Mark W
Well-known member
What a day. I got up a little later than normal as I was certain the spot I was going to hunt was going to be frozen and this tends to keep others away. Get to the landing and I'm the third truck in the lot. Guess others had the same thought.
Since I wasn't the first, I wasn't breaking ice on my own. Geez, this stuff had gotten thick to almost an 1" in some spots.
I get out to the hunting area and pass by a couple of gents setting up on the further most point. I didn't think the wind was right for this spot but they wanted it so they got it. I knew a local laywer was hunting down in one area and I could see his headlight bobbing around. I pulled around a bend and was going to hunt a certain spot only to see the lights of a couple guys setting out dekes. I had a feeling I knew who this was as we are the only two that seem to hunt this particular spot. I motored over and called out "John". Yep, that was John. I get out of the boat and walk over to say good morning and ask if I would be in their way if I hunted downwind about 250 yards or so. While over at the boat talking about hunting I am introduced to "Wendell". I asked if this was THE Wendell to which I got a sheepish, "depends upon which Wendell you are referring to? Sure enough, I met the "famous" Wendell the inventor. I knew he hunted out here occasssionally but it was usually with the local outdoor writer for the local paper who wrote the article below. I've actually hunted the area referenced in the article where they wear wetsuits/waders and walk acorss the ice hanging onto a canoe with outriggers. Quite the site to watch let me tell you. Can't help but laugh as there are easier ways to hunt than that method IMO.
http://m.startribune.com/sports/?id=187607931
Ducks were down thick today. About time. Where I was setting up I had not hunted much before but today this was the spot the ducks wanted to be sort of. I didn't really have anything that wanted to land in the dekes but did have many nice pass shooting opportunities. Saw plenty of geeses and a variety of ducks. Ended the day with a filled bag which hasn't happened since the opening weekend. Just a few days left in the season for this zone and then my hunting might be over. Hope to get out 5 of the next 6 days. This is when the fun hunting begins.
Mark W
Since I wasn't the first, I wasn't breaking ice on my own. Geez, this stuff had gotten thick to almost an 1" in some spots.
I get out to the hunting area and pass by a couple of gents setting up on the further most point. I didn't think the wind was right for this spot but they wanted it so they got it. I knew a local laywer was hunting down in one area and I could see his headlight bobbing around. I pulled around a bend and was going to hunt a certain spot only to see the lights of a couple guys setting out dekes. I had a feeling I knew who this was as we are the only two that seem to hunt this particular spot. I motored over and called out "John". Yep, that was John. I get out of the boat and walk over to say good morning and ask if I would be in their way if I hunted downwind about 250 yards or so. While over at the boat talking about hunting I am introduced to "Wendell". I asked if this was THE Wendell to which I got a sheepish, "depends upon which Wendell you are referring to? Sure enough, I met the "famous" Wendell the inventor. I knew he hunted out here occasssionally but it was usually with the local outdoor writer for the local paper who wrote the article below. I've actually hunted the area referenced in the article where they wear wetsuits/waders and walk acorss the ice hanging onto a canoe with outriggers. Quite the site to watch let me tell you. Can't help but laugh as there are easier ways to hunt than that method IMO.
http://m.startribune.com/sports/?id=187607931
Ducks were down thick today. About time. Where I was setting up I had not hunted much before but today this was the spot the ducks wanted to be sort of. I didn't really have anything that wanted to land in the dekes but did have many nice pass shooting opportunities. Saw plenty of geeses and a variety of ducks. Ended the day with a filled bag which hasn't happened since the opening weekend. Just a few days left in the season for this zone and then my hunting might be over. Hope to get out 5 of the next 6 days. This is when the fun hunting begins.
Mark W