Brant

[Jon Espey]

I was lucky enough to make it out west for the season closer this year and even more lucky to get a Pacific Brant. These are the High Arctic Grey Belly sub-species.

It was too much fun meeting and hanging out with all the folks and hunting over the "Black Hole" of decoy spreads.

Here's a picture of my Brant with Jason Russell's decoy. The decoy is a part of Steve Sutton's spread and I asked to get a picture with it when we met in the parking lot.

 

[Steve Sutton]

post some more pictures of the BLACK HOLE...thats one impressive rig of decoys and you've motivated Greg and I to challenge Mike for numbers superiority next season....only we're going to do it with (5) silhouette per leg, (2) leg "V" boards for the first 150 or so decoys and then "fill in" with the cork rig.....

We'll see if the bigger silohuettes have the same magnetic effect on the Wigeon and Mallards that the 200 bird full body rig does.....

I'm working on Maine and will be in touch....

Steve

 

[Dave Sikorski]

HOW MANY DECOYS????

I gotta see this.

Beautiful decoy and beautiful birds. I'm finally sending 3 away to Blake Wilson for a mount.

Anyone have one mounted they can post a pic of?

-D

 

[J.Russell]

To cool. Thanks for the pics Jon. Have fun in the Keys

 

[Jay Anglin]

I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of that decoy before...great looking block Jason. It has that determined look to it. I'm sure Steve takes pride in putting that out in the spread.

I have got to go brant hunting sometime soon. I'd love to just see some work a set. I've seen 5 on Lake Superior.

 

[Steve Sutton]

but totally NEW for 06....so if you've ssen pcitures of it before you were lurking in Jason's paint room.....

Steve

 

[J.Russell]

Thanks Jay. It is the only Brant that I have made. I always hope that the live birds will make contact with the decoys, and then just give up

 

[Jay Anglin]

Hmmm....maybe I'm thinking of another brant. They do have a striking resemeblence to one another ) Sure one of you didn't post a photo of it here?

Killer looking block though.

 

[Steve Sutton]

and I haven't posted a photo sinced the new board format cause I can 't stand the way my re-sized photos look....so if you saw a photo of this one it was by someone other than Jason or me...

Steve

 

[Josh Ward]

THAT is a sweet looking decoy!!!

I hunted Atl. Brant for the first time this year. What fun!!! Hunted over several Bob Hayden decoys that we took out and other handcarved blocks as well.

There's something special about gunning over a handcrafted stool.


Heres one of Bobs decoys and a pair that swam in after we were finished shooting

 

[Steve Sutton]

Bob Hayden....be a neat bird to add to the rig...does he sell his stuff?

Steve

 

[Jay Anglin]

If I may offer some advice on the picture thing...go to photobucket.com and start using that. I works fabulous.

See:

Basically after you load the photo you go below it and pick a link. For this site the (IMG) one on the bottom works best.

 

[fred slyfield]

Jon, Glad you could make it out and spend a few days in Gods country,

Sorry I couldn't make it over for the brant closer, possibly next year, just had to get out with the boys for a "father- son" hunt, it was a fantastic closer, the last 4 birds of the season were a pair of drake cans then a pair of redheads.

 

[Lee Harker]

I believe he is in the Ft. Wayne In. area..and makes sculling boats and decoys. I think he put a demo on at Rutgers house a couple years ago. Maybe Paul will look at this thread and opine.

 

[Edward Lindsay]

Hey Steve, next time Espy is up that way you shouldn't let him near the water before he hands over at least a quart of his BBQ sauce. Jon, if you go back that way next year count me in.

 

[Jon Espey]

Fred -

Man, what can I say? It was another incredible trip. I've got a ton of pictures that I am going to burn to a CD and send your way soon.

I was glad to hear that you did go hunting with the boys on Sunday and what a bonus to get the canvasbacks that slipped us on Friday.

Also, a big thanks to Mark Vanderhoof. Your high head bluebill drake looks incredible on the water!

 

[Bob Hayden]

Hi Steve ! Lee is correct, I live in the Ft Wayne Indiana area and build scull and layout boats . Sold boats to a number of forum members, Jon Espey, Josh Ward, Mike Braun and Paul Rutgers . Also carve hunting decoys. Lived in the Los Angeles for about 13 years and did a lot of Brant hunting in California and Mexico, with my son John. Have carved over 100 hollow wood Brant decoys. No Brant in Indiana ,so am selling some of my Brant rig. This is a super forum with great guys and girls. Bob Hayden

 

[Rutgers]

Hi Bob

Nice to see your post. Hope alls going well. One of these days I'd like to come down and visit again. I'll buy the Pizza! Take Care

Paul

 

[Cory]

Thanks again to Bob for letting Josh, Jason and I take some of your brant flock out to the east coast. They saw a really good time as I am sure they have seen before!

Here is a picture of our V Boards and one of your brant decoys with a lot of brant swimming around it. I owe you an email today as well.

 

[Cory]