Dry Corn Field Mallards

[David Rearick]

DATE: October 26th, 2007

LOCATION: Bottineau ND

WEATHER: Clear and Sun with Un-Seasonably High Temps

TEMPERATURE: 40’s-50‘s

WIND: Mild

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® Finisher Blinds, Avery® Mud Case, Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® Sportsman’s Camera Bag, Avery® Skull Cap, Avery® DIY Lanyard, GHG® FB Mallard and Pintails, GHG® Ground Force Blind

HUNTERS: Mike McManus, Brian Dillemuth, Avery® Pro-Staffers Mike Bard & David Rearick

JOURNAL NOTES:
After a long week of battling the full moon, non-existent cloud cover, and bright sun the last day of our ND trip was upon us. Thanks to a hot tip from a new friend in ND, Mike McManus, we had been watching a cut and bailed corn field holding a large number of mallards. We had permission and the only thing we needed was some cloud cover to get the birds to feed before LST. The birds had not been feeding in the morning, so with time ticking away and a mild cold front approaching, we decided to set out the last morning in hopes of the birds hitting the field in the AM in front of the weather, as this field had plenty of corn for the birds to feed heavily on before they moved on.

After setting out a small FB mallard spread, we stubbled up the blinds and awaited daylight. Things started off slow, but shortly after light a nice flock worked the decoys and on there third pass they did it right and we took a few, before they caught the wind and headed to a different field to feed. The action continued to be slow throughout the morning, but constant enough to keep us entertained. With Mike’s busy work schedule this time of year, it was nice just getting to “BS” and talk with him sharing stories of past hunts. He had helped us learn a larger portion of the area during our stay in ND and helped us locate farmers, gain permission, and turn us on to hidden areas. With the general lack of bird movement throughout the week, he helped us stay on the birds day to day and it was nice to get him out with for the morning and enjoy each others company as Mike is truly a first class person.

As the hunt progressed, birds sporadically hit the field and work the spread. Looking for drakes, we let many birds/ flocks leave unscathed and hesitated a few times when a small portion of the birds split from the flock, as we awaited the rest of the flock to commit. Mike left at the half way point to head to work and we hung out and trafficked birds as the headed out of Canada on their way South. Had we been a little more anxious on calling the shot, we could have easily filled our limit, but working the birds and waiting for a better pass always ended up costing us the shot opportunity. Nonetheless we enjoyed working the100 or so mallards that entered the field. We had many of them close, but not close enough for how we like to shoot them. Only seeing about 5% of the birds that were using the field and the weather they forecasted never appeared, we felt good with our end result. Had the NW wind and snow shown its face, I am sure these night feeding birds would have headed to corn in front of the storm, but sometimes you just have to make the best of what you are handed.

Mike Bard's Moxie....


The Results..

[goosenater]

Sweeeeeeeet!

[Atlantic Flyway Gundogs]

Hey Dave.................who owns that great looking chessie?????

Who bred that dog?????


Paul MacKinnon
Atlantic Flyway Gundogs
Avery Sporting Dog Dealer
PEI,Canada

[Michael Reed]

Good write up man!

[Rhett Riddle]

Nice JE buddy! I'm glad ya'll got on a few!

[leg irons down]

nothing like field hunting mallards.. congrats

[Rob Jepson]

Looks like a nice little hunt...!

[Rich Good]

Nice hunt weather should have changed by now !

[Travis Lyle]

Not bad!

[David Rearick]

Originally Posted by Atlantic Flyway Gundogs

Hey Dave.................who owns that great looking chessie?????

Who bred that dog?????


Paul MacKinnon
Atlantic Flyway Gundogs
Avery Sporting Dog Dealer
PEI,Canada

That Chessie is owned by fellow Pro-Staffer Mike Bard. I believe she came out of Ohio.