Hank And Howard - Southern Exposure

[dixiefisher]

Last year we missed out on being able to get Hank and Howard out for a hunt.....and thoroughly enjoyed reading their adventures last year. I was excited to be a part of the H&H saga this year......So, I met Chancellor in the parking lot of GI Joes two days before we were scheduled to get out for birds. I had picked up my two year old daughter to go with me.....and she couldn't wait to get her new ducks in the truck and take them back home to meet the family. Anyway, I didn't take any pictures at the house, with my daughter playing dress up with H&H. I was afraid everyone would think I had staged the whole thing. But, more importantly I wanted to save the boys a little embarrassment..
We headed down towards Astoria on Friday…..I wasn’t expecting much from the day really…..It was cold, but it was also supposed to be a blue bird day with maybe 5 knot winds. But, it was a day out regardless. We ran into some slippery roads around Longview and had to really slow down….this put us a little behind on our timing. So, once we hit our spot…we just quickly threw out 12 decoys to the left of the spot…and 12 more to right. High tide was at 6:30ish…so, we decided to hunt out of the boat….this added a little more time getting set before hunting time……right at the last minute, I forgot to throw out the boys….so, I kept them close in ( plus…I didn’t want to be the first one to loose em…)
I won’t droll on too much longer…but, in short…I really think the boys brought us our luck on
Friday….There is no doubt that the northerners are coming in…..we had 4 birds short of our two bird limit by 8:30…..and actually If I hadn’t been so wired from all of the birds…..we could have been done. But, that let us get some more time on the water and a few first as well. It was our first 2 duck limit….and all puddlers except for one blue bill as well as my buddy’s first green head……being superstitious and all….I am really going to hate seeing H&H leave our spread….but what a day!!!!


Blue bird day...still the sun was a needed warmth....it was cold in the early am


Ducksonly sheading the coat after a long retrieve!!!


hank in close....who said a blue bill couldn't stay close to shore


For whatever reason....Howard didn't want to sit near Hank for the day...


Sadie....with the days bag.....

Oh and one final word.....I am still a proud member of the "no band nation".....

[Tar Heel]

Nice story and pics! You guys did good, considering you had H&H. They often mess things up, I am convinced. All the bickering? Who knows, but what a nice day.

[waterfowlinthewest]

Great Job, I'm glad you were able to have such a great day in the field. Gotta love so many firsts in one morning!!

[Royal Limit]

Cool pics and story. Thanks for sharing. I am glad that the boys are still carrying the luck with them. Marsh bum and I will have to collect the H&H stories and pics and do some kind of book or something when all is said and done. Thanks again for the story. And thanks for taking the boys out.

Jason AKA "Harry"

[AtItAgain]

Looks like a good day!

[MarshBum]

Thanks for the pics and the story. I hope when we get them back at the end of the road trip, all this good luck hasn't rubbed off of them.

Geoff