Avery® Online Journal Archive
 Canada ConnectionSouth Dakota, September 26, 2004 By Eric Larsgaard, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Fifteen minutes after legal shooting time small bunches of Canada geese began returning to the pond and within 20 minutes we had taken our limit. It was as good as it gets as the giant birds settled amongst the decoys and continued to do such for the next hour.[FULL STORY]  Paying Attention to Details = SuccessEastern South Dakota, March 1, 2004 By Jim Thompson, Jr., Avery® Pro-Staffer  With another waterfowl season behind me and an upcoming one just around the corner I find myself both preparing for the new and reflecting on the past. While human nature is to remember all the good days afield (I'm talking about success here, it's a given that all days in the field are good ones) it's more important from a learning standpoint to focus on the unsuccessful ones. [FULL STORY]  A Young Man's FirstFulton, Maryland, March 2004  By Mark Hoke, Avery® Regional Pro-StafferI've been lucky enough to hunt some of the same farms for most of my life, but with the fast growth of construction in my area these farms are being gobbled up by corporate America. I understand progress must carry on, but a tradition of hunting and good stewardship of the land is very important to the youth of this country. [FULL STORY] Greenhead Gear Wigeon Decoys Field Test Arizona, February 2004 By Jeff Wallis  Waterfowl hunting on the Colorado River in Arizona is "unique" to say the least! I can understand that most people don't think that Arizona would provide good duck and goose hunting opportunities - well, I'm here to tell you that thinking could not be further from the truth… [FULL STORY] Hiring a Hunting Guide-OutfitterEastern South Dakota, March 1, 2004 By Jim Thompson, Jr., Avery® Pro-Staffer Unfortunately I've been motivated to write this article due to a friend's misfortune and disappointment not once but twice after hiring the services of a professional guide/outfitter. It's one thing to get burned for a hundred bucks and a day of your time but when you start talking thousands of dollars for hunting fees and travel expenses along with a week to ten days of vacation time you're discussing a whole different ball game. [FULL STORY] Avery® Hunting Journal Entries  Avery® Hunting Journal Entries will allow you to follow along with Avery® Pro-Staffers and other hunters from around the U.S. and Canada. We will update the journal entries on a regular basis. Please check weekly, if not daily, to read the success, or lack thereof from our guys in the field. Our objective is to bring you updated reports and photos of the fall migration as well as some exciting hunting stories throughout the season. [FULL STORY]
Frigid Weather Birds Flock TogetherFulton, Maryland, February 2004 By Mark Hoke, Avery® Regional Pro-Staffer  Work has been demanding for the last two months, so getting away for an early morning goose hunt was going to be a real treat. Crusted snow and cold weather has locked down most of the geese in central Maryland, but locating a concentration of geese would not be a problem. [FULL STORY]  Outdoor Photography - Recording Memories for PosterityUnion City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Nearly every outdoor enthusiast has a collection of photographs showcasing their hunting or fishing adventures and trophies. Some sportsmen would sooner show off a picture of a trophy deer or hawg' bass than a picture of their own wife {Sorry Hon}. Today we will look at some tips on taking high quality outdoor photos. We will travel the spectrum from inexpensive disposable cameras to "aim and shoot" models and high-tech digital cameras. [FULL STORY]  Throw Them a Curve Ball - Part IIHarwood, Maryland, February 2004 By Rusty Hallock, Avery® Pro-Staffer  A few days earlier we downsized our decoy spread to three dozen Greenhead Gear® Full body decoys and one dozen Greenhead Gear® Over-Sized shell decoys. The change was necessary so we could finish birds that have received heavy hunting pressure. We wanted to give the birds a different look. During the course of the season, our decoy spread was between eight and ten dozen decoys. [FULL STORY]  Greenhead Gear® DECOYS = RESULTSReno, NV, January 2004 By Chad Belding, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  In my opinion, the reason that we hunt waterfowl is to get up close and personal with the birds. Sure, it is fun to shoot them. It is fun to cook them and eat them. It is always fun to see a great retrieve by a lab, but seeing a group of mallards or geese turn on a dime and finish in the decoys is what brings us back day after day. [FULL STORY] Throw Them a Curve Ball - Part IHarwood, Maryland, January 2004 By Rusty Hallock, Avery® Pro-Staffer  To guarantee success during the end of waterfowl season, you may have to change your tactics. We were hunting the last week of Maryland's Migratory Goose Season. The geese we were hunting had experienced heavy hunting pressure. To compound the difficulty, we had hunted the same field two days ago. [FULL STORY]  Chasing Pheasants in Texas!Lubbock, Texas By Avery® Pro-Staffers Rob Jepson and Derek Rambo  We still had a ½ a day open on our schedule before we had to begin our drive back to Dallas and Brandon suggest we try for pheasants. Pheasants? I knew about Texas quail but nothing about "ditch parrots" in the Panhandle. I was about to be in for a pleasant surprise! We met with Danny Swoap of Broken Wing Outfitters in Littlefield, TX and he with his English Pointers "Tiny"(can you believe it?), & Tinker, set out to walk a quarter section of CRP ground outside of town. [FULL STORY] You Can't Shoot Them Sitting On The Couch!Harwood, Maryland, January 2004 By Rusty Hallock, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Forecast for the morning was frigid. As with all my hunts, I generally watch several weather channels to come up with a consensus. All forecast were for lows around 10 degrees with 20-30 mile per hour northwest winds. With the forecast of cold temperatures and gusting winds, some of my hunting buddies backed out claiming prior commitments. I was beginning to have second thoughts myself. [FULL STORY] Little Geese in Big TexasLubbock, Texas By Avery® Pro-Staffers Rob Jepson and Derek Rambo  Ask any goose hunter to pick a location to hunt Canada Geese and you will more than likely hear several notable and traditional destinations; Rochester, MN, Crab Orchard, IL, Maryland's Eastern Shore, and Oak Hammock Marsh in Manitoba to mention just a few. Those same destinations conjure up visions of skies filled with geese and sub-freezing conditions that try the metal of the hardiest of hunters and their equipment. One response you are not likely to get is Lubbock in the Texas Panhandle. [FULL STORY] Short Bills & Long LegsLubbock, Texas By Rob Jepson, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  Day two of our Texas hunt started intentionally late and full of promise. The night before we decided to hunt the small playa lake that was full of geese, ducks, and sandhill cranes seen on the afternoon scouting trip. This made us happy for two reasons… we saw thousands of waterfowl that would soon return to the open water after feeding on grain fields all morning and we could sleep in, which is hard to come by hard core waterfowlers. We met Brandon at his house around 8 am to load up the decoys and blinds. [FULL STORY] Starting 2004 with a New Year's BangEastern South Dakota, January 1, 2004 By Jim Thompson, Jr., Avery® Pro-Staffer  I couldn't have found a better way to celebrate the New Year than goose hunting with a few buddies (I hope my family doesn't read this). We left Sioux Falls at 9:30 a.m. with plans to work in a late afternoon hunt. The three and a half hour drive put us in the field a little after 1 p.m. We were set and ready a little before 2 but saw very little bird activity until 3:30. As tough as the birds have been lately I chose to run a smaller spread of about 2 dozen decoys. [FULL STORY] Hunting Canada Geese in Maryland!Annapolis, Maryland By Rob Jepson, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  It's the day after Christmas and while most 18-20 year olds I know would be sleeping in after a full day of holiday hustling and bustling, Roger Shirkey and Justin Wayson (both veteran hunters) were setting out Canada Goose decoys in the pre-dawn darkness on a harvested hillside cornfield on the Wayson family farm. Betsy Miller (a recent graduate of the MD Hunter Safety Education Program and on her first hunt) helped them while I set up the Power Hunter™ and Migrator™ blinds. Justin said we were early for the morning flight, his observations making the arrival of the birds nearer to 8:00 a.m. [FULL STORY] Harvesting to Improve your Herd Union City, Tennessee By Greg Poole  Harvesting your own mega-buck from the property you own or lease comes from more than just walking out in the woods with your .270, picking out a tree to sit under and God smiling on you for the day. What does it take to produce a quality deer in Tennessee? We covered most of this is the last issue of West Tennessee Outdoors: genes, age and a quality nutritional food source. What we did not cover in the last issue is how to supplement quality deer on your property. That extra management practice is the harvesting of does. [FULL STORY]  The Best Christmas Present You Can Give a KidMemphis, Tennessee By John Hoffman, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  According to 13-year-old Adam Skoda, he got the best Christmas present he could have imagined on the Saturday before Christmas.The sun began to break over the tree line and the blind was filled with anticipation. As I listened to the excited kids I couldn't help but remember when I was their age, asking my father those same questions. "Hey Dad, do you see any ducks?", "When should we call at 'em? ", and most importantly "Am I going to get to shoot?" [FULL STORY] The Old Man and the MonarchUnion City, Tennessee Fiction By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer The old man figured he had harvested more than his share of white tail deer in the sixty plus years he had resided on this earth. He found he had gone through all of the stages of evolution a bow hunter could experience. As a young man he entered the beginner stage where "ego is king". Bragging rights of harvesting a deer were of utmost importance. Doe or buck, it didn't matter, because deer were scarce during his youth. In his early adult years, he morphed into the "numbers game". Deer were more common, and most of his peers judged your hunting skills by the number of deer you harvested in a season. [FULL STORY] Choosing the Right DecoySouth Dakota, December 2003 By Jim Thompson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  As a self-taught waterfowler, I was easily influenced and very naïve when I first pursued the sport. When I was fourteen years old, I believed and took to heart what experienced waterfowlers had to say, especially when it came to choosing calls and decoys. [FULL STORY] Decision Time!Regina, Saskatchewan By Michael Hungle, Avery® Pro-Staffer  The past two weeks have made for extremely difficult whitetail deer hunting. Daytime highs have topped the freezing mark or hovered very near to the freezing mark. The extreme temperatures of two weeks ago that prevailed during my mule deer hunt are long gone. This change of weather has drastically reduced daytime deer movement. Rutting activity has been nonexistent and appears to be taking place at night under the cover of darkness. The deer seem to be bedding down well before sunrise and often not moving until after sunset. (Especially the big bucks) To complicate matters, there's been days with heavy fog and the deer have not been responding to antler rattling, grunting or doe estrus calls. [FULL STORY]Low-Pressure Scouting - Trail CamerasUnion City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer  There are many advantages to using a trail camera to scout your deer woods, the biggest being letting these high-tech lenses scout your land for you without putting any human pressure on the wildlife. Today we will look at the many advantages of these cameras, as well as give you some practical tips for purchasing and using them. [FULL STORY]  The Rut - Fact and MythUnion City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer Much has been written about the magical time of year when bucks chase does all day long, and hunter orange is as common in the woods as Tennessee Vols games are on TV sets on Saturday afternoons. Today we will look at the rut, examine what it really is, and check out some tips and tactics from our pro staff team. [FULL STORY] Black Swamp - Duck Hunter's Dilemma - Part 3 of 3Union City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer  This week's column will conclude my investigative series on why the work has been stopped to complete the Black Swamp GTR {green tree reservoir} project. In the last decade of being an outdoor writer, I have never received more phone calls or email concerning a hotter topic. The votes are in and the overwhelming consensus is that the public wants to see Black Swamp GTR be completed. [FULL STORY] Dog Day AfternoonSouth Dakota, November 2003 By Jim Thompson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  For those of you who are Al Pacino fans "Dog Day Afternoon" may have a different meaning than what you're about to read. This story is not for the weak-hearted and most if not all should find it very disturbing. To be totally honest my stomach turns as I write this piece. The pain and misery that dogs suffered on October 18, 2003 will certainly go down in history as one of the most deadly days for hunting dogs. [FULL STORY AND PHOTOS] Black Swamp - Duck Hunter's Dilemma - Part 2 of 3Union City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer  The controversy continues. My email and phone messages are running rampant. Volunteer State duck hunters are livid. They want to know why the work has been stopped to develop public waterfowl hunting on the Black Swamp Project? Many organizations are catching the blame, from Animal Right Activists, to TDEC, to the USFWS. One organization that is in favor of the project is the TWRA, of that there has been no debate. Last time we heard from Scott Ferguson, of the Obion River Waterfowl Association. [FULL STORY] Building an Inexpensive Shore BlindNorth Dakota, October 2003 By Jim Thompson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  All veteran waterfowlers know that to have consistent success afield total concealment is a must. Not only must your choice of concealment hide you, it must also hide itself. The latter is usually the most overlooked. Simply put, birds don't need to see you to know that you're there. I'm always on the hunt for a blind that will offer total concealment, especially from above, is simple to assemble and disassemble, inexpensive, will last for several seasons, and is easy to cover with local vegetation, trees, etc. [FULL STORY AND PHOTOS]Black Swamp Waterfowl Project Causes Great Concern for West Tennessee HuntersUnion City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer  My email and answering machine have been deluged with messages from outraged duck hunters who demand to be heard on the issue of developing the Black Swamp area, located between Kenton and Sharon for public waterfowl hunting. I was approached by Scott Ferguson of the Obion County Waterfowl Association, and shown actual documentation on this hot topic, as well as signed petitions by hundreds of hunters wanting justice. [FULL STORY] Avery and It's Commitment to "Our Future" Northern Nevada Youth HuntReno, NV, October 2003 By Chad Belding, Avery® Pro-Staffer 
What is a waterfowler's "future"? What will be the deciding factor to where our sport is headed? Is it the breeding grounds? Somewhat. Is it predator control, without a doubt. There are many factors that will play a part in the direction in which waterfowl hunting is headed, but it is no secret that the youth of today will play the biggest part in insuring a promising future for the sport we all love. [FULL STORY]  Avery® in ManitobaManitoba, October 2003 By Shawn Stahl, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  Read daily Journal Entries from Shawn Stahl's crew as they head to Manitoba, Canada. The guys will be hunting for geese in the morning and ducks in the afternoon. Be sure to visit averyoutdoors.com daily to read how the hunts are going in Manitoba. [READ JOURNAL ENTRIES] Devils Lake North DakotaNorth Dakota, October 2003 By Travis Mueller, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  Follow along as the Avery® crew moves into the Devils Lake region of North Dakota. Over the next few weeks we will post daily Journal Entries from the guys in North Dakota. The Avery® crew will field test many new products on these hunts as well as brainstorm and develop new products for next season. The past few seasons have produced some great hunts in this region of the country. Early reports show that there are large numbers of waterfowl in the area, which will make for some exciting duck and goose hunting. Be sure to visit averyoutdoors.com daily to read how the hunts are going in this area of the country. [READ JOURNAL ENTRIES]A Kid's Opening DaySouth Dakota, October 2003 By Jim Thompson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Statistics show that hunter numbers continue to decline annually, most disturbing, those of the young people who are being introduced to the sport. Access to hunting land, children involvement in other activities and the busy lifestyles of Americans these days are all to blame, so they claim. [FULL STORY AND PHOTOS] Black Swamp Waterfowl Project Causes Great Concern for West Tennessee HuntersUnion City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer My email and answering machine have been deluged with messages from outraged duck hunters who demand to be heard on the issue of developing the Black Swamp area, located between Kenton and Sharon for public waterfowl hunting. I was approached by Scott Ferguson of the Obion County Waterfowl Association, and shown actual documentation on this hot topic, as well as signed petitions by hundreds of hunters wanting justice. [FULL STORY]
 Avery® Hunting Journal Entries - Alberta 2003Daily Updates! Central Alberta By Bill Cooksey, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  A trip to Alberta has officially kicked off the 2003 waterfowl season for the Media Relations Department at Avery®. Follow along with our own Bill Cooksey and several outdoor writers as they chase ducks and geese throughout Central Alberta. The trip to Alberta is one of several media hunts Avery® will be sponsoring during the 2003-2004 season. These hunts are organized to host the nation's top outdoor writers and editors a few days at a time. This will allow writers to gather needed information for upcoming stories and features for their respective magazines, newspapers and/or columns. The media hunts also enable Bill to highlight a few of Avery's new products for the upcoming season. The first 3 days of the hunt include freelance outdoor writer Monte Burch and editor of Cabela's Outfitters Journal Bill Bynum. Later in the week, Avery® will host outdoor writers Nick Sisley and Gary Garth. Be sure to visit averyoutdoors.com each day to see photos and read updates from each day's hunt. The guys in Alberta will be hunting geese in the morning and ducks in the afternoon (weather permitting) so please check back daily as we track the success or lack thereof! To learn more about hunting waterfowl with Pinfeathers and Hackle Lodge, contact Steve Chorney at (780)325-3817. Ducks and Geese Aplenty Kansas City, Missouri By Tom Cannon, Outdoor Writer and Photographer  Hey, fellow waterfowlers here is some great news first hand from North Dakota. I just returned from central North Dakota, and there are ducks and geese everywhere! That's right. If what I observed with my own eyes is any indication of the coming 2003- 2004 season then we should expect good hunting and hot gun barrels this fall at least in the Central and western Mississippi flyways. [FULL STORY]Early Birds Late, But Worth the Wait Annapolis, MarylandBy Rob Jepson, Avery® Territory Manager  Not until the day after, did it occur to me what the common thread was that ran through the previous day's hunt. Avery® Regional Pro-Staffer Mark Hoke called me early one morning and gave me the head's up, "I've got a freshwater pond near the Bay that the geese have been visiting most every morning. Monday is the last day of the Early Goose Season, and the Sept. Teal season is open…can you make it?"[FULL STORY] Bagging Early Nuisance Geese Dawson Springs, Kentucky By Will Brantley, Outdoor Life Magazine  Although it was unseasonably cool for early September, I had my doubts about killing any geese in the 60-degree weather. After all, it had been hitting the 90 degree mark pretty regularly during the day. It wasn't exactly the type of weather I would think of for goose hunting. But my good friend and goose hunting guru, Avery Pro-Staffer Richie McKnight, assured me the geese would show if we were patient. [FULL STORY]Greetings from Saskatchewan!Regina, Saskatchewan By Michael Hungle, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Greetings from Saskatchewan! Hunting season is in full swing, opportunities abound and time is at a premium. Right now, the toughest decision is what species to hunt! There are ducks, geese, upland game birds, elk and archery deer. Very soon muzzleloader season and pheasants will be added to the mix and before I know it, it will be time to go whitetail hunting with the rifle. [FULL STORY] Finish Em' EarlyNorthwest, Texas By Derek Rambo, Avery® Territory Manager  September 1st in Texas means dove season. While this is a great sport that kicks off hunting season it means the countdown to the first real season for waterfowl crazed Texans, early teal season! A friend of mine told me that he had been seeing loads of teal using the rain flooded milo fields and that I should take a look at our property. That was all I needed to hear to get going. A good duck hunting buddy of mine, Brett Allen and I loaded up and drove west. [FULL STORY] Be Prepared - A Suggested Clothing List For CanadaRegina, Saskatchewan By Michael Hungle, Avery® Pro-Staffer  I see it all too often. First time waterfowl hunters visiting the Canadian
prairies and discovering that the temperatures are much colder than
anticipated. As they sit shivering between incoming flights of birds, they
chatter, " in the pictures I've seen of Canada, things look so sunny and
warm." Looks can be deceiving. Even though the sun often shines during the
fall and the skies are a nice bright blue color, the temperatures are
usually in the crisp and cool range (if you're lucky) and can often be down
right cold and miserable. [FULL STORY]Early Geese in Southwest TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee By Bill Cooksey, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer  Early August is usually all business around the Avery® office, but the ever expanding resident Canada goose population in Southwest Tennessee allowed for an expansion of hunting opportunities. It seems like 10 years since duck season closed last January, and we had several locations where birds seemed programmed to visit on a daily basis so we all went out and bought our duck stamps. Our brand new Migrator™ Blind needed some field testing, and our long awaited Greenhead Gear® Full Body Goose Decoys were just begging for some action so all was right with the world! [FULL STORY] Dove Hunting in the Deep SouthUnion City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Dove hunting is one of the few hunting past times where hunters enjoy equal success in harvest numbers across the South. It is a time that sportsmen use to sharpen their shotgunning skills for the upcoming duck season, fraternize with friends and family, and try to knock down those darting, acrobatic birds we know as dove. Today, we will look at some tips and tactics involving dove hunting, as well as my favorite dove recipe. But first we will learn from Sonny Richardson, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) what constitutes a legal dove field, and to be on alert about hunting a baited field. [FULL STORY] Getting Your Hunting Dog In Shape By Avery® Pro-Staffer and Owner of L&D Retrieving, Chris Scott  So you want to hunt your dog this year, but you've been too busy this summer to get him in shape. Ok, lets get started, first things first. If pup is a full time house dog start putting him outside in a shaded pen with plenty of fresh water, so he can start getting acclimated to the hot weather. Next, you should start walking or running him everyday, maybe let him chase you on the 4-wheeler. Just like people, you need to have him in good shape or your pup is going to get hot too fast in the dove field.The same is true in the colder weather during duck season. Fat and out of shape dogs will cramp up and give out faster than his in shape counter part. Now, let's talk about the out of control dog in the dove field. Just because he did a good job last year doesn't mean he will do the same this year. If you haven't been working with him throughout the year he is more than likely going to be out of control and unruly, mainly because of the excitement of the hunt. Do a little practicing before the big day. All you should do is take your shotgun, a dove stool and a buddy to throw frozen birds or bumpers. Whether it's the dove field or going to your favorite duck blind before season, if you will take your dog and practice where he/she is going to hunt it will make opening day more enjoyable. Trust me on this, take a well behaved dog to a hunt and you, or at least your dog, will be invited back. Preparing for Archery Season Union City, TennesseeBy Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer Many archers wait until one week before season before they dust off their bows and begin randomly slinging arrows at a hay bale. These are the hunters that constantly make excuses, usually blaming their equipment for missing a deer. Well I've got news for you; it's very seldom the fault of their equipment. It's usually just a lack of preparation. Dedicated archers shoot their bows year round. If this is too extreme for you, then you need to begin at least by July. There are several reasons for this. [FULL STORY] Cracking Crows:Hunting from a Power Hunter Regina, Saskatchewan By Michael Hungle, Director of Canadian Field Operations Avery® Outdoors, Inc.  My mid summers afternoon daydream of geese coming into the decoys was shattered by the loud ringing of the telephone. I picked up the phone on the second ring and the voice on the other end boomed, "Mike I need your help! The crows in our farmyard are driving us crazy. They fire up at 4:30 - 5:00 o'clock every morning. They're so dang cagey, we've tried everything to get near them and all they do is fly away unharmed, then return later in the day to haunt us with their annoying calls." [FULL STORY]Early Season Geese - Tips and Tactics from the Pros Union City, TennesseeBy Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer We have finally been allocated an early goose season in West Tennessee. As many of our readers have never participated in this type of hunting, being used to the late winter season, I went to the best in the business for some tips and tactics. Kelley Powers, Shawn Stahl, and Scott Thrienen have achieved all of the highest accolades on the goose calling competition circuit. Simply put, they are the best hunters/callers out there. I asked these men to share some insight as to their success in early-season Canada goose hunting. I hope you will use this information to help make your season special. [FULL STORY] Prepare for Hunting Season Now  Kansas City, MissouriBy Tom Cannon, Outdoor Writer and Photographer Like most hunters, I look forward to the start of hunting season. Chances are, if you own a bird dog he looks forward to the season just as much as you do. Why shortchange yourself or your dog? Prepare for the rigors of the coming season now. First it is a good idea to take your dog into the vet for a checkup and/or shots. If you will be traveling anywhere, you will need copies of the dog’s immunization, so get copies. Make sure to have the Heartworm test done and continue him on the proper Heartworm medication. I am fortunate to have grown up with a veterinarian in my family and have picked up some good tips and information that may save a hunt. [FULL STORY] Which way did he go?Union City, Tennessee By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer  You are sitting in your tree stand, as still as a statue, when all of a sudden a deer materializes on the trail you have been watching for the last hour. You carefully take aim, shoot, and watch as the silence of the woods erupts with thundering hooves and your ears are echoing with your hearts rapid adrenaline rush. You hastily sit down to control the rubbery muscles in your legs, and hope your weeks of practice at the bow or gun range have paid off. Dozens of questions run through your head. Did I wait long enough? Was it a good shot? Was my follow through steady? Which way did it run?
[FULL STORY]AVERY® SPECIAL REPORT:DUCK NUMBERS EXPECTED TO EXPLODE! Regina, Saskatchewan By Michael Hungle, Director of Canadian Field Operations Avery® Outdoors, Inc.  Good news! From what I am seeing and hearing, the outlook for duck numbers coming off the Canadian and United States prairies this year is not the doom and gloom that frustrated waterfowlers have been anticipating and talking about. After the last couple of years of poor production and the ensuing negativity, I am excited to say that production is a pleasant surprise this year. The high production of ducklings should increase the chances of your duck season and bag limits remaining status quo. [FULL STORY]Food Plots: Enhancing the Habitat for Wildlife - Part I Union City, Tennessee, July 3, 2003By Rob Somerville, Avery® Pro-Staffer I get a lot of calls and email from our readers on how to make the land they own or lease to hunt more attractive to wildlife. Our pro staff leases many large parcels of land and we plant many food plots on them. But, to better answer your questions, I went to someone I consider an expert on game management and food plots for advice. [FULL STORY] "Tag Teaming" Toms Union City, Tennessee, May 26, 2003By Rob Somerville, Outdoor Writer and Photographer Earlier this spring marked one of the most exciting turkey hunts Kelley Powers and I ever experienced. The gobblers wouldn't make the trophy book, but Mother Nature could not have scripted a better hunt. Today I will share the experience with you. [FULL STORY]  Never Give Up on Public Land Turkeys Dawson Springs, Kentucky, May 1, 2003By Richie McKnight, Avery® Pro-Staffer I learned long ago that patience and perseverance were big keys when hunting turkeys on public land. Those hard won lessons paid off in spades, and were instrumental in helping me kill 3 public land turkeys on one weekend early this season. [FULL STORY] Being at the right place at the right time!! Eastern Iowa, April 24, 2003By Travis Mueller, Avery® Territory Manager I will be the first to tell you that turkey hunting is not my favorite hunting hobby. But there is nothing like the gobble of toms or the sound of a gobbler spitting and drumming amongst plastic hens to make it contagious! Besides, there isn't a waterfowl season open, so what else is there to do? [FULL STORY] Turkey Tails - Tactics of the Pros  Kansas City, Missouri, April 24, 2003By Tom Cannon, Outdoor Writer and Photographer Every turkey hunter knows that hunting deals more often with failure than success. Even with all the latest technology associated with the best calls, camo, and other equipment, turkeys continue to outwit hunters. Heck, that is part of the excitement of turkey hunting- the challenge! Everyone including the pros we see on videos are frustrated by gobblers during the hunting season, that is part of the lure of hunting, it isn't a sure thing. [FULL STORY] This Jake wasn't going to settle for juvenile 'jake'  Canton, MS, April 20, 2003By Bobby Cleveland, The Clarion-Ledger Allison and Jim Crews of Canton were well into their second season of trying to get a gobbler into gun range for their 8-year-old son, Jake. They were getting impatient, but he wasn't. Read on. His mom. who has made a hobby out of calling first birds for hunters, tried first last year, and the hunt was a big success. They didn't kill a bird, but in the words of Allison Crews, "Another turkey hunter was born." [FULL STORY] Greetings from Saskatchewan:Late Season Ice Fishing Regina, Saskatchewan, April 11, 2003 By Michael Hungle, Avery® Pro-Staffer  While many of you are busy chasing wild turkeys, hunting spring snow geese or thinking about getting the boat onto the water for some spring bass fishing, we’re still icefishing here in Saskatchewan. The fishing season runs until the end of March (except for the northern regions, where the season stays open until April 15). Fishing during the last part of the season, represents some of the best ice fishing action for the year. [FULL STORY]There's Always a First Time, and There's Always a Last Time West TN, March 31, 2003 By Bill Cooksey, Associate Avery® Pro-Staffer The first Monday after the opening of turkey season is always an exciting time in the Avery office. Normally I look forward to the swapping of stories. Everyone has had an exciting weekend, and hearing all of the successes and failures is a highlight of the year. [FULL STORY]  Preparations for Spring GobblersDover, DE, March 29, 2003 By Allan Stanley, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Like many of you, I mark time by hunting seasons. Opening day of spring gobbler season is the beginning of my New Year. There is no better time to be in the woods than spring and no more challenging bird to hunt than a long beard. Each year I head south to get an early start and even though I usually camp out (with very little sleep), I feel truly alive this time of year. The majority of my hunting takes place on public land in the east and most of it is a long way from home. Unless I can arrive a day or two early, the distance I travel from home precludes preseason scouting. [FULL STORY] Strategies for Filming The Wild TurkeyMartin, TN, March 17, 2003 By Dylan Bondurant, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Turkeys are movie stars, plain and simple. They are constantly courting, displaying, fighting and doing comical acts even before they sail off the roost and touch the ground each morning. Their behavior, especially in the spring, makes filming the wild turkey an extremely enjoyable and rewarding adventure. This adventure can be challenging, however. It is fairly easy to film a group of turkeys from 100 yards away; but when they get in tight, you better be prepared for just about anything. I believe that when a turkey is at ten yards, he can look at my lens and tell me what I have my iris set on so the key to successful filming is being hidden.
[FULL STORY] Preparations for Spring GobblersSikeston, Missouri, March 14, 2003 By Christian Curtis, Avery® Pro-Staffer 
It's that time of year again…time to put your binoculars in your truck and get into the woods looking and listening for gobblers. By now you should have a pre-season plan for the areas that you intend to hunt whether public or private land.[FULL STORY] Video Taping Your HuntMartin, TN, February 19, 2003 By Dylan Bondurant, Avery® Pro-Staffer  Videographer, Dylan Bondurant became an outdoorsman at a young age. His father, acclaimed waterfowl taxidermist Jim Bondourant, taught him patience and the attention to detail required for success in any sporting endeavor. Hunting videos intrigued Dylan, and he began taping hunts at an early age. He is currently chief waterfowl videographer for Rich-N-Tone Productions, and in this column offers his expertise to help hunters improve the videotapes of their hunts.
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Exciting News for Quail HuntersGrand Junction, TN, February 19, 2003 By Bill Cooksey , Director of Press Relations Avery® Outdoors  February 10th, 2002 witnessed an exciting time for anyone who loves the bobwhite quail. This date marked the beginning of the 104th running of the National Bird Dog Championship at the Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tennessee. For those who love upland dogs, this event is the ultimate.In recent years, the Ames Plantation, just as most other parts of the South, has witnessed a dramatic decrease in the number of quail found. This plantation receives perhaps the most ardent grounds preparation for quail in the country, but it seemed that wasn't enough. Many recent Championships have been marked with winners having as few as three finds, and many full days with no points at all. [FULL STORY] 
USA Outdoors Celebrity Hunt 2003Martin, TN, February 19, 2003 By Kelley Powers  The overall waterfowl hunting experience just doesn't just get any better than this. Where else can you go to hunt with champion callers, professional athletes, and view the beautiful scenery of the Rocky Mountains? [FULL STORY]  Bowhunting Alberta WhitetailsAlberta, Canada, February 6, 2003 By Sean Furlong  In Alberta, Canada we are blessed with a myriad of hunting opportunities throughout the province. None of these opportunities gets me more excited than bow hunting whitetails during the rut in mid to late November. On November 15th, 2002, my hunting partner Dave Van Belleghem and I packed up our bowhunting gear and headed out on our annual 10 day trip to a "bow hunting only" zone in central Alberta.
[FULL STORY]Youth Waterfowl Hunt in the Volunteer StateMartin, TN, February 1, 2003 By Kelley Powers 
Anxious kids and guardians filled the blinds this past weekend for the annual Youth TN Waterfowl Hunt. This hunt is held for youth hunters under the age of sixteen each year at the end of season. It is always the perfect time for such an event, because of the mass quantities of waterfowl that are always in the area. This year was no different, as hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese moved about the mid-south in search of places to feed and rest. Every year at our club, we try filling all of our spots and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that is offered for our area's youth. It is a great chance to show someone younger the qualities and rewards of getting out in nature and learning about things in the outdoors that no textbook in the world can teach. Attached is a video clip of several kids experiencing their first duck hunt in flooded timber. Next year, I encourage everyone to join in and take a kid hunting. It will be an experience that will generate memories that will last for a lifetime! [WATCH A VIDEO CLIP!] A Kid's First Goose Sioux Falls, SD, January 31, 2003 By Jim Thompson Jr., Avery® Pro-Staffer  It wasn't just another planned day in a goose pit with my buddies, this trip was special. Longtime friend, Kevin Schievelbein and his 13 year-old son, Kyle, accompanied me for Kyle's first ever pit hunt and first attempt at bagging a Canada goose.
[FULL STORY] Hunting the Rut…Persistence Will PayoffCedar Hills, AL, January 20, 2003 By Jason Thompson, Avery® Outdoors  When it comes to deer hunting, there is no better time to hunt whitetails than the peak rut. The bucks let their testosterone get the better of them and they chase hot does from one county to the next. You can spend many long hours in the field prior to the rut without seeing many bucks. However, when does go into heat, you can count on seeing those seasoned bucks that only come out when their minds are on things other than survival. There's nothing quite like hunting whitetails during the rut. [FULL STORY] Red, White, & Bluebills Maryland, January 22, 2003 By Rob Jepson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  When I think of duck hunting locations my initial thoughts take me to the more traditional and storied places of my own experiences and those of bygone writers; Gene Hill, Nash Buckingham, and so many others. Vast salt marshes, secluded wood duck ponds, bay shores, and flooded rice fields have yielded countless birds and an equal amount of memories in the past.
[FULL STORY]Shy birds??? Solution...4 Power Hunters and 20 Greenhead Gear decoys = 12 ducks Stuttgart, AR, January 5, 2003By Travis Mueller, Avery® Territory Manager Late December and early January has brought a lot into the Arkansas duck season. Rain, Tornadoes, geese, and duck hunters. One thing it has not brought for the most part is new ducks. We had been experiencing very smart birds the past few weeks. We had set aside a few days to spend with our fathers and try to kill some ducks. Usually in late December and early January the only thing you had to worry about were the fields freezing. But, the past two years now the worrying has been when and if the ducks were ever going to get here! [FULL STORY] Wheelchairs Won't Stop these Hunters Memphis, TN, January 20, 2003 By Laura Houseal, Ducks Unlimited Communications Coordinator  With wheelchairs locked and shotguns loaded, Keith Morris, a navy veteran from Memphis, TN, and Cody Bader, a student at Arkansas State University, surveyed the skies for incoming waterfowl. Morris and Bader were the first two of eight disabled hunters to participate in a four-day duck hunt at Tindall's Reservoir just south of Stuttgart, Arkansas.Each morning from Thursday, January 9th to Sunday, January 12th, two disabled sportsmen enjoyed an Avery guided duck hunt in a world-class reservoir, thanks to the combined efforts of Ducks Unlimited, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Avery Outdoors, War Eagle Boats, and Winchester Ammunition. [FULL STORY] Livs Calling For a Cure: Waterfowlers Raising Awareness for Cystic FibrosisCystic Fibrosis Open Goose Calling Contest & Hunt By Kelley Powers On December the 7th the top goose callers from across the country gathered in northern Illinois to help raise awareness and funding for Cystic Fibrosis (CF). This event fell during a time that has many waterfowlers at their own respective spots busy guiding or just enjoying the sport they love to do with their own loved ones and friends. It was not the contest prize money, nor the hunting that attracted these hunters and callers, but the pure desire to help a little girl and to raise awareness of her disease. [FULL STORY] Proven Power Hunters California!Reno, NV, December 19, 2002 By Chad Belding, Avery® Pro-Staffer 
What a day to remember, it was the opener for honkers in Northern California. Our group would be hunting a cut hay field in the Sierra Valley. Friday found us scouting the field where the geese had been feeding. There was a bundle of geese, but this would be no easy task. The stubble was very thin and very short. [FULL STORY] Predator or Prey? Hunter or Hunted?Iowa, December 4, 2002 By Travis Mueller, Avery® Territory Manager 
That's what we all thought on this hunt!We located a dry corn field where we saw close to 300 geese, and maybe 10,000 ducks feeding the night before. With the temperatures dipping into single digits, we thought the birds might be feeding twice a day, and we decided to set up for a morning hunt. The temperature when I rolled out of bed was a bone chilling 8 degrees, but with a field full of waterfowl, it was hard to be too concerned with the low temperatures. [FULL STORY] Take Your Deer Hunting To The Next Level…Ground Level! Maryland, December 12, 2002By Rob Jepson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  How many of your hunting experiences have begun with the simple question; "What if"… or "Could we?"…. Using a different approach to a traditional hunting situation can lead to new strategies that can often mean the difference between success and failure. This "average" trip started like most do; a friend and I deciding to spend an afternoon hunting a field edge for deer, specifically directing our efforts toward our farm's growing antlerless population.Because of an early measurable snowfall in the region, the deer on the farm had changed their normal activity patterns slightly. Their usual route to the field that would lead them within easy gun range of a conventional ladder stand had now changed to an entrance point on the field directly under that same stand. If we were to put this one in the win column we would have try something new. One again our "Finisher" blinds offered a solution. [FULL STORY] Bucks or Ducks?Martin, TN, November 25, 2002 By Kelley Powers  That was the question I was facing since the two openers just happened to fall on the same day here in TN. I knew that whatever decision I made, I was going to receive a harsh verbal treatment from our duck hunting club members. Since we get 60 days to shoot ducks in TN and the rut only will last a couple more days, I decided to pursue the whitetail that eluded me during this year’s bow season.  I first saw the deer on Nov. 13 and caught him on film just outside of bow range (331KB QuickTime movie). I then saw the same deer a couple of days later running a doe at about 150 yards away. Having studied his habits, I decided to hang a couple of other stands to help close the gap a little. Sure enough, my plan worked out perfectly, on the second day of TN rifle season, he walked the exact path that he did while he was being filmed during bow season. He stepped out of thick cover around 50 yards and presented me with the perfect shot. With a little awareness and a whole lot of luck, I finally harvested the deer I was chasing this season. Due to management rules on our farm of taking only one mature buck per person, I was forced to put the deer rifle in the closet and bring out the waterfowling gear. Besides, a man can only tolerate watching ducks from the deer stand for so long before it eventually gets to him! Be sure to make Avery a part of your next hunt! Until next time, Kelley Powers Concealment is our Key to Success!North Dakota, November 18, 2002 By Jim Thompson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  A week prior to the South Dakota resident Canada goose season opener, I received a call regarding an invite to hunt with friend Bryan Hanson and a group of his buddies from Watertown, SD. Considering that our state had went to a split season opener with a two week delay in my area, I figured I couldn't pass on the offer to hunt earlier with them. It had been what seemed an eternity since I had shouldered a gun and taken aim on a cupped wing, feet down Canada goose. [FULL STORY] Hunt of a Lifetime - Special Bird Taken!North Dakota, October 20, 2002 By Travis Mueller, Avery® Territory Manager 
"Don't move, there are at least a 2,000 eyes looking at us," I whispered to Gary of Zander's Sporting Goods who was lying in his Finisher Blind. The ducks sounded like jets as they circled around our set up of Greenhead Gear duck decoys and full bodied geese. I know one thing, sitting in a wide open field listening to over a 1,000 ducks chuckle, call and set up to sit down right in front of you will make anyone giggle like a kid! [FULL STORY]  RNT Saskatchewan, Canada Fall Hunt Stuttgart, AR, October 28, 2002 By Jim Ronquest, Rich-N-Tone Duck Calls  I just wanted to send a thank you to everyone at Avery Outdoors for providing equipment that helped make RNT's hunt in Canada a success. The main reason for this hunt was acquiring footage for the next In The Hunt from RNT, and to put the new RNT Kelley Powers Goose call to the test. A side benefit was getting to field test some of the new Avery gear.Fortunately, everything came together. We arrived to cold weather and snow on the ground. Quite honestly I was worried that most of the geese might have moved out of the area. Happily, after some scouting, we realized that all we needed to do was get dialed in on the right fields, find the X and get hidden! The new Avery Power Hunter Blind allowed us to do just that. Concealment was an issue that we were able to overcome without resorting to digging pits. The last hunt was in a worked pea field where a large number of geese were using. This field had almost no cover available, and normally I would have resorted to digging holes for the blinds. With the low profile of the Power Hunters, we were able to place the blinds just under the crest of a hill, and match the dusting of snow with an application of RealSnow. The result was some of the best footage of big groups of geese "finishing" that was shot all week. This combination of realistic goose talk and concealment allowed us to stay, In The Hunt. [Read About The Hunting] Thanks again for all of your help and support! Jim Ronquest Finishers Finishing Coyotes?!?!?!North Dakota, October 10, 2002 By Travis Mueller, Avery® Territory Manager 
During my numerous hunts out of Finisher blinds, I have fooled Geese and ducks from North Dakota all the way to Stuttgart, Arkansas, but when I thought about "finishing" a coyote in one, I knew that would be a whole new adventure!!! [FULL STORY]  Birds Of A Feather Flock TogetherClayton, OH, October 1, 2002 By Field Hudnall, Avery® Pro-Staffer 
The month is September and as usual the days are hot, long, and very dry. When September rolls around many hunters are breaking out their light game loads, favorite cooler\dove stool and that trusty ol' dove gun. Even though the doves are plentiful, we found ourselves breaking out our 3-inch and 3 1\2 inch magnum BB's, our laydown blinds, and our goose calls. [FULL STORY] We Can't Run, But We CAN Hide!Manitoba, Canada, September 25, 2002 By Rob Jepson, Avery® Pro-Staffer  The timing of my arrival in Manitoba and a blast of cold arctic air pushing down from the north at the same time couldn't have been better. The Oak Hammock Marsh was alive with newly arriving migrators as well as birds already in temporary residence.[FULL STORY]  Hevi-Shot revolutionizinggeese, duck hunting market Manitoba, Canada, September 26, 2002 By D'arcy Egan, Cleveland Plain Dealer  D'arcy Egan of the "Cleveland Plain Dealer" just returned from a goose hunt in Manitoba. While there, he used some of the newest equipment available to waterfowl hunters. Just click here to read his article and new product review.
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