Today I guided Kerry and Cole for Ducks. We got into the blind and it was clear and cold with a slight North breeze. There were a few birds flying and we went to work on them. The flight only lasted about and hour and we decided to call it quits around 10:30. We ended the day with 10 ducks and should have had a few more.
Today I guided Ken and his group for ducks. We got into the blind and there was not much going on but as the wind came up, the birds started to fly. We stayed with it and called it quits at 1:00pm ending the hunt with 21 birds and should have had 28 (we let some get away). It was a good hunt with a great group of guys.
Today I guided Mike and his crew. When legal shooting time came there were a few birds working and we started in on them. The flight was pretty strong today despite the lack of weather and the birds were responding to the call well. It was slow and steady, taking us until 11:00 to kill 21 birds. Had we not messed up on a few groups we would have ended up with 28. It was a good hunt and I hope it stays this way.
This morning I guided Sam, Sandy, and Matt for ducks. We started the morning off with a nice long walk to the blind as the ARGO lost it's fuel pump as soon as I unloaded it from the trailer, go figure! We made the walk to the blind and after a few minutes we were in the blind and ready to shoot. We did not have to wait long as the sky was filled with birds and they were responding to the call well. We had flocks of 50-100 birds working us all morning and were patient and took the shots when they were optimal. The end result today was 28 ducks and 4 geese! It was a great hunt, the only thing I could have done without was the walk! 32 birds makes for a hefty strap to have to carry all of the way back to the truck, but I would do it again in a minute.
Today I guided Frank and his son. We got into the blind and had a little action right off of the bat as a few teal were buzzing around! We took a couple of shots and bagged a few birds and then the wait began. There were birds working around and once in awhile we would get some to come and take a look. We made the best of our opportunities today and ended up with 9 birds.
Today we had 3 groups of hunters out and the results were mixed from RED HOT to just mediocre. It has been a weird season so far as the days we have wind and rain have not been that great and days that you think will be dead are lights out, go figure.
Of the blinds shooting today one ended up with 10 birds for 2 shooters, another 12 birds for 3 shooters and the HOT blind ended up with 28 ducks and 6 geese! Not one of the blinds has been consistent this year so we just roll the dice and go hunting. The rest is up to mother nature.
Today I guided Mitch and crew for ducks. The wind was howling and the geese were in the air! Right off the bat we had a couple specks come in and the guys nailed them. There were not alot of ducks flying but we ended up killing 7 and should have had another 4-5. We stayed in the blind as long as we could without freezing to death and decided to call it a day. As cold as it is here verything must be freezing up North so we should see some new ducks any day.
Today I guided Mark, Randy, and Jim for ducks. It was clear, cold, and the flight was dismal. We stayed in the blind until 10:00 and killed 7 ducks before deciding to go try for some pheasants. We hunted a couple more hours for pheasants and ended up killing 6 wild roosters and letting a few get away. It was a good day with a group of cool guys.
Today I guided Ed and Dave for ducks. It was crystal clear and dead calm this morning but as we got into the blind the wind started to blow and it looked as if we might have a decent hunt. As the sun rose there were a few birds flying around but they were very call shy. We kept after them and finally threw in the towel at 11:30. We ended the morning with 6 ducks and 2 specks. Sorry guys but I forgot to get a photo today.
This morning I guided Mike and 2 of his buddies for ducks. We got into the blind and there were birds flying but they were all sprig. We stayed after it and ended up with a decent strap, and let a few get away that we should have killed. All in all it was a good day in the blind with a good group of guys.
Today I guided David Bonini and his daughter Cindy for ducks. They brought along Cindy's boy friend as a observer. We got into the blind and the weather looked good but the flight sucked! I could see the birds working in the refuge but they would not come out into the rice. I knew it was only a matter of time. They started coming out a few here and a few there and we went to work on them. We ended the hunt with 12 ducks and should have had several more but that is how it goes some times!
This morning I guided Kerry and Cole for ducks. The birds were in the air this morning and it looked as if it was going to be a slaughter! That was until the ground fog rolled in and hosed us. We stuck in the blind and waited for the fog to lift but it never did. We ended the hunt with 10 birds.
Today I guided Roland, Ken, and Cliffy for ducks. We got into the blind and the birds were flying! Right at legal shoot time we went to work on them and slowly but surely we had a pretty good pile working. There were ducks working all morning but they were very skittish, and every time that a shot would go off near or far the ducks would flare. We stayed at it and when it quieted down the birds worked in well and we made the best of each flock. We ended the morning with 23 ducks and a speck and should have had 28. It was great hunt with a great group of guys!!
Today I guided Josh and guest for ducks. The flight was pretty slow but these guy made the most of it and killed just about every bird that I put in front of them. We ended the morning with 8 ducks and could have had a few more but the guys gave the spoons a pass today.
Today I guided Poul and Demetris. We got into the blind and there was quite a bit of action but as hours drew near the flight slowed down. We stuck it out and ended the morning with our 6 sprig and 4 spoons, and should have had a few others.
Today I guided Poul and Demetris at the blind on Packer Road. The hunt started out slow and steady and continued to stay that way until we finished up. Both of the guys were sure shots and were killing almost everything that I put in front of them! It took us until 12:00 to finish up but we ended up with a strap of 21 birds and almost all of them were big ducks. It was a great hunt with a couple of great guys. Hopefully the hunting will remain good for the rest of the week!
Today I guided Al Moore for ducks. We went to the rice South of Colusa and there was not a whole lot of action but the birds that were around listened to the call well and worked right in. Al did his part and put down 5 ducks and a speck. You cant ask for much else with the weather we are having, or lack there of.
Today I guided Spuds, Doug, and Eric for ducks. We decided to give the wetland a try and it ended up being a good hunt. There have been alot of ducks sitting in the wetland for a few weeks now, but they seem to have gotten used to their hiding spots and are tough to get them to work a new area. At legal shooting light there were alot of birds flying but they just did not want to work. We poked away at them one at a time and ended the morning with 12 ducks and should have had 5-6 more. While the strap wasn't super heavy it was a pretty one! We ended up with 6 cinnamon teal, a drake wood duck, and 5 mallards. Not a bad hunt for a clear day. Spuds and the gang were alot of fun as usual!
Today I guided Bill and Tom. We got into the blind and there was not much action right off of the bat but we were getting birds here and there as the morning went on. We had several groups of teal work today but they proved to be able to out run our shot! They seemed to know exactly when to dip and dive. We ended up bagging several teal and some other ducks that came in early. We ended the morning with 10 ducks and a cackler, but could have had limits if we could have caught up to the teal.
Today I guided Mike and Kyle for ducks. We met in the morning and it was looking like ground fog was coming in so we headed North to see if we could get out of it. Right before shoot time the South wind started blowing and the fog bank thickened and pushed up towards us. As the fog started to come in so did the birds and we picked away at them until 9:30 when the fog socked in thick. We sat patiently waiting for the fog to lift and every time it did we would get some shooting at either ducks or geese. At 11:30 the fog finally lifted and we finished with our last duck. It was a great shoot and I hope to see some more fog in the near future! We ended up with 21 ducks and 4 geese on the strap!
I always laugh when I get a phone call from a panicked wife,
girlfriend or sister, asking that dreaded question of "what should I get
him for Christmas?". Honestly, I laugh only because I have the same
issue when it comes to thinking of something to get Casey! The problem
is that most outdoorsmen, buy what ever they need or want, whenever they
need or want it. More often than not, they never wait, and end up just
buying it on the spot. This makes it very difficult for the women in
their lives to get them something that they don't already have. I've
decided to compile a list of items that I have gotten Casey in the past.
Maybe this list will help instigate an idea for a perplexed woman
trying to find the perfect gift or maybe it will give our guy followers a
few ideas for their wish lists this year. So over the next 12 days,
I'll post a new idea each day and most of these items can be easily
found online, so that will make your shopping even easier! Good Luck and
Merry Christmas!
Day 3:
When hunting is your job it becomes difficult to view it has a sport, hobby, or leisurely past time. Like any job, it can become mundane, ordinary and sometimes even wearisome. So when it comes to our own personal pursuits, when we take the time to head outdoors withoutguests, we try to liven up theoccasion by pushing ourselves to our highest limits; longing for a personal challenge! Taking off on foot has been one of the most effective ways to liven up our hunting experiences. Packing miles into the deepest canyons or up to the highest peaks has enabled us to remember the joy of the hunt and our passion for the outdoors. The only hiccup with this particular style of hunting once an animal is successfully killed, when you are miles away from base camp, is the fact that you have to pack that animal all the way back...This can be more than a challenge and sometimes almost impossible, unless you have the right equipment!
There are no if, ands or buts about it! We could not meet this challenge without the help of two very important tools: (1). Our Eberlestock Packs and (2). Our Bull-Pac Pack Frames! Both are the best on the market if you ask me! The Eberlestock Packs help us carry all of our gear, including our rifles or bows, in the most comfortable way possible and the Bull-Pac frames are the easiest way to pack our game out of the field. Either one of these would make a great gift for any kind of big game hunter!!!
This morning I hunted with Les and Phil. The weather was clear and calm but there were quite a few birds flying. Right at legal shooting light a drake canvasback came in and Les put the hammer down! Not long after Phil went to work and before we knew it we pieced together a good shoot, ending the morning with 11 birds and letting several others get away! Not bad for a no weather day!
I always laugh when I get a phone call from a panicked wife,
girlfriend or sister, asking that dreaded question of "what should I get
him for Christmas?". Honestly, I laugh only because I have the same
issue when it comes to thinking of something to get Casey! The problem
is that most outdoorsmen, buy what ever they need or want, whenever they
need or want it. More often than not, they never wait, and end up just
buying it on the spot. This makes it very difficult for the women in
their lives to get them something that they don't already have. I've
decided to compile a list of items that I have gotten Casey in the past.
Maybe this list will help instigate an idea for a perplexed woman
trying to find the perfect gift or maybe it will give our guy followers a
few ideas for their wish lists this year. So over the next 12 days,
I'll post a new idea each day and most of these items can be easily
found online, so that will make your shopping even easier! Good Luck and
Merry Christmas!
Day 2:
Anyone who knows Casey, knows that he is hard on equipment. This statement is especially true when it comes to his knives. He uses a knife, a lot and for many reasons, so I can't really get on him too bad for always wanting a new knife or a sharper knife or a better knife. Then one glorious day we were introduced to Piranta Knives by Havalon!! These knives really are an Outdoorsman's dream come true. Honestly, I wish I had thought of such a concept as removable blades. Yep, you heard me, removable blades! That is the beauty of the Havalon knives. You never need to worry about a dull blade again. These knives are always sharp because you just replace the blades and go!
This really is a great gift for anyone who spends time in the outdoors!
We had a good hunt this morning, spite the weather or lack there of! We got into the blind and there were alot of birds moving and they were responding to the call well. It wasn't fast and furious but the birds that were around came in great. We ended the day with 14 ducks and 3 geese and should have had a few more. We had a ton of fun!
Today I guided Brett and Greg for ducks. The North wind was howling when I went to bed last night, however, I woke to blue skys and not a breath of wind, Great! We headed out to the blind and there were alot of birds moving around but as shooting time cam the flight ended. We had a few ducks working around but they just did not want to commit. We stayed after it and soon had a few ducks working in to the decoys. We hunted until 11:30 and decided to call it quits. We ended up with 7 birds and should have had a few more! The highlight of the day was watching as Greg killed his first ever duck, a big bull sprig!
I always laugh when I get a phone call from a panicked wife, girlfriend or sister, asking that dreaded question of "what should I get him for Christmas?". Honestly, I laugh only because I have the same issue when it comes to thinking of something to get Casey! The problem is that most outdoorsmen, buy what ever they need or want, whenever they need or want it. More often than not, they never wait, and end up just buying it on the spot. This makes it very difficult for the women in their lives to get them something that they don't already have. I've decided to compile a list of items that I have gotten Casey in the past. Maybe this list will help instigate an idea for a perplexed woman trying to find the perfect gift or maybe it will give our guy followers a few ideas for their wish lists this year. So over the next 12 days, I'll post a new idea each day and most of these items can be easily found online, so that will make your shopping even easier! Good Luck and Merry Christmas!
Day 1:
Sitka Gear! It does not matter if you are a bird hunter or big game hunter. Sitka Gear is the ticket and well worth the investment. It is pricey! I admit it. However it is the best cold weather / waterproof / breathable gear on the market and best of all it is comfortable. Our garage could easily be considered a mini Cabela's store. There are totes of hunting gear and clothing stacked to the ceiling, but now that we have discovered Sitka Gear, we really only keep one tote in easy access reach!
My best advice when purchasing any of this gear is to check out a website called www.camofire.com. This website has daily deals on some awesome gear and almost once a week features a deal on something Sitka!
I know that Casey would recommend any Sitka product, any day of the week. He lives in this stuff everyday and most recently purchased their Waterfowl System! I am pretty sure he is in love with that jacket! Check this stuff out. You can find a Sitka Gear product that will fit any budget too! www.sitkagear.com.
Don't forget to check out Day 2's suggestion tomorrow!
The blind near Delevan is dry and back in action! Today I guided the Parla's and we had a good hunt. The flight was mediocre but the birds that were flying worked well and listened to the call. We ended the hunt with 13 birds but should have had sevearal more! It was a good hunt and hopefully we can expect new ducks any day!
Today I guided Derek and guests on a duck hunt. We hunted the blind near the Colusa refuge and the flight was ok. We hunted until 9:00 and ended the morning with 7 ducks, and should have had a few more. On the way back to the truck we hunted a couple of ditch banks and picked up four wild roosters to end the hunt.
With the rice blinds out of commission I decided to give the wetland a shot today. We got into the blind and had a slight North breeze and there seemed to be quite a few birds flying. As the morning wore on we picked up a bird here and there ending up with 12 ducks on the strap and letting a few others get away. It was a nice change from hunting the rice and the clients were happy campers.
Today I guided Mitch and Scott for ducks. We had full intentions of hunting ducks but mother nature had other plans for us. We got into the blind just before shooting time and the birds were flying but as legal shooting time approached the 2047 canal decided to come out of it's banks and within an hour we had a blind full of water! We scratched out 5 ducks before calling the duck hunting quits and heading out to shoot a few pheasants. The last few storm have made a mess down here and hopefully the water will recede soon.
This morning I guided Jeff and Adam for ducks. We got to the blind and there were a few birds working before shooting light, and I was hopeful that the flight would continue. The birds kept flying but the bulk of them were sprig so we sat patiently and tried to pick the other ducks out of the sprig. We ended the morning with 9 ducks and a speck.
Today I guided Bill, Bob, and Jack for ducks. We headed to the blind near Delevan and it proved to be a good decision. Right at legal shooting time we had birds working and they continued to work most of the morning. There were tons of birds up high and we had several groups of widgeon come down from the heavens and work right in. There looked to be new birds around, weather they are new to our area or new arrivals form up North I am not sure, but they worked well today. We ended up with limits of ducks, mostly widgeon and gadwall.
Today I guided Bill and Bob for ducks. We got into the blind and ready to shoot but there was not much flying for the first 45 minutes. As the sky got lighter the birds started flying and they were working well. The guys ended up with limits!
The client's that Casey had set up for me today cancelled so I grabbed my buddy Jake and we headed up to the blind in Richvale to do some scouting. At legal shooting light there were birds all over but they just wouldn't work. They were flying every which direction, it was amazing! Around 8:30 the birds started to mellow out and we ended up limiting out with widgeon, sprig, and teal by 10:00. It was a good hunt and hopefully it will stay this way.
This morning I guided Arman and his 2 buddy's again. We went back down to the blind near the Colusa Refuge hoping for the same results as yesterday but the birds just were not there. We had quite a few birds around that just did not want to work but the ones that listened cam right in and we ended up with 10 birds and should have had 4-5 more. Not as good as yesterday but I will take it.
Today we had one hell of a storm right up until shoot time! We made our way to the blind this morning in pouring rain and 20+ mph wind. As soon as we loaded up approaching shoot time the rain quit and the wind totally stopped! We all looked around at each other in total disbelief. Right at shoot time the birds were all over and the guys went to work on them killing 12 birds in the first 20 minutes and then the flight just stopped. We stared into the empty skies for awhile as a few birds were still flying but as it neared 9:00 the flight picked up and it was game on! We hunted until 11:30 and ended up with 28 birds. It ended up being a great hunt!
Today was another good weather day, but again not much of a flight. I hunted near the Delevan Refuge and we ended up with 7 ducks, before calling it quits! Derek took a group to the blind near the Colusa refuge and they ended up with 21 ducks and a goose for the 4 of them. It was not red hot, but better than yesterday! I am sure it will change for the better soon as these storms are sure to move the birds around the valley and should send some new ones down from the North.
CICC Outdoor Adventures blogspot has been created to keep our hunting and fishing guests up to speed on current hunting and fishing conditions in our area.
