Posted by Jim Reinke on November 10, 1999 at 00:34:54:
I am 40 years old,and have fished since I was about 4 years old. I fish about 10 months out of the year with October/November now taken over by hunting. I took up grouse hunting about 12 years ago, followed a few years later by duck hunting, goose hunting, and an occasional pheasant hunting trip. Duck hunting has really taken over the majority of my hunting now and my interest grows each year. My hunting is pretty much limited to weekends and about 5-7 days of vacation a year. The seasons are way too short in Minnesota to scratch the itch for a whole year. Have extended the season a bit with early and late season goose hunting in the Twin Cities metro area.
Most of my duck hunting has been in the Fergus Falls, and Detroit Lakes area of MN, though have tried several other areas once or twice (SW Manitoba, Mississipi River by Winona, Forest Lake area, Aitkin area, St. Cloud). I really enjoy hunting divers (ringbills, bluebills, redheads) on large lakes over a spread of 4 dozen diver decoys, 2 dozen mallards, and 6 canada geese. Nothing quite like a flock of 20-30 bluebills buzzing over the decoys for a few passes at a zillion miles an hour before cupping their wings and dropping their landing gear! I hunt divers out of a 16' Lund Pro Angler with a 50hp Mariner and a homemade burlap and metal conduit blind. I tow a Hoefgen duck boat (new this season!) which I use to set decoys, fetch birds, jump shoot etc. I also like to hunt on smaller waters for puddle ducks (mostly mallards and wooducks) using the Hoefgen, 2 dozen mallards, 8 wooducks, and 7 geese. I also have done a little field hunting for ducks and geese and have 30 canada shells, and a dozen mallards.
I found this site several months ago while looking for a new duck boat to replace my canoe. It has been really helpful. Based on info from this website, I have purchased the Hoefgen duck boat, rigged up longlines for my diver decoys, and have started thinking about making a dozen cork decoys. My wife and kids think I am insane, but put up with me. Soon, my son and daughter will be old enough to try duck hunting and perhaps I can pass on the bug to them.
Good Luck Hunting to all of you,
Jim Reinke