in. I cleared the channel of icey build up and set my decoys in a sparse and loping pattern designed to intice ducks into my fold. Soon, the ice was back.

To pass through ice-covered water, an icebreaker uses its great momentum and power to drive its boot up onto the ice, breaking the ice under the immense weight of the boot. Because a buildup of broken ice in front of the boot can slow it down much more than the breaking of the ice itself, the speed of the leg is increased by having a specially designed calf to direct the broken ice around or under the waders.

After a few minutes I was back in action. Problem was there was no action. Only when I went out to break ice with my specially designed boot did the lone set of 2 mallards fly in. Oh yea, they wanted in too. I bolted back to my super-sweet blind just in time to see another set of 20+ ducks fly over my head towards the other side of the lake. Nothing. It went that way until I packed up and headed home for a nice nap. I even had some pretzel rods for the ride.

The next outing is in 3 days with Willie and Peat. Hope the push of Arctic air from Canadia happens and brings with it the ducks I know are waiting to see me.

GBCH

Day Eleven Oregon

Day Eleven was a Sunday out at the Old Spot not on the Point like we have been doing much of our hunting, but on a small island off the shore of Gary Island.  We chose this spot because honestly it was the best spot of course, but also due to the lack of water, the Point offered no water and no cover close to the water there was.  We waded across to this small Island in waist high water and found a great spot. We threw our blocks out and with the exiting water my blocks danced lifelike.  After building a million dollar blind (a little more expensive due to the real-estate, we were on a island for Heston sake over looking the Columbia) we toast to our comrades not with us and wait to killing time.  But us being who we are, the Best, we got there super early with our knowledge of low water and such, other hunters decided to sleep in.  3 D Bags set up about 150 yards behind us so if they did shoot it would have rained on us and another D Bag set up 150 yards away to our right on Gary Island, and he had a dog, and that dogs name was...wait...wait... Deli!  So we thought it might have been E7 who showed up in the boat but no E7 was home in a warm bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in his head, or visions of the Browns loosing another game.  Well having the best spot only means one thing, you have the best spot.  Unless there are any ducks flying all you have is...the best spot.  Quite very quiet, it was not cold, windy or any type of duck hunting weather.  Sparse numbers of mallards here or there very high, and a few set of Pintails.  I was able to scare the shit out of a Greenie with three, three inches of loud noise that would have put me up by four but this Greenie was not cooperative.   Lunch of muffalatta brought out two sets of ducks of course but we were too busy eating sandwiches the size of our heads.  We call it after the wikki runs dry pack the bags and wade back home.  The stick in the picture I placed there to mark the water level when we arrived, just in case the water was coming up we didn't want to get stuck on this island, but as you see it continued to go out.  Rain in the forecast, 

over  a week away.  Curse you Hilton Kaderli.

Hope you got some Oxy....

Friend of the H7HT Clayton blew out his knee skiing some trees the other day. We wish him
well and can only think that had he been hunting instead this would not have happened.
 Heston Bless You C. Monster.

Idaho: Day 10+5

So here it is, day ten and I'm hunting with Willie and his big ole' lab Peat. Unproven is Peat and I'm slightly sceptical as to his ability and dedication to the H7HT but willing to give him the opportunity to prove himself, Willy too. We're heading to the point after what can only be described as one of the quietest days I've had so far. Time will tell.

I was impressed.

Willy brought along a flask full of some kind of adult beverage and Peat was a 'good dog' not barking like Angel or running around like a hyper mutt. Only one thing was missing. Not the desire to slay, not the ability to shoot straight, but only the presence of ducks. Yep, no ducks. The morning fly was almost nonexsistant and only a fey ducks flew after the shooting time. I felt bad about introducing a new hunter to these conditions but then again, that's hunting.

Willy was happy just to be out and I think Peat was happy too. I myself was angry that all the ducks have made thier way to parts south but knew that their retun is inevitable. Peat was not so sure. We threw the bumper ofr him and made it fun for a 1 year old puppy so that he will be glad to return to the blind on the point but I'm thinking that Willy is not so sure. Turns out he is psyched and ready to try again next week. Good news.

Stay tuned for more from the newly minted 'Idaho chapter with dog'. Next time will surely be great!

On a nonrelated note, I made my first turns of the 2012 season. Knees are weak and my skills are lacking but the snow is OK for this time of the season. And the views are great. Check my picture looking from the top of chair 2 out to the Wardner peak. Sweet!

GBCH.