Andy Vershaw, he's a member of the Hoy 7 Hunting Team. He hunts, he reads the blog, he participates. Today Andy made it rain on Sauvies Island, he actually made it pour. "Sure I used a half box of shells today, It's been a long time since I killed, I didn't even hunt that much last year" he said. "I felt a little rusty at first but once the slay happened I could feel it all coming back. I think I'm going to be a contender this year, I'm feeling pretty strong."
Male ring-necks have a black breast and back. The glossy purple head appears black. The sides are gray (sometimes appearing white), and the chestnut neck ring for which ringnecks are named is only visible in hand. On the water, drakes show a vertical white crescent in front of the wing. Hens are brown with a white eye-ring and an indistinct white area near the bill. The most notable characteristics on both sexes are the dark, white-ringed bill and peaked triangular head-shape. The speculum is bluish-gray, and the belly is white. Flying ringnecks can be distinguished from scaups by the black back and gray wing-stripe. They fly swiftly in compact wedges and often land without circling.
Christmas Eve. Remember? Waking up super early can't sleep, not allowed to go downstairs until the clock strikes seven. So you sit on the top stair waiting, and if you got up before your sibs. you're the first in line to jet down the stairs when the clock strikes 7. Well imagine that every night, the night before the hunt. You wake up at 3:45am even though the alarms are set for 4am and 4:15am. Why do you set two if you always wake up early? You don't want to miss it. 
at 5am. It's like the old days when you were the first one to tie your sneakers that cool way, or the first R rated movie you saw and there was some minor nudity and adult language. It was fresh and new. Then everyone knew how to do it, everyone saw the movie...you learned how to swear. We used to be the only ones to hunt these spots, they are not great, but special to us. Now we are forced to share. "Get off that top stair let your little sister sit there!" " Maybe if she got up earlier she would have the spot" you think to yourself. That's what we have to do, we are the best, the smartest, we just learned to tie our sneakers a new and better way.
Dear Sirs or Madame
We threw out the blocks and being Sauvies the action was fast and furious right off the hop. Not long into it we both fold, the only difference being is that I folded first, we all know what that means by now, don't we? Yes a crisp fresh 10 dollars in my bag. The morning folding kept up. I folded two more ducks in one rally but unfortunately was able to only retrieve one, sorry gram pa Clyde, the reeds out there are fierce sometimes. Bob also folded again at that time. Never in team history have we been so close to each other so early, two folds each. I know what you're saying "Fred G. you folded two in one rally, is that not 3 ducks all day?" You see folks if you can't or don't retrieve it does not count in totals. 
Lunch was next. Some nice French bread some gabba goul, pruzute, provolone, fresh mutzarella, pickled onions, mama lils peppers, kalamat olives, and marinated rapini (broccoli rabe). I even got "hey this is good" out of Bob. Thanks Bob. After sitting there for a while and being "rained" on by what we suspect is The Black Cloud, the stuff is good and fast, pick up a box at your local outdoor store, we did and we love it! The stuff makes ducks rain. Which brings me to the latter part of the day. Bob has to get home and we call it, "lets give it another hour." Well we did, that's where the video portion comes in. Watch it, I did and it was a mind scramble, speaking of scramble, that's what we were doing ascared for our lives. On our way to check out we were proud. Bob with a beautiful Northern Shoveler and a Pintail. Me with a Pintail and a Green Wing Teal. This parts for you Jiggity. Upon check out I was informed my Teal was not a Teal but another Pintail. In other words Fred The Poacher is back! Only 1 Pintail per person. Box of Black Cloud $17.50, Shooting more than your share of Pintail $150.00, Bagging a duck, literally, PRICELESS.
It's Raining Steel
Fred G. 3
Bob 2
You see we would like to put your adventures here on this fine blog to let all see what a fine team we are. So please, remember how you feel after reading and viewing our pictures, let's make it special for everyone.
The rush is already on for the annual waterfowl hunting permits at the Columbia River's Sauvie Island. Just 30 minutes from downtown Portland, where else could you find such good duck hunting this close to a major American city? The island is a 12,000-plus acre wildlife management area, owned and managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's a major stopover and wintering area for 150,000 migratory ducks and geese each fall and winter, attracting 8,000 hunters who stand by their trusty bird dog and wait for the wings to flap. A special permit is required for hunting the island and because permits are limited, they disappear quickly. For the desperate hunter, there is a stand-by line every hunt morning from which unfilled reservations are filled on a first-come basis. Depending on the water level each year, there are a few designated blinds available, but to get one, plan on standing in line overnight. Game-bird hunters are required to carry a valid hunting license and must obtain a Harvest Information Program validation. By BILL MILLER
for the Mail Tribune
Gentle readers of the HOY7 hunting team Blog may I introduce to you Mr & Mrs William Henry Hopf. 
