Andrew L.
Well-known member
2012 duck season is now over in Wisconsin. We may still have a few opportunities at some late geese but will need some cold weather to help concentrate them.
2012 was a great season in all aspects. Hunting was good most of the time, youth were introduced, fun times at camps were had, with low water levels new areas were explored with good success and most importantly it was a safe season. I will likely look back on 2012 for many years to come and reminisce in all of the time I was able to spend in the field. With graduation next week I will need to enter the "real world" and I can see hunting time diminishing as a find a career path.
Early goose season was slow again this year but that was quickly forgotten about by the time the youth weekend was upon us. All kids amougnst our group enjoyed good shoots. I took my cousin and uncle to a local pothole were Collin made quick work of his full limit of teal.
The next day "the adults" were able to bring the guns along as Paul Tychsen found a good feed for us. Easily one of my favorite pictures from the season. Hat to big, shirt to big, pants to big and a big smile with some big geese.
Late September goose hunting is always good us and this year was no exception. Here some unusual visitors were welcomed to the field, cacklers-likely Richardson's, there seemed to be a lot more of them around this year...
This was another September hunt with the man who helped me get my DU chapter started in 2008. James is a zone chairman in Wisconsin and was the first guy to meet with me when I was interested in volunteering. Somehow we had not found time to hunt together until this year, I think we'll make it happen again.
The North opener is a great time of year. Paul's parents welcome us in with open arms and open kitchens. Food was great, company was great, the view was great and the birds cooperated.
View from the blind
Sunset
While the dog trainers will cringe at this after a large volley of birds Austin decided it was to much work to go back and forth to retrieve so many birds. He grabbed 2 teal and a mallard in one swipe! Still not sure if thats laziness or just poor training but we'll take it.
Some warm fall rains brought some much need precipitation to area and flooded many of our very dry fields for a span of a few days. With warm weather and birds around I decided to take the girlfriend on her first hunt. I had scouted the day before and found a flooded bean field with mallards and geese. Of course they did not show the next day. However, we did manage one duck and she said she had a great time behind the camera, I may have found something to run with there.
She snapped this as Austin brought back the only bird of the day.
Next up was a great trip to Michigan’s UP. I turned the deer camp into a real camp, duck camp. We had 2 great weekends of gunning up there. This trip near the end of October was especially good. Only one other hunting party was on the lake. The same spot produced limits 3 days in a row, something I have never done before.
Redheads over my hand-made foamers and a nice drake Goldeneye.
I headed to northern Wisconsin the next weekend were the gunning was not as good but overall a very fun trip. On the way there the Dodge hit the double century mark, I have done way to much driving since getting that truck.
We stayed at a buddy’s camp and set the largest layout spread I have been a part of. It took most of the morning but everyone was able to get a few birds each.
Being the mini sea duck researcher that I am I had to get out for some Long-tails. The lake was very rough this year and I only was able to get out twice. Even in talking with the guides who hunt big water everyday, they were only able to get out 8 times.
Finally over Thanksgiving it got cold. Paul and I made the trip up to the Bay of Green Bay, my favorite place to hunt. We had two decent days of shooting, thanks to the hunt saving bufflehead. With water levels extremely low we had some very easy layout sets as we were able to be well off shore and still only be in knee high water.
My ace up the sleeve for slow days is some hand made hen buffleheads. They love em!
View from the layout
Austin got a little cold the second day
Afterwards we drove up and hit a cool tavern catered to hunters, Kip and Donna’s Flyway.
Over the past few years I have really learned to enjoy solo and 2 man hunts, rather than the crew type of hunting that is common in these parts. However, at times I do like to get a few of the regulars together and enjoy some more company. For the last day of season not many ducks were around but the geese had moved in. We enjoyed quite a show as hundreds of geese moved around in our area and each of us was able to take their 2.
I have waited a few years to find a time where all of us can get together for a good shoot. Made for a great picture with all 3 labs.
Hopefully some more late season goose hunts are in line but for now it is off to study for finals and career planning. Hope everyone had as a fun and safe of a season as we did.
2012 was a great season in all aspects. Hunting was good most of the time, youth were introduced, fun times at camps were had, with low water levels new areas were explored with good success and most importantly it was a safe season. I will likely look back on 2012 for many years to come and reminisce in all of the time I was able to spend in the field. With graduation next week I will need to enter the "real world" and I can see hunting time diminishing as a find a career path.
Early goose season was slow again this year but that was quickly forgotten about by the time the youth weekend was upon us. All kids amougnst our group enjoyed good shoots. I took my cousin and uncle to a local pothole were Collin made quick work of his full limit of teal.
The next day "the adults" were able to bring the guns along as Paul Tychsen found a good feed for us. Easily one of my favorite pictures from the season. Hat to big, shirt to big, pants to big and a big smile with some big geese.
Late September goose hunting is always good us and this year was no exception. Here some unusual visitors were welcomed to the field, cacklers-likely Richardson's, there seemed to be a lot more of them around this year...
This was another September hunt with the man who helped me get my DU chapter started in 2008. James is a zone chairman in Wisconsin and was the first guy to meet with me when I was interested in volunteering. Somehow we had not found time to hunt together until this year, I think we'll make it happen again.
The North opener is a great time of year. Paul's parents welcome us in with open arms and open kitchens. Food was great, company was great, the view was great and the birds cooperated.
View from the blind
Sunset
While the dog trainers will cringe at this after a large volley of birds Austin decided it was to much work to go back and forth to retrieve so many birds. He grabbed 2 teal and a mallard in one swipe! Still not sure if thats laziness or just poor training but we'll take it.
Some warm fall rains brought some much need precipitation to area and flooded many of our very dry fields for a span of a few days. With warm weather and birds around I decided to take the girlfriend on her first hunt. I had scouted the day before and found a flooded bean field with mallards and geese. Of course they did not show the next day. However, we did manage one duck and she said she had a great time behind the camera, I may have found something to run with there.
She snapped this as Austin brought back the only bird of the day.
Next up was a great trip to Michigan’s UP. I turned the deer camp into a real camp, duck camp. We had 2 great weekends of gunning up there. This trip near the end of October was especially good. Only one other hunting party was on the lake. The same spot produced limits 3 days in a row, something I have never done before.
Redheads over my hand-made foamers and a nice drake Goldeneye.
I headed to northern Wisconsin the next weekend were the gunning was not as good but overall a very fun trip. On the way there the Dodge hit the double century mark, I have done way to much driving since getting that truck.
We stayed at a buddy’s camp and set the largest layout spread I have been a part of. It took most of the morning but everyone was able to get a few birds each.
Being the mini sea duck researcher that I am I had to get out for some Long-tails. The lake was very rough this year and I only was able to get out twice. Even in talking with the guides who hunt big water everyday, they were only able to get out 8 times.
Finally over Thanksgiving it got cold. Paul and I made the trip up to the Bay of Green Bay, my favorite place to hunt. We had two decent days of shooting, thanks to the hunt saving bufflehead. With water levels extremely low we had some very easy layout sets as we were able to be well off shore and still only be in knee high water.
My ace up the sleeve for slow days is some hand made hen buffleheads. They love em!
View from the layout
Austin got a little cold the second day
Afterwards we drove up and hit a cool tavern catered to hunters, Kip and Donna’s Flyway.
Over the past few years I have really learned to enjoy solo and 2 man hunts, rather than the crew type of hunting that is common in these parts. However, at times I do like to get a few of the regulars together and enjoy some more company. For the last day of season not many ducks were around but the geese had moved in. We enjoyed quite a show as hundreds of geese moved around in our area and each of us was able to take their 2.
I have waited a few years to find a time where all of us can get together for a good shoot. Made for a great picture with all 3 labs.
Hopefully some more late season goose hunts are in line but for now it is off to study for finals and career planning. Hope everyone had as a fun and safe of a season as we did.
