When asked what I wanted for Christmas, my response was: "Ducks in the decoys"!  I must have been extra good this year, because my wish was granted, waterfowl hunting during the Christmas Break was fantastic. Despite unseasonably warm temperatures and sunny skies, we have been fortunate enough to continue a string of amazing hunts.  Each daybreak has brought literally hundreds of ducks swarming the decoys and copious shooting opportunities.  As an added bonus, one of our hottest marshes is in the newly created Southeast Zone, meaning we have two weeks left in the season!   

Blind and decoys on the river

        

Raining Mallards

The Central Flyway receives most of its waterfowl from the prairies, with the majority of ducks coming from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Most of this flyway's geese, as well as most of its scaup, wigeon, and green-winged teal, are raised in the western boreal forest and Arctic.  In the north-central United States, runoff from a heavy snowpack and frequent spring rains also created excellent wetland conditions. A record 15.7 million breeding ducks were surveyed on the U.S. prairies—more than one-third of the total in the traditional survey area.

Saskatchewan consistently ranks at the top of North America's most important waterfowl breeding areas. In 2011, an estimated 10.7 million breeding ducks were surveyed across this province's vast prairie and parkland regions—a 56 percent increase from the previous year's estimate. Pintails posted the most impressive increase (+233 percent), followed by shovelers (+88 percent), blue-winged teal (+83 percent), canvasbacks (+74 percent), wigeon (+46 percent), scaup (+41 percent), redheads (+38 percent), and mallards (+23 percent). In fact, southern Saskatchewan alone supported roughly one-fifth of the mallards; one-quarter of the pintails and blue-winged teal; one-third of the gadwalls, redheads, and shovelers; and half of the canvasbacks in the entire traditional survey area. 

With record numbers of ducks forecasted to migrate through the Central Flyway, our expectations were high and we have not been disappointed.  With only a few more weeks remaining in duck season, we have not missed many opportunities.  The geese have been a bit scarce, but I cannot recall ever being bombarded by so many mallards.  

11 Shot Limit

73 minutes -11shots and we were done!  With 10 beaks in the brace, two ducks are cupped and committed in front of us.  "You take the one on the right, I'll shoot the one on the left", then Danny (my so-called buddy) pulls-up, fires a shot and before I can pull the trigger, both green heads fall grave yard dead!

Inaugural Kansas Governor's Ringneck Classic

Being a full-time outdoorsman is tough, take last weekend for example...I had to attend the Inaugural Kansas Governor's Ringneck Classic in Oakley, KS. Talk about making sacrifices!

  

The event was the idea of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and modeled after the Kansas Governor's One-Shot Turkey Hunt.  Governor Brownback believes the hunting industry may be key in providing a level of economic growth to Northwest Kansas.  By showcasing the warm hospitality and all the region has to offer, Brownback is of the opinion, hunters who have historically made states like Nebraska and South Dakota their pheasant hunting destination will instead choose Kansas. 

For more information about the inaugural event read Michael Pearce's excellent article from the Wichita Eagle.

As for me, it was tough to enjoy such an event among childhood heroes George Brett and Tom Watson, especially when forced to discuss hunting and fishing.  Equally troubling was being treated to an intimate concert with the country music band Ricochet (who even covered some Jamey Johnson)! In my opinion the inaugural event was a success and good first step in promoting the region on a national stage.  

Here are some of the photos:  

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback , Becky Wolfe and I

Becky and I with PGA legend Tom Watson

Me and my good buddy Robin Jennison , Secretary of Wildlife Parks & Tourism 

Ricochet's Heath Wright and Governor Sam Brownback singing "Home on the Range"

Buffalo Bill Sculpture in Oakley...one of the "8 wonders of Kansas Art"

Good buddy Michael Pearce (Wichita Eagle Outdoor Writer) talking with George Brett

      

Tagged Out

Boom goes the Dynamite!!  Just like that, my 2011 Kansas buck is in the book and I am now chasing ducks and geese up and down the Central Flyway.

Pic from trailcam the Friday before

Last Sunday, despite a beautiful crisp fall morning, I had a slow start in the stand, the only thing out moving within eyesight was a pack of coyotes. Reaching what I believe is the half-way point of the Midwest rut, I was starting to feel the pressure.  I was fully aware in 11 days (Thanksgiving), would mark the beginning of the end and the big boys would start a return to their senses. Walking back to the truck after striking-out, I decided to check one of our Moultrie Game Spy M80x Mini Trailcams.  I popped back into the timber and reviewed the images on the camera.  I was shocked to see all of the activity which had been recorded on the device, including a couple nice bucks which had been caught hanging out in the area over the past few days.  Despite knowing the bucks were merely visitors just cruising the area for does, I decided this would be the spot for my evening hunt.

After knocking out family pictures and re-stringing some duck decoys, I suited up in my M2D Camo and headed to the stand.  Within a few minutes of getting situated, deer started to appear on our Buck Forage Oats foodplot.  An hour passed and 7-8 deer were peacefully grazing in the oats when all of the sudden they all started to scatter.  Next thing I know, a nice 8-point was chasing a doe in and out of the timber.  The commotion ended when the pair disappeared into the timber.  A few moments later, I heard a twig snap behind me and turned to see an exhausted doe sneaking down the creek channel, she was cautiously moving along but had spotted me perched in the hedge tree.  After taking a few steps, all the while keeping her eye on me, she bolted to the north.  When the doe took off, the 8-pointer I saw in the foodplot earlier, darted from the timber in hot pursuit.  I was completely preoccupied watching this act of nature unfold when movement to my right side caught my attention, it seemed I was not the only spectator interested in the chase taking place in the prairie field.  I lost my breath when I looked down and saw nothing but antler.  I instantly recognized the rack as one of the bucks captured on the trailcam and knew without a doubt he was a shooter.  The marked target patiently watched the relentless efforts of the younger buck as I readied myself for a shot.  As if he was positioning himself to get a better view of the action, he took a few steps from the timber and stopped perfectly in a shooting lane at 25-yards.  The shot was near perfect, nicking the heart and passing through both lungs.

                    

25-yard shot w/ clean "pass through"

He fell 40-yards away after being poked with a Magnus Stinger Buzzcut.  Once I knew he was down, I honestly thought a blackout was coming and the shakes set-in.  I was shaking so bad I dropped my phone to the ground while trying to text.  After gaining my composure, I climbed out of the stand, made a few texts and followed a blood highway to a massive rack sticking up from the grass.  The rest is history, with help from Steve and Danny we loaded the trophy into my truck and had him caped and processed by 11PM.  The next evening I delivered the rack and cape to the taxidermist for mounting (much to my wife's disapproval).  I figure it will be at least a week before I return to earth and back to reality, in the mean time I am quickly burning my way through a new case of BlackCloud FS Steel #3's!             

Second Guessing

I am sitting here seriously second guessing myself about letting two nice bucks have a free pass by my treestand!  A wise man once told me not to pass on a deer early in the season which you would be happy to take on the last day of the season.  Call it intuition or just stupidity, but for some reason I have not heeded such sage advice.  Both of these bucks have been dangerously close to being poked by a Magnus Stinger Buzzcut!  Only time will tell if I was a fool to let them pass! 
 


























Anxious to hunt ducks, good buddy Danny had his sights set an 8-pointer which he had captured on his trail camera a few days ago.  My cell phone rings (interrupting me at work, how rude!) when I answer, all I hear is a duck call and an announcement that he is ready to hunt ducks.  Danny smoked the 8-pointer he was after at 20 yards and after a 30 yard blood-trail, he punched his tag!  Now the pressure is on the rest of us to make something happen, so we can meet Danny in the duckblind!

M2D Camo in Kansas

Laying the Quack Down

The droughts strangle-hold has made duck hunting somewhat of a challenge.  However, it's not rocket science, find water...find ducks!  After searching high and low, we found some water and sure enough the ducks had discovered the same. 

Sounds like there are still a lot of birds up North, but with some changing weather the migration should force them South soon.   

We had a great hunt and managed to harvest a diverse bag.  Pintail, Gadwal, Wood Duck, Ruddy Duck, Canvasback, Teal, Shoveler, Ring-neck, Redhead...even a Coot, no discrimination here!



(L to R) Terry, Jim and Peter

Jim, Peter and Terry were in town on some business and managed to pull away for a couple of hunts.  These guys are some of the best around to share a blind with.  On waterfowl hunts, Peter is typically the designated ringmaster, a job which can bring a certain level of stress and tension.  Peter (a slight perfectionist) often looses his sense of humor during the mobilization and set-up periods of our hunts.  With this group of guys, the last thing you want to do, is let them see they are "getting to you".  Jim is like a shark with blood in the water when he senses Peter is reaching a boiling point.  Jim has perfected the art of "pushing" Peter's buttons.  Terry and I found great amusement watching the master at work.  Giving Peter a hard-time provides great entertainment and most would agree he deserves everything he gets and then some!
      

I finally got some time to fill some feeders and check a few cameras this weekend.  With the rut about 20 days from really taking-off, I am ready (broke after buying 1,200 lbs of corn, but ready)!

These are a few of the pictures I pulled-off the Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Mini Trail Cameras:

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First to Score

With the Kansas deer season just a few days away, we are all chomping at the bit to start filling tags.  Some jumped the gun and headed out of state to get an early start!  Terry beat us all to the punch and scored first!  He smoked this nice mullie a few days ago in Wyoming.  Not a bad way to start the 2011/12 season, he was first...but the rest of us won't be far behind!    

Colorado Math

They say bow hunters only have a 25% chance of taking an elk in Colorado. The good news is, according to my math, next year the odds are in my favor and after two unsuccessful attempts I will have a 75% chance of success! On our trip this year, I had three chances to take decent bulls, but passed while in pursuit of a true trophy.  Long story short, I got within about 80 yards of a really nice 6x6, which I hunted for three days, then he vanished never to be seen again.  I guess they don't get big by being dumb and this bull was no exception.  He kept himself surrounded with about 40-50 cows nearly all the time.

All in all this years trip was a good time, the weather was mild and the elk were abundant.  We will be back in the San Juan Mountains next September huffing and puffing in the high altitude with the math on our side.  In the mean time, we are back in Kansas gearing up to put the hurt on some whitetails and early teal.  But first, we are heading out to Lane County to take out our "no-elk" frustration on some antelope.  

Pictures from Colorado hunt:

See ya!

Goodbye 104 degrees Fahrenheit and hello San Juan Mountains!  Just put on my 'lucky' M2D camo hat and I am outta here, not coming back until I have one of these guys in the back of my truck.

'O Canada!

We just returned home from the great white north!  Our annual spring trip to the Manitoba Providence of Canada will be one to remember.  It's always fun to be with people as they experience northern Canadian fishing for the first time, especially when it's family.  Along for the trip was Steve (father in-law) and Dad (Jerry).  I referred to the pair as "My Two Dads", which always drew strange looks from folks.         

The fishing is intense and extreme with the occasional element of danger.  Each day typically involves 12-14 hours of flinging lures and navigating miles of lake.  The weather is unpredictable and often dishes out major swings in temperatures and conditions.  The sun does not set until 1AM CST and rises at 4AM CST.  For first-timers the routine can be a bit exhausting, but the payoff is always worth the effort.

    

Manitoba is home to the oldest master angler program in North America, 50 years and going strong.  The Master Angler program provides an awards system that recognizes anglers’ abilities and achievements.  There are two criteria for entering a Master Angler qualifying fish, the length measurement, and the use of a hook and line to make the catch.  We are always in the pursuit of "Master" fish.  On our trip we were all fortunate enough to catch at least two fish which qualified for the coveted award.
 

The walleye fishing was outstanding during our trip.  Almost everyday we caught a stringer full of walleye and would take a break from fishing to eat a warm shore lunch of fresh fish.  One particular afternoon, we had dropped-off supplies in anticipation of an afternoon shore lunch.  Upon our return, we discovered there had been a visitor to our picnic spot.  Apparently a bear decided to rummage through our supplies and found a tasty treat in my backpack.