DWilliams
Member
Interesting experience this past weekend that I thought I would relate:
I was out with a good hunting buddy at my hunt club on the north shore of Lake Ontario, near to Kingston. We were hunting some long rocky points that jut out into the lake - hoping for some mallards and maybe bufflehead. We set up before first light with not much wind and what there was blowing off shore and the birds seemed pretty wary. Not many new 'northern birds' likely down due to the lack of freeze-up as of yet. Birds would pass our set up 100-150 yds out but my buddy is a very good caller - a few notes when they were passed would swing them back around for another look and the Robo really seemed to hold their attention (first time we've used one). Not many decoyed well but enough gave us enough looks that we were able to pick one or two out of some of the flocks. Of course the Black's decoyed well after we had 2 and there seemed to be alot around. Decent numbers of Buffies around and a few flocks of Whistlers (sorry, GEs) passed as well but further out in the lake.
So here's the interesting bit: We were one shy of 2 limits by about 10am when my buddy subbed out with one of our friends who had been hunting nearby without much luck. My Brittany got loose and decided to join us, so my buddy tied him up where he was sitting about 20 yards back from the action. We had a dozen birds land outside the decoys about 50 yds out of range and they were quickly joined by a half dozen more. We tried calling at them but they weren't interested in joining the spread. As they weren't coming closer after 20 min, my friend decided to let the dog loose to see what would happen - figuring he'd likely run them off or, maybe, lure them in? Sure enough, the dog had no interest in the birds and ran around the shoreline checking out things. A half dozen of the birds' curiosity got the better of them and they immediately started swimming over, seemingly fascinated by the dog's activity. As if on cue "Max" ran out to the point and stood looking out onto the lake and the ducks followed right out to the gunners. We jumped them up and I finished off my limit with a Drake Mallard. Max then retrieved his first ever duck - the highest of high comedy, as he hates the water and will rarely deign to even retrieve a pheasant. Max the Duck Tolling French Provincial Non-Retriever!
Attached are some pics of the outing.
All the best,
Dan
The set-up:
The spoils:
I was out with a good hunting buddy at my hunt club on the north shore of Lake Ontario, near to Kingston. We were hunting some long rocky points that jut out into the lake - hoping for some mallards and maybe bufflehead. We set up before first light with not much wind and what there was blowing off shore and the birds seemed pretty wary. Not many new 'northern birds' likely down due to the lack of freeze-up as of yet. Birds would pass our set up 100-150 yds out but my buddy is a very good caller - a few notes when they were passed would swing them back around for another look and the Robo really seemed to hold their attention (first time we've used one). Not many decoyed well but enough gave us enough looks that we were able to pick one or two out of some of the flocks. Of course the Black's decoyed well after we had 2 and there seemed to be alot around. Decent numbers of Buffies around and a few flocks of Whistlers (sorry, GEs) passed as well but further out in the lake.
So here's the interesting bit: We were one shy of 2 limits by about 10am when my buddy subbed out with one of our friends who had been hunting nearby without much luck. My Brittany got loose and decided to join us, so my buddy tied him up where he was sitting about 20 yards back from the action. We had a dozen birds land outside the decoys about 50 yds out of range and they were quickly joined by a half dozen more. We tried calling at them but they weren't interested in joining the spread. As they weren't coming closer after 20 min, my friend decided to let the dog loose to see what would happen - figuring he'd likely run them off or, maybe, lure them in? Sure enough, the dog had no interest in the birds and ran around the shoreline checking out things. A half dozen of the birds' curiosity got the better of them and they immediately started swimming over, seemingly fascinated by the dog's activity. As if on cue "Max" ran out to the point and stood looking out onto the lake and the ducks followed right out to the gunners. We jumped them up and I finished off my limit with a Drake Mallard. Max then retrieved his first ever duck - the highest of high comedy, as he hates the water and will rarely deign to even retrieve a pheasant. Max the Duck Tolling French Provincial Non-Retriever!
Attached are some pics of the outing.
All the best,
Dan
The set-up:
The spoils:
Last edited:
