A RI Jarhead hunt, Sat 12/15

Scott Farris

Scott Farris

Well-known member
This was our third annual traveling decoy hunt with Dave Morton hosting the event. Saturday was a beautiful day probably too nice for duck hunting but considering my screw up it worked well for me. My screw up? Well if anyone remembers my first Sept goose hunt I forgot my pants, well this time I forgot my waders and there was no way I was fitting into size 10 boots that Dave had back at his house. So I decided to hunt in my topsider deck shoes, I just would stay in the boat which fortunately doesn’t leak a drop. I did have heavy wool socks and foot warmers so what the hay, I may have started a new trend right?


So we load up and head out into the dark for the 7 mile run out into the Narragansett Bay. The predicted two footers had laid down and we had a sweet run out to the islands, Dave in his cackler with his Georgia transplant buddy Chris and Wendell and I in my decked over 14-ft Starcraft. No puppies along as both boats were well loaded.


Decoy set up was a bit frustrating as I love to play with placement and I was stuck in the boat. Along with Jarhead we set out a good bunch of cork and wood decoys including my new brant rig as well as my experienced B&W rig of GEs and Buffies. A number of the site’s carvers were represented as well.


Here are three blacks in front of my B&Ws, the left by Pete Revicki, the middle by Bill Wasson and the right by Bill Embacher.
View attachment Blacksa.JPG
The left Black is a Tommy Matus block from when he was a frequent poster; the other two were purchased off ebay to fill out the rig until I get the blacks I’m working on finished.
View attachment Blacksb.JPG
This is a shot of half the new brant rig, riding well but they didn’t work. We didn’t see a brant the whole day until we returned to the main land and there was a small group hanging out around the corner from the harbor. Lack of brant was a first for me on the bay; they usually are a sure thing, at least to see if not to take.
View attachment decoys1.JPG
This shot is of a pair of George W. wigeon, a pr. of Mike Smyser mallards as well as a Perry drake mallard. The sleds and brant are mine.
View attachment decoys2.JPG
Jarhead ended up behind a Brant making getting his picture a bit difficult. Here’s my best shot; he with Wendell’s decoy exchange ring neck. Wendell will have to tell us who carved him. The other Blue bill was purchased of ebay as the price was right and it looked good.
View attachment Jarhead.JPG
The final decoy shot is showing the sleds in better light as well as the three broadies between the sleds and Bill E’s black. The sleeper on the right is GaryRI’s block and the other pr. are some of the first decoys I carved back in the 80’s.
sleds.jpg

On to the hunt:
 
Since I was stuck in my boat, the guys decided to hunt from the boats. I hope someone grabbed a picture of mine with the flip boards up and grassed with the fast grass panels. This is a picture of Dave’s cackler dressed up.
View attachment DavesCacklerBlind.JPG
We had nice opportunities at black ducks as well as buffies and goldeneyes, some broadies gave us the once over from a distance but nothing else stopped by, where the wigeon and brant were was anyone’s guess, we may simply have left before the tide was low enough to get them moving. Around noon we decided to head back to Dave’s for a beef stew warm up.
Here’s a shot of Wendell & I on the return trip. Actually as a follow up to a previous motor upgrade post, this was the first big run since up grading the 25 hp to the 30 hp configuration. The 20% horse power increase made a significant power difference. For those not aware, the Nissan 25 is a 30 hp with a restrictor plate at the carb and a retarding of the timing from 25 back to 20 tdc at full throttle. Replace the restrictor plate with an open gasket and adjust the timing and you get the full 30 hp for the cost of the $3 gasket.

View attachment 14underwaycloseupRIr.JPG

Here’s the group shot: Left to right: Wendell, Chris, Dave and me, the old (CRS) guy. Note Jarhead and the days take behind us.
View attachment thegang.JPG


What the hey, here's the tailgate shot:
View attachment Tailgater.JPG
It was a supper day, and no one bitched about me being a slacker and playing "sport" staying in the boat. Even when i dropped my black into the briers behind the boat. Took a lot of effort on both Dave's and Wendell's part to find it. Thanks guys!!
I trust the others post additional pics and comments.

Scott
 
It was a super day, and no one bitched about me being a slacker and playing "sport" staying in the boat.
Click to expand...


Scott,

You know that only works once right?

Sounds like a good hunt and times for all.
 
Dave,

Your probably right; but I'm hoping I can get away with it as long as I bring the white chocolate, cranberry muffins!

Scott
 
Scott,

Looks like another great hunt for Jarhead. I to forgot my waders on a hunt this year and got to watch decoys being set out. I was quielty enjoying the morning with hot chocolate and donuts and thought I might consider "forgetting" them more often. This was until the dog returned with the first bird of the day and my socks and pants acted as sponges.

Really like the picture of Daves Cackler, hides well.
 
Well if anyone remembers my first Sept goose hunt I forgot my pants, well this time I forgot my waders and
Click to expand...

I didn't forget...and I think we need to start calling you Homer:

Homer-Pants.png


I seem to have misplaced my pants...

Thanks for sharing the hunt, the reconstructed Brant (as well as the rest of the blocks) look good.

Chuck
 
Beautiful...Glad Ben is getting his fill on ducks in the spread! And if you ever decide any of those carved birds need to be retired give me a PM...I enjoy the carvings of all the names listed. Smyser's birds are one of my favorites.


Regards,
Kristan
 
Chuck, your cruel! I do resemble that, except for the 5 o'clock shadow :^)

Kristan, I'll keep you in mind but my goal is to add more of the site's carver to my special rig rather than retire them. The traveling decoy hunt will always bring out the "special" rig.

Andrew you are very correct in how nice Dave's Cackler is. She does hide great and hunts two very comfortable as I have joined him in a boat blind hunt last year. Now if she was made out of aluminum she'd be even better :^)

Scott
 
Scott ,

Great post ! Thanks for putting the pics up , guys this hunt is always special to us , i try to keep it more of a traditional type hunt with hand carved decoys and all , this year we did introduce soem plastics into the mix but for the most part it was an all hand carved decoy hunt , The action was not as good as i thought it would be and the brant never showed this day but it was fun just the same . I am always impressed at how Scott knows every cravers decoys form sight from the boat , and it seems that it is cathy as Wendall has taken a swing at canvas decoys all looking good . I will be starting aa new shoe line based on Scotts display this weekend i figure we could attch some suspenders and and a shell holder that attach to your favorite boat shoes !!LOL LOL ! All and all we all had aa great time and i want to thank all that attended and al thaat set this program up !!! Stay safe


Dave
 
Wendall i know a good attorney of you need it for your life altering scars !!LOL !



Decoy on te way to you Wendall



Dave M
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top