Since the sudden onset of spring this year we have had unseasonable warm weather earlier than most humans can remember. At writing, we have eighty degree water in the first week of May! One would have thought the fishing would be fabulous but it has been the typical up and down spring as far as we have found here in KC.

Recently, we have had those rare days when every fish is twelve inches or bigger and then a day or two later the fish size has shrunk. There has only been one true constant and that is the fact that all our fish have come on one fishing lure (we don’t use bait for Crappie). If it were not for the sake of the Culprit Tassel Tail grub, things might have been even more desperate.

Simply utilizing a Tassel Tail grub on a 1/16 ounce jig head and either swum slowly or fished vertically, has been the key to our success. This year has produced more Crappie over 12 inches than any previous spring! Utilizing the proper tackle, more experience and paying attention to optimum weather patterns has been critical. Slowly but surely we are stocking the freezer and supplying some of our friends and neighbors with fresh fillets!

Fishing for aggressive fish has been my priority this season. Since we don’t use bait there is no reason to stay put and “wait them out” in my opinion.Merely cover ground and pay attention to details until a pattern is put together. I keep asking myself did those fish come off rocky or dirt banks, brush, stickup or lay-downs?  Also what depth, temperature and color was the water. Typically just a few fish will help an angler put the puzzle together if they pay attention. Recently I even noticed that the Crappie wanted the grub dead still. Thus a slow retrieve with the occasional stop was the trick of the day.

Likewise, should the fishing be good one day then dead the next, its time to try dipping or stealthy dropping the lure in front of the fish that have gone dormant. Its pretty common for spawning fish to shun chasing lures but they will still bite if the bait is presented directly in front of their face. Although dipping isn’t as fun as casting it beats going home empty handed!

Try some new colors as well as a lighter or heavier jighead when the bite suddenly begins to slow. Another trick to jump start the action again is to change the speed of your retrieve. If the fish have quit biting the slow and steady speed, give the reel hell for a few casts and see if that doesn’t entice a few more fish to the boat. Be sure to give a lift and drop retrieve a chance in tough conditions.

Never quit until you have tried every method possible of catching Crappie. Nothing beats a full livewell of fish, so be sure to persevere and often that extra effort will pay off in fillets!

Once I received the kit in the mail, we excitedly opened it up and promptly lost the spring while examining the parts. A quick trip to the local hardware store was in order, and there we located a replacement. MAD has pre-cut all parts and these parts are all straight forward, and easy to assemble with the instructions. All the hunter needs is wood glue which is not included.

My daughter, Kylee, and I glued the parts together in less than five minutes. Once we applied the enclosed rubber bands we allowed the unit to dry for twenty four hours. Then she added a bit of personality to her call with a few stickers and a ”Sharpie”. One light coat of varnish and it was allowed to dry again overnight.

The next day, we inserted the spring between the lid and the box and tightened the screw. A few adjustments on the screw tension while calling and we had completed the construction of a productive box call. Our total time invested was about twenty minutes although there were periods of down time for drying of glue and (optional) varnish.

Once we added some chalk which was included in the kit, this call sounded every bit as good as any box call in my vest! Typical cost is about $15, and it makes a great project for kids and dads to do together. As a matter of fact this would be a great item for Boy Scouts, 4 H Clubs, or church groups. The only thing needed is some wood glue and a few minutes of time. Here is your chance to add any custom features or design work and truly have a “one of a kind” turkey call. For more information and where to find the MAD Box Call Kit, (model MD-380) go to www. Madgamecalls.com.

While I sat at home contemplating whether and where to hunt, I received a call from J. Paul Jackson, host of Drake Waterfowl’s Migration Nation TV show. I had the fortune of meeting the amiable host previously, while he and the crew were hunting in Missouri.

It seemed that J. Paul was in a bind. He was en route to Colorado for a hunt and it seemed he needed a Migration Nation member to accompany the Drake TV crew for a hunt in Kansas. Without hesitation I accepted his offer to join the team for the weekend trip.

As a hard core waterfowler, I keep my gear ready to roll on a moments notice. My Drake waders, bibs and 1/4 zip jacket are always in the truck, and I keep licenses current in several states. Although I now reside in Missouri, I am a Kansan and anytime the opportunity presents itself to return there for a hunt it’s quickly set into play. I had already agreed to the journey when J. Paul gave me some news that caused my heart to skip a beat. The Migration Nation crew was going to southeast Kansas and the home of Carter’s Big Island Duck Club!

Now I had hunted nearly every nook and cranny of the Jayhawk state but I had not yet had savored the “greenheads” of the Neosho River bottoms. Of course I had heard and seen footage of hunts at Roy Carter’s place but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would have the opportunity to hunt at a world class facility such as that. Luckily I have an understanding wife and daughter, who I hastily informed about the trip as I cased my shotgun and prepped my gear for the next day’s journey.

Once on the road with my retriever, Vito, it was a quick, enjoyable road trip to St. Paul, Kansas. Time passes swiftly with the anticipation of a great hunt and I am sure Vito was as restless as me. Just a few hours later we crossed the ancient one lane bridge that passes over the Neosho River and drops into “Carter Country”.  When I exited the truck I immediately ran into David Weldon, the producer and lead videographer for the show. David introduced me to Roy Carter, the owner and proprietor of Carter’s Big Island.

Roy is one of those rare individuals that upon meeting, it seems that you met a lifelong friend. Although we had never met previously I immediately felt at home in Roy’s presence. Just beyond Roy stood a giant among duck callers, Trey Crawford. Three World Championship titles belong to this fella who is now retired from competition and guides at Carter’s operation. It was safe to say that my novice calling would not be needed on this trip!

Not only was I given the rare chance to hunt at the “Big Island” but I would be able to hear a mallard maestro perform his symphony to an audience of nearby ducks. In fact, as we shook hands, dozens of “greenheads” dropped into a little pothole just a few hundred yards from where we stood. There isn’t any better welcome committee than that!

As if things couldn’t get any better, Roy announced that we should all accompany him to the restaurant he owns in town. The Lodge, in St. Paul, is home to hundreds of items representing the history of Carter’s family and the region. Dozens of old photographs of hunters with straps full of “green”, trophy class Whitetail bucks, several different species of ducks, and a turkey or two adorn the wooden walls of The Lodge steakhouse. Upon entry Roy, excuses himself and makes sure all the existing patrons are content and enjoying themselves and their meals.

Once again he joins our group and points out a few of the bucks, explaining who shot it, what the situation was and other interesting tidbits of information from the hunt. I spied a full size tree stump complete with a wood duck peering out from the hollow nook  and another below that at the base. A full size long bearded turkey stands in a corner ready to greet any and all guests.

Outdoorsmen and women of all ages will relish the sights inside the Lodge yet the food I tasted rivaled any steaks in Kansas City. As I savored the rib eye, Roy and Trey discussed the plans for the next morning’s hunt. After an cold brew, I was ready to head to camp to ensure I might be able to get some rest for the hunt.

At the alarms first ring I popped from my bed ready to roll. Quickly  the smell of coffee invited all down to the kitchen and morning rituals began. Roy graciously allowed me to bring along my young dog so I went to prep Vito and gather my gear. Trey and Roy warmed up the utility vehicles or “scooters” as they call them, piling them high with decoys, blind bags, tripods, and gun cases. Once everyone was aboard our entourage headed toward the flooded grain field just beyond Roy’s farm house.

Skim ice had encroached upon the little impoundment but it was no match for the “scooter”. In quick order our crew had the decoys set, hunting locations issued and filming had begun just as the first amber rays of sunlight etched the sky. As Roy and Trey gave introductory statements into the cameras, ducks dutifully dropped in behind their shoulders.

The plan was to exclusively harvest only drakes on this hunt. Of course Roy admitted that any brown mallard wearing jewelry (i.e. a band) would be fair game as well! I readied my shotgun with three round of my favorite Fiocchi ammo and checked the safety. Glancing down I noticed that Vito was laying on his earthen nest but quivering with anxiety. A few calming words and we were both set to hunt.

In short order the ducks returned. Singles and pairs graced our presence, often falling from such heights that they might require oxygen. Trey blew his call at seemingly empty skies, which seconds later revealed a greenhead or two. Routinely ducks passed straining for a glimpse of anything out of the ordinary. Trey’s feed chuckle would greet them and frequently entice them closer.

Steadily the sun rose and likewise did our bird count. Typically arriving in singles and mating pairs, these late season birds required some finesse and careful handling. Trey’s years of experience paid off in spades as more times than nought, he and Roy were able to coax these educated ducks within shotgun range.

With only a thin tree line to conceal five hunters and two cameramen, camo and lack of movement was of the utmost importance. Our camo Drake pullovers and jackets keep the chill away and the face paint that Carter insisted upon was critical in hiding any obvious reflective skin. We kept head and hand movement to a minimum and had constructed great “hides” for the cameramen, giving them optimal vision yet limited visibility from the front and above.

In a gentleman like manner, our group took turns shooting at greenheads. Once a mallard appeared in the hole, Roy would call out a shooter and give them the stage. Fortunately for me, my aim was relatively true and over the course of the day I filled my limit as did everyone else. What’s more I was able to handle my somewhat raw talented retriever during the hunt. Vito did a fair job for such an inexperienced dog. For the most part he kept calm and quiet and didn’t break or spook any ducks which is all I could ask for. Watching him  track the incoming ducks was very entertaining as he kept his eyes focused on the skies as much or more so than any of the hunters. Rarely did a duck arrive that he didn’t observe!

Eventually we culminated our limit, and packed up the gear. With the arrival of the “scooters” we stowed the multiple items and began to climb aboard for the quick cruise to the house. As we pulled away I threw out a quick thanks to God for such a magnificent hunt. Late season or not, we never lost a cripple nor did we have anything but perfect conditions for hunting and hopefully it was all captured on film for posterity!

That night, after slices of pizza were handed around, it was determined that in the morning, on the last day of the Kansas season, we would hit the timber. As Roy mentioned timber hunt, a blissful feeling came over me. I had only hunted timber once previously and it is a sight to behold when things come together and ducks work properly. It was apparent that Roy and Trey felt that same giddiness as the mood definitely got joyful and light.

Once more the next morning found us filling our mugs with coffee, and determining what gear was needed. Standing is waist deep cold water can be cruel and unmerciful. Thus I was thankful for my Drake LST waders since I (and the entire crew) remained warm and dry throughout the hunt. Good gear can be critical on any hunt, yet it is paramount late in the year when temps get low and birds get wise.

Once we exited the scooters, Roy explained that we would be positioning a couple dozens decoys behind us on a high and dry region, while here and there in front of us would rest another dozen or so dekes. As before, Carter and Crawford strung out a “jerk cord” which employed three or four decoys tied to a string. As approaching ducks became visible, either Trey or Roy would give the contraption a hand and create visible movement on the water that is prominent especially to overhead ducks.

Throughout the course of the day, the jerkcord became very significant as many of the ducks attempted to land in it’s wake. Still, it would be difficult to judge which was more influential, the jerk cord or the quick, loud volume of a three time World Champion’s duck call! Either way, I felt fortunate as did the other hunters to be in this situation.

Gradually, strands of red sunlight etched through the branches, giving way to legal shooting hours. A trio of Fiocchi’s best shells found their way into my twelve gauge then I hung it on a tree limb and gathered my camera for a few shots. As if on cue, a squadron of mallards blazed through our spread at what seemed like Mach 1. Unique and exhilarating, every duck hunter knows that distinctive sound of air rushing off a duck’s wing and body and I doubt anyone ever tires of hearing it.

In the next few hours we heard ducks buzz in, quietly settle in through the canopy, and likewise had them circle numerous times prior to deciding to join their brethren. I couldn’t decide which method of approach I preferred the mallards to take…

Jake, a young hunter in the group started us off, literally with a bang. His shotgun struck green several times allowing us to “get on the board” and then he shared the wealth with his father and the rest of our group.

Although not as steady a flight day as the day prior, we still enjoyed a prominent display of airborne acrobatic skill from the ducks as they lit in among the trees. Likewise, calling is never more important than when hunting timber. I believe sheer volume can play a role in the trees and Trey was like a veteran auctioneer continually addressing the crowd. Between the jerkcord and call he was able to direct the ducks into the proper zone allowing us ample time for shots.

Four hours later, our group had several heavy stringers of ducks including a prestine Pintail. Just short of a limit for the entire party, it was none the less, one of those hunts when quality makes up for quanity. As I mentioned previously, there is just something special about hunting in flooded timber and its a rarity in Kansas!

As we collected decoys, stowed shotguns and snapped photos, it was  only fitting that small groups of mallards drifted into sight. Much like a waterfowl print, it was the perfect end to a perfect trip. As I shook hands with Trey and Roy and thanked them for the ideal hunt, I couldn’t help but think of how better to end the season than at Carter’s Big Island and a strap full of mallards!

Since retro is king, how about the old band, Blood,Sweat, and Tears, from the sixties or seventies? Well, that could easily be the theme for our 2011 hunting season so far! In fact, with so few memorable moments it’s been nearly a complete disaster with a few exceptions.

Of course the high light of the season so far has been the trip to North Dakota in early October. Its there one often gets a feel for the upcoming waterfowl season. Fortunately my crew had some lady luck smile on us and we bagged limits nearly every day.

Experts predicted an extraordinary waterfowl season, with record numbers of birds. Yet in northern Missouri, we seemed to be in a desperate plight, with a lack of ducks during our sixty day season. To say that we were jinxed would have been a mere understatement of infinite proportions. Only experts can predict the future, mere mortals simply try to do their best inside the real world. For most of us, efforts proved to be futile, with few shots fired and fewer feathers in hand than previous years.

Over the course of a duck hunter’s life there exists the possibly of many new acquaintances. Whether its an chance encounter, an introduction between colleagues, or as a member’s guest; there is always room for another hunter in the blind. Once more new partners do not always come in human form.

Luckily, there have been some unique opportunities available this season. Of course having my daughter, Kylee in the deer stand with me will always rank as one of my greatest thrills. Misfortune has caused her deer tags to go unfilled so far, but I don’t recall any lack of confidence. In fact one of her statements, “at least I got to shoot AT a deer” really stuck with me during the season.

After years of strictly bow hunting, I dusted off my old rifle and was fortunate to take a nice buck. It was strange to reach into a Fiocchi box and grasp a metallic cartridge instead of the plastic hull of a shotgun shell!

So even though our season has been just fair to date, this year has been fantastic to a couple fellow archers. In fact, our I.T. guy, Joe Frye arrowed his best buck to date.

What’s more a good friend of ours, Tom Hipskind, returned from Iraq and filled his archery tag with an enormous buck. If ever just rewards are due this is truly one of those times!

Searching the horizon, watching and waiting, seems to be the common practice.

Setting out decoys, chatting and snoozing have all taken more time than has shooting or even calling.

If it were not for some of the special moments and friends this season would have been a total bust. Yet, there is still hope for tomorrow and the possibilities that exist therein…

If you frequently watch the Sportsman’s Channel, its possible you may have seen an episode of Drake’s Migration Nation TV show. Migration Nation is a waterfowl hunting show hosted by renowned dog trainer J.Paul Jackson. Recently we had the opportunity to join the crew on a duck hunt in Missouri.

Currently the Migration Nation is in its second season on TV, with shows currently airing weekly. The thirty minute program was the brainchild of Drake Waterfowl Systems, the premier provider of high quality waterfowl clothing and accessories.

Host J. Paul Jackson,let me in on a secret. The show had been planned a few years ago but just didn’t work out as intended. A pilot episode had been filmed yet that version just didn’t seem to be what Drake was looking for and the project was shelved.

Subsequently, J.Paul and Drake co-founder Tate Wood gathered up the project ideas in October 2009 with plans of being the show to fruition. Once the pair began to brainstorm about the possibility of improving the show format they came up with several ideas that would lend themselves to constructing a unique waterfowl show.

The duo initiated a budget, changed the name of the program to “Migration Nation”, hired David Weldon as cameraman and he eventually became the producer as well. Once again a pilot episode was shot although this time with better results. After a few minor tweaks, the project was set in place and things began to progress quickly.

In the original season, there were eleven episodes including one where the crew hunts the Eastern Shore. Here J. Paul showcased some of the museums, history and local culture of the area. This was to become a trait seen in most Migration Nation productions. One of the key ingredients of Drake’s Migration Nation is to film and showcase exceptional story lines and people who “go the distance”. Additionally, the crew hopes to take the viewer to locations not seen on other mediums.

In fact the Migration Nation has immigrated to unprecedented sites such as the Big Horn River in Montana for an exceptional open water Mallard hunt, as well as hitting Texas peanut country for a waterfowl hunt with a little unique Texas heat. They are always on the lookout for a novel twist or tale of a rare individual who goes above and beyond the normal waterfowler to reach his or her goal.

After conversing on the phone and via emails for months, I was invited to get a rare behind the scenes view of how the show is put together in the field while filming a show for season three. This episode was to showcase the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the improvements they have exerted to offer some of the nation’s best waterfowl hunting opportunities.

I joined the Drake crew consisting of host J.Paul Jackson, videographer and producer David Weldon and second videographer Matt Gray, in Nevada, Missouri. After an initial meet and greet we headed for a establishment to eat and chat with Chris Daniels the MDC biologist supervisor for Schell-Osage and Four Rivers waterfowl areas.

Sloppy weather conditions were on the forecast for the next several days eliminating several filming options. I learned from the crew that it was senseless to shoot ducks unless the hunt could be filmed and that exposing the costly camera equipment to moisture was not a feasible option. Thus we had to enter the “draw” for a blind at  Schell-Osage in order to keep the gear dry and film at the same time.

This resulted in a unique experience itself as the location has been a prosperous facility since the nineteen seventies and home to a variety of duck hunters. In fact the staff pointed out a couple “old timers” who hunted the area daily and were frequent visitors when Schell-Osage first opened. Once again J.Paul and crew discovered a story line about Going the Distance and were able to gather film footage from a couple wily veterans of the southern Missouri duck scene.

Unfortunately for us, I was placed in charge of drawing for our hunting location. In Missouri, many waterfowl facilities require that hunters register and draw for their hunting locations. At Schell-Osage that takes place at 0445 hours! Everyone gathers at the headquarters and places their names onto a list. Then at the predetermined time, the staff allows one member from each group to draw a numbered “pill”. Obviously the lowest pill number gets the first pick of all available blinds and or locations. I drew pill number thirty-seven, which gave us the final choice of blinds! So much for any preconceived favoritism!!

We loaded up the boat and headed toward our blind with the highest of hopes. Since  the MDC allows only four occupants per blind we were maxed out with J. Paul, two vidoegraphers and myself. I can personally attest that an eighteen foot boat fills up rather quickly with just four men, one Lab and film equipment ! Luckily it was a short trip en route to our day’s blind.

Fortunately, we drew out a well constructed pit blind in the center of a flooded corn field. The blind was situated perfectly for the conditions allowing us to have the wind at our back. While David and Matt assembled their gear inside the covered pit blind, J. Paul and I placed the decoys in a likely manner to entice some Missouri greenheads.

While we waited for sunrise and the light rain to quit falling, I was able to quiz both J. Paul and David about the intricacies of producing the show. Normally the staff requires three days afield to gain enough footage to produce one twenty-two minute TV show. Occasionally in that time frame circumstances will provide material for two episodes but that is rare.

David requires enough daylight to film the hunt and even with the best digital equipment filming does not begin until well after legal shooting time has come and gone. Its senseless to shoot at fowl that can’t be filmed and likewise will count against the hunter’s bag limit reducing the opportunity to gain additional footage.

David also elaborated about the editing process which compromises the majority of his workload. I had no idea that an editor spends forty to sixty hours viewing and shaping the raw hunting footage into an captivating TV show. David also must create many of the commercials and background material required for the format of the network. Additionally once I learned the cost of air time, cameras, travel expenses and salaries, I realized that producing a quality waterfowl show such as Drake’s was no easy or inexpensive task!

Much to the dismay of our entourage, we struck out on our first day in the blind. It seemed that an aura surrounded our blind as we witnessed few ducks close enough to work and none appeared to have any future on TV ! Thus after several hours were retreated and found solace at a diner to lick our wounds and examine our options for the next day.

After consulting the weather channels and MDC staff, we made the decision to attempt Schell-Osage once more since moisture was forecast once more and having a roof over our head would allow the crew to film in conditions other than a downright deluge.

At the sound of the buzzer I rose and gathered my gear. We were prepared to spend every minute of legal shooting time in our blind , in hopes of gaining enough footage for a show. This time I declined to draw, hoping that the host’s fortunes would bring us better luck. Number thirty-five was not any improvement and should have been a precursor of things to come.

David and J. Paul were able to interview several of the “old timers” and learn how things have changed throughout the past four decades at this duck park. Several admitted that through the management skills and efforts of the Missouri Department of Conservation there were more ducks now than in previous years. Chris, Josh and all the MDC staff at the facility went out of their way to help hunters with information including daily and seasonal success charts as well as personal their experience and knowledge.

Before long we found our way to the boat launch and were en route to yet another permanent blind. This time we chose a moist soil area that had been harboring a good number of ducks in days past. Once more the conditions were gloomily, low clouds with intermittent mist and little wind to speak of.  Not exactly ideal but as I learned from the crew, you have to hunt and film the conditions when on scene with the Migration Nation.

Fortunately both David and J. Paul advised me they had always been fortunate enough to gain enough footage that David could construct an episode from. We would hunt hard and let the cards fall as they may. David and Matt filmed J.Paul doing the intro, as well as how and why the blind was chosen. Once decoys were set we climbed into the structure leaving Matt on the backside to film from a different angle than David. I can attest that during lull periods in a blind time can pass ever so slowly yet that wasn’t the case with the whimsical host. In fact Jackson kept amusing us with Cajun jokes while the crew joined in with their own hi-jinx.

As most duck hunters can attest, there are times that the ducks choose to be anywhere besides where you are! This was one of those situations. We were forced to watch group after group drop into blinds just a half mile away. Nothing seemed to change the minds of overhead waterfowl. Neither ringing high ball calls, feed chuckles, nor lack of calling helped yet we persisted and tried every method and technique known to mankind.

Still it wasn’t until fifteen minutes left in legal shooting time that the ducks began to pay heed to us. AT that point we finally began to work a few groups and actually fired a shot or two prior to losing camera light. It was with regret that we began to pack up the operation and as luck would have it, that is when the ducks came to our hole like bees to honey.

Although I was able to garner enough information for the story, it was doubtful David would have enough material for an episode at this time. Quite possibly the crew would have to return to Missouri later in the season. Fortunately, J.Paul admitted this was the first instance in three seasons of filming that required a return trip.

With empty game bag, I reluctantly packed my truck for the drive home. Still, the past several days were a famous time. I was able to meet a trio of genuine guys who share their passion of waterfowl hunting with viewers the world over. It became obvious that Drake’s Migration Nation, “Goes the Distance” itself. The crew puts forth the maximum effort to film under all circumstances good or bad.

Every hunting trip doesn’t translate into full bird straps or recovered leg bands. Often times it’s hard work,heartache, and hours spent with good buddies but hey isn’t that what real waterfowling is about? Drake’s Migration Nation show may be the closest thing to the ideal duck and goose hunting production. Hey don’t take my word for it; check it out for yourself! For show times and more information on how to join, visit, www.drakesmigrationnation.com

Normally I test everything out prior to going on a long distance trip, but I had just gotten these waders plus I have the utmost respect for Drake products so I felt confident they would live up to their reputation. The first morning I pulled them up and on over my jeans, shoved some shells into the front ammo slots and hit the marsh. So far so good…

When I slid into the water, I felt only the compression of the material against my legs no moisture, so the seams were all good. The shoulder straps have no buckles on them, they use a “Velcro type” closure thus making gun mounting easier and allow for more user comfort on an all day hunt. Being familiar with Drake products, I knew there would be a waterproof pocket/pouch and of course there was. In fact there are two waterproof pockets. A small one on the front chest, with the larger pouch located inside the waders at the chest level also. There I secured my dog’s “E” collar remote as well as my cell phone, just in case of emergency.

The call  pocket with magnetic closure was located on the outside left chest area. Immeidately below that are the six shotgun shell slots and a three inch wide waist belt to help snug up the waders in moving water.

My favorite feature of the Drake waders is the extra layer of “cordura” type material which they sew to the knee, butt, and lower leg area. This really helps to prevent wear and tear (as well as rips, holes, snags) when walking through brush, leaning against timber, sitting on old wooden plank seats, or whatever. It should greatly increase the longevity and life of the waders in my opinion!

ALthough it wasn’t cold, we were standing in waist deep water, and after a few minutes I needed someplace to put my hands to keep them dry. I began inspecting the Drake EST waders for the hand pockets and located them inside the chest area. The pockets were fleece lined and seemed to be situated in the right spot to prevent arm fatigue.

Later in the day, after sloughing through two marshes, enduring eighty-five degree heat as well as some pretty good hunting, I was glad to have the Drake EST Waders on as I hadn’t hardly broken a sweat unlike my buddy who had neoprene type waders on. A couple times I actually wore shorts inside my waders and was comfortable with no mositure build up and I had no issues with the fit or interior finish against my bare legs. The material that Drake employs for the EST series of waders really is “breathable” as well as completely water tight.

The second day, I switched to a light cotton sock, as well as my shorts and wouldn’t you know it; my feet were a bit loose inside the wader boots. Once I got un-stuck from the mud, I remembered seeing a picture on the side of the box, showcasing the adjustment buckles! I reached down and rolled up the outside ankle gaiters, to see buckles on the backside of my ankles with an adjustment strap! Bam ! Back in business with a properly fitting adjusted boot. Oh did I mention that there are rock gaiters on the bottom of these waders? Another neat little bonus from Drake Waterfowl.

At the week’s completion, I had put close to forty hours of huntign time wearing these waders. I had absolutely nothing bad to say about them. My pair looked none the worse for wear, with all seams and zippers intact. The fit was perfect for my size, as the shoulder straps allow a lot of inseam to be taken or let out. I am a six footer and had no issues at all with the leg room.

I have to give Drake another thumbs up for this great product. If things are typically warm in your hunting area or you spend a lot of time chasing Teal during the early season then I believe these waders are the perfect companion for you. Now if you have some spare change laying around and need a light weight set of waders for those warm days then be sure to check these out, as they have no competition that I could see industry wide!

If you hunt waterfowl with a retriever, its a foregone conclusion that you need to provide some sort of cover and concealment for your dog while out in the field. Well, there are several dog blinds on the market, but as I found out through trial and error, none were really suited for a big, tall dog. Fortunately, along came Rig ‘em Right with their innovative, new Field Bully dog blind.

As I mentioned my new dog, Vito, is a tall fella. So much that the other dog blinds required him to low crawl in and out, and should he happen to move about in the blind, well it usually caused the blind to tumble over. Thus I searched numerous catalogs and stores until I stumbled across the Rig ‘ em Right blind. Since we were so impressed with their goose flag (see archive), we hoped for similar luck and ordered the Field Bully.

Once it arrived, I noticed that the Field Bully dog blind is built with the KISS principal. That is, keeping things simple, which often works well in the field. The Rig ‘em Right blind innocorpates no rods to provide support and get lost in the field. Instead the Field Bully uses integral spring wires that are sewn inside the blind creating support and rigidness, but also allowing for the blind to collapse into a triangle shape for storage and carry.

What I found was truly unique was that the blind can be collapsed into the fore mentioned stage, secured with the sewn in straps and held in that handy carry mode. The bottom of the blind has a shoulder strap that snaps on and off. Now the blind can be portaged to and from the truck, yet once the hunting location is found all the hunter does is unhook the straps and the blind instantly springs into hunting form. No set up is involved!

Additionally, the blind does have four (tent type) stakes to secure it to terra firma should that be needed. Once more Rig ‘em Right put some thought into securing those stakes. Each corner of the bottom of the blind has a recessed stake pocket and a stake that has a strap  sewn into the blind ending any chance of losing stakes. I tell you these guys at Rig ‘em Right have things figured out!

Once the Field Bully blind is set up, it really blends well into the field. It’s unique triangular shape fades into the cover very well. I found it is hardly noticeable in a corn field unlike the competitor’s square shaped blinds. The blind exterior is covered with straps to hold vegetation. It has front and rear doors so your dog can enter or exit from either end of the blind. A black heavy cordura type material with integral padding makes up the floor, so your dog is comfortable and doesn’t get poked in the belly.

There are two doors on either end of the blind with a viewing port cut out in the top of each doorway. Doors do not hinder the dog at all and they also have the vegatation straps as well.

As I mentioned if you have a large dog this may well be the only blind that will house your dog, but any size retriever will appreciate the benefits of this blind in the field. Furthermore, if you are just looking for the best dog blind; one that is simple to use and features quality materials and construction, then the Field Bully blind is for you. Small dogs or big dogs, they all deserve the best, and the Rig ‘em Right Field Bully blind is by far the superior dog blind on the market today.

Of course, she had been shooting a pint sized .22 rimfire rifle for sometime now. Yet lately, whether it was her desire to hunt deer or the fact that she has grown physically and mentally, but her shooting skills have really expanded well. We have consistently shot boxes and boxes of Fiocchi rimfire ammo at targets and metal plates. Once her confidence increased, we began to consider switching to a larger caliber rifle designed for youth hunters.

A search of the latest centerfire rifles turned up the new Savage Axis Youth model. Introduced in 2011, this Savage rifle is designed with the smaller frame hunter in mind. A scaled down stock, well engineered recoil pad and shorter barrel than its larger, full sized brothers, this rifle fits pint sized hunters perfectly. We selected the .243 caliber as the low recoil would allow her to get comfortable and gain the confidence needed to successfully take mature Whitetail Deer.

Once we picked up the Savage Axis, I began to compliment it with an optical system. I chose an Alpen Apex 3×9 scope, which would add a bit of weight and therefore soak up more recoil as well as provide excellent vision at all hunting ranges. Once mounted,the Alpen produced unbelievably clear and precise point of aim that impressed the young hunter as well as the father. I knew Alpen had a great reputation for quality and ruggedness, which I knew might be tested somewhere down the road!

After bore sighting and breaking in the new barrel, we began the slow process of acclimating to the new rifle. I had purposely chosen her rimfire rifle in a bolt action, since I knew it would be likely that whenever she moved up to a centerfire rifle it would likewise be a bolt gun as well. Keep the action choice in mind when you purchase the child’s first gun, whether that be single shot break action, semi-auto or bolt action. It really helps them grow accustomed to the dynamics and safety of the weapon(s).

Once we familiarized ourselves with the slight differences in the two rifles, we spent time practicing placing the rifle on safe and taking the safety off. After gaining some muscle memory in that skill, it was only then that she took her first shot with the .243. I had reloaded some reduced recoil loads for the initial test firing. although we would soon be switching to Fiocchi factory loaded ammo with 70 grain bullets.

After a couple shots, she had no flinch or trouble handling the recoil, so we continued to fire more and more ammo at each range setting. Throughout the course of the summer, Kylee has become a proficient shooter. She still spends plenty of time plinking away with her rimfire rifle, but she gets more and more range time with her deer rifle as the season approaches. This first year she will be shooting off of a rest in the field just as she does at the range.

This is another great idea for the summer. Build a blind that incorporates some sort of rifle rest for the young hunter. Whether that be a simple bi-pod or such device, a strategically picked low tree limb with a stool placed behind it or a plywood box blind with windows set low enough for a young hunter to comfortably shoot their rifle, it’s your choice.

We picked an area where we consistently view deer entering and exiting a grain field. Shots should be under one hundred yards so there will be maximum potential for success. The blind was built for comfort as well as concealment, since young hunters can’t always sit perfectly still! It’s also close to home, so we can frequent the spot often for short periods of time if needed. Another good idea is to build your stand or blind ahead of time if possible. This way the creatures grow accustomed to it and feel at home in and around the blind.

Lastly, be sure to outline what will take place when entering and exiting the blind or stand site. Be sure the young hunter knows how to safely secure their rifle inside the stand. Talk about what will happen when a deer shows up and how the rifle will be mounted and fired safely. Be sure to know all back drops, so that there will be no safety issues.

Take the time to teach the anatomy of a a deer’s body. Once the young hunter knows where the vital areas are located its time to instruct them on shot placement. I like to have the hunter practice shooting at those deer silhouette targets that have the vitals exposed. This just continues to reinforce the point of aim for a novice hunter and they can be used again and again if you take the time to tape up bullet holes.

Once all of these topics have been discussed and practiced, its time to prepare for the actual hunt. Be sure to re-zero your novice’s rifle with whatever hunting ammo they will be using. We will be making the switch to Fiocchi, 95 grain ammo, so her rifle will probably have to have the Alpen scope adjusted sightly. A few practice shots to get accustomed to the minor change in recoil and we will be set for the opener of youth season!