Layout gunning...

P

Pat Gregory

Well-known member
I always appreciate every season and consider each one a blessing. I feel especially blessed that each year I am able to go out east and layout gun with my good friend Jim Schmieldin and his layout gunning crew. In the years I have been doing this, it is more than duck hunting. These fine men taught me that layout gunning is a brotherhood and not just about killing ducks. The fellowship we experience is incredible. Unfortunately this year I could not join my brothers. I miss them terribly. But to them I salute each one of them for being the gentlemen they are. Jim, Moose, Ed and Vic, I missed you guys this year and count the days until I can make my trek out east to be with my brothers next year. Here are some pics from years past. Time that I will never forget...

God bless each one of you... Pat

View attachment erie6.JPG

View attachment eri072.JPG

View attachment erie7.JPG

View attachment erie25.JPG

View attachment erie29.JPG

View attachment erie6.JPG
View attachment eri072.JPG
View attachment erie7.JPG
View attachment erie25.JPG
View attachment erie29.JPG
 
Pat,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Layout hunting is one of my dreams and your pics just fuel the fire. I also really like Jim's dekes. Great paint and detail on those ducks.
 
I was honored to hunt with Jim quite a few years ago on Presque Isle Bay. He had a rig of
mergansers that were incredible!! I never targeted fish ducks before or since but it was
a lot of fun and a great bunch.
John
 
...and, what amazes me, is although each Schmiedlin decoy is an amazing work of art and form, it is equally a functional, sturdy decoy meant to lure ducks within gunshot not intended to spend it's life on a shelf... They gun!

Anyone who has the privilege to gun over Jim's rig can attest to the effectiveness of his decoys. They are amazing yet Jim considers them each a tool within his rig... Being a decoymaker of 25 years myself, his work amazes me and is unparallelled as a decoy... Amazing...
 
Pat,

I'd like the opportunity to own one some day if for no other reason than to be able to gaze on it during the off season. I saw one of his WW Scoters at St Charles a couple years ago, I saw if from 2-3 aisles away and knew right away it was a Jim Schmiedlin. I kick myself for not jumping on that decoy right then.
 
Pete, weren't you here when Ky brought all those to my house the night before an MLB shoot? He had some Strunk dekes to which made a great show greater.
 
Pat , If I was in that tender boat it would lake me all morning to string those out because I would have to look over EVERY one ! I see birds like that and look at my own stuff and go "ya gotta be kidding". We did manage to scratch some dumb ones over em this year. Hope your season went well. Enjoy your posts. bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top