Rewarding Hunt....

**David Rearick** · #1 11-21-2006, 05:12 PM

2006-2007 Hunting Journal Entries

DATE: 11-16-2006

LOCATION: Western PA

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7:08

WEATHER: Wind and Rain

TEMPERATURE: 40’s

WIND: Moderate to Heavy Gusts

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blind, Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® Pro Camera Bag, Avery® Mud Case, Avery® Nat Gear Neck Gaiter, Avery® Nat Gear Fleece Hand Muff, Avery® Calling Gloves, Avery® Skull Cap, Avery® Power Flag, Greenhead Gear® FFD Elite Honkers

HUNTERS: Erik Nilsson and Avery Pro-Staffer David Rearick

After being completely fogged in on the first day of the second split, we were anxious to put together a little better hunt today. With the rain falling just annoyingly enough to get everything wet and the wind blowing hard enough to put the birds down quick, the morning was looking up. We set out 4 dozen FFD’s and hunkered down in the blinds to wait out the birds. Cover was sparse, so we depended on the mudded blinds to blend into the field, and when things got light it looked pretty good, so we left everything as set.

As the sun got into position, we started to tune our hearing, to pick up the sounds we were looking for. It wasn’t long before we heard birds behind us. They were coming hard and fast, so we closed the doors and looked behind us. As soon as they hit the field they were on their way. A few quick flicks of the flag and some low moans and the birds were feet down, cutting air, and pitching right in, dead center. As they approached the spread we let them work in close and when they got just to the end of the spread, Erik called the shot. It took 2 shots to put down my first bird and my third was wasted, as I pulled the trigger almost simultaneously with Erik on the closest bird sending it into a backward summersault. The birds made there way out quickly and we made our way out to pick up the dead and get ready for the next flock.

After a short wait the next flock was heard in the distance and quickly they made the same approach. Feet down they came to the decoys like long lost relatives (Sorry E. had to) and when they centered up we called the shot. With the birds being a little more spread out we both tripled and knocked down an innocent bystander to boot. As we got out to pick up the birds and get out of the field, seeing we had both just finished our limits, I looked over towards my birds and the first one was feet up and…….banded!!! I told Erik that I had shot a band and after a quick pick up he yelled back that he had one down that was double banded. My curiosity rose quickly and I asked him what the second band was… Once he got a good look at it, he realized it was a $20.00 reward band!!! What a great way to start off the second split and a great continuation to the band streak we have been on.

With birds still in the air, we quickly tried to get out of the field. After getting some pictures and dropping what we could at the trailer, even with the blind doors open, birds belly-up, and stuff laying all over the field the birds wanted in. We had small flocks pitching into the decoys while we were at the trucks. Even when I walked into the decoys they would not leave. It just goes to show how much the birds trust the FFD’s.

Can you pick out the real birds??? And look at the mess they landed in...

I could barely get this one to leave even after I walked into the decoys from 200 yards out.

Erik's new rig..

The limit...

The bonus..