As Summer Draws Near.....

What a summer!  Let's reflect what has all happened in the Cliffy world starting back in May.  Well, Waylon and I went on our Saturday morning stroll and took a new route.  Unfortunately, we walked past some section 8 housing with a pit bull chained up to a post.  The pit bull charged, broke it's chain  and attacked Waylon.  For 10 minutes the 2 dueled (with me in the middle trying to keep them seperate).  The pit bull had the upper hand but after 5 minutes when Waylon shook his leash the tides turned.  At one point I was literally punching Waylon because I thought he was going to kill the pit bull.  After those brutal 10 minutes and someone pulled over to help seperate the dogs, the owners finally came out of the house and the cops showed up.  Waylon ended up with about 10 puncture wounds, but the cops said the pit bull definately looked worse and took the beating.

Then Dave and I went on a Deschutes fishing trip for 3 days.  Well, we missed the final campgrounds and it turned into a 2 day trip.  But, Dave caught a bull trout and I caught a massive hangover!  We then spent the following day playing 27 holes at a local pitch n put and I took over as leader on the money board with a $1 bet.

Don't tell anyone, but Waylon is a Transformer.  He ate a bee and turned into a Shar Pei.  $100 and 2
hours later, he turned back into a Lab.  Remember...don't tell anyone!


What else....... oh ya, I moved a door in the house and had the dining room gutted.  Then, John and I built a new deck!  It's fucking sweet!  Take a look...

We found a dead possum underneath the old deck!  It had been there awhile.

John bought a Yeti cooler cooler for himself (smaller than mine so everyone knows), and we've been doing the following program: 1 layer ice, sprinkle a little rock salt, 1 layer beer x 3 layers.  20 minutes later you have the coldest beer in the world for 3 days.  It's impressive.  In fact, I think I'll go get one right now.  Ya, much better.  John also bought us Yeti insulated mugs.  How did I ever live without this?  Yesterday, John poured me a beer and I drank all but one sip and fell asleep for 2 hours.  When I awoke (still with the beer in hand), I took the last sip and it was as cold as the first.  Then I took it bed as a glass of ice water and when I awoke there was still ice in it.  Amazing!

I'll leave at this for now as I don't have time to write about the garden that I'm completly sick of.  If I have to eat one more tomato, lemon cucumber, zucchini, tomatillo, pepper, eggplant, beet or romesco then I'm gonna throw up all over the neighboor kid and his new drum set.

Future Connecticut Chapter Member......?

 Non member but old friend of the H7HT Bubba Quehl sent in these photos the other day.  Although he stated a story to go with them I have decided that in good conscience that I can not report he caught the first one, a 4.48 pounder in his 'secret' fishing spot at dusk, and the second one, an Atlantic Salmon on a fly rod in December from the Naugatuck River Prospect CT.


Here's how I see it:

Bob and Fred,  you guys have the only place I can fully tell about how I contained these fish.  I went to my local market early one morning and purchased these whoppers so that I could reasonably explain away my days spent watching movies at the theater.  The first movie was 'That Awkward Moment 'with Zac Efron, boy is he dreamy.  Zac's character and a buddy make a pact not to get into a relationship and hilarity ensues.  I was laughing the whole time.  THE WHOLE TIME.
The other one was 'About Last Night' with Kevin Hart.  He kills me!  Although I cried near the end he eventually got the girl.  Wheeew.
Anyway, I bought the fish you see here and hightailed it out to the Farmington Canal for some photos before I came home and spun up a nice yarn for Jackie.  She will never know. 
Hopefully I will be able to come to the Pacific Northwest someday and hunt ducks with you guys.  After all you are the masters of all duck hunting and it would give me some ideas about how to make up stories in the fall to tell my loving wife. I hear there is a good one coming out with Jennifer Aniston called 'She's Funny That Way', man I miss her in Friends, so believable!
Continue to be "The Best" and just so you know I shot a 107 the other day for 18 holes with only 3 Mulligans, sweet right?

Thanks Bubba for that update and congratulations on those fine fish.  May Heston be with you.
GBCH

Real Life VS Fantasy

Fantasy

Reality

Prepping. It's What I Do

My new commuter.  Gearing up for the mighty downhill race in July, right after I take back the blue jacket.  (note the color of the bike, same as the jacket, only fitting)

Hydraulic 

This Day in History

Modern rock icon Kurt Cobain commits suicide on this day in 1994. His body was discovered inside his home in Seattle, Washington, three days later by Gary Smith, an electrician, who was installing a security system in the suburban house. 

Best known in his later years as the outspoken president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), the actor Charlton Heston first earned a reputation in Hollywood for playing larger-than-life figures in epic movies such as The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur. He died on this day in 2008.

Howard Robard Hughes, one of the richest men to emerge from the American West during the 20th century, dies while flying from Acapulco to Houston.

Happy Birthday Old Great One!

Now get yourself one!

It's All For The Ducks.

There’s no point in leading you on as to who won this pile of gear at this years Ducks Unlimited dinner.  Not us.  The pile in the picture does not even show the stylie Henry Rifle that Rocky the miners wife won.  Clider and I had to watch as Sherri, lubed up on cocktails, won prize after prize while we sat and discussed what we bid on and how certain we were that we were next to win.  Here’s how it all went down.

 

Clider got his ticket as a birthday present and encouraged me to get mine before they sold out.  Even though I knew that they would never sell out of tickets I bought mine early anyway and we planned to head out after work for a fine meal and lots of expensive prizes.  We stood in line at the entrance to a sold out dinner and got our block of tickets, a tasty Budweiser beer and headed off to the line to win first stopping at the ‘goose band’ booth where a shiny new Browning autoloader DU commerative edition waited.  Of course I had to get in on that action.  I’m more of a Benelli guy but I could easily sell the Browning to Clider and turn a quick profit.  Last year it was possible to walk up to the raffle items, this year we had to wait in line to get there.  The line snaked passed the ‘shot glass game’ and I had to play, it’s for the ducks after all.  Choices being pretty slim I decided on the Hot Damn and my shot glass was number 67.   Clider was busy playing the ‘playing card’ game and not long after all my tickets were spread out amongst the stuff I knew I would be winning.

 

We had to settle for the benches along the side of the banquet hall because, as I mentioned, the place was sold out.  Just in front of us Was Rocky the miners parents and other big time players in the local duck scene.  Next to me was a couple from Kalispel Montana who just happened to be passing through and somehow got a ticket to the dinner that was sold out, next to them was Sherri.  Clider was busy losing the ‘playing card’ game and I was reeling from the number 68 being called for the ‘shot glass’ game and the camo Remington I was so sure I was going to win seconds before.  We bolted to the food line to get our prime rib as soon as it was available because certainly at this sold out event it would go fast.  Being as we were not sitting at a table, but instead in the staff traffic pattern, I was able to score not one, not two but three servings of huckleberry ice-cream for dessert.  Let the winning begin!

 

Sold Out?

By now the guy from Kalispel was toasty and informed me he was a car salesman at a GM dealership back home.  He kept pointing out Ken Smith (from Dave Smith motors, the world’s largest blah blah blah…) and telling me how rich the guy is.  It kept going like this “Man, my boss has a jet and a house in Maui, just imagine what that prick has. Did I tell you we were just passing through and decided to come tonight?  You know, my boss makes like a million and a half a year, imagine what those Smith boys make.  Yea, they’re doing it right.  Hey, you ever been to Kalispel?  You should come see me, we like to party!”  His equally toasted wife was yell-talking with Sherri who was doing her best to be heard over the start of the raffle giveaway.  After Clider and I somehow repeatedly lost item after item Rocky the miner, who was on the committee and helping run items being won to the winners, used the microphone to tell Sherri to pay attention.  She won the next item.  It was a one piece camo jumpsuit that Clider and I are still puzzled about its purpose.  Minutes after Sherri had the jumpsuit on and a fresh cocktail in her hands, seems her friends from Kalispel like to party.

Loser!

 

And so it went for a while.  The H7HT missing out on item after item that we definitely needed.  Sherri would win another prize.  Another gun would get won by some person who has never been ‘The Expert’, and so on.  Finally late into the night the last item came up and we were convinced that our bad fortune to that point was setting us up so that one of us would win the coveted Browning  DU gun of the year.

 

On the ride home we talked about how it’s all for the ducks.

GBCH

Geese counts going to be low in Idaho next season!

Taken from Fox News:

About 2,000 migrating snow geese died recently in Idaho from a disease that could kill birds in mid-flight, wildlife officials say.
Staff and volunteers from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game picked up dead birds over the last several days at wildlife management areas near the towns of Terreton and Roberts.
The agency said the cause of death is likely from avian cholera, which can cause convulsions and erratic flight.
Authorities said the snow geese, which are known for their white bodies and black wingtips, were migrating from the Southwest and Mexico to their breeding grounds in Alaska.
It's unclear where they picked up the bacteria, said Steve Schmidt, a regional Fish and Game supervisor. "Outbreaks of avian cholera have occurred sporadically in the region over the past few decades," he said in a news release.
"The important thing is to quickly collect as many of the carcasses as possible, to prevent other birds from feeding on the infected birds," Schmidt said.
There were also about 20 eagles in the Terreton area as well, Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area biologists said. However, it was unclear if they were exposed.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center, avian cholera spreads so quickly in infected birds that some with no previous signs of illness can die while in flight and fall out of the sky.
Health experts say humans are not at a high risk of infection from the bacteria that causes avian cholera.
Nearly 10,000 snow geese pass through Idaho each March to rest at the state’s wildlife areas, Schmidt said. They usually spend 2-3 weeks to feed on waste grain at nearby wheat fields.
He said Tuesday he had no reports of deaths of other snow geese from similar areas in other states.
Schmidt said among the dead birds was a dead trumpeter swan, which he said likely also died of avian cholera.

Viva Sayulita! (Finale)

The last few days of this trip was pure silliness.  It started off with an all inclussive eating/drinking trip to an island.  Yup, on a 56 ft. catamaran to a protected island that is the breeding ground for Boobies.  Blue Footed Boobies.  We set sell (sp.) at 9 a.m. with margarita's/bloody mary's in hand.  Moments later we were in the mix of a Humpback Whale breeding pod.  Absolute craziness having this size of an animal literally 'fucking' around your boat.  Not to be rude, but I was seriously to hard to go grab my camera.  The boat submerged an underwater microphone for a few moments to listen to the 'justice at hand' and we continued offshore (country regulations).  2 hours later, we arrived at the island and were given strict instructions on our impedement.  We swam through a cave that gave us access to the beach (of the center of the island) and were surrounded by the cliffs of the 100 yd circular island that is the breeding ground of the Blue Footed Boobie.  All I could think about was my shotgun.  To have this endagered species stuffed and mounted next my Bald Eagle is the dream of all white trash Americans!  Because the tourism money is so fierce, the crew disbanded the 'no drinking zone' and continued back to the mainland.  This is where it get's sappy for a second......on the way back, we were encompassed by a pod of dolplhins.  Ya, I had a drink in hand while sitting on the bow (trampoline section of the catamaran) and the dolphins were right underneath me surfacing and playing.  Totally 'gee', but I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Out for drinks on the last night, we ended up at the favorite Italian/Mexican Fusion Restaurant of our picking.  Luca, the owner of the restaurant, fed us his own prized tequilla.

We made a bet....we ate fermented Agave (texture of membrillo)

and deciphered a cheese pairing.  I said triple cream....he rallied with Pecorino Remano.  I lost.

Therefore, I drank 6 oz. of his tequilla with a spoon.  Who lost?

Not many people enjoy coming back from a vacation like this, but I did.  I got back back at 10 p.m. knowing I had to be at work at 4 a.m. the following morning.  But when I got back, I was showered with 2 hours of love by...

.....Cliffy's best friend.

Viva Sayulita! (part dos)

After day 3...2...7...whatever, I had secured a 26 ft Panga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panga_(boat)) to take Johnny V and I out on the open ocean. We arrived at the beach at 7:15 a.m. and watched our 'panga' get pushed into the ocean, off of the beach, by an F150 that had a surfboard attached to the bumper for cushioning.  Our guide Francisco (or something like that), took us to little inlets and threw out his circular net to catch sardines to use as bait for the day.  His casting motions for live bait were unmatched by today's technologies of lures and flies.  A sight of pure impressiveness!  He took us out and explained that Mahi Mahi fishing had been slow this past week with the amount of commercial nets that had been raking the ocean.  He suggested that we go for Mackeral as the action was 'bueno'.  Being hung over and speaking no Spanish, Johnny V and I gave the nod.  A 25 minute boat ride put us in the heart of the Mackeral catch (along with the other 50 pangas that were in the loop) south of Sayulita.  As I was loading up a 10 weight fly rod for my first cast, Francisco (or whatever) screams Mahi Mahi..Mahi Mahi!  His buddy (on another panga) called him on his cell phone (yes, cell phone) and said he spotted a pod of Mahi Mahi outside a school of tuna that was surfacing on a bait ball of sardines about 4 miles offshore and north of the town of Sayulita.  50 minutes later, we were in the heat.  Hundreds of Bonito Tuna (tuna about 2-3 feet long) were salivating and going nuts.  I've only seen this kind of shit on the Discovery Channel.  Francisco (or whatever) baited us up and we were on the hunt.  I say hunt because that's what it is was.  He was throwing live sardines from the panga all around our line, screaming Mexican slures....pure amazement I was in.  Next thing I know, Johnny V and I have 3 Bonito Tuna and 1 Mahi Mahi in the boat on ice.  As the fishing slowed and the bait ball was devoured, I could only think about the dinners I was about to cook.....that's when Francisco (I think that was his name) said "eh, let's go fish for some Red Snapper".  Um.....ok!  So, we caught 5 Red Snapper's and headed in.  He carved all of our fish to my specifications and we headed up the hill to throw the fish in our fridge.  The next 3 night's were:
-Chip's, Guacamole, Mahi Mahi Ceviche and Tuna Sashimi

Grilled Red Snapper con Salsa Verde (in foil) and Rojo Caliente (whole) with all the taco fixins'

And Seared Tuna Ensalada

All this food absolutely sucked by the way!
Also during this time frame, I took a surfing lesson.  Because I'm so cool, I surfed!  Ya, I landed my first 2 of 3 waves and then face planted the next 90.  If you gave me 4 cups of sugar, I'd been the perfect gringo brine.  Serial holmes.

Viva La Sayulita! (part uno)

Well, last week I boarded a flight to good ol' Mexico where I intended to slay many Pacifico's, Margarita's, Taco's and the endangered Humpback Whale.  My amigo's and myself arrived in Puerto Vallarta late in the afternoon and all met at a local 'drinkeria' where we had the COLDEST beer I have ever had in my life next to the bus station as we waited for our bus to the small town of Sayulita.  Now, was it really the coldest beer I have ever had in my life, or was it just the 90 degree temperature outside?  Nope, it was definately the COLDEST (not to mention the juicy'est limes).  I mean, you took one sip and the beer was gone........empty.  That means it was FRIO holmes!  As we watched our bus pull up and drive right by, we decided to order another round...of course...and some guacamole.  Our 9 year old waitress informed us that the cook had left for the day, but that she would make sure we got some kind of snack.  About 10 minutes later, freshly made guacamole and fried chips arrived.  We said 'que pasa?'........our 9 year old waitress went to the store and bought avocadoes and made it herself for us.  You can only find that kind of service at 3 Doors Down (unless you want a Chix Ceasar).  We scarfed, slayed a few more cervezas' and hopped on the next bus to arrive at our destination about 90 minutes later.  
Once in Sayulita, we met our gringo contact, Gabby (who was straight out of living from underneath the Hawthorne Bridge).  He picked our luggage up from the bus stop (on his golf cart) and instructed us on how to get to our Casa....kinda'   This was the Casa of all Casa's!

Views of the 1 block downtown and beach were overwhelming.  Views of the outdoor bar (top right in pic) were overwhelming.  No view, including of the bar, was obstructed.  For the next 3 day's we went to the beach and ate/drank dolmas (hispanic pronuciation of donuts), coco's frio (cold coconuts with straws in them), fruit cups, grilled fish/shrimp on a stick.....around town we ate every kind of taco known to man kind.........and drank mucho Pacifico's/margaritas' of course!
The rest of the 8 day's get's better......stay tuned!

Marty card under the door!

Now that the season is over I have decided to get a haircut and a proper shave.

I also joined The Force, and will be the one that enforces all the rules that haven't been created yet.  Just like the Central Scrutinizer.

Beware all that would try to screw over the H7HT.

I'm talking to you Greenie!

Respect my Authoriti!

Over? Did You Say Over?

Fred G has done a great job in the post below describing our last weekend of the hunting season.  Although it is sad to realize that the season is over, I'd like to look back and tell you about my memories of the weekend past.

• I was able to spend no less than 12 hours in a car with Clider.
• I drove by my old home and cursed the new owners for ruining my yard and violating my garage.
• The walk to the Old Old Spot was the easiest ever.  There is a highway there now.
• It was exactly the same and totally different at the same time.
• We were all able to shoot at ducks,  That doesn't always happen, especially there.
• Although I promised Clider rain it refused to show up.
• I was somehow able to be the only one to not fall in the river.
• For some reason, only Cliffy and I wash Lisa.
• There are a lot of good places to eat food in the Big City.
• I need better decoys.
• And most importantly, never, NEVER forget to pack your wikki.

What a great way to spend the last couple days of the hunting season.  Much like Clider I too am counting down the days until next season.  In the meantime I will try to keep you updated with equal parts information and our old friend Tom Foolery.  Also, please join me in giving props to the new 'Expert' Fred G.  I will try harder next year.

GBCH

Bob & Fred visualize the ducks they will shoot tomorrow.

CFtK 2015

It's always been hard to go into detail about a long week of hunting, so many drinks, so many parties.  So I'll try to sum it up in a few poignant paragraphs.

View of blind from dog walking area

The Idaho chapter decided to head out to Oregon for the celebration Cilling For the King weekend. With three members tied for the Expert status and one only one green head bastard behind it was going to make for an exciting couple of days.  Unfortunately one member had engagements and could not join us with the day time celebrations, what communist makes you work on MLK day?

Bob D. back at the Old Spot

What was really nice was the fact that Clider was able to see the Old Spot in all of it's glory for the very first time.  I was a little nervous at first, wanting Clider to see the Old spot as Bob, Cliffy and I have seen it over the many years.  The end of the year is the time to hunt the Old Spot, we know that.  The water is going to be up, we know that.  But how many and how much are the two questions.  Well the water was way up and there were many ducks flying.  We were forced to hunt from the bank and forced to put the blocks fairly close in.

Many beautiful morning sunrises. We saw many ducks flying and took many missed shots over the days.  Many Pintail wanting us but not committing to us. 

The last of the year

We had a few missteps along the  way. Forgetting wiki bottles at home.  Getting to close to the river while admiring river muskrat.  Treading water in waders while trying to retrieve the Expert status green head.  

All in all a great trip I think.  Clider saw the Old Spot in all of it's glory and a new Expert was crowned.  As we sat and talked about the year Clider said that "I can't wait until next season."

"Fred G. he's the Expert, he cilled a
lot of greenies"

Bye for now

H7HT First Canine Buddy

Clyde

"hey dave if you aint going to finish that…..just saying"

Rest Well Ole Buddy

You'll be missed but also remembered!

Capitalized Every Word On This Title

Hey, it's me Fred G, again and I just want to take this opportunity to thank Bob D. and Clider for coming out to visit me this week for 'Cilli'n for The King'.  A semi annual festival of duck slaying here in the great state of Oregon where we pay tribute to on of Americas greatest statesman by shooting ducks from the sky.  This year was fantastic.

Crazy good!

Maybe other members of the H7HT will say something about the last two days events on this very here blog, but maybe they won't so I will start.

Bob D. is the best shooter ever!   He is sooooo good that I don't even know where to begin.  He looks so good in his camo, and is so fast in his shooting, and is so incredibly accurate that I, Fred G. can only hope to one day be as good.  Did I mention that he is good looking?  Cause he is.

Also Bob D. makes the best blinds and hunkers down so well in the blind he is practically invisible when the ducks come in.  And boy did they.  He shotten 2 ducks this tour but I'm pretty sure he would have shotten more if Clider and I were better at all the things he does so well.  Once again I, Fred G. would like to say that Bob D. looks good, shoots perfectly and does everything so well that I am jealous.  I may consider taking lessons from him.

(Not actually written by Fred G. but by an impostor hacked onto his computer)

Big News!

I would like to announce that I am 'The Expert'

That is all,
Fred G.

(Not actually written by Fred G. but by an impostor hacked onto his computer)

The Most Viewed Post Ever at 690

Jeff Follies is a DICK!

2 comments:

Greenie said...

yes I concur that man is an asshole!

Anonymous said...

You dont know him personally based on your statements. He is a great person and was setup by a cameraman banging his wife. Talk about an asshole. I would like to see you make that comment face to face with Jeff.

UPDATE:

Foiles  agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges and serve a prison sentence for unlawful sale of wildlife and unlawful taking of migratory game birds. Foiles still faces sentencing Oct. 19 in Edmonton, Canada, for other wildlife violations , including charges of animal cruelty for not immediately killing wounded ducks and geese. He is to begin serving his U.S. sentence on Nov. 21. Foiles declined to make a statement in court Wednesday, saying he did not want to be criticized further. 

In addition to jail time, he will serve a year of supervised release, pay $100,000 in fines and give up his hunting and guiding privileges for two years following his release from jail. As part of the agreement, Foiles also agreed to make public service announcements admitting wrongdoing and encouraging others to observe wildlife laws. “I’m a hunter, too, Mr. Foiles,” Cudmore said during sentencing. “Hunting is a privilege, not a right, and you have violated that privilege to a great degree.” 

Scouting

Monday I headed out to do some "scouting" because the H7HT Idaho chapter is coming out for Cilling For the King.  It was a mild morning, 42 degrees, with a slight drizzle, and a steady wind from the east.  The water gauge read 5.7 which we now know does not mean a thing.  I get to the gate at an early 5:57 and it's locked.  Same thoughts run through my head, "is someone really going to come out and unlock this at 6 am? Well sure enough Gerry showed up fiddled with the lock for 7 minutes and let me in.  

I have this huge bird sanctuary all to myself, or do I?  I get down to the water and see a headlight, "what the hell?  he must have came in on a boat" I thought.  I wade my way out to him and chat up this boy named Tommy.  Tommy had gotten to the gate at about 5:40 he said and it was locked and he didn't believe anyone would open it. So the young whipper snapper in true H7HT fashion hiked in all the way from the highway.  We chatted a little, how much we come out there , what it has been like, so forth so on, and I tell him about the migration of Pintail I have been seeing out there.  A really nice young man. I move on.  Well Tommy had the only dry spot and I waded my way out further trying to get a decent spot out of shooting range from him.  I found a really nice spot not too deep, perhaps calf high, nice cover, and a nice area to put a good looking spread.  As I was wading into said spot I must have pushed up 3 big sets of Mallard.

Morning bell goes off and said Mallard are dancing.  Tommy my neighbor is a full time caller, only thing is that he's a really good caller.  Tommy takes some shots and it rains on me, "not too bad" I think, "barely a drizzle."  A set of Mallard on my left over my head come in, an almost impossible shot,  I take one anyway to warm the Italian pipe up.  I let loose a 3 1/2 inch McLovin, then I realize it was right toward Tommy.  "Remember not to do that again" I thought.  

Pintail galore is what I think I texted the team.  Again big sets of Pintail swarming me.  3 loners would fly by, circle, then look like they would land and then a huge flock would fly by and they would join them.  Sometimes the huge flock would circle my blocks too.  Just couldn't get them to commit.  Remember Tommy is a full time caller and it seems to be working, so I try to jump in with a solo of my own but my woodwind aint sounding so good.  A couple of Mallard here and there but for the most part it's Pintail and a lot.  Tommy called a set of 4 Mallard in and took a double right out of the sky, "nice shooting Tex" I exclaimed to myself.  

By 10 o'clock my feet were blocks of ice again.  I pack it up and head out, stopping by to congratulate Tommy on his double, he said it was his first ever.  I also apologize about the rain I bestowed upon him as he apologized to me.  In the light I could see his set up; tired looking blocks, a nice makeshift blind, a big ole impossible brown bag for carrying his 15 blocks or so, and an old side by side.  On my way out I was thinking about Tommy how the young man reminded me of two young men that cut their teeth in that very same spot.

Water? Who Can Say.

KFTK? Water is Always a Factor.

A New Sponsor!

Every Home Needs

What Am I?

The Ever popular game "What Am I?"

This week brought to you by Jameson Whiskey. The drink of Champions when you're having more than one.

What am I?

The Many Faces of the H7HT

Lisa 1975

Chomp!

Big thanks to my old pal, and co-founder of the H7HT, Fred G.  He sent me some homemade sausage that he created with ducks from this years Tour of Champions.  Here is a photo of said sausage.
Al dente linguine.
Light tomato sauce with chopped garlic, snow peas and zucchini.
Duck Sausage.
Shaved carrot and tomatoes.
Drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil. (not shown)
Chomp.

Haiku

Ducks On the Water
Far Off Mountains In Presence
Day Comes Slowly In

Fog On the Water

Thick fog outside,

 40 degrees.

Long walk to the water.

My age is starting to creep up on me,

With a heavy pack I'm feeling old.

The sky starts to lighten,

Black turns to rose.

My heart starts to beat faster, 

My energy and strength are renewed.

I see ducks in the distance, 

Starting their morning flight,

I no longer notice the deep water.

As I keep the ducks in my sight, 

Slowly I start to call.

They turn my way,

Spy my blocks,

The safety they display.

They circle once,

Then twice.

They drop their gear,

They are going to land.

What joy it brings.

Seven feet from the water,

Just before they land,

I bring my Benelli to my shoulder,

Steady it with my hands.

I squeeze the trigger slowly,

Let my steel fly.

My aim is true,

My shot is perfect,

I watch the ducks fall from the sky.

The Many Faces of the H7HT

Mexicali Red

Where's Clider?

Well.  Today was great.  I shotten a Greenie and won $5 in the process but that is just a portion of the days story.  I'll start at the beginning and work chronologically onward.

Called Clider last night after talking to him a couple days ago.  We had discussed the possibility of going out to slay on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week and all systems were a go for a long overdue North Idaho Chapter meeting.  He mentioned that when he last went out he saw the waters in Anderson were thawing and the channel was mostly clear.  Why didn't you hear about this?  Well, I guess because he never posts anymore, just like Cliffy.  Anyway, poor Clider had to work today so I did the only thing I know how to do, I went to The Point.

Super foggy drive was no problem at 40mph because I left extra early.  I had been awake since 3:27am anyway after reading all the new info on the Blog.  (Special thanks to the Cali Clan for stoking my read with your Mutual Destruction of all things south of the Heston-Dixon line.)  Even my million candle power spotlight could not penetrate the fog to show me which side of the channel to set out for.  I chose The Point.  I found a perfect blend of high open water and ice blocking the entirety of the rest of the lake.  I set out a beautiful spread of mallards, teal and geese with a new addition to the world of decoys, the pull string.*

Soon after the morning fly of birds I could hear but not see, the action began.  A lone diver landed in my spread and swam within 10 feet of me as I was perfectly camoed with a white jacket against the snow and my regular camo lower section against the bank of the channel.  I briefly considered giving him the ole' Boogely Boogley Boo and shooting his bottom feeding ass, but then I let him live to work in and amongst my blocks.  He did a great job of bringing in a merganser and then 3 buffleheads, all of which I passed on. 

52.6 yards out

This is the point when Clider would have come in handy.  15 geese came out of the fog and locked up left to right over my blocks, spun back and then landed, all within shooting distance of me.  My name is Bob D, and I only shoot Greenies.  It took a while for me to justify that statement while time passed and I moved very little thinking that the perfect spread, with live ducks and geese, would surely pay off.  It did.  5 minutes later another 8 - 10 geese came straight in over my blocks, turned once, and landed even closer.  Clider would be throwing 2 shot like crazy at this point, surely already having 2 fat tankers in the bag and perfect shots on lots more.  I felt bad for him as I waited but it wouldn't be long.  The 3 mallards came from my right side flying low down the channel and I had the time to line up the fattest bastard in the bunch.  One clean shot brought him down and I kept my bead on him while I waited for the others to come back around.  They didn't, and everyone else left too, except my friend the diver, who stayed put like he was part of my decoys.  Knew I shouldn't have shotten him!

A group of Mergansers flew over my head low and fast but other than that it was only geese that came by.  I decided to pull up after the fog semi-cleared and the birds stooped moving. 

I hate it when people use the word 'literally' when they clearly mean 'figuratively'.  As a winner of the GMC award for Excellence in English** it done be pissin' me off, yo.  But as I was pulling the last of my decoys up a set of 8 geese literally tried to land on me.  I could have swatted them with a long stick.  I actually had to yell at them to make them peel off because I thought they were going to swoop down on me and peck my eyes out like they are known to do.  Once again, Clider should have been there, he hates geese.  As an aside, I fully suggest the white jacket when hunting in or around snow.  I think they thought I was a hunk of ice.  Dicks!
GBCH



*Pull string.  Long line that flows out with the water to be pulled back towards you, looking like ducks swimming in. Only second to the Hunting Umbrella as a true H7HT invention.
**Not to be confused with an award that has any value.

A Perfect Day Today Was

Geese Flying Past the Moon

The moon was full and it was bright no headlamp necessary.  The weather was perfect, clear and 38 degrees.  The wind was blowing steady from the east. Water was at a perfect level (6.93). I Found a nice spot on dry land today about a half hour before the bell.  My blocks looked amazing and were dancing in the wind.  I utilized my new camo scrim which helped due to the lack of cover out there.  No I did't slay today, it would have been a good day.  There are a few reasons I suspect.  1. I didn't have any Pintail blocks. C. My cover was the best I could manage but could have been a little better.  7. I should have taken the wind more into consideration as to how the ducks would be approaching my spread.  D. Maybe a few more blocks due to the size of flocks moving would have been helpful as well.

The pre morning fly was strong and full of Mallards.  If I was a poacher I could have had my limit, it was so bright due to the full moon shooting would have been easy.  They were dropping in like relatives at Christmas.  After the morning bell it was just clouds of 30-50 Pintails with a smattering of Mallards, a dozen at a time, and a pinch of Widgeon. I have never seen so many ducks out there before, it was just constant.  Every ten minutes or so there was a new batch.  My interest was peaked the whole morning, never bored, never thinking if was time to call it.   I took a few desperation shots at some Mallards and Canvasbacks, but nothing to show for it.  Yes eventually you have to call it.  The wind stopped and the ducks were rafting out in the middle of the water.  By 11 o'clock I had enough of watching flocks of birds drop into the middle of the water and decided it was time.  Of course you know what that means. 

It was a great day.

Water Water Water......

I'm standing here in water.

The water that was just at my feet.

But now...

It's up to my waist.

It's gotten deeper.

It keeps getting deeper.

I'm standing waist deep in the water.

Wondering if will ever go out.

No matter where I go, 

Or where I turn, 

I never seem to get out of this water.

I hope my waders do not leak

It sucks my expertise 

It never seems to end.

I will hunt in it or drown in it

Waist high in the water, 

I know what will happen.

The water will get deeper.

Deeper until I drown my expert status, 

Greenie will drown with it.

When the water leaves, 

Out will it go with me.

It's only waist deep, 

For now I am still afraid.

Packing Sand

It must be pretty easy being Jiggity Jeff. Never having to prove your greatness to anyone, hunting in a park in the middle of a city, basically using pop corn to get ducks and geese. How hard could it be? He never has any stories or pictures to share about his excursions, no facts to back anything up. How hard could it be being Jiggity Jeff? Has he ever "bagged" a duck? no. Has he ever posted any pictures? no. Has he ever journeyed to the great NW to hunt with the greatest team ever? no. Jiggity if your out there, if you ever read the blog, or if you could even read, read this RESPECT MY AUTHORITY! I have "bagged a duck" I have done everything, and you? nothing. I am the greatest hunter. I have all of the knowledge. Respect my authority.

Making it rain from the East side,

Fred G.

Packing Sand

1. A seafaring insult. When one was told to "pack sand" it was considered a huge insult often resulting in a heated exchange of salty language.

For example:

Arrrgh pack sand mate..wait yer turn like ye others." Typical Response: Arr go f***k yerself you coc*suc*er son of a whore.

The Many Faces of the H7HT

"Whitey"

The Many Faces of the H7HT

Lisa 1972