Northern Zone Duck Opener!!!!

**Ron Zega** · #1 10-17-2008, 04:41 PM

DATE: October 4th, 2008

LOCATION: New York

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7:04 / 6:31

WEATHER: Cool, partly cloudy

TEMPERATURE: Mid 30’s in the morning warming up into the mid 60’s

WIND: Light and variable

EQUIPMENT USED: GHG® life-sized mallards, GHG® life-sized pintails, GHG® life-sized wood ducks, GHG® over-sized black ducks, GHG® Sleeper black ducks, GHG® no-head feeder mallards, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® Guide Bag, Avery® DIY Lanyard, Avery® Game-hog game straps, Avery® Field Caps, Avery® Fleece Beanies.

HUNTERS: Arliss Reed, Tim Reed, Rob Vellucci, Rick Murphy, Chris Davanzo, and Avery® Pro-staffer Ron Zega

JOURNAL NOTES:
I had been watching the clock all day and the end of the work week just wasn’t coming fast enough. The long-anticipated New York duck season was finally upon us. The plans that we all had made months ago were finally put into motion when the clock struck 3:30 on Friday afternoon. I got the hole shot out of the gate, and B-lined it over to pick up Arliss and Rob, who were boiling with excitement. We all quickly loaded canoes and decoys, and in no time, we were finally on the road. Rob, Rick, Chris and I had once again been invited on a hunt that was rich in Reed family history. Arliss being part of the fourth generation of Reed’s to hunt a little slice of duck heaven in the Northern zone of New York.

Now this spot is not easy to get to or get around in…. unless of course you are a duck. Canoes were launched by moonlight, hours before legal shooting time. Following a long paddle in, we all took turns telling stories of seasons past and checking the clock, anxiously waiting for sunrise. When LST finally came, we were all humbled at least a few times by buzzing teal and wood ducks, but before long, our Avery® Game-hog game straps were filling up with ducks. Turns out that some of the cold weather we had the week prior to the season ended up pushing out some of the wood ducks and teal, but in turn moved in a good amount of mallards and other puddle ducks. The ducks decoyed well throughout the hunt and we made short work of numerous singles and pairs all morning long. And talk about a mixed bag…. We ended up shooting 8 different species of ducks that morning, Blue wings, Green wings, Woodies, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Mallards, and Black Ducks. We called it a day around noon and started the long paddle back to the trucks. Thanks again Arliss and Tim, I can’t wait to get back in there again.

Tim Reed reflecting after a satisfying hunt with the boys.

L-R : Ron Zega, Rob Vellucci, Rick Murphy, Tim Reed, Chris Davanzo, Arliss Reed