Tom Barb
Active member
This past weekend, my good friend Marc and I set out on our first destination hunt. A coastal Maine eider hunt has been at the top of my bucket list of hunts for some time now and ever since I read Steve Sanfords post last year about hunting with Troy Fields, I knew my plan. I contacted Troy this past summer about booking my hunt. After some conversation we decided early December would be prime to have our best shot at eiders, scoters, and old squaws.
After booking and daydreaming about the future hunt, I decided I would make a decoy to bring along and hunt over. I had some large pieces of cedar laying around that I had plans to make a goose out of, but remembering an image out of a Keith Mueller book, I thought maybe I could make an oversized drake eider. I cut my pieces, tacked them together, and could not get my bandsaw to cut it out. Good old hatchet did the job until the drawknife and spokeshave took over.
A few months later it was time to pack up and begin the drive to Maine. We left Friday morning at 4 am and decided to avoid NYC so we took the route our gps took us through Albany NY. I was telling my friend, who is not a member of the site, about one of our members who lives in upstate New York that carves decoys and rebuilds boats (and just about anything else). I knew it was a long shot, and that I might be imposing, but thought I might never have this opportunity again. I gave Steve a ring and he happened to be home. Although, I believe we ruined his big plans to visit the dump! He gave me directions and upon our arrival he greeted us with a warm welcome. He proceeded to give us the tour of the shop, projects he was working on, future projects, his 1800's farmhouse, and a beautiful tour of Pencil Brook Farm.
I even found one of my decoys hiding on a shelf in the shop.
After meeting Steve and seeing his work first hand, I couldn't leave without a decoy! Here is the shelldrake I had to bring home with me.
Thank you again Steve for your hospitality on such an out of the blue visit!!
We then made our way to Maine via Vermont and New Hampshire. My grandfather used to have a place outside of Woodstock, VT when I was growing up. It was his favorite place on earth and I have many childhood memories from the green mountain state. I had to stop and take a picture in his honor.
Saturday morning we met up with Troy and Pearl and headed out to the hunting grounds. The weather was perfect for his plans of hunting in front of Wood Island Lighthouse so away we went. Troy was generous enough to set out my decoy at the head of a long line. I cannot say enough about Troy and his knowledge of the area and the hard work he put in to put us on the birds and give us the Maine hunting experience. He is a true gentleman. Pearl, his retriever is unrivaled as I have never experienced such a well trained and hard working dog. She was truly a pleasure to watch work and have accompany us on our trip. It was surely a trip I will never forget and I cannot wait to go back!! Enough talk, Ill let the pictures do the talking...
After booking and daydreaming about the future hunt, I decided I would make a decoy to bring along and hunt over. I had some large pieces of cedar laying around that I had plans to make a goose out of, but remembering an image out of a Keith Mueller book, I thought maybe I could make an oversized drake eider. I cut my pieces, tacked them together, and could not get my bandsaw to cut it out. Good old hatchet did the job until the drawknife and spokeshave took over.
A few months later it was time to pack up and begin the drive to Maine. We left Friday morning at 4 am and decided to avoid NYC so we took the route our gps took us through Albany NY. I was telling my friend, who is not a member of the site, about one of our members who lives in upstate New York that carves decoys and rebuilds boats (and just about anything else). I knew it was a long shot, and that I might be imposing, but thought I might never have this opportunity again. I gave Steve a ring and he happened to be home. Although, I believe we ruined his big plans to visit the dump! He gave me directions and upon our arrival he greeted us with a warm welcome. He proceeded to give us the tour of the shop, projects he was working on, future projects, his 1800's farmhouse, and a beautiful tour of Pencil Brook Farm.
I even found one of my decoys hiding on a shelf in the shop.
After meeting Steve and seeing his work first hand, I couldn't leave without a decoy! Here is the shelldrake I had to bring home with me.
Thank you again Steve for your hospitality on such an out of the blue visit!!
We then made our way to Maine via Vermont and New Hampshire. My grandfather used to have a place outside of Woodstock, VT when I was growing up. It was his favorite place on earth and I have many childhood memories from the green mountain state. I had to stop and take a picture in his honor.
Saturday morning we met up with Troy and Pearl and headed out to the hunting grounds. The weather was perfect for his plans of hunting in front of Wood Island Lighthouse so away we went. Troy was generous enough to set out my decoy at the head of a long line. I cannot say enough about Troy and his knowledge of the area and the hard work he put in to put us on the birds and give us the Maine hunting experience. He is a true gentleman. Pearl, his retriever is unrivaled as I have never experienced such a well trained and hard working dog. She was truly a pleasure to watch work and have accompany us on our trip. It was surely a trip I will never forget and I cannot wait to go back!! Enough talk, Ill let the pictures do the talking...
