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21 Articles

Let the Good Times Float

GIANT GOBS OF BLACK GOOEY MUD were flying 30 feet high in the Florida sunshine and landing like hot pudding bombs all over us, splattering the coolers, seats and deck of the boat. Dad had the throttle pinned wide open, hand on the tiller, when we’d slid off the creek and flown up into the deep marsh grass, failing to make the bend in the little salty river. The motor was still running and the prop was chopping the mud chunks and throwing them skyward. It had happened so fast, my eight-year-old brain had no idea why Pops had decided to drive the boat off into the deep spartina grass. He was shaking his head in amazement. A fastidious country gentleman of English heritage, he didn’t make mistakes very often. “Took that one…

Let the Good Times Float

Skip, I imagine your mailbox will fill fast with these. I’ll just toss in a couple. First is some simple advice—if the boat cables freeze because of cracked ends allowing water in, that’s what a full thermos of hot coffee is for. I launched at the ramp before anyone went to shift in reverse, coining "move the cable." Coffee saved the day. 16-year-old duck hunters get bad ideas. We knew a lake with ducks that usually fly near shore. I had a K-Mart special blow-up vinyl raft we could use for retrieving. I fished out of it all summer. We figured we’d pick our shots then retrieve. Well, the ducks landed around a small island in the middle and stayed there. Now this lake was recently frozen solid. We had to break an…

Hunter Numbers Boom, But Can We Hold onto Them?

SINCE REACHING AN all-time high of 2.03 million in 1970, the number of waterfowl hunters nationwide was on a downward trend. Not good. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2020 Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest Report, the number of active waterfowl hunters dipped below the 1-million mark for only the third time in 81 years after counts were tallied follow ing the 2019-2020 hunting season. More concerning is the rate of that decline. Between the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, the dip was estimated at 1.09-million waterfowlers lost over the course of just one year. Many ask, “Why is this a problem?” This question is especially true of those that chase their waterfowling dreams on public dirt. Fewer hunters mean less competition for prime waterfowl spots. The big answer A…

Hunter Numbers Boom, But Can We Hold onto Them?

HAMMER DROPS ON BOISE TEENS An Idaho poaching case of 34 discarded ducks — some found whole and some partially field-dressed — was finally put to rest. According to Conservation officer Ben Cadwallader, the Idaho Fish and Game calls to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline put conservation officers on the right track. Two teens — one 17 and one 18 — were questioned and later confessed to the crime. Both teens face civil penalties of $50 per bird, as well as other fines that could be as much as $1,000 per bird. TWO BANDS…ONE BIRD Shooting a banded bird is like finding gold in the waterfowl world, but what if that bird has two bands? According to sources from California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, birds with a band on each leg have…

IT WASN’T THAT long ago when you could plunk down a deposit on a Lab puppy and pick it up at five or six weeks of age. Now, most pups are kept with their moms and litter-mates until they are at least seven weeks old, and oftentimes, longer. The rules change over time as we learn more about our dogs and their health. It’s not just puppy pickup windows that are being rethought either. Currently, one of the most debated topics concerning all dogs, is when to spay or neuter. Six months used to be the hard-and-fast rule, mostly because it allowed dogs to mature enough to handle the anesthesia as well as the recovery process of a surgery. For males, this was about as far as it went. For females, it…

Waterfowl BAND REPORTS

1 HUNTER: Austin Dunlap, Calcutta, OH BAND #: 2167-88558 SPECIES: Mallard (D) BANDED: 08/13/2018 LOCATION: Lebel-Sur-Qyevillon, QC RECOVERED: 12/20/2020 LOCATION: Salineville, OH 2 HUNTER: Michael Wright, Dickson, TN BAND #: 2097-27495 SPECIES: Ross’s Goose (F) BANDED: 08/07/2012 LOCATION: 13 KM SW Johnson PT, NU RECOVERED: 01/03/2021 LOCATION: 0.7 miles W from Doddsville, TN 3 HUNTER: Blane Bachan, Watsonville, CA BAND #: 1094-66558 SPECIES: Green-winged Teal (D) BANDED: 08/09/2018 LOCATION: Near Tulita, NT RECOVERED: 11/25/2020 LOCATION: Los Banos, CA 4 HUNTER: Mike Dworzynski, Carlinville, IL BAND #: 1208-03079 SPECIES: Canada Goose (F) BANDED: 07/25/2018 LOCATION: Near Henry, SD RECOVERED: 01/01/2021 LOCATION: 3 mi E of Cottonwood Falls, KS 5 HUNTER: Daniel Scarazzo, Rochester, NY BAND #: 1078-63691 SPECIES: Canada Goose (F) BANDED: 08/08/2015 LOCATION: Near Puvirnituq, QC RECOVERED: 01/02/2021 LOCATION: 2 mi W of Montezuma, NY 6 HUNTER: Joseph Morek, Wake Forest, NC BAND #: 1146-78886 SPECIES: Wood Duck (D) BANDED: 09/03/2020 LOCATION: Near Sharon, NY RECOVERED: 12/29/2020 LOCATION: Enfield, NC 7 HUNTER: Eric Pellissier, Groton, CT BAND #: 1777-25696 SPECIES: Atlantic Brant (M) BANDED: 07/30/2009 LOCATION: East Bay, NU RECOVERED: 11/11/2020 LOCATION: Old Saybrook, CT 8 HUNTER:…

Waterfowl BAND REPORTS

A Day to Remember

NOAH ROGERS WAS just 14 years young when his grandfather, Carroll Dolson, brought him to the Chesapeake Duck Club—a private club established in 1907 along the marshes of Utah’s Bear River—for a mid-November hunt. Though young, he showed his skills by dropping the first bird in the decoys, a hen pintail. After a quick lesson on duck I.D., Dolson suggested they try to identify the birds by sex, and shoot only drakes, but when a pair of mallards came in, he missed the drake and hit the hen. “So much for that lesson,” said Dolson. In the end, the lesson was learned and for the rest of the day they shot only drakes, with both hunters limiting out. The day’s last duck was Noah’s, and when Dolson’s Lab, Avery, recovered it,…

A Day to Remember

New Prague Gunners

THE BIG TOURING CAR is about to bust a spring under the weight of a morning’s duck hunt. It’s 1912, and to my eye they’re all shooting Remington 11s; Remington’s clone of the Browning Automatic 5 semi-auto that was launched in 1903 with the Remington Model 11 following in 1905. Like so many Mid-Western communities, New Prague harkened back to Bohemia in The Old Country from where their populace emigrated to Minnesota. Close by is a German village called Heidelberg and then we tip our hat to the French who explored down the Mississippi River with Belle Plaine and Le Sueuer. Go a little further and you’re in Northfield, Minnesota. These are towns full of hunters who knew how to shoot! The Mississippi River is close to New Prague, so these ducks…

New Prague Gunners

Benelli’s New 3-Inch SBE 3 Lineup

BENELLI’S NEW SUPER Black Eagle 3 (SBE 3) in 3-inch 20 gauge is slim, lithe, handles like a dream and can gobble 2 ¾- and 3-inch shells like a football team at an all you can eat buffet. Also offered in a 3-inch 12 gauge, for those who realize that the 3 ½-inch shell can sometimes beat the snot out of you after a long day in the duck blind. In 1954, the latest duck death ray was Western Cartridge’s Super X 3-inch 20-gauge load introduced with the Winchester Model 21 double. The 3-inch 20 was criticized for its excessively long shot string, primarily caused by pellet deformation in the extra-long shot column, even with Western’s copper-plated “Lubaloy” lead shot. When hard steel shot came along, the 3-inch 20 came into…

Benelli’s New 3-Inch SBE 3 Lineup

MANUFACTURER: Benelli USA ACTION TYPE: Inertia-operated semi-auto GAUGE: 3-inch chambered 20 and 12 gauge TRIGGER: Single 4 lbs 6 oz average MAGAZINE: 3 shells BARREL: 26- or 28-inch SIGHTS: Vent rib with fiber optic red bar front STOCK: Synthetic LOP 14 ½, DAC 1 5/8, DAH 2 3/8 Cast OFF ¼; adjustable with supplied shims. OVERALL LENGTH: 47 with 26-inch barrel WEIGHT: 5 lbs 15 oz (20 ga) METAL FINISH: Matte black, Realtree MAX-5, GORE OPTIFADE Timber, Mossy Oak Bottomland ACCESSORIES: Owner’s manual, lock, three extended choke tubes Cylinder, Modified and Full. SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $1,699 black synthetic, $1,799 camo…

Louisiana Teal Killer

ON A BLUSTERY SATURDAY, midway through the December segment of the 2020 duck season, Greg Geoffroy was hunting at his lease near Rockefeller Refuge. He and his buddies, Tim McBride and David Delahoussaye, were having a banner day. "It was extremely cold, with temperatures in the low 30s," Geoffroy said. "It was our first time in the new floating blind when we saw birds flying all over the bayou and we shot 12 teal. The blind was so stable it didn't bother the ducks. They flew right into the decoys." A resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, Geoffroy, age 48, began hunting with his father, Conway Geoffroy, when he was 14. An oil-and-gas landman, he is a go-between for drilling companies and property owners. He shoots a Beretta Xtrema loaded with 3-inch No. 6s…

Louisiana Teal Killer

Embracing New Tech

I’VE BEEN TRAINING dogs for nearly 50 years. This has allowed me to witness plenty of changes in how we do things, and what tools we have in order to do those things. While the dogs haven’t changed much in the last five decades, the training tools certainly have. This is no more evident than if you look at remote collars. When they first hit the scene, they were pretty crude. Designed mostly for use with hounds, the earliest e-collars offered one setting, which was an absolute burner. Because of this, you couldn’t use them with 99-percent of the bird dogs out there. Eventually, manufacturers started to develop newer options and increase the functionality of e-collars. In fact, I’ll never forget the first time I saw a collar that could change its…

Embracing New Tech

Noisy in the Blind

Keep the dog calm during training. SOME DOGS ARE genetically pre disposed to whine or bark when excited. When you couple this with "spinning the pup up" at a young age, you may have a dog that is loud and annoying during the hunt. One method to hopefully control this annoyance in the blind is to com mand “no” in a deep tone but loud voice and then deny the retrieve every time the dog barks or whines. But remember that this problem probably began well before hunting season and was exacerbated when ignored during training sessions. Much of this unwanted behavior could be and can be controlled and hopefully eliminated at an early age by not spinning up the pup, building his/her excitement to an extreme level and giving an excessive number…

Noisy in the Blind

“SKY CARP,” I’ve heard them called. True shame. I even had a local hunter in Kansas offer me his limit of Canada goose one morning because “they aren’t good for anything but jerky.” My mother-in-law won’t touch them because they land on “poo ponds.” (I’m also not allowed to cook them in her kitchen anymore, either.) All that kind of talk breaks my heart, like listening to a crowd talk bad about a best friend. But I’m going to throw down the gauntlet: Canada goose may be the most underrated bird in terms of flavor. If crane is “the ribeye of the sky,” Canada goose is the roast beef of the sky, because if cooked correctly, that is exactly what it should taste like, with a hint of waterfowl, obviously. Don’t serve…

Sea Ducks OF NEW ENGLAND

THE WHEEL SPUN in his right hand "There are three rules men must follow You don t mess with a man s wife you don t mess with a man s business and you don’t mess with a man s ducks he said laughing as he turned his head around 180 degrees in the darkness, ensuring there were no lights from lobster boats approaching He was our captain Reilly McCue A New Hampshire native and a sea duck guiding, waterfowl photographing, insect-studying striped bass-wrangling student of all things wild. We were headed out on our second day of hunting in Massachusetts A group of new friends and fellow writers brought out to test the new BE S T treated Super Black Eagle 3 from Benelli An appropriate test indeed. Saltwater eats…

Sea Ducks OF NEW ENGLAND

BENELLI'S BE.S.T.

The revolutionary BE.S.T. surface treatment from Benelli is the first of its kind. Spending more than a decade developing BE.S.T., this coating provides corrosion and abrasion resistance with a hybrid Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technology all backed by a 25-year warranty from Benelli. Diamond-like carbon particles are applied using nanotechnology, resulting in an exceptionally hard surface that won’t ever rust or corrode. The graphitic components of the coating layer also greatly reduce the amount of oil and maintenance required, which is ideal for any salt marsh, sea duck hunter or avid fowl chaser who finds himself in the elements frequently. I tested the Super Black Eagle 3 BE.S.T during my hunt, but this surface treatment is also available on Benelli’s ETHOS models, and 2021 ETHOS…

BENELLI'S BE.S.T.

“WAIT, WHO WANTS to join us?” “My dad,” I replied, adjusting the phone, “He heard we were heading out and asked if he could tag along.” “Doesn’t he have to work?” Deep breath. “Laid off. He found out on Friday at the end of his shift. Just completely out of the blue.” A pause. “Man, that’s awful.” “Yeah, he’s actually taking it pretty well, overall. You know my dad.” “Yeah.” Another pause, “It’s just, you know, that blind is so tiny, and with Randy coming already…” Long story short, there wasn’t room. Three men and a Labrador in that rinky-dink public blind makes for a crowded hunt in the first place, let alone adding another guy and another dog. Like the layoff, my dad took the news in stride. “Not a problem,” he said, “I’ll jump shoot.” “You sure?” I…

THERE WAS A TIME, not so long ago, when duck boats were simple. That time has passed. Today’s waterfowl vessels are built for specific purposes, and manufacturers offer throngs of add-ons that allow you the ability to trick out your craft and make every hunt a memory that won’t soon be forgotten. After all, what’s better than enjoying feet-down waterfowl action while listening to bacon sput ter and sipping a hot cup of Joe? “You can’t waterfowl without the water,” said Louisiana duck man and Honey Brake CEO, Drew Keeth. “Most of the time, this means hunting from a boat. In my neck of the woods, we use UTVs to get to our boats and then use the boats to glide into shallow water. It’s an experience — an extremely rewarding…

CRITICAL BOATING ACCESSORY

LEUPOLD PERFORMANCE EYEWEAR SWITCHBACK For the duck boat crew, good eyewear is key protection from tree limbs, glare, gun powder and bugs in your eyes while speeding down a canal. Leupold is the King of Lens Coatings when it comes to all optics, and they brought that fierce expertise to these terrific sunglasses. Polarized lenses allow you to see hidden stumps and other hazards. Spend much time in a layout blind in a field, and you know how easy it is to constantly have chaff, dirt and dust in your eyes. We’ve been wearing these for some months everywhere from motorcycling and backcountry to the rice paddies and pea fields we chase birds in. They are designed for the shooter, and perform with the best. UV protection, ballistic rating, Diamond-coat scratch…

CRITICAL BOATING ACCESSORY

AS LONG AS IT FLOATS

BEAVERTAIL STEALTH 2000 SNEAK BOAT Complete with a foam-padded dog platform, this craft features a wide, catamaran-style bottom that makes sitting or standing extremely safe and easy. Capable of floating in just four inches of water, the 460-pound capacity boat can be propelled with a push pole, paddles, or an electric trolling motor. Tie-down slots are found front and rear, and the interior is fitted with double interior gun racks and shell holders. Blind options are available. $999 | explorebeavertail.com CARSTENS PUDDLER A single-person craft you can trick out with some optional accessories, Carstens Puddler is lightweight and shallow running. The cockpit measures 24” x 64” and the total boat length is 10 feet. At a mere 80 pounds, this boat can be launched anywhere, and once on the water, you’ll be able…

AS LONG AS IT FLOATS

Here’s to the Duck Dads

AS I WRITE THIS, there is a 12 oz bag of frozen corn pressed to my crotch. Waves of nausea seize my body every time I shift my weight, and my fellas feel like they’ve swollen to the size of grapefruits. Yep, I got a vasectomy last night. “Nothing to worry about,” the doc had assured me as I lay back on the table, sunny side up. “You’ll hardly feel it after the initial numbing.” His tone was professional and reassuring, but the glint in his eyes as he gave the drinking-straw sized syringe a test squirt against the fluorescent lights was not. “Left side first,” he said, “Try to relax. 3...2...1....” That’s when I started thinking about ducks. And being a dad. The reason I was getting this vasectomy was because my wife…

Here’s to the Duck Dads

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