Jim Thompson, Jr.
01-25-2005, 07:12 PM
2004/2005 Hunting Journal Entries
Heat Wave Canadas
DATE: Jan. 18, 2005
LOCATION: Pierre, South Dakota
SUNRISE/SUNSET: 8:12 a.m./5:33 p.m.
WEATHER: Mostly sunny
TEMPERATURE: 36° F a.m. / 51°F p.m.
WIND: Calm a.m./W 20 mph p.m.
EQUIPMENT USED: 9 Dozen Greenhead Gear® Fully Flocked Full Body Canada Goose Decoys (Lookers, Feeders and Active Styles), Avery® Fleece Neck Gaiter, Greenhead Gear ® Universal Motion Stakes, Avery® Field Staff Cap, Avery® Fleece Pullover, Avery® Yukon Hood, Avery® Polypropylene Underwear, Avery® KillerWeed, Avery® TurtleHead, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® Game Hog Strap, Avery® Floating Pit Bag, Avery® Camera Bag, Zink SR-1, PC-1, and LM-1 Goose Calls.
HUNTERS: Joe Olson, Brett Balk, Kendall Smith and Avery® Pro-Staff Jim Thompson, Jr.
JOURNAL NOTES: After a bone chilling five days of high temperatures of –5 to 0 degrees I knew the birds would be active early in the a.m. hours with predicted highs of 50 degrees. Left Sioux Falls for the 3.5-hour drive with strong southerly winds pushing 30 mph. Caused road travel problems as snow blew across the interstate and stuck to the wet surface. Arrived at field an hour later than planned and birds already airborne. As luck would have it winds were now non-existent. Took four birds right out of the hole then things quickly changed. Large buildup of birds began to develop less than a mile west of our location. Sat frustrated for 2.5 hours, couldn’t convince a single bird from the over 5,000 that passed within 500 yards of our location to make the final commitment. Tried everything, flagging, no flagging, calling, no calling, it didn’t really seem to matter, their minds were made up. A moment didn’t pass when birds weren’t pouring into the field; we estimated 30,000 Canadas were enjoying the volunteer wheat that flourished in the disked stubble. West winds began to develop a little after noon and eventually gusted enough to cause erratic flight patterns in birds. That was all that was needed to put birds in our lap. No flocks finished but singles and pairs attempted to land just yards from the pit. Twelve bird limit filled by 2 p.m. Who says wind isn’t the waterfowler’s best friend?
http://img45.exs.cx/img45/5045/journalentry23photo0wg.jpg http://img45.exs.cx/img45/6682/journalentry23bertphoto3lb.jpg http://img45.exs.cx/img45/7540/journalentry23guyspit6jp.jpg
Heat Wave Canadas
DATE: Jan. 18, 2005
LOCATION: Pierre, South Dakota
SUNRISE/SUNSET: 8:12 a.m./5:33 p.m.
WEATHER: Mostly sunny
TEMPERATURE: 36° F a.m. / 51°F p.m.
WIND: Calm a.m./W 20 mph p.m.
EQUIPMENT USED: 9 Dozen Greenhead Gear® Fully Flocked Full Body Canada Goose Decoys (Lookers, Feeders and Active Styles), Avery® Fleece Neck Gaiter, Greenhead Gear ® Universal Motion Stakes, Avery® Field Staff Cap, Avery® Fleece Pullover, Avery® Yukon Hood, Avery® Polypropylene Underwear, Avery® KillerWeed, Avery® TurtleHead, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® Game Hog Strap, Avery® Floating Pit Bag, Avery® Camera Bag, Zink SR-1, PC-1, and LM-1 Goose Calls.
HUNTERS: Joe Olson, Brett Balk, Kendall Smith and Avery® Pro-Staff Jim Thompson, Jr.
JOURNAL NOTES: After a bone chilling five days of high temperatures of –5 to 0 degrees I knew the birds would be active early in the a.m. hours with predicted highs of 50 degrees. Left Sioux Falls for the 3.5-hour drive with strong southerly winds pushing 30 mph. Caused road travel problems as snow blew across the interstate and stuck to the wet surface. Arrived at field an hour later than planned and birds already airborne. As luck would have it winds were now non-existent. Took four birds right out of the hole then things quickly changed. Large buildup of birds began to develop less than a mile west of our location. Sat frustrated for 2.5 hours, couldn’t convince a single bird from the over 5,000 that passed within 500 yards of our location to make the final commitment. Tried everything, flagging, no flagging, calling, no calling, it didn’t really seem to matter, their minds were made up. A moment didn’t pass when birds weren’t pouring into the field; we estimated 30,000 Canadas were enjoying the volunteer wheat that flourished in the disked stubble. West winds began to develop a little after noon and eventually gusted enough to cause erratic flight patterns in birds. That was all that was needed to put birds in our lap. No flocks finished but singles and pairs attempted to land just yards from the pit. Twelve bird limit filled by 2 p.m. Who says wind isn’t the waterfowler’s best friend?
http://img45.exs.cx/img45/5045/journalentry23photo0wg.jpg http://img45.exs.cx/img45/6682/journalentry23bertphoto3lb.jpg http://img45.exs.cx/img45/7540/journalentry23guyspit6jp.jpg