Small Bores for Big Canadas...

**David Rearick** · #1 11-19-2007, 09:08 AM

DATE: November 9th, 2007

LOCATION: UpState New York

WEATHER: Crisp and Cold

TEMPERATURE: 30’s-40’s

WIND: Mild to Non-Existant

EQUIPMENT USED: Avery® DIY Lanyards, Avery® Skull Caps, Avery® Finisher Blinds, Avery® Power Hunter Blind, Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® Pit Bag, Avery® Super Flag, Avery® Sportsman’s Camera Bags, GHG® FFD Elite and Lesser Fullbodies

HUNTERS: Frank Clifton and “Zin”, Jody Dennison, and Avery® Pro-Staffers Mike Bard & David Rearick

Journal Notes:

16’ of steel and aluminum effortlessly mowed down cut corn stalks in front of me, as Jody and Frank pulled the rig into a picked cornfield where thousands of Canadas had fed the night before. After a short discussion of where to set-up, brake lights flashed in front of us and Mike and I stopped short of the trailer to lend light to the field we were about to set the GHG® FFD Lessers and Elites on this crisp, November morning. With plenty of time to spare, after setting out the decoys and utilizing the left over corn stalk remnants to grass our blinds, we pulled both trucks and trailer from the field to await the mass of Canadas that were just miles over the horizon sitting on a large un-huntable roost pond.

As steam rolled through the air, as we chatted, while waiting for he first flight, it was clear everyone had their A game on for the morning and it was game on once LST was upon us. It wasn’t long until the first single of the morning committed to the calling and flagging, coupled with the realistic movement the decoys were offering and put his feet down in the decoys. With Mike having to possibly head to work before the main flights would approach, he was given the shot opportunity, and after two shorts the skunk was beat and we were one closer to our daily bag limit.

As the morning progressed three perfect singles allowed Mike to take his limit with plenty of time to spare, even before the main mass of geese would leave their roost and head for the remnants of yellow gold this field was holding. As the sun crested the horizon and showed it face intermittently between the clouds, the birds began to fly in all directions and we began to work the flocks set on feeding in the field we laid in. As flocks approached from behind us, the space inside the Avery® Finsiher Blind allowed me to roll on to my stomach and watch the geese, as they worked in on our spread of GHG® FFD’s. As the birds worked in, we opted only for birds feet down in front and ended up taking shots at only the small flocks and not educating the larger groups that presented themselves. Not only was working these birds in close something we like to do every day, it was something that made using the 28 gauge a reality. Frank went 3 for 3, taking a bird from the small groups that worked into the decoys and with one bird left in my limit, he handed it off to me for a go. With only Jody and I. one short, we looked for a small group to work in close and it wasn’t long, when birds approached and I called the shot. As I pulled the trigger, on a large Canada, just overhead, the bead had just touched the tip of the bird’s bill and I followed through. The light recoil and small report made me believe I had in fact missed and as I followed through for a second shot there would be no need as the bird plummeted to the ground. As Frank’s dog, Zin, made her way to the bird it was evident the 28 gauge had a made a clean kill and the bird was stone dead amongst the cornstalks 15 yards from the blind.

Twelve Canadas in just a few vollies and we were headed out of the field. With thousands of Canadas “tornadoing” just over the tree tops, it was clear that taking the small flocks over the large ones kept the birds close by and feeding. After a quick photo for the album and a few handshakes, Mike was off to work with plenty of time to spare and Jody, Frank, and I made short work of picking up the spread and blinds.

A mixture of great decoys, heavy calling and flagging today proved to be the real deal for working these birds into the designated hole. Even with at some times upwards of a thousand of geese in the air reading the birds and their response to calling proved to be the greatest factor in putting these birds in the decoys.

An Early Single Over the Decoys...

Days End...