Snow on Hatteras Island Today. Ferry Service Shut Down

By Jim Field

Dan and I were going to fish today out of Hatteras Inlet. The weather precluded a trip. (I also have to work all this weekend, which would have torpedoed things anyway). Turns out Hatteras got hit with a rather good snow storm--enough to suspend ferry service. Weather tomorrow forecasted for low 40s with sun. Please, may Spring come soon. Here's the story from the Outer Banks Voice:


Heavy snow shuts down Hatteras-Ocracoke ferries
Rob Morris | January 22, 2011
Heavy snow has forced the suspension of ferry service from Hatteras Island.

A coastal storm is causing poor visibility and icing on docks, the state Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division said in a statement.

Temporarily suspended were the Hatteras-Ocracoke, Ocracoke-Cedar Island, Ocracoke-Swan Quarter and Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach routes.

About an inch of snow was covering N.C. 12 in Salvo, causing several accidents, Dare County reported. The county also said that the Washington Baum Bridge between Nags Head and Manteo and U.S. 264 in Manns Harbor were icy and hazardous

While heavy snow was reported on Hatteras Island, only a few showers and flurries have hit northern beaches.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Hatteras Island is expected to get 2 to 3 inches of snow before the storm moves away Saturday night.

Farther north, the forecast calls for cloudy and cold weather before things clear out overnight.

Blustery winds will be from the north with temperatures in the mid-30s this afternoon and dropping into the 20s tonight.

After a sunny Sunday, rain is a possibility through at least Wednesday.

On the Hunt in Winter: For Geese, Not Fish. Good Times in the Pit. Some Notable Firsts

By Jim Field

A few Saturday's ago (January 8), Andrew and I traveled to Dan's neck of the woods to hunt for Canadian geese and duck. For years Dan has talked about "The Farm" on Maryland's eastern shore, located about 15 minutes away from Dan's homestead in Bear, DE. Dan, Fran Sr., and a handful of hunting pals--including Jon Kitchen--lease The Farm, a 250+ acre rural tract, from a local land owner. Each year Dan has extended an open invitation to me to hunt--something I've never taken him up on before. However, with Andrew now 14 years and wanting to hunt (i.e., shoot weapons), an open weekend presented an opportunity, and north we drove.

Departing Alexandria at 4:00 am Saturday morning, we proceeded up 95N in snow squalls through Baltimore, across the Susquehanna River, and into DE to Dan's house. Once there, we donned camouflage hunting attire--courtesy of Dan's extra inventory--and hopped in his truck for the brief drive to The Farm. On the way, the scenery was quiet and beautiful: open cornfields, tree-lined boundaries, a dusting of newly-fallen snow. The country.

Having now seen The Farm, I can attest to its beauty and attractiveness to hunters. Rolling fields, trees, all spread out, with a large creek constituting the entire southwest border. Dan and group have built two blinds on the creek, and a single firing pit in the center of a large cornfield, with stalks remaining. This morning we were manning the pit: Jon, son Austin, and Tim Mazol (also a Sea Ya Bea veteran) were on station in one of the blinds on the creek. We would also be joined in the pit by Travis, who I had never met before, and who turned out to be a great guy and outdoorsman, fun and knowledgeable at the same time--and an expert goose caller.

From the truck Dan shuttled Andrew, me, and the gear to the pit using his new 4-wheel toy (sorry, piece of essential equipment). We found the 30+ decoys snow-covered, and so spent time brush-cleaning and re-arranging the artificial flock (positioned face-first into the wind). Dan then instructed Andrew in firing a 12-gauge shotgun--the first time he would do this, or, to be more explicit, fire any gun above a 22 calibre. Dan set an empty cardboard coffee cup on a cornstalk at 20 paces and showed him how to site down the barrel. Andrew fired once: a hit. He fired twice: a second hit. That was that: ready to go.

We next entered the pit--perhaps 15 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, and took our positions. Tied bundles of corn stalks were positioned overhead to serve as a roof, through which we would emerge--like jack-in-the-boxes--to fire at unsuspecting geese, assuming we could entice them into our field ad directly in front of us, within range.

As it turned out, the early snow had grounded the geese; when they started to fly, the activity centered in the field next to ours; it appeared that this would not be our day. That said, Travis worked the call constantly and we ended up attracting a small grouping, perhaps 10-15 birds. Dan, Andrew, and Travis stood up, got their bearings, choose their birds and fired. We got four, one of which was scored by Andrew.

By noon we were done and packing things up. It was one of the best mornings I'll ever have. Hunting with my son. His first experience with a bird gun, and exposure to the sport and the men who practice and carry on this way of living. Come on, does it get better?

As usual, Dan was a great host. Showing me, once again, something very special, passed down through families and friends, in the great outdoors. Andrew absolutely loved it--everything about it: the gear, the weapons, the surroundings, the companions, the pit conversation, and the kill. He wants to come back and "get really into it." We'll have to make this happen.


Dan begins instruction with Andrew


The young man takes it all in


Ready, aim, fire....for the first time


In the pit--Andrew peers upward


Travis and his caller


Andrew and Dan discussing Greek philosophers


Andrew and his first goose


Retrieving kills from the field

Student, instructor, morning's bag, pit

The two Fields

The essential piece of hunting gear--how cool!


(Thanks Dan--great time, man)

Buddy Davis, Boatbuilder and Pioneer, Dies at 62 Years

By Jim Field

A new fishing friend sent this notice to me. Thought that everyone who loves sportfishing--and the beautiful craft that ply the waters as an integral part of the pursuit--would want to know the news.


Kill Devil Hills Forum
Forums and message boards for Kill Devil Hills, NC.

A Part of Outer Banks Tradition Passes Away
by Kip Tabb on January 17, 2011

Buddy Davis died last night at age 62. With him, a small piece of Outer Banks tradition passed away as well.

Buddy built boats. He, of course, was successful at other things—raised two children and two stepchildren, at one time probably had 200 people employed—but ultimately he will be remembered for that one thing he did as well anyone else in the world. He built boats.

Boatbuilding on the Outer Banks has a long history, from the simple skiffs and fishing boats that plied the inland waters of the North Carolina sounds to the Carolina flare sport fishing boats that have come to define the look of the Outer Banks fishing fleet. With their sharp keel and flared hull, these are boats created for the strong currents of Oregon Inlet and rolling seas of the Gulf Stream. And it was with this design that Buddy made his name.

He started building his first boats in 1973, but by that time he already had a full career on the water. At 13 he was a mate on fishing boats, and he spent a number of years working for Omie Tillet and Warren O’Neal—the godfathers of the Carolina design.

Buddy Davis 28' center console design.
At first, Buddy crafted his boats from the same materials and in the same way that his mentors had, but over time he began to look for new materials and new ways to do things. “He was always trying to do it better,” Barbara Davis, his former wife says. “At first they were wooden hulls. Then he started using fiberglass. His designs were a collaboration with (marine architect) Donald Blount.”

“He was using modern technology to make those traditional designs better,” she adds.

Over the years, Buddy Davis Boatworks took a number of different forms—as an independent company, a partnership, subsidiary and ultimately his designs became a part of a New Jersey boatbuilding company. Davis-designed boats are no longer built on the Outer Banks.

Buddy Davis 48' Express.
Yet it is not for the boats that he will be remembered, although Buddy Davis creations carry a grace, beauty and craftsmanship rare in today’s world, for our physical constructs leave an impermanent mark. It is in the building upon tradition and legacy that our story has meaning, and it is in that tale that the meaning of Buddy Davis’ life will be found.

Buddy, You have crossed the bar for the last time ol friend. God bless the family and especially Barbara, His most devoted companion and wife.