Spring...

[tod osier]

Just in case someone thinks I have been slacking...

Equinox clamming, although it seemed more like winter on the water.

Heading back to the launch.

1/2 bushel basket of quahogs, they look better in the basket than the other limit in the bucket.

In the harbor just as the sun sets, nice.

Non seasonal vegetable equinox boil.

Had to make landjaegers before the temps got too warm in the basement.

After 2 weeks in the chamber.

All packed up for adventure snacks.

Break on a Winter Flounder trip, the Snowgoose is holding up after all these years.

Yes, there are brant to my right.

Gus with his sea glass haul (also notice the new-found bucket with bail peeking out).

Old warriors, they do not look so bad in the photo, but they were pretty beat up and ready.

Final paint after patch and seal.

Ready.

Nice bird this morning after missing him yesterday (three times!).

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Tod,
Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

BTW,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Was that turkey suicidal or just a slow learner? [w00t][w00t]

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Nice story Tod. I look forward to Gus's first turkey. Inquiring minds want, no NEED, to know...did you shoot that bird wearing Crocs? Press Release: Crocs Pro Staff welcomes Doc Croc. LOL

 

[tod osier]

Nice story Tod. I look forward to Gus's first turkey. Inquiring minds want, no NEED, to know...did you shoot that bird wearing Crocs? Press Release: Crocs Pro Staff welcomes Doc Croc. LOL

No crocs. . Given the weather we have had, I don?t think you would be surprised that I found some mud for my boots. I was planning on being out all day, but since I got the bird early I came home for a cup of coffee and had to de-boot before my photographer was available.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

No crocs.

Phew!! Eh, I like the darn things too. [smile] Hope you have luck with your son, he's twelve in a couple of weeks?

 

[tod osier]

Tod,
Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

BTW,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Was that turkey suicidal or just a slow learner? [w00t][w00t]

He had a definite pattern and I knew didn?t scare him that bad (maybe he was that dumb). I pulled him in like on a string this morning (maybe he was that dumb). I had him at ten feet and he finally got suspicious and gave me the shot I needed (maybe he was that dumb).

 

[Phil Nowack]

All kinds of good there! Fear not... possibility of 4-8" here Saturday

 

[tod osier]

No crocs.

Phew!! Eh, I like the darn things too. [smile] Hope you have luck with your son, he's twelve in a couple of weeks?

I wear crocs every minute I don?t need some thing ?better?. .

Yeah, I can?t imagine him being successful outside a decoy and blind setup, which is not something I?m good at. He is only going to have a few days the way things are working out. I?d be shocked if he fills a tag unless I really get something patterned and can put a blind on the ?x?.

He is excited for ducks this fall and I?m excited to take him to some of the higher pressure areas on the youth days without competition. Rut deer with a rifle is going to be sweet too.

 

[tod osier]

All kinds of good there! Fear not... possibility of 4-8" here Saturday

Youch! we have lots of family in the Midwest so we keep track of you guys and your weather, so I?m not surprised this year.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Good morning, Tod~


Too much to enjoy in "Tales of a Busy Outdoorsman"....


Nice bucket of cherrystones....a fine young lad....sweet float jacket....The Vessel I Would Build If I Still Lived on the Coast....a Longbeard a week before we open ....and then those Brant Stool!


Are they your birds? Cork bodies? Very, very nice!


All the best,


SJS

 

[Eric Patterson]

Tod

I wondered what you'd been up to. Obviously a whole lot of fun and satisfying projects. Boat is still looking good and Gus is getting BIG. He'll catch you in a couple more years.

 

[tod osier]

Good morning, Tod~


Too much to enjoy in "Tales of a Busy Outdoorsman"....


Nice bucket of cherrystones....a fine young lad....sweet float jacket....The Vessel I Would Build If I Still Lived on the Coast....a Longbeard a week before we open ....and then those Brant Stool!


Are they your birds? Cork bodies? Very, very nice!


All the best,


SJS

I always have to smile at your keen and detail oriented eye. Thanks.

One of my projects this winter was to replace my float coat, which has served well for nearly 20 years. I got myself a direct replacement of my discontinued original Mustand Classic Bomber in Olive from old dealer stock off ebay. I decided to get the whole family Mustang Float coats given the time we spend on the Sound in the winter. I'm disappointed that in the end I like both of their jackets more than mine (both the fabric and the neoprene cuff's on theirs). I was able to find both of theirs on ebay lightly (imperceptibly) used for quarters on the dollar.

The brant are mine, I carved a Dozen black cork Magnums (or Super Magnums) back around 2002 (that is the date on my patterns, anyway). I've used them hard and I hunt brant in the rocks, not the marsh mud that most do, so they take a beating when the tides is running out and the birds are moving. I also dropped the whole 12 brant pocket bag off the gunwale of the boat on to concrete a few years ago and cracked several necks of the body behind the necks. I continued to hunt them, but they needed work. Of the original 12, I have seven left from trades, and I'm not parting with those until I leave the coast. I hunt those with a set of nesting sleds that I dearly love and that need some work as well. A lot of brant have died over that rig. I hope to get Gus on them next fall.

 

[tod osier]

Tod

I wondered what you'd been up to. Obviously a whole lot of fun and satisfying projects. Boat is still looking good and Gus is getting BIG. He'll catch you in a couple more years.

Thanks, that is the more fun stuff I've been up to anyway. Redid a bathroom, still working on the house exterior, etc... .

I'm feeling like an old guy these days - old boat, old decoys, old dog...

I'm sure as heck hoping that Gus catches and passes me ASAP!

 

[Andrew L.]

Boat is looking great!

Is that Gus's new 20ga in painting picture?

Taylor shot the M2 for the first time yesterday & it was the most comfortable I have seen her behind a gun. Good luck on the turkey for Gus.

 

[tod osier]

Boat is looking great!

Is that Gus's new 20ga in painting picture?

Taylor shot the M2 for the first time yesterday & it was the most comfortable I have seen her behind a gun. Good luck on the turkey for Gus.

Awesome for Taylor - must be nice for these new shooters with "B" guns. . Yes, that is the new gun for Gus.

 

[jode hillman]

Keep living the dream Tod. Someone?s gotta do it!!!

 

[Huntindave McCann]

I'm sure as heck hoping that Gus catches and passes me ASAP!

Tod,

Sounds to me like you must in the process of training your own personal "Sherpa". (I would, if in your place)

 

[tod osier]

I'm sure as heck hoping that Gus catches and passes me ASAP!

Tod,

Sounds to me like you must in the process of training your own personal "Sherpa". (I would, if in your place)

Not replacing Jen as lead, I hope!

 

[anthony m coons sr]

Tod

Dang now I'm hungry! Great pictures thanks for sharing them. You were busy. Great work on the decoys. But I'm still hungry. Those clams look yummy. Good Job.

 

[tod osier]

Wet day doesn't make for the best photos, but I got it done with my second bird yesterday. This is a bird I've been hoping to get on - boss bird with a huge crew (up to 8 hens, depending on the day, and 2 jakes). I was able to get in close on the dark morning with the small moon and clouds make it happen. Nice bird, heavy, long spurs...