First Morn hunt for Thomas w/ Pics

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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I shunned my work responsibilites for one more day and took Tues off. Hated to go back today but that's the way it is this year.

Joey Wolk called late Monday night and said he was looking to go in the morning and twisted my arm into staying away from that dreadful thing we call work one more day. After talking it over with Michelle we decided the boys were ready for a morn hunt. Thomas has been DYING to go to greentree and since it was late and I didn't want to fool with the boat it sounded really good. Joey agreed. I wasn't too hopeful based on latest reports but thought maybe the cool front moved some new birds in. Andrew will be the next to go since I take turns with them and he went with me a couple days before.

Excited, Thomas didn't sleep too well and I know the 3:45 alarm was harsh but he jumped right up and got dressed and grabbed his gear bag. We got to the launch a little after five and there were already 4 trucks there. Three were jumped up 4wd Cherokees plastered with every duck hunting decal known to man so we knew the highschoolers were out in force. Didn't matter though, this timber has room and if the woodducks do as normal everybody gets a shot at some point.

The walk in was a piece of cake for Thomas. I think it was harder on Joey and I since were were dragging the kayak. I've had a kayak for years and we brought it with us since the water has too many obstacles for a 7 year old and is at the limit of his waders. Turned out to be the absolutely perfect. Light enough to drag it to the entrance point, about a 1/3 mile, and Thomas had a very comfortable ride to the clearing.

Once in our spot we enjoyed talking and listening to the owls. This place has quite an eery feel in the dark with what seems like dozens of owls ooooh oooooh oooohhhhhing. There were mallards quacking in the distance and we could hear wigeon overhead. Thomas was pumped.

Legal came and although we weren't exaclty covered up with ducks we saw enough flying high overhead to know the cool front either moved some duck in or at least stirred up the ones already here. We did get buzzed by woodies as expected and missed several opportunities when they came from the opposite direction from where we were looking. If you don't see or hear them coming you just don't stand much of a chance and these fellas were running silent.

Joey did reach way out and dropped a plump one. It was the only duck of the morn. Even so as we left I felt a real sense of satisfaction. Thomas enjoyed every minute from the alarm clock to the walk back. I think he took a big step towards being a duckhunter.

thomasgreentree1.jpg


thomasgreentree2.jpg


Oh yeah, One of Santa's reindeers stayed behind to open gifts.

cassiereindeer.jpg


cassiereindeer2.jpg

 
Eric:
That's a pretty special picture of your boy. I just don't know about the dog picture however--:)
Jim Bosanny
 
That place looks familiar, hehehe. Nice going on the timber hunt Thomas, those are my favorite places !!

Eric, go easy on Cassie, she is getting more gray hair by the day.
 
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Oh the indignities we force on the noble beast, yet they love us and want to please us with their last breath. Great pics Eric. Good choice on one at a time for now...I can hear big brother giving little brother hell for the smallest infraction..heh heh heh. Hope to get the grandson out this weekend for the 2 day late season..he has been practicing being quiet and is up to two minutes...now we have to work on his whisper.
 
Oh yes, quiet time. Something so simple, yet soooooo difficult. That is a tuffy.

How well does your grandson take the cold? So far both my boys have been fine except for their hands. Thomas made it all the way back to the truck before his eyes welled up and he said, "My hands are cold daddy." I probably ought to get some really warm mittens. If his hands are like mine he'll always have trouble keeping them warm.
 
Jeff

Just looking at last year's pics compared to this year's she has started lightening in the face. I might have to buy some "Just for men" to darken her beard again. She doesn't need to look like an old hag when some stud comes sniffing.
 
Great pictures Eric. Buy the boys a few packs of those tear open handwarmers that warm up when exposed to air. They'll probably do the job.
 
If you buy some "Just for Men" for Cassie, I could use whatever you have left over. She is not the only one getting more gray everyday. Oh well at least it's staying in place...
 
Eric, he is pretty good with cold...considering he hasn't got an ounce of fat on him. Mittens are better than gloves..just don't get those little kid type mittens with the bunnies on them. I haven't seen any Glo-Mits for little kids..those are what I use exclusively anymore..in wool when I can find them..warm wet or dry. I got him a camo coverall with insulation and he wears one of my insulated duck hats or camo stocking caps since his gourd is almost as big as mine.
 
Gamehide makes a glove/mit in camo just for kids. My daughter likes hers because they are "fun" and let her get her fingers out once in a while. However, they are not water proof, but are synthetic enough to keep some warmth in when wet.

I found her's at Sportmans Warehouse, but they can be found on-line at several sources.

As a youngster we used lots of dad's old military stuff. I had a pair of wool liner gloves that mom hot washed and they shrunk enough to fit my little fingers. A couple of clam digging trips in the winter in Oregon ate them up. They are still some of the best gloves for 'wet work' up here in Alaska.
 
kewl pictures eric.

Wish id had a camera sunday. Saturday night tj got lots of new hunting clothes for Christmas... so he decided to wear ALL of them sunday. new long johns, new fleece pants and hoodie, his new old coveralls, covered by his new coat he got... he looked like the dang kid from christmas story. it was taking him so long to get dressed sunday morning, ty came back inside and told him to hurry or we'd leave him. tj told him, tyler... i just spent a long time putting on a lot of clothes, nobody is leaving me anywhere! hehehe. Turned the heater on for them sunday morning and they both told me to cut it off, it was hot! spent 20 minutes getting him open to pee when it was time! travis
 
I'll check that out Ray...Thanks a bunch. Mine aren't waterproof either but even wet they keep my hands warmer than anything else I've ever used...except my Dad's old army mits...they were the big green deals with some fuzz around the top..I think they used them in Korea. Back then they came up to my armpits.
 
Looks like you have a partner now. Get him one of the hand warmer belts the deer hunters like. I got a polar fleece one at a show a few years back after harassing my friends who had one. Stick cold wet hands in, out come warm fingers that will move again. Mine has pocket for heat pack but have never put one in. Warm enough without. Next best thing too neopreen waders and a wool coat on a really cold hunt.
 
Eric, Your boy is growing up so quickly! I bought my son the hand warming packets. They really do make a difference. Also bought wool gloves from the army navy store and put them in the dryer on high heat after washing them in hot water. Took an adult small size down to kids size in no time. Do the same thing with socks.


Chris
 
Thanks guys for the compliments and cold hand suggestions. We went to the new Gander Mountain tonight and Thomas bout some stuff with his Christmas money. He started his own decoy rig tonight with a 1/2 doz. GHG greenwing teal. While there I saw a pair of waterproof camo youth mittens and snagged them. I think they will really help those little hands on cold mornings.

Thanks again. It's heartwarming to share my boys experiences with you guys and get all the positive responses and input.

Eric


p.s. Bob and Chris, Joey Wolk had some of those and they helped. It was the walk out though that got to him and a little earlier he dropped it into the bottom of the boat where it was wet.
 
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Travis

Refresh my memory. How old are your boys now? You do need a camera. In fact my screeensavers at work are of the kids hunting. Makes for all kinds of interesting conversation when people come in my office.
 
drew is 17 now... been driving for 14 months, and got his first speeding ticket last week. The rule was, Id pay the insurance till the first ticket... so he's entering the work world, got a job at joe's crab shack starting next week. He worked for me throwing birds summer before last, and scraped tile off floors this summer (wanted a job with me or his dad, but we both agreed worst thing that could happen to him was to work in a shop and make a little money!), but hasnt had to work during school till now. Speeding ticket cost him 1800 a year, thats a pretty good lesson I think, best i could come up with.

Ty is 15, turns 16 in march. Hes gonna have the same deal on his insurance. Tys always been into money, he wants a job now. He worked for me last summer, but quit me when school started back for a job at the soccer fields... 10 bucks an hour and all the snow cones you can eat for blowing a whistle and watching a clock.

TJ is 9. Hes my hunting buddy and assissant trainer. He raised a puppy year before last, HR Nasty and understood she'd go to a good home when she was trained. He understands the dog stuff, dogs come and go, but they never go anywhere but good places. Our puppy for last year died, so we didnt have one to place this fall. We did pick up 2 dogs in a semi-rescue kinda gig recently, and his job is to fatten them up and teach them to play. He told one of them, dont worry man, my ribs stick out too! He never misses a day training or hunting. He hoses and airs and feeds for me if I cant get home, or if I dont feel good. He likes to make a little extra money helping, but mainly he likes to do it. He has no concept of people not having black labs in every adviable place in the yards and homes.... he thinks you ought to be able to turn on the tv and see people and dogs you know! he thinks thats perfectly normal, and to me it hilarious. Any hunting show without a dog, he always wants to know where there dog is? He ran GRHRCH UH Colt as finished test dog at southern flights fall test with steve shooting the marks for them... pretty cool to have a dog on the line older than the handler and watch them smoke a triple! I got some pics of that I'll try to get my wife help me post. travis
 
down fron CT if your wife cant get it figured out. My son is seven and has been telling his teachers since he was 5 he is going to be a dog trainer. One more great thing about kids. Pictures of your boy would put him over the top. Now I just have to figure out how to do it so I can show him. I think your son is lucky to have so many dogs come and go. It gives the repettition and shows the suttle differences between dogs.
 
Great pics and looks like a beuatiful day with your son.....................can't wait til mine is a bit older to bring him along.............well done , Jode
 
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