Jonesboro, Arkansas

Posted on October 17, 2003 by Shannon Nardi 

We actually arrived in Jonesboro, AR got ourselves situated at the hotel. My camera crew Steve Childress ChillDog and Gregg Goodwin were getting ready to have there first Ricefield and Timber hunt. They were pumped.

We drove out to the Ricefield we would be hunting on and met with our guest Chris Akin. We shot Justin and Chris putting out the decoys. It was sunset and probably one of the most beautiful I have seen. The water reflects of golden grasses and the purple hue on the horizon was incredible. Add your hunters throwing out decoys and dogs crashing around in the water and you have magic. I have always been lover of the ocean sunset, but the ricefield added a whole new light to the sunset. Seeing this I knew that the sunrise would be just as magical.

Chris had us all over to his home for dinner and drinks that evening. We met his wife Janet and all of their friends. This crowd was full of life. George and Jody would be joining us the next morning.

Since we had already set out decoys the evening before I assumed that we would get an extra hour or so of sleep. But it was another 4:00am crew call. It is amazing that we do actually need that time to set up. So off we went into the ricefields. We drove the Argos into the water and out to the levees. It is so dark and hard to figure out exactly were the right positioning is for the cameras as well as out feet. Once set it is almost time to shoot.

Our 2 star dogs were Yella and Willie. Willie is a 9 time Grand Champion Golden Retriever and 9 years old. Willie is owned by George and trained by Chris. Yella was a little rambunctious, and really wanted to get every bird. She is somewhat jealous when we hunt with another dog but she'll figure that out soon. Hunting wasn't so great on the first day. It seemed to start off okay but soon tapered off. However it was just beautiful. Sunrise was everything I thought it would be. The few retrieves we had in the ricefields are fun to watch.

The second best thing to hunting is going to eat breakfast afterwards in my opinion. We stopped at a little place on the way back and I had the best biscuits and gravy I think I have ever had.

All full and happy we went back to Chris's Kennels and shot a lot of what goes on there and some of his training techniques. I was somewhat concerned on the shoot this morning since we only shot a few ducks and geese that I may not get a show if the hunting stayed the same. After shooting with Chris and Justin I knew I would be okay. There was some good information flowing from the both of them and interesting enough to use as intros in my segments. I love when it all starts to come together in my head.

Sunday, November 24, 2003 It was a new Ricefield today. Yella had a new co-partner this morning, Boomer. Boomer is a 5 year old black lab. He is a 5x Grand Champion. Boomer is Chris's partner. The guys felt that it was a slow hunt but I knew I had seen some incredible stuff. The dogs running through the water on their retrieves were just.. well I cannot describe it. You'll have to watch the show. It is really why I think I like the ricefields so much. I can already see Boomer running through that water in slow-motion and how incredible that will look.

Monday, November 25, 2003 - Timber Hunt Does 3 ring circus ring a bell here. Well this morning in the timber the ducks came in fast and the guns went off. The dogs were everywhere picking up ducks the guys where hoopin it hup with excitement and the camera guys and myself where in chaos. So much was happening at the same time, we where all in shock and didn't even know what to try and cover. But you know what, it was fun. I could look at each of the guys including the camera guys and the grins were from ear to ear. It was what they have waited all year for. The dogs, well, it is what I have waited for. Watching all of them going back and forth thru the water so happy about it, it is a time I will never forget. The hunt was great, limits for all.

This shoot was by far the best shoot yet and it will be an intertaining show for sure.

I have to give it to Gregg and Steve. They have capture my 2 favorite shots ever.

Steve is fact captured the opening to the WaterDog show with the wonderful shot of Yella in the water and Steve capture the shot of Boomer running back from a Blind retrieve in the ricefield. Kudo's guys! Your the best.

Jonesboro get a Big Pink "A" in my book.