Late December in Western PA

**David Rearick** · #1 01-08-2008, 08:02 AM

Date: December 29, 2007

Location: Western PA

Sunrise: 7:39

Weather: Cloudy

Temperature: 40’S

Wind: 5-10mph W

Equipment Used: Greenhead Gear® FFD Elite Goose Decoys, Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® Finisher Blind, Avery® Fleece Calling Gloves, Avery® Fleece Hand Muff, Avery® Power Flag, Avery® DIY Lanyard, Avery® Fleece Skull Cap

Hunters: Pete Gawlinski, Zink Calls® staff member Erik Nilsson, and Avery® Pro-Staffer David Rearick

Retrievers: Erik Nilsson’s Gauge

Journal Notes:
Editor’s note: Dave had suffered a back injury, moving a large gun safe, earlier in the week, which forced him to miss a few hunts, as he laid in bed, allowing his back to recover.

After lying on my back for the better part of two days, when I awoke Saturday morning things were much better. For one, I could get off of my back by myself and two I could walk dang near erect. The original plan was to continue to move what was left at our house to the storage unit, while our new house is being built and Erik was going to meet me at 10-11 AM. I awoke to the sound of a vibrating cell phone and read the text message from Erik that he was hunting and if I wanted to go, just to show up or he would meet me at 10:30 AM. Feeling slightly better, I grabbed what gear I could find and headed to the field. Once at the field, Erik and Pete, along with Gauge met me at the truck to help me carry out my blind and gear.

Once the blind was grassed up, I tested out my ability to sit up in the blind and found that the back brace I was wearing really helped me sit up without winching in pain. Shortly after getting settled in the blind and getting everything set for the AM, the first flock sounded off just out front. We laid out a sequence of moan clucks and lay down calls, which put the 5 geese out front bowing up over the left side of the decoys. Erik called the shot and fortunately for 2 of the 5 geese, they quickly swung to an area that was a no-shooting zone, due to some distant houses, as we are always better being safe than sorry. After the quick volley, three birds were on the ground and Gauge was after the closest bird in his sight. While Gauge made work of the first bird, more honks were heard coming from the same direction and Pete and I each gathered up a remaining two birds and made our way back to the blinds. Upon picking up Erik’s bird, I saw yet another bonus on the year, in the way of our 9th honker band of the season. This one had character, as it was almost completely off of the big honker’s leg, but there was not time to think about it and I ran back to my blind to await the approaching flock.

After being caught out of the blinds by the approaching flock, they peeled out a little early, but still gave us a decent shot opportunity on my side and I was able to dump two with my first two shots and Erik and I tagged teamed a third bird. Things were looking good for the morning with 6 birds down and knowing more birds were yet to come. This time we had a little more time to gather up the birds and Gauge made three blind retrieves, on geese that landed just outside his sight from behind the flap of his blind. After the birds were gathered, I informed Erik he had scored on his 4th band of the year, and we all took a hard look at just how close that band was to falling off this gander’s leg.

After a few adjustments to the decoys and blinds and a short stint with the doors open, the next set of birds cleared the trees on our far left headed to a distant field. After some heavy calling and flagging, four honkers peeled off of the flock and set their wings locked on our spread As they swung out front, the guns rose and two birds fell, as the two others sailed down the field. Seeing this before, I quickly jumped out of my blind and headed out across the field to see where they went down. After marking the spot, Erik and Pete took Gauge through the field, as I got back in my blind and awaited whatever else may come. As they worked there way down the field, a small flock approached coming over the trees. I got on them with the power flag and my Little Man goose call, and they swung out front and began their descent towards me. Upon their flight to the field, they spotted Erik, Pete, and Gauge and all, but 2, of the flock flared off to the right. The other 2 birds continued their descent and just as they got in range, they realized their friends were not coming with them and began to climb. My first shot knocked down the lead bird and the two following shots rocked the back bird. It also ailed down the field and I was after it, just as I had the others. I got a solid mark and after a short chase and another single being downed by the boys, it was time for me to head out. 13 geese fell to the guns today and I was glad my back was ready for the days to come