On the Border.....Canadas over Water

[David Rearick]

2007 Hunting Journal Entries


DATE: September 23rd, 2007

LOCATION: St. Lawrence River (U.S. side of the border in NY)

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7:01 am

WEATHER: Warm w/ Clear Skies

TEMPERATURE: 70-80 Degrees F

WIND: Mild

EQUIPMENT USED: Greenhead Gear® FFD Lesser Actives and Feeders, Greenhead Gear® FFD Resters and Sleepers, Greenhead Gear® OS Canada Floaters, Greenhead Gear® LS Canada Floaters; Avery® Quick Cutters, Avery® Skull Cap, Avery® Power Hunter Blind Bag, Avery® Game Hog Game Strap, Avery® Floating Gun Case

HUNTERS: Arliss Reed, Rick Murphy, Frank Clifton, and Avery® Pro-Staffer David Rearick

DOGS: Frank’s Ice and Murphy’s Coot

JOURNAL NOTES:
On the Border…

After a successful youth hunt in PA, a quick lunch break and duck ID course for the kids, I headed for home. When I arrived at the house, I unhooked the boat, unloaded the dog, and starting loading up the car for the 5 hour drive to NY. After being invited up to hunt numerous time by the Back Water DC Boys and fellow Avery® Pro-Staffer Mike Bard and hearing about these great loafing area goose shoots they have been having, I decided to head up for a hunt Sunday and then return back Sunday night. Unfortunately, Mike had other obligations for the weekend, but was kind enough to let us borrow his rig rather than have me tow mine the whole way up to the Canadian border. 16 hours in the car over a 35 hour span didn’t sound like a barrel of fun, but when it comes to goose hunting, even 30 minutes on the water or in a field makes the trip worthwhile. After taking care of the dog, checking a tire on the wife’s SUV, and making sure to bring all the necessities, I was off. Even while being a little tired during the drive, the anticipation for tomorrow’s hunt and the excitement from the morning hunt made the 5 hours fly by and before I knew it, I was at Mike’s house sitting in his kitchen eating a late dinner. We enjoyed a quick BS session, and then I headed off to bed as the alarm clock was set for 2:30, as we head a 3 hour drive to the spot on the St. Lawrence River in the morning.

After meeting all the guys and making the three hour drive to the launch, no one seemed to be tired given the general lack of sleep amongst the group that comes with hunting season. Arliss and Murphy had a sandbar all picked out and all we needed to do was allow the geese to vacate their various spots on the river and set-up. After arriving at the launch the overwhelming sound of Canada geese got our attention and we quickly got out the binoculars and had a look around. As soon as the birds were spotted it became very apparent, we didn’t need to take the 3 mile journey down river. 300-400 birds sat in much closer proximity, so we changed to a “Plan B” and patted Frank on the back for using this launch instead of another hidden launch, we had previously intended to use. The excitement was evident amongst the group and we quickly launched the boat and made our way towards the spot, but held out 1000 yards until they left on there own.

The birds began to trickle out of the area an hour after light. When they were all gone, under their own will, we made our way in and began setting out the massive spread of approximately 90 floaters and 2 dozen fullbodies. We took advantage of a great hide available due to the terrain in the area, rather than using the boat blind, so things were looking good to be well hid and spread out across the magnum sized spread of GHG® OS and LS Canada floaters.

It wasn’t long when the birds started trading up and down the river and the decoys did their job. Even before Murphy and I hid the boat, Arliss had birds on the water. We hurried back across the beach to the hide and got ready for the next set of birds, as things were already heating up. As we hunkered in the blind and cut extra vegetation with my Avery® Quick Cutters the birds were on us coming from all directions. First off, I must say the best thing about the hunt was the singles. Even before they were visible from below, we could hear them coming out of Canada what seemed like a mile high. The overwhelming draw of the floaters made it irresistible to every goose that came through the area, and they just ate it up. We had many singles drop down form the heavens in an acrobatic like circle that got your blood pumping the whole way until they were feet down 5 feet over the decoys. It was one of the most remarkable things I have ever witnessed while goose hunting and something I can only wait to see happen again.

Birds continued to fly up and down the shoreline and very few geese did not 100% commit to the decoys. We even had migrating birds coming from the other side of the river out of Canada, maple leaf from the heavens into the spread. We took turns on the singles and pairs and very few birds left educated. Even before the birds started coming back in from the fields, we were just 8 birds short of our limit on the beach behind us. The dogs got plenty of work and there was abuzz amongst the hunters and their dogs.

With only 8 birds needed to fulfill our limit of 32, we were happy to see small flocks and not large ones coming back from the corn and wheat fields, many miles from the river. As we cautiously counted the birds once, twice, and three times to get a good solid number, before we shot anymore, we waited for the small flocks to hit the blocks. The first small flock produced 5 geese and upon return from the water, one bird was spotted sporting jewelry as Coot carried it to his owner Murphy. With more birds needed when the next flock of size approached, we finished out our limit and watched as flock after flock came towards the spread feet down wings cupped. It was one of those days were 10 limits could have been had in short order as over 1000 birds had been seen and many had decoyed.

The hour long process of picking up the decoy spread, went by in a flash and we were quickly headed to scout for the upcoming duck opener. Everyone left with a smile on their face and after a numbers game, Frank walked away with his first band of the year.

The Spread..



Coot on the Chase...



An Interesting White Patch...


The Hero.. 32 Honkers Over Water...

[Craig Galloway]

Way to whack'em fellas!

[Kevin Dirk]

Very nice, floaters look deadly. Great pics and write-up David....

Thanks-

KD

[Mike Bard]

Now get your own rig and see what you can do with it. LOL... just kidding. I'm glad you guys had a good hunt and sorry I had other obligations that day.

[mike.]

nice spread

[Jay Longhauser]

love the floaters, good shoot.

Jay

[David Rearick]

Originally Posted by Mike Bard

Now get your own rig and see what you can do with it. LOL... just kidding. I'm glad you guys had a good hunt and sorry I had other obligations that day.

I do and I will, game on Mr. Mike..... Thanks for letting us use the rig, it saved me a bundle in gas.

[Joe Fladeland]

Holy smokes David. It looks as if everything about that hunt was perfect. The spread, the photos, and obviously the birds.

Nice work!

[Nick Bury]

Way to smack em!! Great job!!

[Ray St. John]

Very cool hunt. We don't get to hunt geese over water much in my neck of the woods. Congrats..........sounds amazing.