Blog Entries from the WeHuntSC.com blogging crew
November has been a busy contest calling month for me, as I traveled to Easton, MD for the World JR Goose Calling championship. Callers from all over the United States traveled to this event.
We met Mark McDowell, owner of Lodge Creek Calls in Archdale, NC and we rode the rest of the 8 hour ride with him. John Hand was also along with us for the ride as he competed in the Mason Dixon Duck Calling Championship.
After, arriving in Easton, and checking into the hotel, we decided to go to the Waterfowl Festival and see the Dock Dogs and attend other festivities. We ran into our good friends Jeremy Smith and Clay White, who work for Drake Waterfowl Systems. We hung out with them for a little while and they gave me some added support and since I?m on Drake?s Competition Calling Team, I really tried to make a good showing.
I started really well, but half way through my final round, I locked up my call and couldn?t even make a sound! Finally, after 2 or 3 puffs, I got it going again. I continued on with my routine but realized I had blown my chance for the win. I finished solid and walked off stage with my head high (that was tough).
Once all five contestants blew their final round, they called everyone out to announce the winners. As I figured, I finished 5th but wait a minute, I had just finished 5th in the WORLD! Man how cool is that?
Later that night, a good friend of mine, Mitch Hughes won the World SR Goose Calling Championship and he even let me hold up the big $10,000 check (back stage of course) . Congrats again Mitch.
Sunday morning came and we headed back to SC with a 5th place finish and written excuse to miss last Friday?s day of school!
I would like to thank Lodge Creek Calls, Drake Waterfowl, Decoy Outdoors, and WinnTuck Waterfowl Lanyards, and the crew here at WeHuntSC.com for their continued support.
Good Calling & Hunting,
Blake
Blake at full draw just to watch the big one walk away.
After taking a break from all of the practicing for upcoming duck calling contests, my dad and I decided to spend a little time in some of our tree stands in search of a nice buck. I have started archery hunting and have been leaving my Ruger behind at rest in the gun case.
My dad and I decided to hunt in a two-man ladder stand alongside some hardwood ridges. The deer have always traveled through that section in years past. It?s also a great chasing stand for those big boys in search of some ladies.
Around 9 o?clock that morning, we heard footsteps behind the stand and new exactly what it was. As my dad peeked through t he corner of his eye to check out the intruder, he saw the horns. A dark horned, wide 6-point had made his way up the ridge silently and unseen. The buck was just out of bow range but slowly approaching the perfect shot. Just as I was gathering my bow, some coyotes started howling and that buck wasn?t thinking twice about staying around. As he fled the woods, I came at full draw and tried helplessly to stop him just hoping for a shot. The coyotes were just not in our favor that day.
Being the determined hunters my dad and I are, we were not giving up just yet. We hurried out of the woods and headed to grab some lunch. After eating and messing around town, it was already time to be heading back out into the woods. This time it was all on me. I was going to be in one of our best spots! I would be carrying my Bear Apprentice bow and my climber. As I inched my way up the hardwood, my dad was making his way out to his spot. It wasn?t long before the sun starting creeping below the trees and I started getting twitchy! I mean?I don?t know about you guys reading this, but when that sun goes down?my spirits go up!
Well like I said?as the sun dropped, my target was making its way towards me. At 7 o?clock a 7 point appeared on the hillside about 70 yards away. When he finally got up around 40 yards, I came to full draw. At about 30 yards, he gave me a perfect broadside shot. I took the chance and stopped him. I didn?t know the exact yardage, but I was close! I thought he was at 35 yards and put my 30 yard pin on his back. When I released the string?my arrow flew right over his back, just grazing him. You guys know what I was thinking, but the Lord gave me another chance. My 7 point then turned and licked his back where my muzzy had grazed him. This time there was no missing involved and my second arrow stuck him and we were on his trail.
WOW! What an experience! If you don?t bow hunt then you need to give it a try. All I can say is ?adrenaline?.
Good Hunting Blake
We left shortly after my dad got home from work and drove straight through which was a 6 hour ride and my mom drove all the way. We checked into a hotel around 1:00 am and I don?t remember a thing after my head hit that soft hotel pillow.
I was back up around 6:45 and we went ahead and registered around 8:00 for the contests. The contests were held at Green Top Sporting Goods and they have an awesome store with a ton of great hunting and fishing gear.
After the callers meeting, which are where they go over all the rules for the contests, we started practicing in their parking lot and actually called over three different flocks of geese. Now if that don?t tell you that you sound good then nothing does. Seeing those monsters trying to light in the parking lot got me super pumped for the contest.
Once they called the contestants back it was time to get my game face on and be focused. It only takes one bad note in a 90 second routine to do you in. Remember I rode for 6 hours?..
For the goose calling competition, I used a Lodge Creek Mayhem goose call which was prepared by Mark McDowell and Joe Finny.
After several rounds in the duck and goose, the contests were over and I had won the VA State JR Goose and finished 2nd in the VA State JR Duck.
I was so excited! I know my dad was proud and all my thanks go out to him, my mom and the Lodge Creek Crew for helping me with my routine!
Once the prizes were handed out and my time was up in the Green Top sporting goods store, we drove back home to Lancaster, SC to prepare for another school week @ Buford High School.
Well keep practicing and keep hunting!
Sincerely,