Jeff-Widgnwhacker-Wallis
05-17-2006, 08:18 PM
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/571/prostaffnewsheader1dd.jpg
Spring Snow Geese – 2006
Tyson Keller
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5161/tnt140kl.jpg
The spring season of 2005 was just the beginning for the field testing of the new Full Body Snow and Blue Goose decoys. Shortly after the carvings were completed, I received several of the prototype “hand painted version” decoys to set in the field. The new RealMotion system was just being developed at this time. After setting the new innovation afield, I knew that snow goose hunting would never be the same. I could not wait to get my hands on an entire spread to use. For the following season in fall of 2005, I ordered a trailer load of FB Snows and Blues. Although I was only able to hunt for Snow Geese during the fall season a handful of days, I was totally convinced that the new decoys were the ticket to consistent success. Since I was an avid spring snow goose hunter, I could only dream of the migration to start north the following spring.
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/8554/tnt100cs.jpg
During late December in 2005, I was told that several snow goose test hunts needed to be administered for Avery. The test hunts would be composed of in-depth field testing every aspect of the new GHG Snow Goose Full Bodies. The test hunts would be much more than just hunting; it would consist of testing past snow goose hunting theories, testing decoy effectiveness under various weather and environmental situations, and testing the product in terms of durability and effectiveness during the spring migration. Within the test hunts, numerous magazine writers and photographers were also scheduled to publicize the event that was taking place. Along with the writers, possible filming of the hunts for the upcoming 24/7 video was in the back of our minds. In December, we had expectations, but we did not know the magnitude of the project as a whole. The magnitude of 1,700 full bodies, the traveling distances to follow the birds, the gas consumption, the expenses, or the long hours of time it would take to complete this project. Being an avid hunter, I knew that the field hunts would be some work, but I enthusiastically stated that I would be up for the task.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3209/tnt32mq.jpg
During early February of 2006, I received a phone call again regarding the test hunts. The birds were already showing up in Missouri, and Pro-Staffer Tony Vandemore (Missouri resident) was in the ideal area to start our two month journey of field testing. After a few phone calls, and getting acquainted with Tony, we decided to coordinate plans for the upcoming hunts. Shortly after Tony and I spoke, Tom had sent around 1,000 full bodies to Tony’s house in Missouri. At this point in time, I knew things were getting serious. A week later, I pulled down my trailer loaded to the brim with Full Bodies to complement the other decoys in Missouri. Our spread would consist of 1,700 full bodies, but little did we know at the time that only 600 would be proven as an effective spread consistently. During late February, we started hunting snows in South-Central Missouri. The first couple days consisted of setting the entire spread, but we soon realized that not every decoy was necessary. Day after day, our group had consistent success on nearly all adult Snow Geese. What I mean by consistent is large flocks decoying, feet down, and many even walking through the decoys. Although the decoys kept us at the top of our game, our success was also due to moving our spread on a daily basis.
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/1918/tnt99qw.jpg
In order to increase our success, we were moving the entire decoy rig on a daily basis, with 4-6 people. It consisted of hunting the morning, scouting in the afternoon, then picking up and re-setting the spread in the field of choice. We would often wait for the last bird to leave the field after dark, and then we would quickly pull into the field set our spread for the next morning. Often times we were not done setting up until 1:30 am, and we were often our lodging was an hour’s drive away. The alarm clock would then ring at 4:30 am that morning. We did this every day for nearly 20+ days of hunting. Only if we were lucky, we could stay in the field for possibly 2 days.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3255/tnt45nn.jpg
Our success proved to be consistent, so our hunts were then scheduled to be filmed by Clay Hudnall from the Zink Crew. Clay arrived within a few days, and our hunts were then burned onto film. Our first film shoot was a bit aggravating because only a handful of flocks came back to the field. We repositioned ourselves for the next day’s hunt, and managed to kill 130 birds, all less than 20 yards on film in one hour. Throughout the next two weeks, we were able to capture many more days on film that were ideal for the television.
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/888/tnt67kk.jpg
As the days went on, our group witnessed that many of the past snow goose theories were incorrect by our standards. With the full bodies, we were able to finish large flocks in close consistently, we did not need the entire 1,700 decoys, and we were harvesting nearly all adult birds – All of which were hard to visualize based on previous snow goose hunting techniques. As we worked our way up the state of Missouri, we were able to have success day after day. Some days were almost as if they were imaginary.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5530/tnt89id.jpg
Within our hunts, Tony and I were able to take numerous writers and photographers afield to put the hunts into writing and into pictures. Nearly every individual that accompanied the hunts were totally impressed, and could hardly believe what was happening. The full bodies were a proven success from Southern Missouri to Northern South Dakota. After all was said and done, we were able to harvest well over 2,000 birds in less than 30 hunts, all of which went to a good cause- needy families, churches, and game feeds.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9426/tnt122ys.jpg
As our hunts concluded, many ideas and theoretical conclusions were made:
• The decoys proved to be consistent day after day.
• The most birds were shot over 600-800 decoys when hunting migrating adults.
• A decoy spread of about 400 was consistently proven successful on birds later in the migration.
• The RealMotion System was a definite success factor. Motion is key with Snow Geese.
• The durability of the decoys is amazing. None of the decoys were pampered, and all of them looked great even after the most grueling hunting conditions.
• The birds were committed – No skirting the edges, just plain “in your face action”
• The last conclusion I made was, “Did this actually happen?”
Overall, the test hunts will be an event that I will never forget. The magnitude of the effort and time spent on this project was unreal – One would truly have to partake in the hunts to know what I am talking about. There were many days that one of us would keep an eye out for birds so the group could catch up on sleep while in the field. These hunts have truly proven the success of the GHG full bodies, and eliminated many of the preconceived Snow Goose notions from the past.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/699/tnt75fq.jpg
Great appreciation and gratitude goes to Tony for this success. At the beginning of this two month journey, I had no idea who Tony was. Now, I have made a great friend and also a great hunting buddy. As for all of our friends that helped out with scouting, decoy assembly, and setting up, I also thank all of you (Ben, Clint, Aaron, and Trent). As for Tom, thank you for all of the support and backing on this project. None of us could have done this without you.
Keep your eyes open as you may see these two gentlemen in the newest issue of Ducks Unlimited Magazine.
Spring Snow Geese – 2006
Tyson Keller
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5161/tnt140kl.jpg
The spring season of 2005 was just the beginning for the field testing of the new Full Body Snow and Blue Goose decoys. Shortly after the carvings were completed, I received several of the prototype “hand painted version” decoys to set in the field. The new RealMotion system was just being developed at this time. After setting the new innovation afield, I knew that snow goose hunting would never be the same. I could not wait to get my hands on an entire spread to use. For the following season in fall of 2005, I ordered a trailer load of FB Snows and Blues. Although I was only able to hunt for Snow Geese during the fall season a handful of days, I was totally convinced that the new decoys were the ticket to consistent success. Since I was an avid spring snow goose hunter, I could only dream of the migration to start north the following spring.
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/8554/tnt100cs.jpg
During late December in 2005, I was told that several snow goose test hunts needed to be administered for Avery. The test hunts would be composed of in-depth field testing every aspect of the new GHG Snow Goose Full Bodies. The test hunts would be much more than just hunting; it would consist of testing past snow goose hunting theories, testing decoy effectiveness under various weather and environmental situations, and testing the product in terms of durability and effectiveness during the spring migration. Within the test hunts, numerous magazine writers and photographers were also scheduled to publicize the event that was taking place. Along with the writers, possible filming of the hunts for the upcoming 24/7 video was in the back of our minds. In December, we had expectations, but we did not know the magnitude of the project as a whole. The magnitude of 1,700 full bodies, the traveling distances to follow the birds, the gas consumption, the expenses, or the long hours of time it would take to complete this project. Being an avid hunter, I knew that the field hunts would be some work, but I enthusiastically stated that I would be up for the task.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3209/tnt32mq.jpg
During early February of 2006, I received a phone call again regarding the test hunts. The birds were already showing up in Missouri, and Pro-Staffer Tony Vandemore (Missouri resident) was in the ideal area to start our two month journey of field testing. After a few phone calls, and getting acquainted with Tony, we decided to coordinate plans for the upcoming hunts. Shortly after Tony and I spoke, Tom had sent around 1,000 full bodies to Tony’s house in Missouri. At this point in time, I knew things were getting serious. A week later, I pulled down my trailer loaded to the brim with Full Bodies to complement the other decoys in Missouri. Our spread would consist of 1,700 full bodies, but little did we know at the time that only 600 would be proven as an effective spread consistently. During late February, we started hunting snows in South-Central Missouri. The first couple days consisted of setting the entire spread, but we soon realized that not every decoy was necessary. Day after day, our group had consistent success on nearly all adult Snow Geese. What I mean by consistent is large flocks decoying, feet down, and many even walking through the decoys. Although the decoys kept us at the top of our game, our success was also due to moving our spread on a daily basis.
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/1918/tnt99qw.jpg
In order to increase our success, we were moving the entire decoy rig on a daily basis, with 4-6 people. It consisted of hunting the morning, scouting in the afternoon, then picking up and re-setting the spread in the field of choice. We would often wait for the last bird to leave the field after dark, and then we would quickly pull into the field set our spread for the next morning. Often times we were not done setting up until 1:30 am, and we were often our lodging was an hour’s drive away. The alarm clock would then ring at 4:30 am that morning. We did this every day for nearly 20+ days of hunting. Only if we were lucky, we could stay in the field for possibly 2 days.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3255/tnt45nn.jpg
Our success proved to be consistent, so our hunts were then scheduled to be filmed by Clay Hudnall from the Zink Crew. Clay arrived within a few days, and our hunts were then burned onto film. Our first film shoot was a bit aggravating because only a handful of flocks came back to the field. We repositioned ourselves for the next day’s hunt, and managed to kill 130 birds, all less than 20 yards on film in one hour. Throughout the next two weeks, we were able to capture many more days on film that were ideal for the television.
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/888/tnt67kk.jpg
As the days went on, our group witnessed that many of the past snow goose theories were incorrect by our standards. With the full bodies, we were able to finish large flocks in close consistently, we did not need the entire 1,700 decoys, and we were harvesting nearly all adult birds – All of which were hard to visualize based on previous snow goose hunting techniques. As we worked our way up the state of Missouri, we were able to have success day after day. Some days were almost as if they were imaginary.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5530/tnt89id.jpg
Within our hunts, Tony and I were able to take numerous writers and photographers afield to put the hunts into writing and into pictures. Nearly every individual that accompanied the hunts were totally impressed, and could hardly believe what was happening. The full bodies were a proven success from Southern Missouri to Northern South Dakota. After all was said and done, we were able to harvest well over 2,000 birds in less than 30 hunts, all of which went to a good cause- needy families, churches, and game feeds.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9426/tnt122ys.jpg
As our hunts concluded, many ideas and theoretical conclusions were made:
• The decoys proved to be consistent day after day.
• The most birds were shot over 600-800 decoys when hunting migrating adults.
• A decoy spread of about 400 was consistently proven successful on birds later in the migration.
• The RealMotion System was a definite success factor. Motion is key with Snow Geese.
• The durability of the decoys is amazing. None of the decoys were pampered, and all of them looked great even after the most grueling hunting conditions.
• The birds were committed – No skirting the edges, just plain “in your face action”
• The last conclusion I made was, “Did this actually happen?”
Overall, the test hunts will be an event that I will never forget. The magnitude of the effort and time spent on this project was unreal – One would truly have to partake in the hunts to know what I am talking about. There were many days that one of us would keep an eye out for birds so the group could catch up on sleep while in the field. These hunts have truly proven the success of the GHG full bodies, and eliminated many of the preconceived Snow Goose notions from the past.
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/699/tnt75fq.jpg
Great appreciation and gratitude goes to Tony for this success. At the beginning of this two month journey, I had no idea who Tony was. Now, I have made a great friend and also a great hunting buddy. As for all of our friends that helped out with scouting, decoy assembly, and setting up, I also thank all of you (Ben, Clint, Aaron, and Trent). As for Tom, thank you for all of the support and backing on this project. None of us could have done this without you.
Keep your eyes open as you may see these two gentlemen in the newest issue of Ducks Unlimited Magazine.