Snowy PA Honkers...

[David Rearick]

2007 Hunting Journal Entries



DATE: 01-20-2006

LOCATION: Western PA

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7:42 am

WEATHER: Snowy

TEMPERATURE: 20’s

WIND: Moderate w/ gusts up to 20 mph

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blinds, Avery® Finisher Snow Covers, Avery® Fleece Calling Gloves, Avery® Real Snow, Avery® White Skull Cap, Avery® Expandable Guides Bag, Avery® Camera Bag, Avery® Mud Case, Avery® Power Flag, Greenhead Gear® FFD Elite Active- Feeder- Looker- Rester-& Sleeper Honkers, Greenhead Gear® FFD Sleeper Shells

HUNTERS: Don Gawne, Matt Ehrat, Erik Nilsson, Avery® Pro-Staffer David Rearick

JOURNAL NOTES:

After finally getting some winter weather, we knew the birds would be in the fields. With an inch of snow on the ground, scouting produced and we were set for the following day. More snow fell through the night, coating the ground a solid white, making it hands down my favorite way to hunt geese. There is nothing more effective than snow covers, on late season birds; they just simply cannot see the blinds. The decoys were set, the blinds were lightly grassed and sprayed with Avery® Real Snow and the wait was on, but not for long.

Shortly after their expected arrival time the first flock snuck in behind us. They caught us off guard and were half way in the field before we saw them. Lucky for us, we were all covered up and the geese had no clue, we were mixed in with the decoys. They finished perfect and after a quick volley, 4 were on the ground. Not our best shooting, but we had one new guy that had never hunted waterfowl in the mix, and in true “E” fashion, he had smoked the first bird, just before I pulled the trigger. None the less we were stoked and anxiously awaiting the next flock.

The wind slightly shifted and before we had time to make a change, another group of birds was locked on the decoys, they came in with very little help and slightly overshot us landing just behind us. I quickly slinked from the blind and bumped them off the ground, so the next flock would not do the same. About this time it all broke lose, I dove to the ground and they started coming, and coming. At one time there were 200 geese spiraling above the decoys, all trying to land right in the hole. The hole however turned out to be too small for the flock, so they circled and circled looking for a clear spot to land. It was awesome, even with no shots fired. Their double clucks, honks, and moans drowned out even the best attempts at calling and at some points, I had the flock 15 feet over my head, but they were just behind the blinds. After landing one small flock and the majority of the birds heading for somewhere else to feed, a small flock dumped into the decoys and the boys decided to cut in on them. I quickly jumped up and shot one as they got into a safe shooting zone, and the boys got three more. We then made some necessary adjustments to the blinds and decoys and covered up waiting for the next flock to show.

It wasn’t long when a flock of three hit the decoys and was quickly dispatched, and then another flock of five hit the hole and the boys harvested three before they got into a non-shootable direction. As I came out of the blind, I realized I had no safe shot and after looking at the geese, I noticed something a little different. Yup, you guessed it, a blue collar was in the mix and he left without a feather lost from his body or a shot fired in his direction. In aw I hadn’t said anything until after they left, then I kicked myself for not letting anyone else no what was in the group. We gathered up the birds, made a quick double check of the count and needed 6 for the four man limit.

After a brief snow squall the birds continued to keep coming. The next flock circled twice, split, and 6 birds hit the blocks feet down. Only one bird left after the volley and we were one short of our 4 man limit for the day. We decided to see if we could pull a single or a pair, but the birds had enough for the day. One large flock circled in shooting range, but we passed on the shot and let them leave unscathed to leave them as seed for the days to come. The new guy was in awe of what he had just seen. He couldn’t believe the birds, how well they worked, and how we hunted them in your face. Probably not the best way for him to experience his first hunt, as they all aren’t this easy, but none the less he was stoked about the morning shoot and so were we. With more birds in the area every day, it looks as though things are looking up for the remaining weeks of the late season! The birds are here, you just have to get out and find them!

Sorry about the snowy PIC, but you get the idea!

[Jason Mears]

Nice job on the birds Dave. After scouting and finding birds all week. Somehow they gave us the slip on Saturday. Not a bird in the area, not even on the rooste.

[Marshall Starkey]

way to pile them up!!!

[Erik Nilsson]

Good write up and pic bro, glad you guys could make it and having Matt along was really cool. We'll get him out again for I think hes hooked.


E

[David Rearick]

I agree, I think he is hooked!!!

That field has been very good to us over the years, even when other fields are full that is the field to go to.

[Erik Nilsson]

I just got a hot tip on another field holding quite a few, I'll see whats up for a late day shoot this week before you head out.

[Kevin Addy]

Nice David. I really missed not having snow this year. Its one of my favorite conditions to hunt geese in.

[David Ortley]

Great journal entry David. Sounds like an exciting hunt.

[Jude St.John]

Originally Posted by Kevin Addy

Nice David. I really missed not having snow this year. Its one of my favorite conditions to hunt geese in.

Ditto! Thanks for sharing this hunt with us...I'm jealous of the snow you had!

[HuntingRDR]

sweet job on the geese