Here we go again!  This will be Weasel and my third attempt to get a shot at one of these birds.  Today we are taking Conner with us.  It would be so nice if he could get a shot.  That alone would make my entire season a success.

What do I expect today?  Well, first off it’s Saturday.  Secondly it’s going to be over 80 degrees, sunny and no chance of rain.  A real big change from what it was on Monday.  I’m thinking I won’t even need my coat even at 4 a.m. this morning.  I’ll take it, but probably will regret it by 9.

So, there will no doubt be people all over the hills.  I’m leaving Gretchen in the truck (she is my hen decoy) and Weasel and I have talked about the days expectancies already.  We will be in our blinds long before anyone else gets on the hill.  Then as they come, they will spook the birds (fresh off the roost) right up and into our hideouts.  BLAM!  BLAM!  BLAM!  3 down and it’s off for home!

Sounds like a plan to me!

Most of the time I like to avoid the weekends and holidays, but with Conner in school, we have to go when he can go.  Today will be a regular zoo out in the hills, but that is part of the plan, right?  He needs to see just what it’s like with lots of people around, so when he does get to go out and not see a crowd, he will appreciate the hills to himself.  It’s a whole different situation.  Today we are planning on the crowd to help us herd the flock into our lair.  We will sneak in quietly, hide up as usual, and wait for them to flush them our way.  Where we are hunting there are two major drainages, one is an easy walk from the parking area and this one usually gets most of the foot traffic.  The other takes a bit of hiking for the hunters and it makes them feel like they are really hunting.  The travel along a dirt road for over a half mile, and then they drop in and hike the bottom of the draw.  The birds have come off their roosts by the time the people arrive (usually) and when they see the movement of the “troops”, they run like heck.  Where do they run?  Right to the spot we are set up in!  Either that, or they fly to another zip code.

More to come later.

Bears Butt

May 3, 2014