Banding Together...

**David Rearick** · #1 09-10-2007, 02:35 PM

2007 Hunting Journal Entries

DATE: 09-07-07

LOCATION: Western PA

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 6:48

WEATHER: Clear and Sunny

TEMPERATURE: 80’s

WIND: Mild to Non-Existent

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blind, Avery® Finisher Dog Blind, Avery® Game Hog Strap, Avery® Power Hunter Blind Bag, Avery® 6 Slot Goose Decoy Bags, Avery® Fleece Calling Gloves, Avery® DIY Lanyard, GHG® Ground Force Blind, GHG® FFD Elite Honker - Actives, Lookers, and Feeders.

HUNTERS: Shawn “Smiley” Smith, JB, Zink Calls® Staff member Erik Nilsson, and Avery® Pro-Staffer David Rearick

DOGS: Shawn’s Chesapeake “Drake”

JOURNAL NOTES:

With warm weather and no cloud cover the birds have been very unpredictable, as of late, for us here in PA. It seems the birds jump fields on a daily basis and even with scouting every day for the last week, patterning birds just wasn’t something that was happening. Persistence in cases like this is what pays off and after some good scouting runs by both Erik and I this week, things are starting to turn on.

With a few options for a Friday morning hunt laid out, things changed when Erik received a call from one of our buddies that he had 100 plus birds and was anxious to get after them. We decided to take him up on his offer and set-up a time and meeting place. After a quick meet and greet in the morning, we were off to a hidden oat field and began unloading the quad and trailer to haul our gear into the field. After a short drive with the quad, we made quick work of setting the decoys and blinds and took advantage of the great stubble in the field to make our blinds disappear. The field looked hot with lots of fresh goose sign in the field and everyone was very optimistic.

About 30 minutes after LST, we were all in our blinds, BS’ing and having a good time, when out of nowhere from the left 30 birds were feet down wings cupped coming over the trees. They had never made a sound and effortlessly hit the hole without taking a pass. After a decent volley, 6 birds laid on the ground and Shawn’s dog gathered up the birds quickly, in anticipation of the next flock. Shortly after we got settled back into the blinds, the next flock came the same way, without a sound. We made quick work of them, putting 7 more on the ground for a total of lucky 13. The birds were hitting a little to the left of the spread, so we made a quick adjustment and awaited the next flock.

The birds continued to pour into the field and after two more tolls we had 21 on the ground. The last volley proved to be one of the best, as 6 geese hit the decoys and 6 geese stayed, with two bonus bands from the flock. The decoy adjustment proved to be a wise one, as changing the position of just 6 decoys, helped seduce the last 2 flocks right where we wanted them. Sometimes reading the geese and making a minor adjustment is all you need to make a good hunt even better.

With 21 geese on the ground and 2 bands, we decided to call it a day and get out on the road scouting for Saturday. With the season just under way, it is starting to get hot here in PA and next week should prove to bring more great hunts to the table. I for one am looking forward to it!

The Boys....

The Bands...