Guns & Birds
Coby and Me
Coby's Birds
My Birds
September 1st 2001
Opening day in Austin...
I left from my new job with Schlumberger in
my new truck and met Coby at an Exxon station at Dairy Ashford and I-10.
Coby and I got to Connies about 6ish. We went to the back field to find 40
or 50 acres of sunflowers!!! The 31st was the first day it hadn't rained
in a week and the birds were out and eating. I took that as a good sign
and called Steve and told him sick or not I would get up here ASAP! We
got up at 5:20 AM and drove to Connies, took our gear to the field and waited.
We didn't wait long. My first two shots yielded two very wet morning
doves. Not bad for a new gun, a Beretta 391 Sport Gold with Silver sides.
Anyways enough of the typing. Coby got his limit around 10 and I got mine
at 8:50 and with using under 2 boxes of shells. (Ok side note, I just saw
the date that says 8/31/01 THAT IS NOT CORRECT, MY DATE ON MY CAMERA IS
WRONG!!!)
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Guns & Birds |
Coby and Me |
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Coby's Birds |
My Birds |
September 2nd 2001
Second day in Austin...
Steve met us in Oak Hill about noonish on
the 1st. We went back to our place in Dripping and let his bird dog Baily
get used to the small of the doves. We did just as well the next morning.
It was the first time I in a long while I have been out shot, and what's even
worse it was by a 20 gauge Fausti O/U.
 Coby, Steve, Me (L-R) |
 Our birds (L-R) |
 My birds |
September 3rd 2001
Third day in Austin...
By this time Coby and Steve have gone home
and some Aggie buddies came up, Matt, Ryan, and Collin joined me. Matt and
Ryan are fellow ID students and I have hunted with them in the past and Matt
hosts the semi-annual "Redneck BBQ." Collin is a fellow pistol-nut buddy
who I took my CHL class with. They came up on the 2nd and got in some
evening shooting, I believe Ryan had 4, Collin, 1 and Matt took 9. That
night Matt cooked up 23 birds with jalapeño, onion, and bacon; good stuff!!!
The next morning I was shooting like my usual self. My first 5 shots had 5
birds and the next 4 shots had 2 more birds. Matt and Ryan had ENTC 330
that day so they shot fast and furious and had to leave around 8:30. When
they left I think Matt again had 9 birds and Ryan had 5. I think Collin
quit when he had close to 5 and again I had my limit.
 Collin and Mine (L-R) |
 Collin and Me (L-R) |
September 8th 2001
Second weekend in Austin...
This time it was Collin again and Amanda
Mossburg with me. Something I forgot to say before but Collin first hunt
was about and he was using my Benelli Nova. Amanda fancies herself as
quite a good shot and she was sporting a new Beretta 390 Sport with porting from
Briley. We had planned this hunt for quite some time and talked a lot of
trash to each other about who would be the better shot and who would outshoot
who. Lets just say it was wisdom before beauty. Collin did VERY well
and got his limit around 9 and I felt I was shooting very poor but still got my
limit at 8:30. Oh well I had a helluva time and I really appreciate my Godmother for
letting us chase doves.
 Collin, Me, Amanda (L-R) |
 Mine, Amanda's, Collin's (L-R) |
September 15th 2001
Opening day of Teal season at
Peach Point WMA...
This was a whole new experience for me and
I hunted with Steve again and some of his friends, Nathan, Patrick, and Dustin.
I got up at 2 AM and met Steve at his house. We then drove out to meet the
above guys who camped out over night and get us a tag; I think they were 34.
We chose Big Ridge and did well. Steve, Dustin, chose a FAR walk and got
our limit fast (well Dustin and I did, Steve forgot his Duck stamp). I'll
admit that I shot like crap, those little ducks ain't nothin' like dove! I
shot 22 times and only hit 4 teal.
Dustin, Me, Nathan, and Patrick (L-R)
September 16th 2001
Second day at
Peach Point WMA...
Well this time we camped out there too. Nathan, Patrick, and myself pulled
in around 8 that night and started up the BBQ. We brought along the teal
we shot that morning and some chicken breasts we bought at Wal-Mart.
Cooked them just like we did the doves above. Steve was at a birthday of
someone his girlfriend knows and he joined us a little later and Dustin was in
College Station (WHOOP!!!) watching Robert Earl Keen and Pat Green. We
were the third legit truck in line (I don't count those people who pull up later
and park on the right hand side of the road). We hunted the same general
area the next day. I am pretty sure I took the first two teal of the day
for the whole area but then proceeded to miss my next 20 shots. It was
pretty ugly. Steve got 4 by 8 and left to change for church for his girl
again. I finally got my limit around 10:30 and Nathan and Patrick were
pretty soon thereafter. I have a new found respect (and I had a lot to
begin with) for duck hunters. That is a tough walk out there, you have to
carry EVERYTHING, and there is no ATV or boat to help you out. And the
mosquitoes, my God I thought I was going to get drained. I am still
itching from those damn bugs. Oh well it was worth it to see those little
birds come in full speed with cupped wings, what a rush.
September 21-22nd 2001
With STS in Santa Fe, TX
I was invited to hunt with STS in Santa Fe
at their annual dove hunt. I was told about the hunt from a co-worker at
Slb and I really appreciate the invite. Well Steve and I got there Friday
around 5 PM and were told we had just missed the main flights. We still
got 1 bird before the rain chased us out. So we came back the next
morning, after enjoying some doughnuts and breakfast burritos we went back out
to the field. It started raining soon after we got there but I managed to
get 2 doves before we got too wet. We went back to the camp and Steve had
to leave to IAH so I stated and enjoyed conversation and food. Not just
any food, probably the best ribs I have ever had before in my life. My
hats off to Tommy for making those. Around 11 I head back out to the field
and sliding down some very wet and messy roads I park by some trees and set up
camp. I got 3 sitting by a brush line but then decide to go to the middle
of the field were there was still standing grass. I got the rest of my
limit here, so I thought. I forgot you are allowed 15 in the south zone.
Oh well, I met up with Steve and his fiancée Amanda and head out there again for
some more shooting. Well I filled my limit and Steve got 3. We then
sat there and shot the bull with Tommy, and Jeff for the next few hours and
enjoyed lots of great good. Overall it was a great hunt and fun time.
Miscellaneous October
Went dove hunting once with my dad and brother at our place in Luling, Tx. I think I shot 2 and my brother shot 2.
January 10th
Went hunting with Larry Gore outfitters with some fellow Schlumberger co-workers. The final count is 7 specs., and 4 snows, and 1 blue. We saw TONS of birds and should have had more but you know how that goes. I am really pissed I missed a shot at a Canadian.
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January 12th
I was invited with Brent and Brandon to join them at their Halls Bayou Ranch lease. We shot 1 drake gadwall and either 5 or 6 GWT. This is the kinda place I want to have a lease on. Only 20 minutes away from my house and lots of place to hunt. Too bad it costs a fortune and I'll need an ATV and/or boat.
January 19th
Closing weekend of duck and dark season at Peach Point. Nathan, Steve, and I hunted 1300 #8. We shot 2 spoonies, 4 snows (1 ross), and 1 blue. I am having the Ross mounted. The other group we were with got their limit of ducks (3 man limit) and got some geese too.
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