At the 2013 Shot Show in Las Vegas, Mossy Oak Brand Camo introduced their new line of camouflage for waterfowlers. The new camo is called Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades. This pattern, like Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity, has been created with almost 3D-like images. With MO Break Up Infinity, Mossy Oak launched their new way of making camo; by adding layers upon layers of images. This gives the pattern a look of piled up grasses and cover. The new MO Shadow Grass Blades was created by researchers who took sample grasses from up and down the Mississippi flyway. The images were then added together to become this new camo.
Years ago, MO launched their counterpart to Realtree Max-4 with the introduction of Mossy Oak Duck Blind. The idea of MO Duck Blind was to provide a lighter version of waterfowling camo, as well as provide a pattern that worked in all areas of the country. Many hunters complained that the RT Max-4 was too dark, and from the sky they looked like big dark spots when in light-colored cover. I too had experienced this, and in turn made a switch to MO Duck Blind. Now that they've released the new MO Shadow Grass Blades, I may have to make a switch again. With MO now launching two new patterns to the one that Realtree has, I'm interested to see what Realtree will come out with to compare.
Many other companies have great camo for waterfowlers, and a lot of it comes down personal preference and where you're hunting. Some days, I think the dark RT Max-4 camo would be better than the MO Duck Blind. Sometimes in cattails or cornfields, I think Avery's Killer Weed would be the better choice. It is all relevant to location, timing, and what you're trying to achieve.
To us here at Willowpine Outdoors, Mossy Oak has proven to be the leader in industry camouflage and I can't wait to see what they come out with next. Below are some other examples of waterfowling camo available on the market today.
Cabelas Industry Inside put out this video about the Mossy Oak Shadowgrass Blade Camo. Check it out....
The DNR sent out an email assuring Indiana waterfowl hunters of the 2013 late Indiana nuisance goose season. The season lasts for 15 days starting on February 1st, and closing on February 15th. The season is only for the following Indiana counties. Hendricks, Marion, Parke, Vigo, Clay, Morgan, Johnson, Hancock, Boone, Hamilton, Steuben, LaGrange, Elkhart, St. Joseph, La Porte, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb, Allen, Whitley, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Madison, Shelby, Vermillion, Sullivan and Greene.
The late nuisance goose season was granted to Indiana as a 3-Year experiment by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The USF&W requirement was that 80% of the birds killed during the late season needed to be giant Canada geese. The late nuisance goose season goal was to help control the population and breeding of giant Canada geese in urban areas. Homeowners and neighborhood residents with HOA ponds know all too well that the Canada geese can be quite a nuisance. Among other nuisance activities, the male Canada geese are quite aggressive when eggs are on the nest, which can become quite the problem with kids. Many residents are also tired of spraying off the soles of their shoes after walking through goose excrement in their yards. Since 2008 Indiana has offered this late nuisance season in hopes of reducing the total amount of local geese. According to the IDNR E-Newsletter, Last years nuisance late goose season was a success with 8,076 Canada geese being harvested during the late season. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service stated that 2012 had almost 1,600 more harvests than 2011. In the total 5 years that Indiana has offered the late season it is estimated that around 33,500 geese have been harvested. In 2012 Indiana DNR permitted 4,362 hunters to head out during the late season. They're expecting similar numbers this year. In years past you had to require a special permit to be able to participate in this season. However, this year they've changed it to where hunters are only required to have their normal Indiana hunting license, Indiana Waterfowl Stamp, HIP (Harvest Information Program) and a signed Federal Duck Stamp. Again no special permit is required. As well Indiana hunters are NO LONGER required to check in the geese they've harvested during the late seasons.
This special late season may be closed in the future if the population of Canada geese is well reduced and under control. When the 2014 season comes around, we'll let you know if there is going to be another late nuisance goose season. -Joey W. Buttram (Willowpine Outdoors) Information and statistics gathered from the IDNR Wild Bulletin E-Newsletter.
On January 11, 12, & 13 C Bar Expo Center in Cloverdale is set to host the Indiana Midwest Archery & Whitetail Deer Expo. The event is $10.00, but you can recieve $5.00 off by printing the below flyer. Right click, Save As, and print the flyer. Willowpine Outdoors will be providing full on coverage of the event, and we're even planning to have a booth set up at the event. If you can make it out, then please stop in and say hello.
