Tower Shoot pheasants and ducks. To see more action video go to  http://skimmer.smugmug.com/Hunting/Tower-Shoot/21338747_W5hbzB/#!i=1699519304&k=9H9v7XS. 

Additional Photos from weekend of 1/6-8/2012

Rich Santos and Scout waiting on the first flight of birds of the day.

Back at the Hacienda Scout eagerly searching for ducks.

I mentioned PJ doing the heavy lifting. When you don't have waders on and want to get to the beach with dry feet this is the way it is done. PJ gives you a pony ride. Rich Santos getting a lift.

The afternoon hunt.

PJ and Scout ready for an incoming duck.

Weekend of 1/6-8/2012

A good crew of Pete Johnston, his son PJ and his dog Scout, Rich Santos, Jim Conte and Captain Al hooked up for a couple of days on an Island in the Great South Bay for some duck hunting.

Scout is a great dog and we really enjoyed seeing her retrieve the birds.

She is always attentive and just loves to hunt.

Pete Johnston is a great guy. Always fun and a true sportsman. He can cook with the best of them and the food is always the highlight of out hunting trips.

Pete and his son PJ. Pj does a lot of the heavy lifting these days as we are all getting a little older. He doesn't mind doing the hard work and is always fun to be with. He is a chip off the old block of his dad.

Jim Conte leaves no stone unturned. When hunting is slow he finds other ways to entertain himself such as treasure hunting. His big find was a buried pipe.

Jimmy in hunting mode.

Captain Al in hunting mode

PJ and Captain Al 

Some of the local wildlife. Here is a nice 6 point buck feeding on the new grass shoots. He had two does with him and they all looked very healthy.

Very unusual in broad daylight but we were able to get close to a red fox that was sunning himself on the beach. It didn't seem to mind us very much. It strolled down the beach as we followed in a boat and then kind of looked at us as if to say i'm tired of you and then walked into the brush.

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2/12/2011

Jim Conte and I organized a tower shoot at the Peconic River Sportsman's Club. It was a 24 man shoot with ducks and pheasants.

The weather was great and the birds were flying.

This was Russell Hurd's first tower shoot and he did real well and had a great time.

Below are a bunch of photos from the day.

Captain Al Lorenzetti

A super day of ducks and geese.

George with probably the best looking drake Broadbill of the season.

At the beach house on West Fire Island and the new wood stove Pete Johnston installed. This baby kept us warm as toast.

Captain Al at sunset waiting for a black duck to show but no takers. Lots of ice and tough conditions.

The guys at West Island. Pete and PJ Johnston and Jim Conte and PJ's dog Scout. A great crew.

Tons of ice and rough conditions coming home across the bay. Pete was driving and had to bear the elements to get us home safely. We dodged lots of ice and had to break through miles of thick ice to make it back home. Pete kept his head up and got a lot of ice because of it but he never gave up, thank God.

It took us about an hour to break up this thick pack ice by the house but we made it to safety and a warm home (after about two hours). Thanks Leslie.

George and Jeff had an awesome Eider hunt near Shinnecock inlet. 

And here we have Jeff Butta with his fully mature hen eider taken on the same say with George.

George Yurcak with a nice drake eider taken on a trip to Shinnecock Inlet with Jeff Butta on 1/21/2011

1/18/2011

The view from Schuyler Watts' scooter looking out over the decoys on a good hunting day.

I haven't had the pleasure of a lay-out shoot in a long time and Schuyler was nice enough to invite me for a hunt.

I had a great time taking a limit of broadbill and working the equipment and socializing with the crew which also included Roger McKnight and his buddy Chris.

Another great day on the water.

Captain Al Lorenzetti

Nick Santos with a couple of big geese we bagged this morning. We saw thousands of broadbill but none would tend the rig. We took two geese a brant and two buffleheads. Nick leaves today for Coast Guard boot camp so the rest of the season is out. He had some good days on the hunt that he will remember when he is doing push ups. Good luck Nick!

It was probably the best sunrise of the season. Just perfect looking out over the blind at the decoys and watching the sun come up.

On 1/16 Rich Santos bagged this Widgeon on a nice shot.

On 1/15 Rich bagged this hooded merganser and actually got the hen as well. He is having both birds mounted.

Rich made us some excellent pea soup to fill our belly and keep us warm. It has been cold but some good hunting going on.