My great time home (pics)

[decoyfreak66]

this is from my hunt with John Manning and Honkhunter (Glen) 2 of the nicest guys i know. i have to rewrite my topic on the hunt itself because it deleted in the middle of writing it and it took forever lol so i will be up soon

[Gary]

great pics !!!! looks like u guys had a great time .............

[Mallardman9]

Looks great man! Def. 2 of the nicest guys I'll ever meet! You guys over by the hot-tub?

[Goose4280]

Nice hunt guys!

[steveo]

Nice job guys!

[dirtycletus81]

Great hunt and great pics.

[Duckman48]

Good stuff...great pics

[honkhunter]

It was a Great Hunt and getting to Know Eric and his buddy Mike was fantastic. Eric is on his way back to Afgan and I ask that we all say a prayer that He comes home safe for more hunts.

[John Manning]

I have to say this hunt was the highlight of my hunting season and a true honor to share a pit with Eric and Mike.

As the days grew closes to Eric’s return to Minnesota, the birds in our area disappeared and our hearts sank with every empty lake and pond that we searched. One day I was talking to fellow Staffer, Sam Hoppe about the hunt we (Honkhunter(Glen) and I) were trying to put together for Eric. Sam told me about a friend of his, Steve Reese, who runs RB Waterfowl (www.gooseme.com) in Rochester MN. A short time later I had the opportunity to hunt with Steve and Sam and talked to him about the possibility of putting a hunt together for Eric. Steve was all for the idea and donated a field with pits for us to use. (Steve is in the first picture standing between Mike and Eric).

The night before the hunt, Eric and Mike (Mike finished his service approximately 9 month earlier) came to my home and Glen and I, had finally had a chance to meet our new friends from the Forum. Eric then had a chance to speak with one of FMI Pro Staffers, Barry Bennis (Hunters Ridge Kennel) on the phone and later Field Staffer Sam Hoppe. After the phone conversations, Eric commented about how cool it was to talk to members of the “Foiles Family” (as he called it). We finished the night off early with a few cocktails and of course, a few stories including one Eric told about how jealous he was of his family members getting to meet Jeff Foiles at Game Fair while he was deployed. The next morning came early as Eric, Mike, Glen, and I drove to Rochester and met Steve Reese. We set decoys and settled into the pits to watch flock after flock travel into Rochester in an area that was not open to hunting. It seemed as the geese wanted to eat grass from the athletic fields in town, due to the warm weather and blue bird skies. We left the field around noon and Eric had a phone handed to him, on the other end was Jeff Foiles (what a cool moment that was to see).

After lunch we returned to the field and watched the geese fly the same path they had flew in the morning, returning to the river. About a half an hour before shooting time closed, four geese choose a different flight path out of town. Everyone covered up in the pits and the geese worked us perfectly right into the hole. At about fifteen yards in front of Eric, the first goose was about a foot off of the ground and the highest was about fifteen feet in the air. I let out a yell and the banging began and ended with all four on the ground with Eric and Mike putting an end to their migration.

I have to admit after all the yelling and high fives were done it was a very emotional minute with few dry eyes from the culmination of events that lead up to the four of us standing together watching the sunset.

I want to personally thank all the people that were involved in making this day happen. Most of all, I want to thank all the men and women that have sacrificed so much for service to our County in the Armed Services! If you have a chance or ability to take one of these fine members of the Armed Services out, please take them, it is a moment in time you will not soon forget!

Eric is now on his way back to the sand, stay safe Brother.

[Gary]

It was a Great Hunt and getting to Know Eric and his buddy Mike was fantastic. Eric is on his way back to Afgan and I ask that we all say a prayer that He comes home safe for more hunts.i agree ....lets put some thought in our lives for all our service members and such ........again , great 2 see such a good time being had .........

[honkhunter]

I have to say this hunt was the highlight of my hunting season and a true honor to share a pit with Eric and Mike.

As the days grew closes to Eric’s return to Minnesota, the birds in our area disappeared and our hearts sank with every empty lake and pond that we searched. One day I was talking to fellow Staffer, Sam Hoppe about the hunt we (Honkhunter(Glen) and I) were trying to put together for Eric. Sam told me about a friend of his, Steve Reese, who runs RB Waterfowl (www.gooseme.com (http://www.gooseme.com)) in Rochester MN. A short time later I had the opportunity to hunt with Steve and Sam and talked to him about the possibility of putting a hunt together for Eric. Steve was all for the idea and donated a field with pits for us to use. (Steve is in the first picture standing between Mike and Eric).

The night before the hunt, Eric and Mike (Mike finished his service approximately 9 month earlier) came to my home and Glen and I, had finally had a chance to meet our new friends from the Forum. Eric then had a chance to speak with one of FMI Pro Staffers, Barry Bennis (Hunters Ridge Kennel) on the phone and later Field Staffer Sam Hoppe. After the phone conversations, Eric commented about how cool it was to talk to members of the “Foiles Family” (as he called it). We finished the night off early with a few cocktails and of course, a few stories including one Eric told about how jealous he was of his family members getting to meet Jeff Foiles at Game Fair while he was deployed. The next morning came early as Eric, Mike, Glen, and I drove to Rochester and met Steve Reese. We set decoys and settled into the pits to watch flock after flock travel into Rochester in an area that was not open to hunting. It seemed as the geese wanted to eat grass from the athletic fields in town, due to the warm weather and blue bird skies. We left the field around noon and Eric had a phone handed to him, on the other end was Jeff Foiles (what a cool moment that was to see).

After lunch we returned to the field and watched the geese fly the same path they had flew in the morning, returning to the river. About a half an hour before shooting time closed, four geese choose a different flight path out of town. Everyone covered up in the pits and the geese worked us perfectly right into the hole. At about fifteen yards in front of Eric, the first goose was about a foot off of the ground and the highest was about fifteen feet in the air. I let out a yell and the banging began and ended with all four on the ground with Eric and Mike putting an end to their migration.

I have to admit after all the yelling and high fives were done it was a very emotional minute with few dry eyes from the culmination of events that lead up to the four of us standing together watching the sunset.

I want to personally thank all the people that were involved in making this day happen. Most of all, I want to thank all the men and women that have sacrificed so much for service to our County in the Armed Services! If you have a chance or ability to take one of these fine members of the Armed Services out, please take them, it is a moment in time you will not soon forget!

Eric is now on his way back to the sand, stay safe Brother.

Great write up Bro. I couldn't come up with words any better. The looks and smiles on there faces will always be rememberd.

[Goose4280]

I have to say this hunt was the highlight of my hunting season and a true honor to share a pit with Eric and Mike.

As the days grew closes to Eric’s return to Minnesota, the birds in our area disappeared and our hearts sank with every empty lake and pond that we searched. One day I was talking to fellow Staffer, Sam Hoppe about the hunt we (Honkhunter(Glen) and I) were trying to put together for Eric. Sam told me about a friend of his, Steve Reese, who runs RB Waterfowl (www.gooseme.com) in Rochester MN. A short time later I had the opportunity to hunt with Steve and Sam and talked to him about the possibility of putting a hunt together for Eric. Steve was all for the idea and donated a field with pits for us to use. (Steve is in the first picture standing between Mike and Eric).

The night before the hunt, Eric and Mike (Mike finished his service approximately 9 month earlier) came to my home and Glen and I, had finally had a chance to meet our new friends from the Forum. Eric then had a chance to speak with one of FMI Pro Staffers, Barry Bennis (Hunters Ridge Kennel) on the phone and later Field Staffer Sam Hoppe. After the phone conversations, Eric commented about how cool it was to talk to members of the “Foiles Family” (as he called it). We finished the night off early with a few cocktails and of course, a few stories including one Eric told about how jealous he was of his family members getting to meet Jeff Foiles at Game Fair while he was deployed. The next morning came early as Eric, Mike, Glen, and I drove to Rochester and met Steve Reese. We set decoys and settled into the pits to watch flock after flock travel into Rochester in an area that was not open to hunting. It seemed as the geese wanted to eat grass from the athletic fields in town, due to the warm weather and blue bird skies. We left the field around noon and Eric had a phone handed to him, on the other end was Jeff Foiles (what a cool moment that was to see).

After lunch we returned to the field and watched the geese fly the same path they had flew in the morning, returning to the river. About a half an hour before shooting time closed, four geese choose a different flight path out of town. Everyone covered up in the pits and the geese worked us perfectly right into the hole. At about fifteen yards in front of Eric, the first goose was about a foot off of the ground and the highest was about fifteen feet in the air. I let out a yell and the banging began and ended with all four on the ground with Eric and Mike putting an end to their migration.

I have to admit after all the yelling and high fives were done it was a very emotional minute with few dry eyes from the culmination of events that lead up to the four of us standing together watching the sunset.

I want to personally thank all the people that were involved in making this day happen. Most of all, I want to thank all the men and women that have sacrificed so much for service to our County in the Armed Services! If you have a chance or ability to take one of these fine members of the Armed Services out, please take them, it is a moment in time you will not soon forget!

Eric is now on his way back to the sand, stay safe Brother.

That story right there goes to show there is alot more to a hunt than just killing. Very nice story John!

[Sam Hoppe]

Good write up John. I’m glad that it all worked out and Eric had a memorable hunt. That is what it is all about!!!