New Year's Eve--Picking the last drake

Awesome times in 2010. Closed out the year with more limits on ducks (see the movie- best with sound).

Totals- 48 geese/ 67 ducks-- total waterfowl in 2010 second half- 115

The smoker is in over-drive

Hitler Learns There's No Grouse Camp This Year

For Keith . . . vaguely related to hunting.



blogging is the real blood sport

Hitler Doesn't Like Quality Deer Management

Apparently the making of film parodies using a clip from the movie Downfall (about Hitler's last days) has been a constant source of YouTube amusement for the past two years. Here's an article about the phenomenon:

http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-02-19/things-to-do/youtube-hitler-parodies-are-viral-craze

Turns out there's even one about Quality Deer Management. Apparently Hitler wasn't a fan (You may want to hit the full screen view button to read the subtitles):



There's also another one about deer management in Pennsylvania.

Ducks and geese by the numbers... 2nd installment

In this second installment of ducks and geese by the numbers, I again report on 2 hunts; a minimalist field hunt in Hoster's field with the Vicar and a spectacular New Year's Eve waterfowl hunting outing with Dr. Dirt, the Vicar, Eric and myself.

The field hunt at Hoster's was intended to be a highly mobile, minimalist effort. We placed a half dozen field geese decoys and a half dozen field mallard decoys, complimented by two mojos, one on a pole and one on the ground, at the North end of an island of woods. The wind was strong out of the west. Shortly after first light, we shot our first pair of mallards, on of which had a band. The birds flew relatively well, and despite my bad gun karma, we ended up with 5 ducks.

The New Year's Eve Hunt was a bit more exceptional. Eric and I had scouted hard the day before and prepared the Goose Rig in anticipation of a high-expectation reunion of Grousers [footnote, Chief Grouser Tantillo was in the neighborhood but with the Dozer Death Boys (Beer Camp) hunting party]. Because there are stories to be told about this hunt from the perspectives of the hunters (which I hope will be forthcoming) I will simply report that we shot 15 Canada geese and 2 mallards. More mercury for all. A picture and short film taken by Pete can serve as a trailer for the other reporters. Thanks for the camera work Pete!

"Why Hunt" video

pretty well done video from California Waterfowl on "Why Hunt" . . . . Enjoy.

Why Hunt from California Waterfowl on Vimeo.

Steelhead Weekend

This past weekend a few Grousers kicked off the 2009 fishing season with some Steelhead fishing on a Lake Ontario Tributary called Sterling Creek. The photos and video below tell the story.





























No Grousers gathering would be complete without some low level argument about something. Rich and I hashed over the reclassification of Steelhead. To wit, the following from a NOAA web site:

Until 1988, steelhead (the anadromous form of rainbow trout) was classified in the genus Salmo along with Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and several western trout species. With additional osteology and biochemistry data, biologists have now reclassified steelhead as members of the genus Oncorhynchus. The reason for this is that new information suggested that steelhead are more closely related to Pacific salmon than to brown trout and Atlantic salmon. As such, the American Fisheries Society - American Society of Ichthyologists Committee on Names of Fishes voted unanimously to accept Oncorhynchus as the proper generic name. For full scientific details, see Smith, G. R., and R. F. Stearley. 1989. The classification and scientific names of rainbow and cutthroat trouts. Fisheries 14 (1): 4-10. As such, the scientific name of steelhead was changed from Salmo gairdneri to Oncorhynchus mykiss. The generic names of the golden, Mexican golden, Gila, and Apache trouts were also changed to Oncorhynchus. Since all of these western trouts including steelhead are biologically capable of repeat spawning and do not die after spawning, it has been suggested this group be called the Pacific trout.

It was a great weekend of fishing and grousing.

Vicar is a frickin' genius

Cayuga Lake Waterfowl Report- Riegel/Tidball Team

Thought a little levity might be in order. The first four days of the second half waterfowl season have yielded some interesting results. For Yeoman's benefit, we have learned that the new Hevi-shot load for vintage guns is VERY effective stuff. Also, it seems that Federal Blackcloud BBs pattern beautifully through a modified choke, at least through my mod/mod double sxs. Haven't had the chance to try the new bismuth offering but hope to soon.

The lake in front of Double Black was frozen the first few days, so Eric and I hunted the ponds. Despite some sense of nostalgia indicating that it might be nice to hunt with Ernie and Mike ( a hangover from the nice nostalgia laden recent Ernie post I guess) in a field, just for old times sake, I am glad I took the sensible route. The Ernst field (Thompson's field) was way too full of hunters and way too empty of birds, from what I gather.

On day 1, the rain was falling by the bucket-load at 5 am, and didn't stop until well after 8:30 am, at which time Eric and I, and Eric' s cousin Dave were limited out on ducks. Day 2 was much like day one, with the addition of a handful of geese. Day 3, the warming trend, rain, and wind had opened up the north end of the lake sufficiently, and reports were streaming in of large numbers of divers. Mike O, Eric and I set up in Double Black...we came away with only one bird, but had a few chances at divers screaming through the outer edge of the spread. Unfortunately for us, the masses of divers brought masses of diver hunters and layout boats, effectively cutting us out of the action. Eric commented that we were witnessing more boat traffic in front of the marsh than many summer days on the lake. Day 4 (today) proved tough as well, with steady wind at plus 35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. Still, we managed to scratch down 6 ducks and 2 geese.

I spent some time with the camera to try to brighten spirits and tempt Tantillo to come and engage in some R&R. You will notice I edited out the shooting... that way the Back Up Benelli can imagine his role better. Feel better Jim. Enjoy.

Homage to Kate

This was kind of a bittersweet camp for me this year. The new dogge Phoebe getting her first lick of grouse feathers, but the old dogge Kate in attendance at what was undoubtedly her final grouse camp. I've got to say, it was one tough ride home in the truck with Kate . . . it's really about over except for that last big decision.

Thus in an elegiac mood I spent some time today putting together this ode to Kate. It's just not going to be the same without her.

You HAVE to watch this . . .

I'm still laughing my arse off . . . love the music.

Grouse Camp 2008 trailer

Looking forward to grouse camp 2008 . . .

Gotland, Sweden: Towards Fishing for Aesthetics

Back in April I presented a paper at a conference in Stockholm and then took a few days to visit Gotland, a Swedish island out in the Baltic Sea (4 hours by ship). It was a beautiful place, and the sea-run brown trout were in the shoals and shallows. I tied into one, probably a 5 pounder or so, but lost it (most likely due to my inferior knot-tying) at the net. There were many rises, but as you can see from the footage and the stills, it was so calm that I fear my presentation spooked many more fish than enticed. Need some practice with the 8-wt. But damn, was it beautiful.

the new enhanced Katie video

At Vicar's suggestion. Make sure your sound is turned up.

a haiku for you