Dave Sikorski
Well-known member
My dad and I made our 2nd annual trip to western Manitoba last week, and were fortunate enough to take "Robber" The DHBP traveling decoy along for the ride.
The trip is 1725 miles one way.
We loaded up the suburban on Friday and shoved off on Saturday morning. By 10pm central we were in Fargo ND, approx 200 miles ahead of schedule.
The next morning we made it to the border and through without a hitch.
We made it to Walmart an hour before it opened, and the nap in the truck waiting for opening time was much needed.
We gave $165x2 to the Canadian FWS for licenses, and hit the road headed North.
We arrived and checked in at the hotel, and said hello to Andy. He was busy at work, but pointed us in a direction to go.
We headed to a slough we hunted last year, and waited for it to get a little later in the day. By 5 pm it was raining sideways. We doned our raincoats and hit the slough by 6 and were walking out by 7:45 with a two man limit of Mallards, Teal, and Gadwall. The rain was coming in small drops, but if we faced to the east it was enough to temporarily blind you.
Dry decoys!
We gained about 30lbs of water, and the 16 ducks made the walk a little heavier than before. This time in slippery mud.
The camera stayed in the truck for the night so I don't have any pics. The ducks were full of peas and were drinking like crazy as they sat down in the slough.
The next morning we slept in to avoid the rain that hit against the windows all night long. It cleared by 10, and after a strategy session with Andy, we found a few sloughs that were loaded with ducks.
We spent from 11-1 on a wooded slough that had it's share of willows and fallen trees. We didn't want to upset the hole on the other side of the section, but we did want to watch the birds pour into it, and plan for later in the week.
I deployed a few decoys and a nice drake widgeon was the first to join us for the afternoon. My shot caused the ducks on the next hole over to jump, and my dad cleanly folded a gadwall. I took a crossing teal a while later, and we decided it was time for lunch.
That evening we stopped in and went on a tour with Andy. You really get to better undertand the lay of the land w/ him, and see a lot of it. He knows every bump and ditch, and flys across the cut fields like he's done it a thousand times before(he probably has!!)
We found the wooded slough from mid day was still loaded with ducks, and decided it would be a good place for a evening shoot.
Drew and I found ourselves there by 5, and we jumped a few hundred mallards and assorted other ducks. After 3 attempts at setting up, we climbed on top of a beaver lodge, and had some self defense mallard and widgeon shooting until time expired.
Tuesday morning found us on a shoot with Andy at a drinking slough in the middle of a stubble field. The ducks had been pouring into it for a while in the morning, and Andy found some time before work to join us. We got a little excited and probably shot a little faster then we should have, and had both of our limits rather quickly. Drew sat off to the side and concentrated on mallards, as Andy and I took mostly widgeon, gadwall, and a teal or two.
Drew, Sandie and I sat over the decoys for another 2 or 3 hours, and were able to take a few mallards, and take some pictures of some widgeon and gadwall in and over the decoys.
The next morning we went to the Mansion slough and took a few mallards, teal, gadwall, and ringnecks.
Wednesday night we were fortunate enough to have supper w/ Yukon Mike's parents and ended up chatting with them until almost 1am. Mike, thanks for setting that up for us. It was great to get a home cooked meal and sit down and talk with two great people. I still can't figure out where you came from
( tongue sticking out).
Thursday morning found us in a pea field that the geese and ducks had been using the day before. We set up along a small slough, and were lucky to find a spot where the combine missed just enough to hide in.
The layout blinds worked great, and Andy let us borrow his Avery FFD full bodies to fool the geese. What great decoys! Unfortunately Andy had to be at work, so I kept him up to date with our progress via text message.
Drew had a duck down before I finished parking the truck, and we ended up with our two man limit of dark geese and about 7 ducks by 10.
It was definitely the highlight of the trip for me. I doubled on geese, doubled on a goose and a sharptail, and watched my dad double on a greenhead and a goose as I retrieved one from a few hundred yards away. We also had two flocks of lessers or cacklers come in that were 50+ strong. We should have let them take one more turn on the first flock, but Drew got a little trigger happy and took the lone single out on the end of the flock. Our 10th goose also came from one of the big flocks.
We got out of the field as fast as possible, and hoped that we could hunt the field again.
(yep, you're getting a tailgate shot on this one, it's all I have and want to share it)
Thursday night, Andy got off of work early enough to take us to "the Hill".
There are two long and skinny lakes that hold a number of ducks. The hill is right in between the two, and as darkness falls, the ducks fly over the hill from one lake to the next.
It was good to not put waders on, and get some time to talk w/ Andy outside of Cattlex. He was shooting well that night and put down a Can, Teal, a goose, a widgeon, and I think I might have shot two spoonies.
The shooting wasn't fast and furious, but the view was well worth the ride to get there.
( sorry about the gook on the lens. I guess I need to clean that up)
The next morning we hunted another pea field like the one from the morning before.
I didn't set up exactly where I wanted, and a thick fog didn't help, but 4 of us managed 9 geese and a handful of mallards.
We had a few groups of little geese commit, and also took one greater.
No pics again, just forgot the camera!
Friday evening found us out scouting for a goose field. I headed out to the hill area and stumbled upon some cranes feeding in a field. I called Andy sure enough he knew exactly what I was talking about, and instructed us to sneak up to the south of them on a line of hills, and hope they flew over.
We marched double time to get set up. The noise from the cranes was deafening. There were over 500 in one small stubble field, and Andy expected them to roost at the slough to the south. Within 15 min they started flying to the south. The first few groups snuck to the east of me, but the next weren't so lucky. Drew dropped two from the first flock, and I took one. The 10 ga. BB's really did a number, but I was disappointed at not doubling.
The rest of the flock took off and made more racket than you can imagine. We didn't get any shots on the big group. I snuck to another hill to the east and just as I got there, 3 cranes passed to my right. I ducked down and kneeled in a cow pattie, and made a 40 yd crossing shot and crumbled the lead bird. He crashed to the ground and broke his beak as he hit.
For Drew and I the trip was now complete. We had taken almost every species available in the area, and had some truly memorable shoots.
I called Andy to let him know about the cranes, and he gave us instructions for the next days hunt. He had found a field full of big geese that he had wanted to hunt for some time.
We met at Cattlex at 6, and loaded gear. Bill and Billy from Winnipeg who had joined Drew and I the day before also came along for the hunt.
We set up the blinds and decoys in the stubble, and by the time Andy had to get to work we put 18 geese and 5 ducks on the ground. We were covered up with ducks all morning, but couldn't shoot them all as we had geese working too.
Drew hiding...
Andy packing up.
Again, a pile picture, sorry if I offend anyone.
It was yet another memorable morning in one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the pleasure of hunting.
We were lucky to take 14 species of birds throughout the week, and made some great memories yet again.
The Robber was able to meet a number of his namesake, and Sandie my 11 yr old YLF was able to make it through the trip and have a great time. She has cancer and probably won't be around too much longer.
Andy, thanks for the GREAT hospitality and showing a simple beer clock thief an AMAZING time in your neighborhood!
Bobbie and Dick, great meeting you and visiting for a GREAT homecooked supper and PIE!!
Thanks Mike too.
Good luck with Robber fellow traveling decoy guys. I think he has a little more luck then the last 3!
-D
The trip is 1725 miles one way.
We loaded up the suburban on Friday and shoved off on Saturday morning. By 10pm central we were in Fargo ND, approx 200 miles ahead of schedule.
The next morning we made it to the border and through without a hitch.
We made it to Walmart an hour before it opened, and the nap in the truck waiting for opening time was much needed.
We gave $165x2 to the Canadian FWS for licenses, and hit the road headed North.
We arrived and checked in at the hotel, and said hello to Andy. He was busy at work, but pointed us in a direction to go.
We headed to a slough we hunted last year, and waited for it to get a little later in the day. By 5 pm it was raining sideways. We doned our raincoats and hit the slough by 6 and were walking out by 7:45 with a two man limit of Mallards, Teal, and Gadwall. The rain was coming in small drops, but if we faced to the east it was enough to temporarily blind you.
Dry decoys!
We gained about 30lbs of water, and the 16 ducks made the walk a little heavier than before. This time in slippery mud.
The camera stayed in the truck for the night so I don't have any pics. The ducks were full of peas and were drinking like crazy as they sat down in the slough.
The next morning we slept in to avoid the rain that hit against the windows all night long. It cleared by 10, and after a strategy session with Andy, we found a few sloughs that were loaded with ducks.
We spent from 11-1 on a wooded slough that had it's share of willows and fallen trees. We didn't want to upset the hole on the other side of the section, but we did want to watch the birds pour into it, and plan for later in the week.
I deployed a few decoys and a nice drake widgeon was the first to join us for the afternoon. My shot caused the ducks on the next hole over to jump, and my dad cleanly folded a gadwall. I took a crossing teal a while later, and we decided it was time for lunch.
That evening we stopped in and went on a tour with Andy. You really get to better undertand the lay of the land w/ him, and see a lot of it. He knows every bump and ditch, and flys across the cut fields like he's done it a thousand times before(he probably has!!)
We found the wooded slough from mid day was still loaded with ducks, and decided it would be a good place for a evening shoot.
Drew and I found ourselves there by 5, and we jumped a few hundred mallards and assorted other ducks. After 3 attempts at setting up, we climbed on top of a beaver lodge, and had some self defense mallard and widgeon shooting until time expired.
Tuesday morning found us on a shoot with Andy at a drinking slough in the middle of a stubble field. The ducks had been pouring into it for a while in the morning, and Andy found some time before work to join us. We got a little excited and probably shot a little faster then we should have, and had both of our limits rather quickly. Drew sat off to the side and concentrated on mallards, as Andy and I took mostly widgeon, gadwall, and a teal or two.
Drew, Sandie and I sat over the decoys for another 2 or 3 hours, and were able to take a few mallards, and take some pictures of some widgeon and gadwall in and over the decoys.
The next morning we went to the Mansion slough and took a few mallards, teal, gadwall, and ringnecks.
Wednesday night we were fortunate enough to have supper w/ Yukon Mike's parents and ended up chatting with them until almost 1am. Mike, thanks for setting that up for us. It was great to get a home cooked meal and sit down and talk with two great people. I still can't figure out where you came from
( tongue sticking out).Thursday morning found us in a pea field that the geese and ducks had been using the day before. We set up along a small slough, and were lucky to find a spot where the combine missed just enough to hide in.
The layout blinds worked great, and Andy let us borrow his Avery FFD full bodies to fool the geese. What great decoys! Unfortunately Andy had to be at work, so I kept him up to date with our progress via text message.
Drew had a duck down before I finished parking the truck, and we ended up with our two man limit of dark geese and about 7 ducks by 10.
It was definitely the highlight of the trip for me. I doubled on geese, doubled on a goose and a sharptail, and watched my dad double on a greenhead and a goose as I retrieved one from a few hundred yards away. We also had two flocks of lessers or cacklers come in that were 50+ strong. We should have let them take one more turn on the first flock, but Drew got a little trigger happy and took the lone single out on the end of the flock. Our 10th goose also came from one of the big flocks.
We got out of the field as fast as possible, and hoped that we could hunt the field again.
(yep, you're getting a tailgate shot on this one, it's all I have and want to share it)
Thursday night, Andy got off of work early enough to take us to "the Hill".
There are two long and skinny lakes that hold a number of ducks. The hill is right in between the two, and as darkness falls, the ducks fly over the hill from one lake to the next.
It was good to not put waders on, and get some time to talk w/ Andy outside of Cattlex. He was shooting well that night and put down a Can, Teal, a goose, a widgeon, and I think I might have shot two spoonies.
The shooting wasn't fast and furious, but the view was well worth the ride to get there.
( sorry about the gook on the lens. I guess I need to clean that up)
The next morning we hunted another pea field like the one from the morning before.
I didn't set up exactly where I wanted, and a thick fog didn't help, but 4 of us managed 9 geese and a handful of mallards.
We had a few groups of little geese commit, and also took one greater.
No pics again, just forgot the camera!
Friday evening found us out scouting for a goose field. I headed out to the hill area and stumbled upon some cranes feeding in a field. I called Andy sure enough he knew exactly what I was talking about, and instructed us to sneak up to the south of them on a line of hills, and hope they flew over.
We marched double time to get set up. The noise from the cranes was deafening. There were over 500 in one small stubble field, and Andy expected them to roost at the slough to the south. Within 15 min they started flying to the south. The first few groups snuck to the east of me, but the next weren't so lucky. Drew dropped two from the first flock, and I took one. The 10 ga. BB's really did a number, but I was disappointed at not doubling.
The rest of the flock took off and made more racket than you can imagine. We didn't get any shots on the big group. I snuck to another hill to the east and just as I got there, 3 cranes passed to my right. I ducked down and kneeled in a cow pattie, and made a 40 yd crossing shot and crumbled the lead bird. He crashed to the ground and broke his beak as he hit.
For Drew and I the trip was now complete. We had taken almost every species available in the area, and had some truly memorable shoots.
I called Andy to let him know about the cranes, and he gave us instructions for the next days hunt. He had found a field full of big geese that he had wanted to hunt for some time.
We met at Cattlex at 6, and loaded gear. Bill and Billy from Winnipeg who had joined Drew and I the day before also came along for the hunt.
We set up the blinds and decoys in the stubble, and by the time Andy had to get to work we put 18 geese and 5 ducks on the ground. We were covered up with ducks all morning, but couldn't shoot them all as we had geese working too.
Drew hiding...
Andy packing up.
Again, a pile picture, sorry if I offend anyone.
It was yet another memorable morning in one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the pleasure of hunting.
We were lucky to take 14 species of birds throughout the week, and made some great memories yet again.
The Robber was able to meet a number of his namesake, and Sandie my 11 yr old YLF was able to make it through the trip and have a great time. She has cancer and probably won't be around too much longer.
Andy, thanks for the GREAT hospitality and showing a simple beer clock thief an AMAZING time in your neighborhood!
Bobbie and Dick, great meeting you and visiting for a GREAT homecooked supper and PIE!!
Thanks Mike too.
Good luck with Robber fellow traveling decoy guys. I think he has a little more luck then the last 3!
-D
Thanks for the great story - it sounds like a hunt of a life time.
