Jim Thompson, Jr.
01-04-2005, 06:41 PM
2004/2005 Hunting Journal Entries
Hunting Hogs
DATE: Nov. 14, 2004
LOCATION: Southeast South Dakota
SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7:20 a.m. / 5:02 p.m.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy
TEMPERATURE: A.M. - 30° F/ P.M. - 56° F
WIND: SSE 10-15 mph
EQUIPMENT USED: Greenhead Gear® Over-Size Canada Goose Floater Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life-Size Full-Body Canada Goose Decoys (Lookers, Feeders and Active Style), Avery® RealGrass, Greenhead Gear® Life-Size Mallard, Wigeon, and Gadwall Decoys, Avery® Fleece Neck Gaiter, Avery® Field Staff Cap, Avery® Fleece Pullover, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® GameHog Strap, Avery® Floating Pit Bag, Avery® Hunting Strap Vest, Avery® Camera Bag, Zink SR-1 and PC-1 Goose Calls, & Zink Power Hen Duck Call
HUNTERS: Nyberg’s Ace Outdoors Joe Olson, Dale Olstad, & Avery® Pro-Staffer Jim Thompson, Jr.
JOURNAL NOTES: Hadn’t put pressure on this 90-acre lake in awhile. Not a great duck spot until ice over but can produce great water hunts for Canadas. Wind direction not what I wanted in accordance to my blind. Birds have to cross a power line with this wind on their approach puts low birds usually high. First birds on water led Saige on a scary retrieve. Bird appeared dead but as she neared it began swimming. She could only keep stride with it. Before I knew it she was 400 yards into the lake. It then dove leaving Saige swimming in circles. Bird came back up directly in from of her mouth and she had it. She was struggling returning, swimming back and forth, not in a straight line. My heart was pounding, would she make it? Could only see the bird most of the time. As she neared the shoreline the goose fought harder than ever, I couldn’t believe she held him under control. The large goose put up a good tussle even for me as I grabbed it from her. The birds we harvested seemed extremely large. I’ve heard of those large geese 16-18 pounds but I find it hard to believe. The biggest bird I’ve ever seen accurately scaled was a little over 14 pounds. (Standing on a home scale or using a spring scale isn’t real accurate.) I pulled out my digital scale when we got home and began weighing the birds. The smallest was 13.4 pounds, three were over 14 and two came in at 15.11. I couldn’t believe it. I tested my scale for accuracy and it was right on. These geese were the true Giant sub-species. Six Canadas and two greenheads taken.
http://img72.exs.cx/img72/6957/140299414r1035160qz.jpg
http://img72.exs.cx/img72/6664/14b0299414r1041192xi.jpg
http://img72.exs.cx/img72/1748/14c0299414r1e0228lj.jpg
Hunting Hogs
DATE: Nov. 14, 2004
LOCATION: Southeast South Dakota
SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7:20 a.m. / 5:02 p.m.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy
TEMPERATURE: A.M. - 30° F/ P.M. - 56° F
WIND: SSE 10-15 mph
EQUIPMENT USED: Greenhead Gear® Over-Size Canada Goose Floater Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life-Size Full-Body Canada Goose Decoys (Lookers, Feeders and Active Style), Avery® RealGrass, Greenhead Gear® Life-Size Mallard, Wigeon, and Gadwall Decoys, Avery® Fleece Neck Gaiter, Avery® Field Staff Cap, Avery® Fleece Pullover, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® GameHog Strap, Avery® Floating Pit Bag, Avery® Hunting Strap Vest, Avery® Camera Bag, Zink SR-1 and PC-1 Goose Calls, & Zink Power Hen Duck Call
HUNTERS: Nyberg’s Ace Outdoors Joe Olson, Dale Olstad, & Avery® Pro-Staffer Jim Thompson, Jr.
JOURNAL NOTES: Hadn’t put pressure on this 90-acre lake in awhile. Not a great duck spot until ice over but can produce great water hunts for Canadas. Wind direction not what I wanted in accordance to my blind. Birds have to cross a power line with this wind on their approach puts low birds usually high. First birds on water led Saige on a scary retrieve. Bird appeared dead but as she neared it began swimming. She could only keep stride with it. Before I knew it she was 400 yards into the lake. It then dove leaving Saige swimming in circles. Bird came back up directly in from of her mouth and she had it. She was struggling returning, swimming back and forth, not in a straight line. My heart was pounding, would she make it? Could only see the bird most of the time. As she neared the shoreline the goose fought harder than ever, I couldn’t believe she held him under control. The large goose put up a good tussle even for me as I grabbed it from her. The birds we harvested seemed extremely large. I’ve heard of those large geese 16-18 pounds but I find it hard to believe. The biggest bird I’ve ever seen accurately scaled was a little over 14 pounds. (Standing on a home scale or using a spring scale isn’t real accurate.) I pulled out my digital scale when we got home and began weighing the birds. The smallest was 13.4 pounds, three were over 14 and two came in at 15.11. I couldn’t believe it. I tested my scale for accuracy and it was right on. These geese were the true Giant sub-species. Six Canadas and two greenheads taken.
http://img72.exs.cx/img72/6957/140299414r1035160qz.jpg
http://img72.exs.cx/img72/6664/14b0299414r1041192xi.jpg
http://img72.exs.cx/img72/1748/14c0299414r1e0228lj.jpg