Team WC with 19!

This September weather has been brutaly hot and really tested our endurance and love for the sport. Though, with plenty of crackers, gatorade, and bug spray, we've managed to do pretty good this season. We were able to get some more youth interested in the sport of waterfowl hunting while having their parents spending more time in sporting good stores, purchasing their needs, and some of their wants! We worked with them in the field, discussing firearm safety, decoy placement, conservation, and of course "calling". As we always say, youth are our future!  

	Blake Hodge with his LCC Mayhem on the stage

Hello again everyone,

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.

Blake Hodge grabbing 5th in the Jr. World Goose

Saturday was the big day! After blowing the 1^st round in the JR World Goose I scored high enough to make the second round even though I was really nervous.  Coming out in the second round, I had settled down and really got in my zone.  I blew a clean round and had a lot of volume which again scored me high enough to make the big show for the top 5.  We had a 3 hour break and then it was time for the top 5 to strut their stuff.

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 5^th but wait a minute, I had just finished 5^th 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 5^th 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

	The LLC Crew awaiting anxiously

Hello everyone,   I recently got back from a ?Road Trip? to Glen Allen, VA where I competed in their VA State JR Duck and JR Goose Calling Contests.

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?..

The Green Top Prizes-$75 Gift Card-1st Place VA Jr. Goose

For the duck calling competition, I used a RNT MVP duck call which was prepared by Butch Richenback.

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 2^nd 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,

Blake