DATE: November 11, 2007

LOCATION: NW Texas

SUNRISE/SUNSET: Shooting time was at 6:25

WEATHER: Cloudy early clearing to sunny late

TEMPERATURE: Low 55/High 82

WIND: 5-10

HUNTERS: Derek McDaniels, Avery Youth Field Staffer Eric Bragg, & Avery Pro-Staffers Dallas Branch and Derek Rambo.

JOURNAL NOTES:

Second day of our early season hunt had Chris heading to Nebraska for his deer-hunting trip but going in his place was his cousin Derek McDaniels and son Eric Bragg of the AYFS. We decided to hunt a different cove of the lake and got there to a dark cloudy sky. We set up close to the same rig on another flooded grass flat, which again had a nice stand of willow trees as a hide. The hunt was slow, with singles coming in nicely over the decoys, but productive. Once again we took turns shooting. Calling was much harder today as the clouds affected the calls and more finesse work was needed early. Our early season is producing some great looking Mallards, Pintails, and Widgeon. Hunting with Eric is always a trip due to the numerous questions and depth of them. Why this? Why that? I love it…not to mention how tore up he is with waterfowl hunting. The bag consisted of Mallards, Widgeon, and Pintails with the bird total coming to 14.

Although we did not shoot a four-man limit we had fun calling ducks, poking fun at Eric, and just being guys hunting on water. Early season is hit or miss but fun nonetheless with friends!! By the way, remember how I said Eric was tore up with waterfowl hunting? He informed me that even though his dad and Derek can’t take him next Saturday, he was going anyway…and I was the one to take him.

See ya next Saturday Eric!!