Date: November 9th, 2008

Location: Southwestern NY

Sunrise: 7:02 AM

Weather: Windy and Cold, light snow covering

Temperature: 40 Degrees

Wind: moderate to calm

Equipment Used: Avery® Finisher Blinds, Avery® Finisher Blind Bag, Avery® Sportsman’s Camera Bag, Avery® Neoprene Hand warmer, Avery® Buffalo Fleece Skull Cap, Avery® DIY Lanyard, and GHG® FFD Lesser Canada Goose Decoys

Hunters: Matt Loomis and Avery® Pro-Staffer David Rearick

Journal Notes:
Divers or Geese, that was the question on our minds as we decided what to do the following day. With a front just passing by and nicer weather forecasted for tomorrow, we decided for the latter and planned to hunt a cut corn field that had been holding a decent numbers of birds over the last few days. With forecasted snow, we decided to throw in snow covers and both of us talked about picking up some snow spray “just in case” there wasn’t enough snow to get away with snow covers. Upon arrival and meeting in the AM, we both thought we were good to go and hadn’t picked up any spray. On the way to the field things looked good, that is until we got to our field and found a smattering of light snow on the ground, but way less than we would need for snow covers.

We were still optimistic, as we stubbled the blinds and added snow to them as we could. As light approached the snow on the outside of the blinds quickly began to melt, but we hoped that the fresh lines of liquid manure we had strategically, even with the smell, placed our blinds in may be enough to hide us. The other issue for the day was the roost, which was out of site, but not out of range for them to hear us, especially with the wind blowing from our backs to the small pond. During the AM, Matt showed me his new “Jr. Waterfowler” shirts he had made up for some of the newbie’s that had started hunting with him this year. Not only did he decide who, when and where, they had to put on these shirts, he developed a fun hazing that involved many antics including earning your stripes, bound to make any day a good one, regardless of the outcome and numbers of birds harvested. As we discussed the “pink shirt” he had in his bag, we decided to place a little wager on the morning’s results. Whoever had the lowest shooting percentage for the day would have to wear the pink shirt not only for the hero shot, but the entire time we were picking up decoys. This all went a few weeks back, when Matt and I had a ribbing discussion about who was a better shot, I am honest enough to say that Matt can beat me on most days, but once I got in his head, I think it got to him.

The birds worked as expected, gave us a good look, wouldn’t flare off of us, but didn’t like something. Even laying in the soupiest manure I have seen in a while, covering not only our blinds, and clothes, but even our guns and gear just wasn’t enough. The first group gave us a great low overhead pass and we took it, the rest of the day continued on and we let countless geese fly in range over us, as they weren’t doing it the way we wanted them to. Not long after a pair gave us the opportunity we were looking for and two shots later we both had geese, but I was up 1 goose with fewer shots than it took him to get his first. As birds continued to pile out of the roost, it was evident they knew we were there, before they even saw the decoys. A single came a bit to close and I got out front again 3 to 2, but we were tied at 7 shots a piece, so a miss from me could easily seal the deal for Matt to tie or even better go ahead. Things were looking good for me and even with a loose stock, I was ahead. As a lone single that had circled us 7 times just out of range and went back to water earlier made the approach, I had every intention of Matt taking first shot. This time, he wouldn’t circle, but caught the wind and sailed in feet down with reckless abandon. As he approached, Matt told me to take him since he was on my side, thinking Matt had no shot I sat up and smoked him just as he started his final descent. When I commented to Matt how it was his turn, he admitted that he was hoping for a miss or two on my part, so he could catch up or pull ahead. Unfortunately for him, he was going to look awful pretty in pink in the hero shot, as while we finished a few birds short of a limit, it was a landslide victory on my part.

After the real hero shot, Matt told me he was good to his word and put it on, but taunted me that this was going to be our new rule and he guaranteed I would be wearing it, and wearing it soon.