I have never duck or goose hunted. This was going to be my first year and had a good teacher, but that has all fallen apart now. The best I understand is the opener of duck season is the only good day. After that they are gun shy and way smarter than the adverage hunter??? I think this is a hit and miss season and like turkey a good week of hunting is all you will be doing..... that is my impression anyhow. I have never tried it before because the only place I want to be is in a tree...

I baught a pair of waders and two calls and a case of shells. I think the only other thing I need is some decoys and I can do this myself. The shells are what I thought was crazy, steel shot case runs 100.00 plus. Owell.

Saturday or Sunday morning I'm gonna head out to my opening day stand location and do a simulated hunt. I'll be hanging on the tree long before daylight with camera and binos in hand.

The reason being that I have several different places picked out, but since I don't have any trailcams, I don't know what's moving in the area. I know the bucks are there, but just unsure how many and how big.

Last year's opening dayfarm will produce at least an encounter withbuck or two, but I haven't seen much out there with any size. However, my hunting area is tucked away between a remote bedding area and a cornfield. I've only been able to glass deer on the far opposite corner of the property in the soybeans - and while I was seeing 8-10 bucks per night out there, I haven't seen much in the line of shooters- one good seven pointer missing a G3 and some bigger bucks that always wait until dark to show up - by that time, my scope is blacked out. This place has a history of producing some monster bucks, but the poachers start jacklighting them early, so once the corn is cleared, it'll be open season for them. If I'm gonna tag a hog out there, it has to happen in the first week or two while the corn is still up.

On the other hand, I have some other spots on the gamelandsthat are LOADED with bucks, rubbed to shreds already, and I know there are some hogs in the area. But, I'm torn between the two locations on the opener. Both places have isolated stands of oaks that should be dropping mast next week. The deer will be in there. Same problem out there - you've gotta get it done within the first two weeks before small game and youth rifle season starts. After that stuff starts, it's only huntable during the week, while I'm stuck behind this desk.

I justcan't pass up hunting on last year'sfarm that produced a decent buck in 10 minutes of hunting without at least going out there and spending a morning to see what's lurking.

Man, if they would just open Sunday hunting here, I wouldn't have a problem. I'd get a solid four days + weeknights in the stand (60-80 hours) before the orange army and the poachersstart ruining things. I know I would be tagged out by then, unless I was waiting for something special.

I took the kids to the Cardinals/Giants game Friday night in STL. Cards won 13-3, we had a blast. It was the familys first trip to the new Busch Stadium, I had been a coupe of times through work (our station is a Cardinal Radio affiliate) but these were the best seats I had this year. It was my first time seeing Bonds play. I've bought tickets 5 or 6 times in the last 10 years to see him play, he was always on the DL or taking a day off. It's been a goal of mine the past few years to see the old timers that I followed as a kid before they hung up the spikes. Last year I saw Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Julio Franco. The only one on my list to see before they retire is Frank Thomas, so I may have to take the red eye to Oakland lol.

On the hunting side of things, I shot my bow this morning before work. She's dialed in and ready for the season. The stands are hung, the crops are being harvested as we speak.11 more days....

Dave - good to see you got to take the kids to the ballgame. Lots of parents don't take the time to do that anymore, and that's something that is important, IMO. It's tough though, because when we were young, peanut heaven tickets were only a few bucks, now you're looking at $20-$30 a seat, with food, drinks and parking tacked on. The kids will look back someday and appreciate the fact that they got to see Barry Bonds play. Any chance of scoring playoff tix? How is Pujols' health? They're a different team with him in the lineup.

Speaking of baseball - we went to the Pirates game not long ago, and they had a band play during the fireworks show. I was looking at the band, and saw the guy playing the guitar looked familiar. On the jumbo-tron, I caught it - it was Freddy Sanchez! Apparently, he's a whiz on the steel guitar, so they let him play. I really hope he wins the batting title - he's a really cool guy.

So did you let the youngsters throw garbage and half-eaten hotdogs at Barry, or is that only something that Pittsburghers do? They like to have "D Battery Night" or "Pirates Golfball Night" when Barry comes to town. There's nobody that the 'burghers hate more than dear old Barry. LOL

Man, these last two weeks couldn't go any slower. I can't even get out scouting much, because I'm logging as much wife time as I can, scoring surplus points for when season actually starts, and I go AWOL.

Pujols aggravated his hand last night on a play at 1st. He finished the game, but his elbow has been bothering him for some time. I've sent off the check for playoff tickets, lemme just say I could have bought a new bow for what that cost me.[:@]

The kids were amazed at Bond's size, we were literally 50 feet from him in leftfield corner. They asked me how he got so big.....about that time the chants of BARRIOD fired up. They are fast learners lol. Cheater or not...I wanted my kids to see him play before its too late. He could be playing in the California penal league next year lol.

I have a question, if Troy, Mike and Ryan never return or post again, do we get three alternates? [8D]

I have a feeling that Troy lured the guys out there with the prospect of trophy elk hunting only to sucker them into nine days of hard labor. After he picked them up from the airport, they promptly returned to the Pottenger Slave Labor Camp, where Mike and Ryan have been working their fingers to the bone shoveling, shingling, wiring, plumbing and painting. Troy zaps them with a cattle prod if they go near the phone to call for help.[&:] What? I'm not kidding.

The Cards are gonna need Pujols in the post season. Hopefully he gets back to 100% before October.

California Penal League.... I see it now - get your California BARROID novelty license plates now for just $29.95.

Hmmmm i think i seen them sheds b4. Shed if you guys have a few no shows i am on the alt list.

You know Quick, we have been redoing the house we live in, need to strip a bunch of trim and than resand it and restain it... Hmmmm... Maybe offer a trophy Illinois Whitetail hunt to some unsuspecting team mates? Strap on the dog shock collors and give the guys some heat guns and scrapers? Hmm...

Hope to hear from those guys soon, I wish I could be out there.. Haven't been out in the Elk terriotry for 6 years now, almost 7 years for my last hunt out there..... God I miss the mountains.

Hello Team XX-

This is Troy's cousin that hunted with him, Ryan & Mike this last weekend. Just wanted to drop in and give you all a bit of an update.

They are in the elk! When I left we were in to 8 bulls, but nothing in the freezer yet. Firstdaythe weather was excellent. Mike got to go to full draw ona bull Troy called in, but had no good shot oppertunity. Ryan and I played around with a herd bull trying to callhim away from his cows for a shot. A small cinnimon bear interupted our efforts as he decided to get in our way for a bit. BooBoo (as we nicknamed him)made us think the bull was coming thru the trees until we found out elk don't climb them too (haha).The nextcouple of days we had them all on the run, but the weather warmed up and the elk stopped talking...making the hunt difficult.

Those guys are still after 'em, and I have a good feeling they will be tagged out at the end of the week. Besides the elk, we seen plenty of deer, bear, coyotes, and a real nice bull moose. When I left them, they were planning on hitting an area known to hold some huge bulls. They are having a great time. Unfortunately for you all, you're going to have to wait a few more days for the photos and the stories. They are just too busy during the day hunting elk, and too tuckered out in the evenings to get out some emails...

Good luck to Team XX in this years contest. I'll be rooting for ya'll!

-Scott

Thanks for the update Scott, I am sure we will all be looking forward to seeiong the picx. and stories.
IL- Ill take you up on that hunt!! you hunt with hammers and paint brushes there, right?
I would love to hunt the mountains, Never have but would love to try.
Talk to you all soon.