Good times with family and friends

Brad Bortner

Brad Bortner

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Well the scaup season is open again and I got to share a long weekend with my youngest son and my good friend and carving mentor Brad F. We got a chance to float some of this year's new work and acquisitions and enjoy some fun times. I am as poetic or lyrical as Todd T., or as accomplished a photographer as Gary, Al or Hitch but here are a few photos to record the memories.

A scoter slam plus of Forgey decoys. What fun to gun over such wonderful decoys.
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Even the local wildlife came out to see the new decoys.
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We saw a few birds as they came to visit the spread.
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How's this for an old hunk of Montana cottonwood?
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I can't keep track of the all of the carver's represented in Brad's rig, so I'll ask Brad to verify, but I think this decoy migrated north from San Diego.
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Kip did some close up comparison and declared the fakes to be very well done.
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Well on to the gunning. We had some success as the birds were abundant and happy to work the spread.
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Didn't see any black scoters but we did get to float one by Zach H. and one by Brad. Both looked great.

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Derek Z's canvasback faked a young male can and Jeff did the duties after I missed the first shot.
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My little buffy attracted some girlfriends while a Bob Hayden hen watched the action.
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Brad policed the driftwood so as not to wipe out the spread.
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Jeff guarded the Bankes from attacking hordes of scaup.

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Kip provided the retrieving services.
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And the scaup hens tried to protect the drakes.
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All in all, we found the pot at the end of the rainbow with good times, family and fast friends.
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Brad-
Great pics and play-by-play. I really get a kick seeing one of my blocks out of the water, esp. the big C. Send some BBs down to us in Cali.
Derek
 
I really like that last picture, truely a treasure at the end of the rainbow! Great shots thanks for sharing.
 
Nice write up Brad. I too like the last photo, as well as the drakes on the log with the double.

Thanks,
Ryan
 
Thanks Brad. Beautiful set of pictures accompanied by a wonderful story. I really enjoyed it. Glad you two did so well.
Al
 
Thanks for the trip Brad B......scoters on day one and scaup on two and three. Just to clarify...both shots of the Black Scoter decoy are of Zachs bird, correct the Surf you point out was a trade bird from GW and the White Scoter you pictured was actually cork. My Black Scoter (not pictured) was the Cottonwood decoy.

Thanks again

BradF
 
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Looks like a great trip guys. Tough to beat a hunt like that with the shooting being done over hand carved deeks! Even if one of them happened to come from San Diego.

It's looking like I'll be in Spokane(and then on to Moses Lake) next Tuesday, might have to meet up with you guys if all works out as I'm hoping. I'll keep you posted!

-GW
 
Brad B. Thank you for the story and pictures. I very much enjoyed the action. I am very glad you three had such a great time. Keep the hunts coming.

Gary March
 
Now if I had the story telling ability of Todd, carving ability of Grant and Brad and photography skills of Gary and Al. I am off again in 10 minutes for 4 more days on the river. I'll post again on Sunday.
 
Great story and pics.
Looks like good time had by all.
I was down on the lower "C" yesterday and it seems we are having an early kick off of the divers this year.
Don't know that I have seen so many BB this early since back when the limits were up. We may even have birds all the way to Longview if we get a decent system soon.
Looks like the beginning of a great diver season.
 
Brad, you are too kind about the poetry stuff
Looks like you have been living the life of a true outdoorsman

I could never carve a decoy or paint one, Your photos and the write up are top notch

I blasted you an email earlier today (private message on this site)
Might cross paths with you on sunday

I'll be the one that has the old woolen Bombardiers hat liner on and the big aluminum boat

Mike will be the one in the layout shooing away the birds

Kodi will be the one banging the sides of the boat like a drum
with the wagging of his tail


Stay safe and keep us in the loop w/ your adventures
 
Todd good to see you at the ramp today. I hope Mike didn't sleep too much in the MLB.

It was a wet and windy long weekend, only pulled the camera out a few times. Fog, drizzle, light rain, heavy fog, sprinkles for most of the past 4 days. If the native Alaskans have 43 words to describe different amounts and intensity of snow, the mossy backs of the Pacific NorthWet have 43 words to describe the amount and intensity of liquid precipitation.

I had some special visitors while I was playing with the camera in the fog.
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They all got a pass go for another day.

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This is what I will dream of tonight after 4 days of watching this over and over. (yes the blurring was intentional).
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Once the fog burned off, I noticed I had an observer.
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