GHHC Banding BBQ and Hogg Doggs 07

[David Rearick]

2007 Hunting Journal Entries

DATE: August 4th and 5th, 2007

LOCATION: Central New York

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 5:14 AM

WEATHER: Clear and Sunny

TEMPERATURE: 80’s

WIND: Mild

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blinds, Avery® Finisher Dog Blind, GHG® Ground Force® Dog Blind, GHG® FFD Elite Full Body Goose decoys; GHG® OS Mallards, GHG® OS Pintails, GHG® LS Canada Goose Floaters, Avery® 6-Slot Goose Decoy Bags; Avery® 12-Slot Duck Decoy Bags, Avery® Shooters Towel, Avery® Sportsman’s Camera Bag, Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® DIY Lanyard, Avery® Hexa Bumpers, Avery® ATBs, Avery® Heeling Stick and Avery® Pro Trainer’s Bags

ATTENDEES: Dwight Flanders, John Alles, Jody Dennison, Frank Clifton, Jason Mocyk, Matt Bard, Arliss Reed, Rick Murphy, Ron Zega, Erik Nilsson, and Avery® Pro-Staffers David Rearick and Mike Bard

JOURNAL NOTES:
With waterfowl season quickly approaching, there is no better time for a get together and dog training event than the month of August. Back in early June, we began organizing and decided to make it a two day, weekend event, devoted to duck banding, dog training, eating various game, and everything else related to waterfowl. With Central New York being a good location for the entire crew, we headed out Friday evening loaded to the hilt with gear, dogs, and everything else we could fit into E’s truck.

Saturday; August 5th:

After arriving in Central New York late Friday evening, we didn’t have time to set up the canopies and supplies for Saturday’s event. Instead, we decided to wake up early and get things going before most of the people and kids started showing up for the banding event. By about 10 AM, all eight kids and twenty adults who intended to come had arrived and we quickly started getting the ducks banded to beat the heat. With the help of three USDA biologists, we were able to sex the birds and quickly band them with our own GHHC bands. When all was said and done, 57 ducks, in Mike’s private marsh, had new jewelry.

With the marsh being old muck lands, we wadded through knee deep mud and muck, to release the majority of the birds into the canals of water, near the center of the marsh area, but then let the youngsters release the last crate from more stable ground. The birds quickly took to bathing and drinking the water along with feeding on the plentiful vegetation. It wasn’t long until they dispersed in separate directions to cool off in the shade of the underbrush and we were headed back to Mike’s house to get cleaned up and ready for the rest of the day.

Once back, the grills were fired up and we began cooking massive amounts of wild game. All said and done, wild turkey, elk, venison, duck, goose, and more were placed on the grill and cooked to perfection. Needless to say we ate until we were stuffed and settled into our chairs for a long “bs’ing” session. Next up was some calling instruction from Zink Field Staffer, Erik Nilsson. Erik shared his knowledge and helped several attendees out with their goose calling. Once everyone received their fill of calling and trying out everyone else’s calls, the attention turned to getting the dogs aired out and doing some training.

We set up about 2 dozen blues/ snows, half dozen honkers, and both Finisher and Ground Force dog blinds in Mike’s back yard. The dogs took turns honoring, working on blinds, and doing several marks. Each dog had their turn and they were all sufficiently primed for day two’s events. With darkness now upon us, we put the calls away and indulged in some good conversation as people started to filter out and head to bed or home.

Sunday August 6th:

With day one events still lingering, we loaded up all the gear and headed to the dog training grounds in farther north. We intended to do two sets; 1 water and 1 land, both involving multiple retrieves and even some live fliers. We set up two separate spreads involving FFD’s, full body ducks, and misc. GHG floaters for the dogs to work through. With the help of the club’s resident amateur dog trainer, Frank Clifton, we did our best to run three dogs at one time through mass hysteria of honoring, flying ducks, multiple gun shots, blinds opening, blind retrieves, and more all in the name of steadiness. It was a good learning experience for the dogs and especially the trainers quickly pointing out each dog’s weakness, while being repetitive and giving the dog the chance to learn and train. It was as real as it gets for these dogs and many new ideas and concepts were learned by everyone involved. I don’t know who learned more the trainers or there dogs, but come September, there will be some dogs ready to get into the field.

All in all the weekend was a great success. It was intended to bring a group of friends from various states together as a primer for the season and a way to get pumped up for the quickly approaching September 1st opener. I can hardly wait for next year’s events.

Banding PICS..
Arliss Reed


Mike Bard and Ron Zega..


Erik Nilsson


Mike's Daughter Ella..


Mike's Daughter Jackie..


Jason Mocyk and Kids..


John Alles..


Rick Murphy..


Ron Zega..


Mike's Son Zack..

[David Rearick]

The Food...



The Group..

[David Rearick]

Getting the Dogs Aired Out..


Rick Murphy's "Coot"



Erik Nilsson's "Gauge"


Frank Clifton's "Ice"




Mike Bard's "Moxie"

[David Rearick]

The Spread...



Mike Bard Setting out the Floaters...


Frank and Murphy Setting up a Winger...

[Rob Jepson]

Kudos to you all...what a fun looking get together. Nice JE & pics David...thanks!

[bighonkers89]

looks like you guys had fun...nice little honey hole you guys got there too.

[Joe Fladeland]

Good stuff David, that looks like it was a blast.

I can't wait for October.

[Craig Silvanic]

Nice Job David, sure looks like a fun time

[Kevin Wilson]

Too much fun! Wish I'd been there.

[Nick Bury]

Very very cool!!