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Post by hountzmj on Oct 15, 2008 17:25:03 GMT -5
We've been back almost a week now. I've finally got things calmed down from being away for almost a week... Here are my pics and narrative! We left Saturday and drove to St. Cloud, MN and spent the night. Dad didn't want to spend 17 hours in the car. So we made the drive over 2 days. We stopped at the Cabelas in East Grand Forks, MN.  That's dad in the picture. And had lunch across the street at the Blue Moose.  We arrived at the "resort" where we were staying late sunday afternoon. Crossing the border was fine. The US customs guys were more trouble than the Canadians. Monday morning we were up at 4:45 for breakfast and headed to the field by 5:30. We got there and setup in a misting rain. We shot our limit of ducks and a few geese. Here I am with a Cackler I shot.  Here is my dad and then me with the pile of ducks.   Since we had limited on ducks in the morning we couldn't hunt in the afternoon since only Canada residents can hunt geese in the afternoon until later in the season. We headed over to the Oak Hammock Marsh. It's the largest Ducks Unlimited project in North America. It's a bird magnet.   Continued in the next post. |
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Post by hountzmj on Oct 15, 2008 17:25:37 GMT -5
Tuesday morning we were setup in a field for geese only. We ended up with 12 I think for the 4 of us.  Dad.  Me.  The pile.  The group.  Dad again.  Me again.  Snow geese flying over. Continued again. |
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Post by hountzmj on Oct 15, 2008 17:26:06 GMT -5
Tuesday evening we were taken to a flooded oat field and setup for ducks. The mud in the field was DEEP. If you stood still for too long you would sink in. Just walking a few yards was a workout that left you breathing hard. Nasty stuff. A 250 yard walk in to setup took about 45 min by the time we got all of the gear in. Dad.  Me.  View from my blind.  Clouds of ducks.  We limited out on ducks in about an hour and a half. We actually only took home 31 ducks though. I shot a beautiful Wood Duck that would be going on my wall. Except that I made a crappy shot and only winged it. The dog was able to find it but it took off before she could catch it.   Continued again. |
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Post by hountzmj on Oct 15, 2008 17:26:22 GMT -5
Wednesday morning we were taken to a combo field. Canada geese, ducks and snow geese had been feeding in the wheat stubble over the last few days. We shot our limit of ducks in right about an hour. We got a few Canada geese too. We saw several huge flocks of snow geese. A picture cannot describe the visual effect and the noise of several hundred geese swirling down from the sky. It's simply amazing. Unfortunately they landed too far out to shoot at. Me in the dark  Sunrise.  Sunrise Self portrait.  Snow Geese  More Snow Geese  Me and dad with ducks and geese.   |
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Post by hountzmj on Oct 15, 2008 17:28:23 GMT -5
After our morning hunt on Wednesday we ate lunch with the other hunters and the guides and then packed up the car. We brought back 32 ducks and 12 geese. The extras we shot while there were donated to local Indian groups. They truly appreciate the meat from what we are told. We had no problems at the border. We just filled out our CITES paperwork and were on our way. Over the 2.5 days (4 hunts) we shot 190 times between the two of us. We bagged 60 birds in total. No wall hangers but they will certainly taste good over the next few weeks / months. The trip cost a bunch of cash for the length of time it was. But it was WAY WAY worth it. My dad's not getting any younger and he was afraid that if he didn't go soon he wouldn't be able to keep up or spend the hours on the ground in a layout blind. The other father son team we were paired with were considerably older than my dad and I and the father really struggled at times. It can be hard work out there. That said... if you want... the guides will do everything for you. That's not our style of hunting so we jumped at the chance to help where we could. They told us that probably 60% of their clients are more "shooters" and not "hunters." They don't take birds home with them and they help very little if at all out in the field. As a hunter that saddens me greatly. However in a sport such as ours we have to take everyone on our side that we can get. United we will maintain our hunting heritage. Divided PETA and other groups will cause us to fall. We are already planning our next trip in a few years. It's not something we can afford to do very often but Manitoba is such a special place for waterfowl that I think it will always be calling me to come back. We saw more ducks and geese in a single day that we see in an entire season in Indiana. If you are interested in the full Picture Galleries they are below. picasaweb.google.com/mjhountz/ManitobaWaterfowlHunt2008Day1#picasaweb.google.com/mjhountz/ManitobaWaterfowlHunt2008Day2#picasaweb.google.com/mjhountz/ManitobaWaterfowlHunt2008Day3# |
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 15, 2008 17:59:21 GMT -5
Great pictures and story!!
Looks like you and your dad had a great time together.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Post by huxbux on Oct 15, 2008 18:33:50 GMT -5
Great pics and story. Thanks for posting
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Post by pigeonflier on Oct 15, 2008 19:17:55 GMT -5
Right on hountzmj!!! Looks like you and your dad had a very memorable time together up there!! Congrats and thanks for sharing!!!!
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Post by hoosierdhr on Oct 15, 2008 19:40:42 GMT -5
Man I miss going to North Dakota, Ive been to that Cabela's
The Pics remind me of ND.
Congrats on a good time!!!
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Post by shootsa410 on Oct 16, 2008 2:53:31 GMT -5
I think every waterfowler needs to experience it at least once. I'm getting ready for my fifth trip.  |
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Post by jwkimber45 on Oct 16, 2008 6:42:07 GMT -5
Awesome!!!!!
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Oct 16, 2008 9:58:01 GMT -5
Looks like you two had an awesome time.
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Post by hountzmj on Oct 16, 2008 11:15:46 GMT -5
I think every waterfowler needs to experience it at least once. I'm getting ready for my fifth trip. Are you the one who is going to Riverside ? We were with Cupped Wings. www.manitobawaterfowl.com--hountzmj |
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Post by snakeeye on Oct 16, 2008 16:08:45 GMT -5
Great pics and text...Thanks for sharing.
Snake (Warsaw '85)
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Post by duff on Oct 16, 2008 19:17:35 GMT -5
What a freaking DORK!  |
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Post by shootsa410 on Oct 17, 2008 7:45:41 GMT -5
No, I'm going with Silverback Outfitter in St Ambroise, Manatoba. I purchaced this hunt off a guy from Alabama who won it at a Delta Waterfowl banquet.
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Post by bellbucksnbeards on Oct 17, 2008 16:41:03 GMT -5
Nice story and pics to go with it!
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