Illinois River Duck Club...

Brad - Thank you for sharing the history of Kirchoffer. I've talk to Al about it and, John Devney has referenced it as well. Having a little history of our own, it was wonderful to be at the Bellrose Lab on Friday. What a wonderful resource we have. Frank too was a pioneer and did some great and early work. Friday, we looked at some of his hand drawn maps from the 1930's and 1940's. They were crude but, accurate and, ahead of his time. http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/

I appreciate the early pioneers. They truly blessed us by paving the way with the good work they did. They were great stewards of our resources. We are still benefitting from their good work today...

When Tim Speight and I were over helping Al band, our Illinois Prairie Chapter of Delta Waterfowl gave Al 8 stipends to handout to students helping him with his work. I encourage all Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited Chapters to help these young ones financially if they can. What an honor and privilege it is to help them. They are a significant part of the future of the great outdoors. I wonder which one of them will be the next Miles Pirnie, Frank Bellrose or, Aldo Leopold?

I appreciate you and all your team does. Pat
 
Pat, thanks. I'd love to visit and see Frank's works. I corresponded with Frank during his revisions of his famous Ducks, geese and swans book. I met him several times and also worked with his contemporaries live Steve Havera.

Anyway, I enjoyed your photos and story. I'd bet that the screen on that porch gets tested by some of the blood thirsty horde hatched in your wetlands.
 
Great piece Pat, and thanks for sharing. I really enjoy seeing other's camps and clubs, and hearing about how others hunt, the land they hunt or have access to, and methods. Having a duck club or duck camp is not about how much money you have, it is about how resourceful you are in finding and making one that fits what you can do. And when the opportunity arises, you have to make a move and go for it. And you have to be committed to getting along with others in your group and figuring out what kind of structure that you need to make it work.
 
Exactly Greg. I used to hunt public land for years and never dreamed I'd ever own a duck club. As an encouragement to others, our owners do the following... work at an autobody shop, work in computers, electrician, carpenter, retired from Insurance work.

Just common folk who like to hunt ducks... Pat
 
Pat,
That was my point in my earlier post. To often when hunting public ground in the more populated area's I hear people complaining about the rich guys that have the private land to hunt. Yet those same guys doing the complaining probably never considered the fact that the guys who own that land more then likely are normal guys that are just more committed to hunting and more then likely the resource. With planning and sacrifice those doing the complaining could do the same thing. I love the decor of your club. Reminds me of many of the camps up here for deer.
 
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