Session #6 Great Project But Huge Let Down

Well I have been thinking about how I could camouflage my layout boat better.  Last year it got s paint job and this year I wanted some way to  try and make it like a layout blind without having to buy one of the boat covers with the stubble straps.  My first idea was to make a grid out of paracoard over the top of the boat,  it failed.  But out of the failure arose a better idea then a correction to get the final product.

Final Product

So I started with the grid idea and it failed so my next thought was what about those cargo nets that stretch.  Well I hit up my nearest Harbor Freight store, discount hardware tools, found two medium sized nets for the front and back portion of my boat then two motorcycle sized nets for each side.  The nets came with hooks that I used to fix the nets to the boat.

nets only

So after a week of having the nets attached to the boat, looking at it, and contemplation I decided the nets needed changed just a bit.  It was not exactly what I wanted and I had some coverage areas that were minimal.  So my thought to fix the nets had me remove all the hooks and started from scratch on placement.  I went to the nearest hardware store and bought some fine metal wire.  I finally got back to the boat and started by tying the two side nets end to end.  I centered them up on the sides and then worked my way to the front by tying the nets together with the small wire.  I finished the nets all of the way around the boat and it covered everything I needed.  I placed my layout blind in the cockpit of the boat, last year it worked out amazing for me to have the top coverage and the built in backrest and pouches.  I had some grass left from Roger's Sporting Goods from last season I began zip tying the grass to the cargo nets.  With time it began to look amazing.

beginning to grass

So I grassed my boat and left it for a week and occasionally looked at it during that time. Last year I learned my lesson when I painted my boat.  It is hard to know when to stop painting or camouflaging something.  Last year I paint just a little extra that was to much but luckily I realized it and stopped.  So that is why this year I would do some work and take a break and think everything over.  It is easy to add more but hard to take something back once it is done.  So while looking at the boat I realized that it did have some bald spots and that I hunt in smart weed in the the places I hunt.  So I ordered some smart weed from Cabela's.  I began filling in the bald spots with some extra grass. 

little more grass

So with more grass on the way from Cabela's I left the boat a little bare in spots but covered most of them. I tied some of the grass from the boat to the flaps of the blind.  This did wonders in breaking up the line between the cockpit and the layout blind. Finally the smart weed grass came in.  I added it sparingly to the boat since I do not hunt in just smart weed but there is some in the corn and spots I hunt.

smart weed grass added

opening in cockpit

So I let the boat sit for a week and looked it over again, catching a pattern yet?  I noticed that I had a very noticeable square behind my layout blind and the cockpit.  I am thinking that the boat is almost done.  So now that I had a problem I had to figure out how to correct it.  The tricky part is I need access to that spot to steer the boat in the marsh and it is storage for supplies or a dog if I can borrow some one's.  So that adds a new level of difficulty to the design of correction.  Well  the square was 30 inches by 30 inches so I thought why not go with what I know already works, cargo nets.  I returned to Harbor Freight and bought two motorcycle nets.  I tied them together and placed them in the cockpit.  Dang it they did not fit enough.  The nets measured 15 inches by 12 inches.  So I thought to myself why did they not fit.  Duh, come one Mike two would only cover half of the opening.  Well to fix that issue I had extra net tucked around the backside of the opening from the large net on the back.  I pulled the extra net up and tied my half net to it.  I attached the net with the hooks given with the nets.  I had ran out of grass but I pulled the net back to see how well it worked.  The net worked great but the hooks got tangled up in the other portion of the nets.  So after a few minutes of thinking and looking at my duck gear I use carabiners for all kinds of things during hunting.  They work amazing to attach things.  I figured I would substitute the carabiners for the hooks.  It worked perfect.  I went and bought some extra grass and finished off the boat with grass.  The whole package looks amazing and is more than half the price of the slips sold by the major layout boat manufactures.

Back net closed

Back net open

See through mesh on layout blind

So now that I am feeling amazing about duck season and can not wait to put the boat in the marsh and watch it disappear.  I had hurt my knee while at work at the beginning of this product.  So after going through workman's compensation claims and seeing numerous doctors the diagnosis was discovered.  I partially tore my ACL in my knee.  The breath was taken out of my sails with knowing how much time is needed to rehabilitate from the injury and surgery and how close duck season was.  Crunching the numbers that the doctor said was needed for crutches and rehab  things were not looking good.

The big question is will I make in to the marsh this season for duck season.  I have learned so much in the past years and want to keep learning but it is not looking good for this duck hunter.  So stay safe and HEALTHY from now to the end of duck season fellow hunters.

Session #3: THE INNER ITCH HAS BEGUN

Well my fellow duck hunters, who all has that inner itch tickling them.  No, I am not talking about those crabs from that dirty girl you knew for a night.  I am talking about that waterfowl itch.  Come on, get your head out of the gutters and back in the marsh.

Well waterfowl shows are starting back up on television.  Waterfowl conventions are popping up.  This past weekend I went to Roger's Sporting Goods in Liberty, Missouri.  It was such a pleasant reprieve to walk around hearing the calling competition taking place looking at Momarsh and Four River's layout boats.  It was so tempting to pick up a few calls from the vendors and try them but I choose not to for fear of wastefully spending money before the season even starts.

So with the season coming what do all of you hunters do to prepare.  I pull my calls out of the mothballs and start practicing.  I get my how to call dvds out and start watching them along with my hunting videos.  I listen to the videos and try to mimic what I hear.  I read last year that a guy Amoralled his decoys at the beginning of the season.  I figured I would give it a try this year since my decoys had been outside for two years in the decoy bags.  I am sure they need some moisture to liven them up.

I am planning on scouting out the lands to see what the conservation lands are like and the lay of that land.  I am actually planning on hitting up Cabela's in KS to see Chad Belding from Banded and the Fowl Life products on August 10.  Then just waiting for dove season to start to get the practice for the real prize, ducks and geese.

Hope everyone gets started on their preseason prep because the season is here very soon.  Don't worry I am sure I will end up in the water again this year and I will be writing more posts on my crazy hunting adventures.  So stay tuned in and don't forget to comment.  I enjoy hearing feedback on the blog and any tips people can provide.

Session 2 "Walrus in the marsh"

Well  now that the hunts are getting blurred together it is time to talk about the most memorable hunts.  So I had just gotten my layout boat this past season.  I had tested it a few times and even hunted out of it a few times.

My hunting party drew in to Grand Pass through the poor line.  It was a cool morning since a cold front was pushing through the area.  I had convinced my brother in law to come along with my dad and long time friend Cameron.  We unloaded the trucks and I sent Cameron on the way to the where I wanted to set up.  My brother in law and my dad helped me finish unloading my the rest of the gear from my truck.  I sent them on their way walking since I had my boat.  My dad and brother in law are not in the greatest shape so they needed a little head start to get at the spot.  This was my brother in laws first waterfowl hunt ever.

So I launched my boat and started making my way down to the spot with all the gear.  I made it about five yards from where I launched the boat.  The some how, I lost my balance.  It is never good to loose your balance in a boat, just saying.  Well, I am sure everyone can see where this is going.  Yes I fell out of the boat.  I just did not fall out though. I fell backwards off the side of it. head first. The water was not freezing but the air temperature was just above.  The water was only about shin to knee deep.  Most people say well that is not bad just stand up.  I hit the water with my upper back, I tucked my chin to my chest because who knows what is in the water.  So my head and upper body is under the water.  I think my feet are still hung up on the boat so I tried to lift myself out of the water with my arms.  I struggled to catch my breath since the water was so cold it sucked the air out of me instantly.  I tried flung my arms around just trying to grab the boat or push off the ground.  I finally get my knees under me and get the top of my waders out of the water.  The trapped water rushes down to my knees then I get to my feet.  I am gasping for air so loud Cameron turns around from 100 yards away to see what the commotion was about.  My dad rushes over to me shouting "are you ok, are you ok."  My hearing had constricted like I had two sea shells covering my ears.  I was gasping so loud it had to sound like an animal was having "coitus" in the marsh or a walrus escaped from the zoo.  I am still gasping unable to answer my dad.  He shouts again "are you ok."  I finally get enough air in my lungs to say yes.  I slowly get my breathing back under control as the cold water sucks the heat from my legs.  My dad asks me "what do you want to do."  I probably shouted back at him, since my hearing was still messed up, let's push on and set up.  My dad being a good father said you can't do that you are soaked and cold.  I told my dad I am hunting today, I have a dry coat in my boat.  So I pushed on and finally got to the spot.  My legs are warming up since I walked the boat the rest of the way to the spot.  So we set up, my alarm for shooting time goes off on my phone, I think crap my phone was in my wader's pocket.  So I pull it out, damn glad I put my phone in a Ziploc bag for the first time of the season.  I always fall in the water once a waterfowl season.  So the ducks are flying over our spread that is not completed.  I tell my dad and brother in law to load up and start shooting the ducks that come in close.  Cameron and I hurry to set the spread up and push our boats into a group of trees.

So as the day goes on we kill a few here and a few there.  My dad moves to a better spot on the setup that hides him better.  He finishes the day limited out, my brother in law does not think the birds can see him.  We all agreed that the ducks were turning after a look because of him.  My brother in law had not camouflage on, just a black shirt.  We tried to get him to sit further in the trees but he wouldn't.

So mid day every duck hunter always has to take a bathroom break.  Luckily I have the boat so it keeps me dry when I pull down my waders.  So I am standing on my boats front when Cameron's dog, Goose, gets up out of Cameron's boat and hops in the water and tries to climb on my boat.  I had my back to him so I had no clue.  Goose puts his front feet on my boat and starts to push my boat sideways.  I about loose my balance again and shout "CRAP."  Goose stops and everyone starts laughing.  I finally get back inside my boat and pull Goose up.  For some reason he likes the front of my boat instead of Cameron's boat.

not the same hunt but he likes it there

After some persuading I got Goose to climb into the cockpit behind my layout blind in my boat, the spot I try to stand in while I move my boat.

Cameron and Goose

So as the day ends we move back to the trucks, load up, and take a few pictures.  I peel off my waders and heavy socks.  I wring the water out of my socks and just go bare foot in my muck boots.  My waders are soaked completely through and weigh a ton now.  My upper body felt dry as a bone but I pulled off my shirt and Under Armour cold gear. I wrung water out of my Under Armour and was amazed how I felt so dry with that much water in the shirt.

Dad and Dave, brother in law

Dave and I

So to close my second session of therapy learn from my lessons.  First thing first, I need scuba equipment when I duck hunt.  Second, put your electronics in Ziploc bags.
Third, bring spare clothes just in case.  Finally the most important, wear camouflage and you must break up your silhouette to hide from the keen eye of waterfowl.

Even a rough day in the field is still better than no day in the field.  I was cold and the hunting was not the greatest but with family and friends it makes the poor times great.  Then to top it off with a great story of a "walrus on the loose in the marsh" makes the day unforgettable.