Parker Sharpe
01-28-2008, 09:01 PM
DATE: January 26, 2008
LOCATION: "The Point Blind"
WEATHER: Cloudy and overcast in the morning turning mostly sunny, with a high in the low 40's and high 30's
TEMPERATURE: 27 degrees in the morning warming up to around 40 near midday
WIND: SW at about 5 mph and then becoming light and variable throughout the day.
EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® Power Hunter Gun Sling, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Mallard Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Ring-Necked Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Wigeon decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Bluebill Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Over Size Bufflehead Decoys, Avery® Fleece Skull Cap, and an Avery® DIY Call Lanyard.
HUNTERS: Avery Youth Field Staffer Parker Sharpe, Sam Sharpe, Monty Sharpe, and Earl Parker.
JOURNAL NOTES:
Due to unfortunate scheduling, I had to take SATs Saturday morning; the closing day of duck season. However, it was going to take more than that to keep me from getting some hunting in on the last day of the season!
My Dad and brother arose early Saturday morning to make the 50 min. drive to the landing where they were met by good family friend and hunting partner Earl Parker. The weather report was for a mostly sunny day with highs in the low forties, but at the landing in pre-dawn mist it was a chilly 27 degrees. Together they packed the boat and made the mile long boat ride up the river to “The Point Blind.” Upon reaching their destination, the trio of hunters had to break a layer of skim ice, thicker in some areas than others, that had formed around the blind and the shore. They commenced to set the spread of Greenhead Gear® diver decoys, which have produced so well for us this season, out front of and behind the blind. Once the blocks were set, there was only one thing left to do – wait and see whether the duck gods were going to favorable to them on this special day…
Early into shooting time, a single small bird dive bombed the spread and lit on the outer edge of the ringbill decoys. Thinking the bird was a merganser or a grebe, none of the hunters fired a shot. The bird swam around for a bit before it started making the identifiable “peep” of a green-winged teal. About the same time that they figured out it was a “good duck,” the teal realized that there were three hunters 25 yards to its rear, and it hopped up and took off below the tree line. Because it was still dark, no one was offered a shot, and this early morning visitor was spared.
Part of the spread.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7665/83812414ut0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The next action came as a pair of mallards worked around the blind, responding to the crisp quacks and feeding chuckle. They ended up circling around, and pitched behind the blind next to the shoreline 45 yards away. My brother, being in the corner of the blind that offered the best view, yelled and jumped the birds. He shot twice, missing, and then pulled out front of the bird and dropped it cleanly at 50 yards with a well placed shot of HeviShot 4s. A great start to a great morning; and most importantly, no skunk!
A nice mallard drake. It had no body damage at all, and is going on the wall!
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/695/img1929ik4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Not many birds were using the river in the first half an hour, and as the sun rose the hunters took a few minutes to relax and have a cup of coffee. While they were back in the blind, a single bird pitched in from the downriver and lit in the Bluebill decoys. My little brother, being the only one who saw it, grabbed his gun and dispatched the bird with one shot. It turned out to be a very pretty drake redhead; the first one that my family has ever taken here in Virginia.
Sam’s redhead drake.
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4498/15817108ur1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
After retrieving this fine specimen, the divers began to appear more sporadically about on the river, and a few groups passed by for a closer look. A group of 8 – 9 ringbills buzzed down the river and with a little enticing from the mallard calls, locked up and headed straight in to the blind. With their landing gear down, and wings cupped up tight, they made their descent and closed in on the decoys. The welcome party of hunters rose to meet the incoming birds, shots were fired, and the ‘bills were gone as quickly as they had come; However, two birds failed in their escape, and were added to the bag.
At this point, it was nearing mid-day and I was just finishing up the SAT’s. I called down to the blind to check on the morning’s events, and notified them that I would meet them at the landing at about 2:30. I stopped at the local store and picked up some lunch for the rest of the team, and headed down to the river. When I reached the landing, I met my Dad who was dropping Earl off back at his car. I learned that since we had spoken last, and while I was on the drive down, Earl and Sam had shot 4 bufflehead (Earl taking 3 with one shot!). Also, while I was driving down, they had been worked by a group of 3 geese. The geese had circled around and around the blind, so when they finally got in range, at about 20 yards, the shot was called. Earl dropped his goose with one shot, and Sam doubled on the other two birds with 2 shots. Good shooting guys! As the tide was rising, and the birds floated towards the blind, my brother spied something on the foot of his upturned goose. A Band! Sam waded out and retrieved his trophy bird. They were in disbelief because this was only the second banded goose we have killed on the river (Earl killed the other one while hunting out of the same blind with my dad a few years ago- it had a $100 reward band as well as the federal).
Sam with his trophy goose.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/89/51432394jr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I was happy that everyone had gotten some shooting in, and Sam had taken a banded goose (his second band this year; the other coming on a drake mallard), but I was ready to get in on the action. It was a quick boat ride up the river without all the usual gear, and we arrived at the blind shortly.
We had not been in the blind long before a group of 8 mallards flew down on the river. With A LOT of calling, we kept the birds working around the blind, searching for the ducks on the water that were causing all the commotion. As the mallards circled around, 2 of the back birds dropped off of the flock and came down for a closer look. We took the shot at 30 yards, and my dad and I each anchored a bird with one shot.
About twenty minutes later, a group of 12 to 15 ringbills came over the tree line on the opposite shore and made their decent down on the river. The ‘bills seemed to be interested in our set up, and they made multiple passes around the blind and out front. On what seemed to be their third or fourth pass, the lead birds dropped their feet and made preparations to land; the rest of the group following above. At about 25 yards, they picked up their wings to make another pass, or fly off, so we called the shot. All three of us swung on different birds, and when the shooting was done three fat ringbills lay on the water.
Over the next half an hour, the geese were moving; trading up and down the river and in and out of the adjacent cornfields. We called to almost every group that came past, and some of them gave us a look, but most of the birds either pitched out in the middle of the river, or down river to one of the other occupied blinds. Luckily, one group of low geese jumped up from down river and flew towards us. We called and they dropped lower, but wouldn’t commit. As they got closer they were only 30 – 35 yards up, so when they flew over we decided to take ‘em. My dad and I stood (Sam had limited at this time, with his 5 ducks and 2 geese + a band!) and fired. He missed with his first shot, and then we fired in unison and killed the closest goose with a joint effort; another nice addition to the day’s bag.
After this last group of geese it began to grow quiet out on the river as the sun started to sink behind the hill to our rear. As we sat back in the blind eating snacks and talking about the days events, we heard a honking coming from up the river. We looked out to see a flock of 12 -15 geese cruising right down the shoreline towards us. We got back in the blind and started calling at the geese, pleading with them to come down and join the blocks on the water. However, the geese had other ideas and they picked up their wings and ventured off down river. At about this time, in mid-come-back call, I looked out front to see a single duck with wings cupped up tight and feet down making its approach out front. There was no time to think, just react, as the bird was already over the spread and moving fast. I barked “duck,” grabbed my gun, and shot as the bird was going away at 30 yards. The bird stopped in its tracks and fell to the water as if it had been hit by an invisible wall. Yes! I was especially pleased to have gotten the bird, because there was only 5 minutes left in shooting time, and I didn’t know if we would have any more chances. As I waded out to pick up the bird I couldn’t think of any better way to end the season than to go out on a nice bird with one shot. I reached down and picked up the bird only to reveal the shiniest piece of silver I had ever seen strapped to its left foot. At about that time I started yelling to my dad and brother in the blind about a band. At first they didn’t believe me, but when I got closer and produced the little aluminum band they were speechless. This is the first banded ringbill that we have ever killed, and a much deserved as we have killed about 200 of them in the last few years. I was all smiles and was happier than ever to get my second banded diver of the year (I got a banded bluebill drake earlier this season).
My trophy Ring Necked-Duck
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5229/img1876ao3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The ringbill and goose bands.
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2039/70673880ar3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This was a great addition to the bag, and a great ending to our season! What an amazing closing day, and end to an amazing season. The day’s total was 6 ringbills, 4 bufflehead, 3 mallards, 1 redhead, 4 geese, and 2 bands! Hope you guys had a great season, because for me, this was the best one ever!
LOCATION: "The Point Blind"
WEATHER: Cloudy and overcast in the morning turning mostly sunny, with a high in the low 40's and high 30's
TEMPERATURE: 27 degrees in the morning warming up to around 40 near midday
WIND: SW at about 5 mph and then becoming light and variable throughout the day.
EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® Power Hunter Gun Sling, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Mallard Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Ring-Necked Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Wigeon decoys, Greenhead Gear® Life Size Bluebill Decoys, Greenhead Gear® Over Size Bufflehead Decoys, Avery® Fleece Skull Cap, and an Avery® DIY Call Lanyard.
HUNTERS: Avery Youth Field Staffer Parker Sharpe, Sam Sharpe, Monty Sharpe, and Earl Parker.
JOURNAL NOTES:
Due to unfortunate scheduling, I had to take SATs Saturday morning; the closing day of duck season. However, it was going to take more than that to keep me from getting some hunting in on the last day of the season!
My Dad and brother arose early Saturday morning to make the 50 min. drive to the landing where they were met by good family friend and hunting partner Earl Parker. The weather report was for a mostly sunny day with highs in the low forties, but at the landing in pre-dawn mist it was a chilly 27 degrees. Together they packed the boat and made the mile long boat ride up the river to “The Point Blind.” Upon reaching their destination, the trio of hunters had to break a layer of skim ice, thicker in some areas than others, that had formed around the blind and the shore. They commenced to set the spread of Greenhead Gear® diver decoys, which have produced so well for us this season, out front of and behind the blind. Once the blocks were set, there was only one thing left to do – wait and see whether the duck gods were going to favorable to them on this special day…
Early into shooting time, a single small bird dive bombed the spread and lit on the outer edge of the ringbill decoys. Thinking the bird was a merganser or a grebe, none of the hunters fired a shot. The bird swam around for a bit before it started making the identifiable “peep” of a green-winged teal. About the same time that they figured out it was a “good duck,” the teal realized that there were three hunters 25 yards to its rear, and it hopped up and took off below the tree line. Because it was still dark, no one was offered a shot, and this early morning visitor was spared.
Part of the spread.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7665/83812414ut0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The next action came as a pair of mallards worked around the blind, responding to the crisp quacks and feeding chuckle. They ended up circling around, and pitched behind the blind next to the shoreline 45 yards away. My brother, being in the corner of the blind that offered the best view, yelled and jumped the birds. He shot twice, missing, and then pulled out front of the bird and dropped it cleanly at 50 yards with a well placed shot of HeviShot 4s. A great start to a great morning; and most importantly, no skunk!
A nice mallard drake. It had no body damage at all, and is going on the wall!
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/695/img1929ik4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Not many birds were using the river in the first half an hour, and as the sun rose the hunters took a few minutes to relax and have a cup of coffee. While they were back in the blind, a single bird pitched in from the downriver and lit in the Bluebill decoys. My little brother, being the only one who saw it, grabbed his gun and dispatched the bird with one shot. It turned out to be a very pretty drake redhead; the first one that my family has ever taken here in Virginia.
Sam’s redhead drake.
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4498/15817108ur1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
After retrieving this fine specimen, the divers began to appear more sporadically about on the river, and a few groups passed by for a closer look. A group of 8 – 9 ringbills buzzed down the river and with a little enticing from the mallard calls, locked up and headed straight in to the blind. With their landing gear down, and wings cupped up tight, they made their descent and closed in on the decoys. The welcome party of hunters rose to meet the incoming birds, shots were fired, and the ‘bills were gone as quickly as they had come; However, two birds failed in their escape, and were added to the bag.
At this point, it was nearing mid-day and I was just finishing up the SAT’s. I called down to the blind to check on the morning’s events, and notified them that I would meet them at the landing at about 2:30. I stopped at the local store and picked up some lunch for the rest of the team, and headed down to the river. When I reached the landing, I met my Dad who was dropping Earl off back at his car. I learned that since we had spoken last, and while I was on the drive down, Earl and Sam had shot 4 bufflehead (Earl taking 3 with one shot!). Also, while I was driving down, they had been worked by a group of 3 geese. The geese had circled around and around the blind, so when they finally got in range, at about 20 yards, the shot was called. Earl dropped his goose with one shot, and Sam doubled on the other two birds with 2 shots. Good shooting guys! As the tide was rising, and the birds floated towards the blind, my brother spied something on the foot of his upturned goose. A Band! Sam waded out and retrieved his trophy bird. They were in disbelief because this was only the second banded goose we have killed on the river (Earl killed the other one while hunting out of the same blind with my dad a few years ago- it had a $100 reward band as well as the federal).
Sam with his trophy goose.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/89/51432394jr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I was happy that everyone had gotten some shooting in, and Sam had taken a banded goose (his second band this year; the other coming on a drake mallard), but I was ready to get in on the action. It was a quick boat ride up the river without all the usual gear, and we arrived at the blind shortly.
We had not been in the blind long before a group of 8 mallards flew down on the river. With A LOT of calling, we kept the birds working around the blind, searching for the ducks on the water that were causing all the commotion. As the mallards circled around, 2 of the back birds dropped off of the flock and came down for a closer look. We took the shot at 30 yards, and my dad and I each anchored a bird with one shot.
About twenty minutes later, a group of 12 to 15 ringbills came over the tree line on the opposite shore and made their decent down on the river. The ‘bills seemed to be interested in our set up, and they made multiple passes around the blind and out front. On what seemed to be their third or fourth pass, the lead birds dropped their feet and made preparations to land; the rest of the group following above. At about 25 yards, they picked up their wings to make another pass, or fly off, so we called the shot. All three of us swung on different birds, and when the shooting was done three fat ringbills lay on the water.
Over the next half an hour, the geese were moving; trading up and down the river and in and out of the adjacent cornfields. We called to almost every group that came past, and some of them gave us a look, but most of the birds either pitched out in the middle of the river, or down river to one of the other occupied blinds. Luckily, one group of low geese jumped up from down river and flew towards us. We called and they dropped lower, but wouldn’t commit. As they got closer they were only 30 – 35 yards up, so when they flew over we decided to take ‘em. My dad and I stood (Sam had limited at this time, with his 5 ducks and 2 geese + a band!) and fired. He missed with his first shot, and then we fired in unison and killed the closest goose with a joint effort; another nice addition to the day’s bag.
After this last group of geese it began to grow quiet out on the river as the sun started to sink behind the hill to our rear. As we sat back in the blind eating snacks and talking about the days events, we heard a honking coming from up the river. We looked out to see a flock of 12 -15 geese cruising right down the shoreline towards us. We got back in the blind and started calling at the geese, pleading with them to come down and join the blocks on the water. However, the geese had other ideas and they picked up their wings and ventured off down river. At about this time, in mid-come-back call, I looked out front to see a single duck with wings cupped up tight and feet down making its approach out front. There was no time to think, just react, as the bird was already over the spread and moving fast. I barked “duck,” grabbed my gun, and shot as the bird was going away at 30 yards. The bird stopped in its tracks and fell to the water as if it had been hit by an invisible wall. Yes! I was especially pleased to have gotten the bird, because there was only 5 minutes left in shooting time, and I didn’t know if we would have any more chances. As I waded out to pick up the bird I couldn’t think of any better way to end the season than to go out on a nice bird with one shot. I reached down and picked up the bird only to reveal the shiniest piece of silver I had ever seen strapped to its left foot. At about that time I started yelling to my dad and brother in the blind about a band. At first they didn’t believe me, but when I got closer and produced the little aluminum band they were speechless. This is the first banded ringbill that we have ever killed, and a much deserved as we have killed about 200 of them in the last few years. I was all smiles and was happier than ever to get my second banded diver of the year (I got a banded bluebill drake earlier this season).
My trophy Ring Necked-Duck
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5229/img1876ao3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The ringbill and goose bands.
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2039/70673880ar3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This was a great addition to the bag, and a great ending to our season! What an amazing closing day, and end to an amazing season. The day’s total was 6 ringbills, 4 bufflehead, 3 mallards, 1 redhead, 4 geese, and 2 bands! Hope you guys had a great season, because for me, this was the best one ever!