The Hunting Times

 Pa Jerry bought a speed boat for the pond - and yes, it is battery operated.  He took Will and Hadley over for a spin.  No one enjoyed it at all!  Shout out to Mark Mongin for managing the pond - and by that I mean controlling the weed population.  He does great work. Alex launching the boat on her maiden voyage. Hadley and Will receive operating instructions from Pa Jerry. Hadley driving the boat Will takes her for a spin as Pa Jerry watches

 I got up early Saturday morning and made some venison biscuits and gravy.  Folks showed up at 0700 to eat and we headed for the fields at 7:30 or so. Zach and Eric sat at the N side of the sunflowers where I had not sprayed but had mowed a path for the birds.  Kathy & Alex took Will & Hadley to the S side of the sunflowers, where I had sprayed and also mowed a path.  Sykes and I went to the pond.  Mojo decoys were flapping all around. The Martin family hunting together Will and Hadley ready to hunt some mourning doves. Hadley marching off to her sit spot with chair and BB gun Doves were flying, but they were slow.  Not at all like opening day down South.  And I will share that more shots were taken than birds in the pot. I think the total ended like this: Zach = 4, but that includes 1 split with Eric and 1 split with Kathy Kathy = 1 split with Zach Eric = 1 split with Zach Alex = zero (never fired a shot) Craig = zero (took one long shot over ...

 RePhil, Davey, Michael and I left Mulberry @ 5:15 am on Thursday, September 1 - opening day for mourning doves in Indiana.  We drove down to the SW of Clinton, Indiana to some private ground that used to be a strip mine.  Reclaimed it's now a camping ground, lake, and hunting area.  It took us 2 hours to get there. We arrived at 7:15 and the doves were already on the gravel.  We parked the truck and RePhil had to get rid of some coffee while the rest of us unloaded the truck.  The doves could not help themselves, they just kept coming in. We set up the decoys right at the edge of the gravel / grass area, sadly facing into the sun.  Davey and RePhil walked about 20 yards South to the campers and used them as "cover."  Michael sat next to the boat and I just plopped my bucket down right next to the truck - using the tailgate to hold my "beverages." And boy did the doves come!  In flocks of 20, 30, 40 and 50 - dive bombing the decoys.  We ...