Goose & Duck Huntin' - August 2021 USA's No. 1 Hunter-Written Waterfowl Magazine

#28 August 2021

SPECIAL ISSUE:

SEPTEMBER ‘BLUE-WINGS OF BONNE FEMME CREEK’

BY GORDY GORDON

A GARY R. ZAHM PHOTO GALLERY: TEAL OF THE CALIFORNIA

GRASSLANDS PAGE 10

THE GREAT TEENAGE TEAL AND

BUFFALO HUNT PAGE 20

Features inside this issue: Callin’ with

Calef!

A new free-wheeling column by BARNIE CALEF 3X World Duck Calling Champ;, Calef Call Co.

Fun in the Mud

10 Page Spread

TEAL

September teal seasons didn't just happen. Dedicated duck men battled storms of regional bias and skullduggery to prove that late summer teal hunting is in fact conservation -- "wise use" -- at its imperfect best.

Teal: A History

By LARRY A. REYNOLDS

Waterfowl Program Manager Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Remember, the early Sixties were a time of poor environmental conditions on the breeding grounds and the most restrictive hunting regulations we’ve seen before or since (20-40 day seasons and limits of 2-4 ducks with as few as 1 mallard per day). So waterfowl managers were looking for additional hunting opportunity outside of the traditional seasons, and blue-wings typically migrated through North America before the season opened. (Green-winged teal were of little consideration because they are typically not available in September, and make up 5% or less of the September season harvest).

Non-Teal Kill Sours FWS on Concept During the 3-year experiment, data were collected on non-target harvest, and it was high enough that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service described the season as “dirty” and did not want to continue it.

Not only did the northern states kill a lot of nondescript species that were not teal, but Louisiana hunters killed a lot of mottled ducks and wood ducks. So non-target harvest was an issue; but was it a big enough issues to discontinue the season?

LA. Quits Council, Involves Congressmen There was lots of debate about that in early 1968, and discord on this issue was the proverbial “last straw” when Louisiana seceded from the Flyway.

Richard Yancey, the Waterfowl Program leader, had enough of eight northern states having the votes to keep proposals from the six southern states from being heard by the USFWS, and he took Louisiana out of the Flyway from 1968 to 1975, and they worked directly through their Congressional delegation with the USFWS to influence harvest regulations.

In the September teal season, Richard Yancey now had a tool to get additional early-season wetland habitat put on the landscape during a time of the year that it was most limited, and he didn’t want to lose it. Some things hunters take for granted today very likely resulted from that action including continuation of September teal

>>>

Minnesota Trying Teal Again After 1965 Trial Run Scrubbed in Just 2 Days A five-day early teal season Sept. 4 - 8 will allow Minnesotans an opportunity to hunt teal that otherwise would have migrated south by opening day of regular duck season later in the month. Steve Cordts, MDNR waterfowl specialist, says Minnesota has been closed to early teal since a disastrous trial run in September 1965, when it was one of four states scheduled to test the concept. Officials shut down the '65 hunt after just two days, saying hunters were shooting too many non-teal species; some sources put illegal kill in the range of 50,000 ducks for each of the two days. Minnesota almost held another trial run in 2014, but backed out before the season. seasons and zones and splits for duck hunting, which were awarded to Louisiana in 1975 over Flyway objections.

Late 80s Drought Sidelines Teal Hunters September teal seasons were suspended in for the 1988-1991 seasons because of low populations resulting from drought on the breeding grounds.

From 1965-1987, shoot-time for the September teal season was at sunrise, instead of the traditional half-hour before sunrise for regular duck season.

The idea was to reduce the chance of hunters taking non-teal species due to lower visibility. But when teal populations rebounded and the September teal season was re-opened in 1992, USFWS offered states the opportunity to shoot at one-half-hour before sunrise.

Why Some States Wait Until Sunrise We all know that the heaviest flight, especially for teal, is often in the first 30 minutes, so this was seen as very positive. However, states had to conduct “Hunter Performance” studies to document the attempts at non-target species in the half-hour before and the half-hour after sunrise to evaluate the effects of this liberalization to shooting hours. Those states that did those studies were allowed to shoot a half-hour before sunrise. Those that did not, most notably Arkansas (but there may be others), did not, and still are required to maintain sunrise shoot-times for September teal..

How We Got a 16-Day Teal Hunt Option: From 1965 through 1997, September teal seasons were limited to 9 days in years when BWT breeding populations exceeded 3.3 million. But in 1998, USFWS approved a request from the Central Flyway Council for a 16-day September season in years when BWT breeding populations equal or exceed 4.7 million.

Again, it was approved as a 3-year experiment for 1998-2000 and an evaluation was done led by Robert Helm of Louisiana and Mike O’Meilia of Oklahoma. Conclusion was the 78% increase in season length resulted in a 22% increase in total harvest compared to 9-day seasons in 199597. Blue-winged teal breeding populations were 6.4 million, 7.15 million, and 7.43 million during the experiment, and the strategy became operational and remains so today.

If the blue-winged teal breeding population exceeds 3.3 million, we will have a September teal season. From 3.3 to less than 4.7 million, we will have a 9-day season; 4.7 million or above, and we will have a 16-day season.

Border to border: September Teal at a Glance Just for DUCK HUNTIN’ Magazine, here it is: a state-by-state summary of 2021 September Special Teal Seasons.

Unusual this year is the number of unified opening-closing dates across the country.

At least 11 states will hunt teal Sept. 11-26.

Otherwise, the September teal seasons are a Crazy Quilt of varying rules and regs.

Some open at sunrise, some have teal zones. Some hunt only 9 days. So check your state’s dates and laws before hunting.

A few Southern states may include two wood ducks in the September bag limit. A handful of Northern Plains states get to add two extra blue-winged teal in regular season bag limits, in place of a teal-only season. Pacific Flyway states have no early teal season since teal make up a major part of their regular season kill. In California for instance, green-wings rank #1 overall in the bag.

2021 Teal Season Dates Across the Country: Wisconsin: Sept. 1 - 9 Michigan: Sept. 1 - 9 Iowa: Sept 1 - 16 Minnesota: Sept. 4-8, EXPERIMENTAL SEASON Ohio: Sept. 4-19 Nebraska: Low Plains: Sept. 4-19, High plains: Sept. 4 - 12 Illinois: Sept. 11-26 Missouri: Sept. 11-26 Kansas: Low Plains, Sept. 11-26; High Plains, Sept. 18-26 Oklahoma: Sept. 11-26

Indiana: Sept. 11-26 Colorado: Sept. 11-19 in specific area Texas: Sept. 11-26 statewide New Mexico: Did not respond, usually appx 12-20th Mississippi: Sept. 11-26 Louisiana: Sept. 11-26 Georgia: Sept. 11-26 South Carolina: Sept. 11-26 Delaware: Sept. 11-26 in designated teal zone North Carolina: Sept. 11-29 east of U.S. Highway 17 Arkansas: Sept. 15-30 Maryland: 9/16- 9/30 only in Teal Zone

2021 Teal/Wood Duck States:

2021 Bonus Teal States:

Daily bag 6, not to exceed 2 wood ducks/day during wood duck-teal combined season; Daily bag 6 teal only during teal-only season dates.

Tennessee: Woodie/Teal Sept. 11-15: Teal-only Sept.16-19.

Kentucky: Woodies/Teal: Sept. 18-22, Teal-only: 2326 Florida: Woodies/Teal: Sept. 18-22; Teal-only: Sept.

23-26.

Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, in lieu of a September teal season, may include an additional daily bag and possession limit of 2 and 6 blue-winged teal, respectively, during the first 16 days of the regular duck season in each respective duck zone. These extra limits are in addition to the regular duck bag and possession limits. -- From the Federal Register

“If a man is really intelligent, there’s practically nothing a good dog can’t teach him.” – Robert Ruark

MEMORIES OF THE PAMPAS Gary R. Zahm Although the 180-acre marsh, complete with a mosaic of open water and scattered clumps of hardstem bulrush, was reminiscent of North America’s Prairie Pothole Region, the flock of 150 Chilean flamingos passing overhead, flanked by a swirling group of white-faced whistling ducks, quickly reminded me that I was no longer in California!

Steven Pitt and his “bird boy” crouched down in a bulrush clump as 15 white-faced whistling ducks headed toward the rag-tag group of decoys tossed into a natural opening. The guide attempted to imitate the melodic whistle of the ducks, now moving into range with their distinct, undulating flight pattern.

Though my camera’s viewfinder, I saw Steven shoulder his Benelli Black Eagle and pull down on the lead bird. One shot and the duck tumbled end-overend, a collage of russet browns and white.

Switching to another bird, the 17-year-old Steven (already a remarkable southpaw wing shot), crushed his second siriri pampa.

As the afternoon passed, sporadic shooting could be heard from throughout the crescentshaped wetland. Speckled, silver and cinnamon teal streaked low over the bulrush, demanding instinct shooting techniques from the camouflaged hunters.

Bigger ducks, including whitecheeked and yellow-billed pintails, plus Chiloe wigeon and red shoveler passed overhead, as did small flocks of black-necked and Coscoroba swan.

I switched from camera to my trusty Winchester Pigeon Grade 101 and quickly downed pairs -- Albert Hochbaum “However else the world may change, the marsh at dusk is everlastingly the3same.”

When September Teal Hunting Was Brand-New...

‘Missouri’s Audubon,’ Charles W. Schwartz, helped 1st generation teal hunters I.D. legal birds with this art in the September, 1965, MO. Conservationist Magazine

By GORDY GORDON, Editor

Charles W. Schwartz was one of this country’s most prolific wildlife artist-scientist. He truly earned the honorary title ‘Missouri’s Audubon.’ A keen waterfowler, Schwartz had a passion and vision for using his works for the greater good of wildlife and the hunting public. He painted the first state “Duck Stamp” in 1979, wrote and illustrated watershed books, even wrote, filmed and produced award-winning motion pictures. But even wider impact came from literally thousands of illustrations the amiable, lanky St. Louisan and his assistantspouse, Libby, produced over nearly half a century -- such as the one seen at right.

To test the idea of a late summer season on teal, US Fish & Wildlife set September, 1965, as the time, and Missouri and three other states as the sites. Schwartz was ready. He and Conservation Department staff pulled elements from some stunning 8-foot-tall wildlife murals Schwartz had painted in the new central offices in Jefferson City Showing blue-winged and green-winged teal in early fall plumage, the resulting “color plate” filled the back cover of Conservationist Magazine which went out free to over 100,000 households.

Schwartz’s artistic descriptions proved timeless.

They are as useful to teal hunters now as back in 1965 when most of the country didn’t know a bluewing from a blueberry. Such is the power of art, and of good imaginative magazine work.

Photo from the Past

The Duck Camp Facility

By G.K. CHAMBERS

I

f you are of sufficient age the out building at a duck camp is familiar. The “Duck Hunters Paradise” pictured is from a 1930’s East Coast Duck Camp and is probably a bit more ornate than most, and some of the lettering needs explanation. A bit of American social history can offer some understanding.

Charles Partlow “Chic” Sale (18851936) was an American vaudevillian and comic actor. In 1929 he reached the height of his acclaim by writing, and performing in, a one man play called “The Specialist” about an outhouse builder based on a carpenter in his hometown of Urbana, Illinois. The play was then adapted into a popular book which in turn had a sequel. “The Specialist” is a gentle commentary on practices of the day and nostalgia for outdoor toilets. The Specialist

described by Sale has regard, respect, and acclaim for building the largest privy in the county (eight seats!).

Among The Specialist professional insights: a small privy over a big hole is preferred to a large privy over a small hole; dig it deep because you won’t want to dig it again; if the seats are too comfortable the hired help will linger; no windows; and lastly, paint it with contrasting colors so it will be easier to find in the dark.

The unfortunate result of familiarity by association was that for a time in the early 1930’s outhouses were commonly called “Chic Sale.” Hence the label on the structure in the photo.

For those of a certain time who have been able to leave the door open at a duck camp facility and watch the stars of an early morning sky before heading out for a cold morning’s hunt, the memory remains.

A Gathering of

Teal Migrating teal, primarily green-wings, funnel into Central California’s Grasslands by the thousands, representing the #1 species in hunters’ bags. Careful scanning of this flock reveals a rarity: all 3 USA teal sub-species in 1 photo! Enjoy Gary’s visual smorgasbord of West Coast teal on these and the 8 pages that follow.

Photo Feature By Gary R. Zahm

© Gary R. Zahm 2021

© Gary R. Zahm 2021

© Gary R. Zahm 2021

© Gary R. Zahm 2021

Not Your Average Teal Hunt!

The Great Buffalo Hunt T

By Bill Wehrle

here’s something about early teal season that’s really appealing to me. Maybe it’s because I’m old enough to remember the first-ever “experimental” September teal season back in the 1960s, or maybe it’s because September teal hunting is much like hunting doves over water. Or likely it’s just because it gives waterfowlers an early taste of duck hunting during the time when we’re preparing for the “real” duck season that comes a month or more later. And early teal hunting often is not your ordinary duck hunting, and sometimes is not even your ordinary teal hunting.

A couple examples of the latter come readily to mind. Both took place a long time ago when my (now age 51) son Brett was an eager-ßto-hunt youngster.

He had been an avid hunter from the time I started taking him with me at age 4 or 5, and had been shooting a shotgun since age 8 with close supervision.

Along the way I had acquired another young lad, also named Brett, a couple of years older than my Brett who was also eager to go hunting. As a family friend I kind of adopted him, at least

where hunting was involved.

Having two active boys both named

Brett was kind of handy at times, as I could yell, “Cut that out, Brett” and get both boys’ attention quickly. The first Brett Wehrle shows his teal to Cinder the Lab while Brett Dinwiddie early season teal holds a hard-earned bird. hunt for the two Bretts under my gauge Winchester 101, and although I’m supervision took place when they were no Frank Butler, bagged a four- teal limit 10 and 12 years old, and they finally in a short time, using as I recall only 7 got me to consent to take them to the shells. The boys nearby Fountain Grove Conservation Area were having a wetland where the early migrating teal great but were pretty much packed in. Each boy had a youth model single shot 20 gauge (a Winchester and a Beretta as I

recall), and each was packing a full box of teal loads, lead not steel in those long-ago days.

They had no waders, but the air and water were both warm enough for shorts and tennis shoes.

Both boys had been practicing with their little guns, but as even experienced hunters have often found out, the speedy little blue wings and green wings were pretty hard to hit. And wood ducks were also plentiful, so I did plenty of “NO, DON’T SHOOT” to make sure they only shot at legal targets. I was carrying a 12

frustrating time using up

their full box of 20s, but only taking a couple teal each.

Sure enough, it wasn’t all that long before they both reported that they were out of shells, and I had only 12 gauge loads. After some discussion, they requested to use (by sharing every other shot) my 101 and shells. The shells were trap loads so I figured the recoil with the heavy 12 wouldn’t be too much for them, so I agreed. Using the 12 gauge, they managed to scratch down enough teal to leave them only one short of a two-boy limit before they ran out of shells again, leaving us with three empty guns and no way to get more shells. They had bagged seven teal with 68 shells and had a great time doing it! With the two youngsters wet, mucky, mosquito bitten, and chattering like magpies, we began the long walk out through calf-deep water.

This was one of those banner hunts that all three of us will remember for a lifetime; not your ordinary teal hunt.

Here’s a second story involving these two young lads. At ages 16 and 14, the two Bretts experienced a second memorable early-season teal hunt. I wasn’t along this time as the older Brett could drive, and both were big and strong enough to get along without adult help. This hunt was at a private duck club I’d joined which had a 20 acre lake that was really low due to excessive dry weather, but had one end that really attracted teal as it was only a foot deep, with a hip-deep muddy bottom. They’d agreed to head home when sunset ended the day’s teal season.

I lived 26 miles from the duck lake and expected them home about a half hour after sunset. By 8 p.m. with no Bretts home yet, I was both angry and concerned that maybe something bad had happened to them. I was preparing to go look for them when

the Jeep driven by the older Brett pulled in the driveway, and two of the muddiest, nastiest looking youngsters you ever laid eyes on got out, both talking at the same time to explain why they were so late.

Their story was too unique to be fictional.

Shooting had been good, with lots of teal using the shallow water, but retrieving was really difficult in the deep mud. Once again they had no waders and were wading in jeans and tennis shoes. They had shot a lot of shells, but had a limit of teal to show. And the rest of the story, supported by evidence in the back of the Jeep, was really interesting.

While slogging after downed teal, they’d noticed some really big carp and buffalo swimming in water so shallow that their heads and backs were exposed. They then got the bright idea of bringing home fish

They noticed big carp and buffalo, and got the bright idea of bringing home fish as well as teal

as well as teal. They shot the rest of their shells at the fish, and waded out again to retrieve six or seven slimy, muddy, bloody fish. On the way home, they’d planned a fish fry.

At first I was pretty perturbed that they’d showed up late, muddy and smelly , but their excitement kind of rubbed off on me, and I mellowed pretty quickly. I hooked up the garden hose and sloshed them as clean as I could in the backyard, and explained they weren’t done yet as there were eight teal and six or seven fish to clean before I’d feed them supper (they’d mentioned being hungry at least 20 times already).

They were safe and sound, and had another one of those days that they’ll remember forever. Teal season can be exciting and pretty darn entertaining, especially those not-your-ordinary teal hunts like these two boys had experienced.

Blue-wings in the

Cypress Brake

Summertime is still in full swing in mid-September in the Mississippi Delta. Yet, each year, swarms of the nation’s secondmost common duck migrate south at that time, almost unseen.

By JIM CREWS By the numbers, blue-winged teal are right behind mallards, yet I know dedicated duck hunters that have never killed one.

They are the first to migrate to their “wintering” grounds and the last to leave. Spending the majority of the year in Mexico and even down into South America, these fascinating little ducks hardly have time to learn English between April and late August!

For many years, we have hunted a cypress swamp, or brake, as such habitat is known around here. It is an enchanting, hauntingly beautiful place in winter. In contrast, during summer, the brake is a frightening jungle filled with cottonmouths, amphiuma salamanders and grinnel (bowfin or choupique) fish. Choked with coontail moss and covered with water lotus, the swamp hosts Biblical swarms of mosquitoes.

The air is thick and hot even an hour before dawn.

Still, we venture out there during the 16-day teal season, for the lure of decoying ducks is as strong as ever.

For some reason, though, I don’t seem to have as many folks want to join me. Today, my only companions are my wife, Allison, and our retrievers.

After a short fourwheeler ride through six-foot weeds and a bit of canoe paddling, we are in place. Allison gets our Lab, Dagger and our Chesapeake, Axe into position while I set the decoys.

As the last 1980s Carry-Lite splats into the shallow water, I hear the shrill, squeaky hail call of a bluewing out in the buckbrush – they are here!

It’s only a few minutes until shooting time, so I drop two steel #7s into my Citori. Allison has elected to handle the dogs first and shoot later – if there is anything still flying. Our big Chesapeake, Axe, is now a year old. This isn’t his first duck hunt, but he can hardly be deemed experienced. We have always believed it imperative to make the first season successful for the dog, and it is hard to shoot and handle one simultaneously.

A pair of ducks sweeps past low, flies down the pond and banks back our way.

They are hidden by the backdrop of trees and the only way I can really see them is to watch their reflections on the water. I am pretty sure they are teal, but now is a time to be careful – there are lots of wood ducks in the swamp. Only as they pass to our front can I finally make out the pale blue wing flashes. I fire a shot and down both come! What a way to start the season.

Allison holds Axe steady. We want him

Opposite page: Blue-wings and greenwings make a colorful limit; This page: Axe the young Chesapeake, delivers a teal to hand.

to learn some discipline and he is forced to wait to make the retrieve. Soon, a single bluewing comes in, then a huge flight of about 50 ducks. Somehow, I manage to kill just one bird from the big flock, putting me at four of the six-duck limit.

At full daylight, we take advantage of a lull, sending Axe out for retrieves. He has been watching the dead teal intently. At the call “back!” he crashes out, sending a giant spray of mud and water. It’s a proud moment when he returns.

Birds in hand, we resume the hunt. I start as a trio of summer-brown shovelers cross the decoys. They are courting danger, for their profiles and blue wings look remarkably like teal. We also see a few mallards and a couple of pintails.

Black-bellied whistling ducks showed up the September after Hurricane Katrina and have colonized the Delta in patches, but we don’t see any today.

Red-winged blackbirds and cliff swallows are starting work around and I begin to wonder if the duck flight is over. I resolve to stay another 30 minutes, which will be eight o’clock. At 10 ‘til, a rush of wings behind us…then they are gone… then they are right in front. I fire two shots

and somehow, only two ducks fall. Axe goes right away this time, scoops both up in his huge jaws – a meat dog is fine with us – and proudly returns. Green-winged teal – legal but not at all common in September!

The greenwings turn out to be the last teal we see and with the summer sun now steaming the swamp, it is time to return to the cool cabin for some rest before the afternoon’s dove hunt. Allison didn’t fire a shot this morning, but she could not be happier had she killed a limit of teal.

Her boy Axe has done well and that is her greatest pleasure.

Dagger has been sitting patiently all morning, forced to set a good example of steadiness for his younger protégé. I explain to him that his action will come with doves in the sunflowers, and he seems satisfied.

--“Bluewings in the Cypress Brake” is a chapter from Jim’s latest book, Amid the Cypress. Interested readers can buy a copy from Jim by contacting him on Facebook or phoning (601)-859-2511.

Callin’ with

Calef!

By BARNIE CALEF

3X World Duck Calling Champ; Calef Call Co.

>>>

Welcome to Callin’’ with Calef, a new Duck Huntin’ EXCLUSIVE! This is Barnie Calef, Unfiltered -- so hop on for a fun and informative ride!

He says, “This will be a combination of instruction (not only calling but how to put more birds in your bag). some sports, fishing (ain’t but 1 kind...bass!) and possibly some satire.”

Ba$$ Fishin’, Latest NFL Political Goofiness, and Making Your Duck Call Actually Go ‘QUACK!’ Let’s get things rolling with some duck call instruction.

First and foremost, the No. 1 issue I hear from most beginners and even some that have been at it awhile is lack of proper mouth cavity size, or as I like to say, sheep mouth! So we aren’t confused, I’m referring to how open the throat is.

For example, say the word E and pay attention to how high the tongue is, resulting in a closed-up throat. This will generally lead to a thin sound and inevitably squeaking the call.

That’s not to say never to blow the call that way. To blow a Cajun Squeal, you’ll need to tighten up the throat to achieve the controlled squeak you’re after.

Now to the other end of the spectrum. Say the word O. Notice how far down the tongue is now compared to the E position. This is known as openthroated. The majority of callers will get a much better overall sound and far fewer squeaks when operating the call this way. In fact almost all of your calling should be done open-throated.

The exception is when you want to blow extremely quietly at close ducks. As an accomplished caller and instructor I say have at it Hoss, let’s see what you’ve

got. As a duck hunter, I say put that call down and start blazing!

Now that we’ve established the proper tongue location for optimal sound, let’s make some sounds.

The quack... this note will be the basis for the majority of the notes you’ll blow.

So grab the call by the insert and hold with the thumb and forefinger. The other fingers are the "quackers," so to speak. Put the call to your lips like you’re drinking a pop (AKA ‘soda’ in some parts). Close the hand down around the call and hum the word "voot." As you pressurize the call, open the 3 "quacker" fingers. If you open too soon the note will be flat, if you open too late youll get a gggwwwak sound. Open as soon as you put air to the call. The hum and the V will impart some rasp and the oo will position the throat open for a fuller sound.

What’s nice about this method is you can learn the quack relatively easily,

and once the quack is mastered, you can turn it into a hen greeting by simply blowing a series of quacks with the first note drawn out

and the second note a little shorter, the third shoter yet and so on. Five to 6 notes are optimum. I have an awesome instructional DVD called "Calling Ducks My Way" on my website (www. calefcalls.net) and it is allencompassing and has a ton of shortcuts to help callers get proficient quickly and easily. You can find it and other products there, too.

That’s www.calefcalls.net.

We'll get more in-depth in future issues.

Enough calling for now, lets explore a subject most avoid...politics! The latest diatribe

is Patrick Mahomes refusing to set foot in Arrowhead Stadium until Kansas City drops the Chiefs as mascot/nickname. I highly doubt you could find many native Americans that are offended by it. Instead, it’s leftist activists imposing their will on society. So do we also have to rename the stadium from Arrowhead to something else? How about Bladed Projectile Stadium? Doesn’t that have a nice ring?!!! And what about woke/cancel culture? That typically gets me off the sideline and into the fracas.

Refusing to acknowledge what happened in the past doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. If we refuse to acknowledge Civil War generals and act as if it didn’t happen, do we then say slavery didn’t happen? We are supposed to learn from history, not play ostrich and stick our heads in the sand! When will this lunacy end? Probably when patriots decide they’ve had enough and take our country back by force! I’m 62 years old and I hope I never see that!

Admittedly that was a bit heavy so why don’t we move on to another pastime I’m ate up with...the bass! I’m

competitive by nature and I did with my bass fishing what I did with my duck calling, I started competing in tournaments. Mostly at the club level but eventually started to fish for more money. I quickly realized that step would potentially win me more money, but definitely would cost me more, also. Reminds me of a Facebook meme and reality that I love...$70,000 truck, $80,000 bass boat, winning $150 at your local club tournament! Don’t get me wrong, I was there at one time and had a blast doing it! Eventually I realized the little woman liked my pastimes way more when they were in the asset column instead of expenditures! So, back to the contest stage I went!

See you in the next issue of DUCK HUNTIN’.

HEVI-Shot Unveils New HEVI-12

More than 20 years ago, HEVI-Shot’s 12 density Tungsten revolutionized waterfowl ammunition. Now hunters can get this legendary product in the company’s new HEVI-XII tungsten waterfowl loads.

“The great thing about this ammunition is you can shoot three shot sizes smaller than you do with steel ammunition and get the same lethality, because you’re putting more pellets on target,” said Scott Turner, HEVI-Shot’s Product Line Manager. “Not only that, HEVI-XII loads produce twice the downrange energy as steel.” HEVI-XII outperforms steel in every category. Density: HEVI-XII is 12 g/cc. and 53.8 percent denser than steel.

Duck Hunting: The Movie

Teal Season, 5 Canadas Among Minnesota Regs Changes Waterfowl hunters from Warroad to Worthington will get a brief early try at September teal this year as Minnesota DNR puts several important changes in regs and season dates into action. Coming along with the long-awaited teal hunt are new twists ranging from spinning-wing decoys and hunting over water, to a big jump in the Canada goose bag limit.

Most of these changes had good support from hunters based on public engagement information. Others will provide more opportunity as well as simplifying the regulations and having consistent regulations with other states in the Mississippi Flyway. Duck harvest and hunter numbers in Minnesota are at or near all-time low levels so any additional harvest that may occur should not have impacts on the populations. In contrast, Minnesota once boasted 200,000 duck hunters, highest in the nation.

Teal season: Minnesotans finally get their shot with a five-day experimental teal season Sept. 4-8, after an abortive first try in 1965 (closed after 2 days) and a near-brush with a season in 2014. Shooting hours will be sunrise to sunset.

The season is experimental for up to three years. DNR and US Fish and Wildlife Service will gauge how well or poorly Minnesotans stick to the teal-only rule in deciding if the experimental season goes past the test phase 2021-2023.

This special hunt has generated strong and differing comments from hunters. Backers of the early teal season say it will provide added opportunity at teal that often have migrated south prior to opening day of the regular duck season. Opponents worry that other species like wood ducks and mallards will be killed accidently or “burned off” of local marshes ahead of the Sept. 25th regular duck season opener.

Blue-winged teal are a sizeable part of “local ducks” raised in state marshes and rank high the overall bag during the early part of regular duck season.

Post Office Features Mallard on Postcards

Shooting hours: Shooting hours also will change this fall with hunters being allowed to hunt until sunset for the entire season. In previous years, Minnesota has closed waterfowl hunting at 4 p.m. early in the duck season.

Five Canada geese: The bag limit on Canadas will increase from three birds per day to five per day for the regular goose season to match the bag limit used during the September season.

Over Water: Goose hunters in September also will be allowed to hunt geese over water in the northwest goose zone, Carlos Avery and Swan Lake wildlife management areas and Lake Ocheda Game Refuge. Over-water goose hunting continues to be allowed in the remainder of the state.

South Zone: For hunters in the south zone, the season split (closed period) will last for five days instead of 12 and season dates will match those used in the central zone.

Spinners: Motorized decoys may be used statewide during the teal season and throughout the entire waterfowl season, including on wildlife management areas.

A mallard duck is featured on the newest U.S. Postal Service stamped card, available now. The card features a drake in his breeding plumage. The card is being issued as a Forever stamped card. Its postage will always be equal to the value of the stamped postcard rate in effect at the time of use, even if the price increases after purchase.

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TACTICS Early Season Canada Goose

Don’t worry if you can’t hunt where the geese are feeding.

Often, they will tell you what to do. By SHAD SINGLETON

"LAND SAKES YES, you can hunt my farm! Right after my grandsons & 80 of their frat brothers kill their limits.”

W

E'VE ALL BEEN THERE - Out scouting and find that ‘perfect’ field that you’d love to be in. You go knock on the farmer's door and you get the ‘my brother’s nephew’s cousin's best friend hunts that’. All of a sudden you think the weekend is ruined.

IT’S ALL GOOD - DON’T look at this situation as a negative!! Run to the gas sta-

tion and fill that truck up, grab the binoculars, and get to driving. Spend some time in the area to find where they are roosting and where the feed is. Just as important as where they feed, where do the head to "loaf" after they feed. Are they jumping back to the water? They headed to a pasture or hay field to just loaf?

STARTING BEHIND THE 8- BALL - Up here where I live now, our early season opens in early September. The only fields you are going to find cut here will be oats and wheat, and I PROMISE that ground has been spoken for! You won’t see corn picked until mid to late October, so you need a plan!!

HAVE PATIENCE - One of many positives that can come out of this is not all the birds will head to the loaf after they feed. A lot of times early in the season the geese will flood to the feed in larger bunches pretty close together time wise. Once they feed and head to the loaf, it typically won’t happen in that same flood of bird.

PAY ATTENTION - Do some good

JUST RIGHT OR TOO MANY? Author says go with small decoy sets in first few days.

homework.

You don’t have to be the guy with the most decoys and you don’t have to be the best caller out there. Watch the birds and they WILL tell you what they want to see and what they want to hear. I’ve had some incredible hunts over three dozen decoys and very little calling.

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITY - If a guy can find a little cattle pond out in the middle of a pasture somewhere that the geese have even just been flying over and not stopping can be a lot better than the feed you were dying to get on!! Once those first shots of the weekend get fired, life changes as the geese know it….and it will change for you as well! They are going to find those little safe havens and if you hunt smart, you can enjoy that spot for some time.

EARLY SEASON…DON”T OVERTHINK IT - One thing I see a lot on that opening weekend and the early part of the season is people just can’t help themselves from wanting to throw a lot of decoys. We tend to think if it’s not a big spread and you’re not blowing every breath of air at them, we’re not ‘hunting’.

What we really need to do is stop and think a little. Early in the season, MY opinion, is a time to go small. The geese will start to bunch up as the season progresses, so look natural. Make your dekes look like that first bunch that found this honey hole you have created!!

COVER IT UP - The MOST important thing you can do --and it costs you NO money -- is be concealed.T ake that extra time to make sure EVERYONE”S blind is brushed well. You only look as good as the worstbrushed blind.

Found a Cow Pond!

Able to see straight into your soul.

So be sure your blinds are invisible..

So here we are. opening weekend/earer. With that being said, I will also tell you ly season! So let’s not overthink this. We some days the best calling you will do is are going to say we found that little catnot call much at all. Early in the season tle pond out in the middle of nowhere if you just do the basics -- double cluck, we were talking about earlier, and we’ll honk, and bawl -- that is perfect. So for say that piece of water is the size of your those of you new to the goose garage. We’ve done all this, burnt gas, game, if you learn to do found that spot to hunt, brushed these those 3 basics well, you blinds up, fine-tuned that favorite call, can stack up just as many and we still haven’t got to pull the trigger as the ‘good’ caller huntyet boys!! It’s time to hunt! ing a feed. There are situations when KNOW more calling might be needed, but YOUR " Best calling you again, the geese will tell you the situWIND if you let them. can do is not much ation Wind diCALLING THE SHOT – I’ve been rection is calling at all" that ‘GO’ guy for decades. MOST imgoing to portant thing of all….make the shot be the most important thing we need to good for your buddies too!! This job isn’t know right at the start. You want to get for everyone and it comes with a little that wind blowing right down the back of pressure. I tell a lot of people, DON’T GET your neck.

IN A HURRY!! You’re sat there all mornDECOYS - This topic can go a hundred ing, waiting 5 to 10 more directions…..What we really want to do is seconds isn’t that big of a overemphasize where we want them to deal. You definitely want land. Shell decoys are always good in this to have a good opportusituation. Remember, we are in a loaf, so nity for a good clean kill. make your rig look like birds I personally don’t take that are just loafing! Sleeper shells, many shots over about 35 feeder shells, and even a few full bodies yards. Can you kill them in the edge of that water. We can have a further out? You sure can, pretty good looking spread for our little but you want to shoot spot and probably only thr0w three dozthose working birds, and en decoys.

NONE of us want to be out CALLING THE GEESE - I’ve been huntchasing cripples when ing geese over 30 years, I manufacture that next bunch shows my own brand of calls, and would conup! Make sure you have sider myself a better than average callthe appropriate shot size.

There are a lot of thing to choose from out there. I personally use #3 steel for the first month of the season and then switch to #1 shot out of a 12 ga. I know guys that shoot BB’s and BBB’s also, #1 shot is just a preference of mine due to having a little more shot to throw. A 10 ga. Is a great option as well. NOT so you can shoot further, but because you are increasing the amount of shot you are putting out there.

We could get into how the morning went, but we’re going to assume they came about 9:30 – 10 in the morning, your shooting was spot-on, and if things went right, we’re all talking about how we didn’t educate too many, and can probably hit this spot again tomorrow morn-

ing!!

Now that we have made it through this opening weekend we will continue this story in the next issue . In that article, we start progressing and perfecting our tactics as migration begins.

Shad Singleton says, “ I was raised in Wapello IA. Lake Odessa was right in my back yard and that is where I cut my teeth waterfowling for ducks. We chased geese up on the bluff and in the days when not everyone was doing it. I now reside in Mora MN with my wife and three daughters that have allowed me to spend pretty much the entire fall chasing geese. I have owned Ann River Outdoors since 2007.

Offering calls, decoys, apparel, and hunts on a limited basis.”

Mallards, Cans, Pintails Hit Hardest --

Duck Numbers Plunge in ‘Universally Dry’ PPR BISMARCK, N.D. — Poor breeding conditions in the prairie pothole region will result in a smaller fall flight than mid-continent waterfowl hunters have experienced for many seasons. Delta Waterfowl expects that while blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and gadwalls had average to below-average production, other key species including mallards pintails, wigeon and canvasbacks were hit hardest by the drought.

There is good news for East Coast hunters. Favorable conditions were available to easternbreeding ducks — essential to the Atlantic Flyway — and to boreal-nesting species such as bluebills and ring-necked ducks.

fewer juveniles in the fall flight, and that’s unfortunate because the best seasons are always those when you’ve got an abundance of young ducks winging south.”

Delta’s analysis is delivered despite the second-straight Covid-related cancellation of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey — a key barometer of the fall flight that’s otherwise been conducted annually since 1955 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service.

State surveys were, however, successfully conducted by wildlife departments in North Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Oregon.

Nowhere were drought conditions more evident than in North Dakota, a critical duck producing region for the Mississippi and Central flyways.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department estimated an 80 percent

‘North Dakota’s survey is the bad news we knew was coming’... an estimated 80 percent decline in wetlands

“This is a unique year in that the prairie pothole region — the most important duck production area on the planet — is almost universally dry,” said Dr. Frank Rohwer, president and chief scientist of Delta Waterfowl. “A lot of the prairies were dry the past two springs as well, but at least there were pockets of areas with good wetland conditions.

But this year we likely had poor duck production due to many birds overflying the prairies, and those that stayed showed reduced renesting effort and low brood survival. There will be far

Waterfowl nesting habitat conditions decline in wetlands from 2020, and the breeding duck estimate of 2.9 million marks a 26.9 percent drop from last year. “North Dakota’s survey is the bad news we knew was coming,” Rohwer said. “The reduction in water is staggering. It’s the highest percentage decrease in the history of the North Dakota survey.”

SILVER LININGS: Still, there are silver linings to be found when

Teal, like these greenwings, are one of the few bright spots.

indicates that most duck populations are well above average — including a 2019 estimate of 38.9 million breeding ducks, 10 percent above average.

s as of early August. small, shallow prairie wetlands — those most vital to making ducks — dry out. Little precipitation fell throughout the winter and early spring, and in turn the normally wet pools produced abundant vegetation.

“The drought cycle rejuvenates wetlands with food for hens and ducklings in the following spring,” Rohwer said. “Assuming we have better water next year, ducks will rebound quickly. We could have outstanding duck production.”

Carryover ducks from consistent years of good production also means that populations of adult, breeding ducks — though far more challenging to decoy — remain high.

Despite indicating a significant decrease from 2020, North Dakota’s breeding-duck estimate remains 19 percent above the long-term average. And long-term data

“It’s going to be a tough year, but the good news is duck numbers remain relatively high,” Rohwer said. “This isn’t like 1992 when we entered a drought and the bottom had already fallen out in terms of breeding populations.

And one of the things about a drought is you get better hen survival in the summer, because their nesting efforts are weaker and therefore they are less vulnerable to predators.”

SPECIES-BY-REGION OUTLOOK: Delta reported Aug. 10 that gadwalls showed a puzzling 47% INCREASE this year, despite nesting during the worst habitat conditions late last spring.

Other PPR bright spots are bluewinged teal, green-winged teal, and ringnecks. Hard-hit species this season were pintails, which nest in the region that has been driest the longest, and canvasbacks.

In the Pacific Flyway, drought conditions swept California, Oregon, British Columbia and most — but not all — of Alberta. “In the west I have nothing good to report,” Rohwer said. “If you’ve watched the news at all you know that it’s experiencing disastrous heat, drought and fires.

That’s not a recipe for good duck production. And in California we know that upwards of 70 percent of the mallards harvested are typically

hatched within the state. That won’t be the case this year, because many wetlands were bone dry and produced nothing.” The one bright spot is the stable conditions of Alaska, which should add a number of green-winged teal, pintails and wigeon to the Pacific’s fall flight.

The news is better on the other side of the continent: Excellent breeding conditions were observed in eastern Canada, which Delta believes fueled strong production of Atlantic Flyway mallards. Good nesting conditions were also present for black ducks, ring-necked ducks and wood ducks.

“Atlantic Flyway hunters should have a better season than folks farther west relative to recent seasons,” Rohwer said. “Conditions in the northeast United States were average, and eastern Canada was quite wet.”

While the flight forecast is less promising than in recent years, Delta Waterfowl encourages hunters to oil their shotguns, tune their calls and get ready: “There are still plenty of ducks, and we feel the liberal regulations in place for the coming season are entirely appropriate,” Rohwer said. “Hunting has little to no

effect on the ebb and flow of breeding duck populations,

because primarily we shoot juveniles. Low duck production is likely to result in challenging hunting, but the idea you shouldn’t hunt — whether you fear harming duck populations or experiencing a lack of success — is absurd.

Weather events such as cold and precipitation have just as much an effect on hunter success, and I’m confident plenty of people will have good seasons.”

Contact Dr. Frank Rohwer at (888) 9873695 ext. 5217, frohwer@deltawaterfowl.

Lacey Act Set Stage for Migratory Bird Treaty Ruhls on

Regs

By RONNI RUHLS Law Professor & Waterfowler

Q: What is the deal with the laws against selling and shipping ducks and geese? Where did the law come from and why?

A: Mainly the laws came about because of a common human failing: greed.

THE LACEY ACT OF 1901 By the late 1800s, the hunting and shipment of birds for the commercial market (to embellish the platters of elegant restaurants) and the plume trade (to provide feathers to adorn lady’s fancy hats) had hammered many bird species.

Passenger pigeons, whose immense flocks had once darkened the skies, were nearing

extinction. Populations of Eskimo curlew and other shorebirds had been decimated.

The snowy egret and other colonialnesting wading birds had been reduced to mere remnants of their historical populations. The Lacey Act (passed on May 25, 1900) prohibited game taken illegally in one state to be shipped across state boundaries contrary to the laws of the state where taken. The Lacey Act has become a very effective tool for enforcing the wildlife protective laws of the States and the Federal government (a detailed

Feed Chuckles by KRIKYS

News Item: Hunters Find Empty Shelves as Duck Seasons Draw Near ...

synopsis is available at www.fws.gov).

However, in the early 20th Century, the Act was ineffective in stopping interstate shipments, mainly because of huge profits enjoyed by market hunters and the lack of officers to enforce the law. These early failures of the Lacey Act led to passage of the WEEKS-MCLEAN LAW. The Weeks-McLean Law (which became effective on March 4, 1913) was designed to stop commercial market hunting and the illegal shipment of migratory birds from one state to another. The Act boldly

proclaimed that: “All wild geese, wild swans, brant, wild ducks, snipe, plover, woodcock, rail, wild pigeons, and all other migratory game and insectivorous birds which in their northern and southern migrations pass through or do not remain permanently the entire year within the borders of any State or Territory, shall hereafter be deemed to be within the custody and protection of the Government of the United States, and shall not be destroyed or taken contrary to regulations hereinafter provided therefor.” The Weeks-

McLean Law rested on weak constitutional grounds, having been passed as a rider to an appropriation bill for the Dept. of Agriculture, and it was soon replaced by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

And that, good friends, is a topic for another day.

Hunt safe, hunt legal!

At Last -- Somebody Shoots Straight on Shotshell Situation!

ing non-existent. All of these issues are short-term problems but the fact remains, and we can't scream this one loud enough: Don’t wait to buy your ammunition this season! We’ve always been up front with you, so this isn’t some scare tactic. It’s reality and we want everyone

shells: 12ga 3”*, 12 ga. Stinger, 20 ga. 3", 9*In the event of a 12ga 3” hull shortage, 2-3/4” “Shorty” immediately ramps back into production.)

Editor’s note: This past week, the fiveemployee BOSS Shotshell Co. of Bridgman, MI. issued a message to its fans about escalating shell and component shortages. I was blown away by BOSS’ honesty and transparency, since other shell makers had uniformly skirted DUCK HUNTN’ Magazine’s questions about the shell shortage. KUDOS to BOSS for their plain-talk approach and candor on an important subject!)

By THE BOSS MAN BOSS Ammunition Co. We’re nothing if we're not honest, so earlier in the year in our “Fact. The Shortage Is Real.” email, we told the BOSS brethren the global supply chain for ammunition was in rough shape. This remains the case. We even forecasted shortages that'd impact the availability of our ammunition later on in the year.

At the time, our primary concern was gunpowder and up to this point, a lack of gunpowder has been our limiting factor on production. Last month, the global supply for metals dropped and our prices nearly doubled. That hurt. To make that sh*tshow even worse, severe polymer shortages are impacting the production of hulls and wads. In short, powder is tight.

Metal has doubled. Hulls are becom-

to be ready for the upcoming season with copper-plated BOSS heat.

The Skinny. So. Here's the lowdown on how we're gonna to try and get as many shells shipped out the door, starting August 1: Sub-gauge production will be throttled back for 16ga, 2-3/4” 20ga and 28ga. 10ga production has been cancelled. No more preorders will be taken. Production will continue (as best as we can) and will focus on the following

Our Word.: Please understand we've been working full time—at times aroundthe-clock—to try and minimize the impact the global supply shortages are having on our supply chain. For the time being, all of our presses are running. We have metal, powder and hulls but as we get deeper into the season we will run out of one of those three. We just can't predict what or when. Yes, friends. It’s grim.

Effective Aug. 1, pricing will be adjusted to reflect the increases in our raw material costs. We feel confident that these increases are temporary and if/when our raw costs drop, so will our prices. You have our word on that. Don’t panic and hoard your ammunition. We aren’t going anywhere. Buy only what you need and save some for the next guy. Sign up for email alerts and when your favorite BOSS loads come back in stock, jump on the web or pick up the phone to place your order.

Things may change and if/when they do, job #1 for us will be to communicate that news to you. As always, give us a call if you have any questions or concerns.

We've been known to take deep dives into the detail for folks who like getting in the weeds and we'd be happy to lay it all out if need be. -- Regards, The Boss.”

GRHRCH UH High Desert Waterfowl’s Bomber MH - 7/27/2008 - 6/26/2021

Never 'Meant to Be’:

Bomber’s Story By: Bill Schaefer hdretrievers@gmail.com

Bomber left us peacefully, surrounded by his family last Saturday, June 26th, 2021.

Although difficult to bear, a strange sense of comfort overtook me as my best friend faded from this world into the next. We looked at each other once more, mutually knowing nothing had been left on the table. He loved his life and truly lived every moment to the fullest, even during his last days.

These are the moments we all dread; the acceptance of the inevitable as the eternal battle of time runs its course and the next chapter unfolds. Although difficult, it provides a moment for reflection and perspective.

Bomber’s story is as unique as it is incredible: Bomber was never “meant” to be. He was an “accident” from the beginning after an unplanned meeting between a male Labrador and a female Chesapeake in my childhood neighborhood.

Bomber joined our family in the summer of 2008 when I was home from college and my neighbor knew I’d be interested in a future goose hunting dog.

Dave was kind enough to gift Bomber to our family after giving me first pick from the litter. Bomber quickly made his presence known in our household.

He was a cunning puppy with an infectious personality. My parents did an incredible job raising baby PC: Bill Schaefer (all)

Bomber that first year while I was away in Illinois attending college. They laid the foundation of love and compassion that stayed with Bomber throughout his life; a foundation which was evident in the way he conducted himself daily.

I was just your average kid goose hunter who knew very little about formal retriever training. Truthfully, I didn’t own an e-collar, had never heard of forcefetch, and had no clue what a blind retrieve was. My background was strictly hunting based and having watched my dad’s former dog, Spree, retrieve a few birds each season. All I wanted was a steady dog that wouldn’t flare working birds, and could handle the task of retrieving big honkers. Looking forward, if I was told Bomber would become an iconic hunting and hunt test dog, featured in publications like Gun Dog Magazine and our local newspaper, I would have certainly been in disbelief.

Despite the vast lack of training knowledge on my part, Bomber successfully retrieved his first geese at the age of 14 months during the September early goose opener. I remember his first hunt as if it happened yesterday and, as it turned out, that hunt foreshadowed what was to become a tremendously special career.

Thanks to my friends Jim McLaughlin and Derek Torinus, my dad and I became involved in the Western Colorado HRC…

thus began the endless learning curve and certainly the greatest adventure of my life.

After graduating college, I began to dedicate my free time to Bomber.

Spending every day together, retrieving bumpers and birds, we quickly formed a special bond. During the fall of 2011, entered in Seasoned, Bomber ran his first hunt tests at the age of three. After earning his Seasoned title with ease, Bomber quickly received his Finished title during the spring of 2012.

Two more years of training and persistence, not to mention a few thousand goose retrieves under his belt, Bomber made his Grand appearance in the spring of 2014, passing one of the toughest Grands I’ve run to this day (Phenix City, AL). We went into that Grand with no expectations. With a pass rate of only 13% and very few other amateurs present at the ceremony to collect a green ribbon, it finally registered for me that I owned a truly talented dog.

The following spring of 2015, Bomber earned the coveted title of Grand Hunting Retriever Champion in Maddison, GA. My heart had never felt so full and it was all because of Bomber. On the road home that evening, we stopped at the nearest steakhouse and shared a delicious medium-rare ribeye in the parking lot, while enjoying the ambiance from the live band.

Bomber’s career was nothing short of miraculous and he was nothing short of spectacular. He retired as a Grand Champion, Upland Hunter, Master Hunter with 1,135 UKC (Top left) Bomber with some of his I chamware. He passed 65 of 67 Finished a pionship ter) hard at work with Bill Schaefe sister) and me. (top right) man an points to

test competition line; (near left:) a afield for geese.

his name.

Consistency was his forte, considering he passed 65 of 67 Finished and 14 of 17 Master tests respectively, during his lifetime.

Bomber was a fighter, a true champion. After the removal of a softballsized non-metastatic tumor which was wrapped around the femur of his right hind leg, and what we assumed was a career-ending procedure at the age of 10, he was back in the saddle two months later running the fall Louisiana Grand and then, making his final Grand appearance during the fall of 2019 in Wisconsin.

Bomber officially retired with style and grace in July of 2020, running for his last time on his home turf (the Grand Mesa) at the Western Colorado HRC annual hunt test. It was also Bomber’s first time ever running a Started test. It was the storybook ending to a storybook career.

Bomber defied all odds.

He was a neutered, mixed-breed, accidental puppy, turned goose hunting expert, turned Grand Champion machine.

Originally registered under the UKC’s “AMB” (American Mixed-Breed) designation, then updated with a “Limited Privilege” registration number (LP 012-985), Bomber wears his crown as the only mixed-bred Grand Champion in HRC history.

“Conceived By Hunters, For Hunters.”

Bomber’s career epitomized HRC’s mission statement. He was the “poster dog” for HRC and we were the “dynamic duo” that HRC catered to; the average college age kid who had a dog that could hunt and thought it’d be fun to give this hunt test game a fair try.

Bomber was so intuitive it’s beyond describable - he learned quickly and carried me on his back throughout his career. He made us into the incredible team we were.

That said, statistics don’t provide the most substance in life, and as Bomber and I grew together, especially in his later years, I found myself more deeply appreciating all the subtle details about him which made our friendship so vibrant. He International Grand hunt test hard- was deeply in touch and 14 of 17 Master tests; (top cen- with his family and his er Sr. (my dad), Alice Schaefer (my daily environment. He nd dog are all-business on the hunt a well-earned hug for Bomber while learned so quickly and

just molded right into the routine like any person would. He was truly the “family farm” dog. The kind of “personified” dog you read about in adventure novels or see in the Disney movies - that was Bomber.

Whether herding my dad’s horses into the corral each night, joining me for a run in the neighborhood, jamming our favorite rock albums with the truck windows down as we drove around town, assisting me during waterfowl seminars at Cabela’s, visiting friends on road trips across the country, camping in the Colorado mountains, retrieving floating beer cans we accidentally dropped into the river during raft trips, or front-footing marks and lining blinds at the Grand, Bomber was there. He was my wingman, without falter.

Words do not exist to describe the amount of respect we built for each other during his lifetime. Looking back, I smile in realizing every lesson learned and every milestone made was done together, without haste, for fun and built on a foundation of love.

I am forever grateful for Bomber and the gift of life he provided me. He made the hard days easier, and the easy days better. He gave my life direction and purpose when it was needed most.

He is the name, the face, and the foundation behind both High Desert Waterfowl and High Desert Retrievers.

Without him, I simply do not exist as the man I am today.

Thank you Bomb-Bomb.

I’ll love you forever and always save a special place for you in my heart.

Stories from

Swan Lake

By PELL JOHNSON Author of ‘Fowl’ Books Series, St. Peter, MN

These lucky teens took a nice mixed bag of birds during a past NYCOA youth waterfowl event. Classroom work precedes hunting on a widlife management area on the St. Lawrence River.

Free Youth Waterfowl Class, Hunt in New York State; Sign up by Sept. 15 Youth age 12 to 15 have a free invitation to learn how to hunt waterfowl and pheasant in New York’s St. Lawrence County this September.

Hosted by Massena Rod and Gun Club and sponsored by the New York Conservation Officers Association (NYCOA), NWTF, and St. Lawrence County Sportsmen’s Federation, this is the seventh year for the class and hunts, said Lt. Troy Basford of New York ECO. A classroom session will be held at the Massena Rod and Gun Club on Wednesday, Sept. 15, followed by two consecutive Saturdays for hunting waterfowl and pheasants.

Youth need to be signed up by the day of the classroom session.

Massena R&GC is at 155 Patterson Road, Massena, NY.

Hunting for waterfowl will be Saturday, Sept. 18, at Wilson Hill WMA. Wilson Hill includes four large pools and the St. Lawrence River on one side, so it offers mostly swamp with a few river bays. In past years, the young hunters have brought in a mixed bag of ducks, mainly mallards, blacks, teal and woodies.

Interested youth must possess a New York State small game hunting license. This event is free to participants and equipment will be provided if necessary. For more information and to sign up for the event, contact Lt. Troy Basford at (315) 265-2757, or ECO Ian Helmer at 315-559-8503.

This event is one of five held by ECO and asupporting conservation groups

FOR THE DUCK HUNTER’S BOOKSHELF -- The Duck Factory: A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota, by Mike Jacobs and Erik Fritzell tells the colorful and contentious history of waterfowl and waterfowl management in North Dakota, complete with stories of the people who hunt them, protect them, study them, enjoy them and work to guarantee their continued importance in North Dakota. Illustrated with historic pictures and color photographs of waterfowl and North Dakota landscapes. Foreword, Afterword: Mike Johnson and Mike Szymanski. Published By: The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 2019 Pages: 213 Price: $24.99 online at gf.nd.gov or phone 701-328-6300.

‘Best Tam Tog I Ever Had’ While writing one “dog” story, another one came to mind that my Dad told many times at fire ring gatherings on the eve of duck hunting openers at Nelson Point and most certainly in the warm confines of our little cabin when friends gathered around the table for a bit of cheer: This event took place on the Point sometime in the 1920s. To this day everyone on the Point generally makes the round of cabins to see how the opening day’s hunt went. A hunter had stopped at Dad’s cabin to visit. The hunter had a German name and when re-telling the story, Dad (whose name was George) would recreate the visitor’s heavy German accent.

The scene on that opening day was quite similar to the previous story, although I think the dog must have been a water spaniel. The dog’s owner had self-taught it to retrieve ducks and had taken it hunting on the lake.

It, too, cowered and tried to escape when the owner fired his shotgun: “Got tamit, Chorche! Tat tam tog -- he chust set dere in da boat unt schook. Ven I got to chore, I died him to a tree wit a strong rope. Den I got my gun unt shot bote parrels ad da zame dime. By Got, Chorche, tat tam tog shit a baloney a foot long unt took uff running. Vhen he hit ta ent of dat rope, he vent ent over ent and chust lade dare.

“You know, Chorche, he vast da best tam tog I ever had afder dat. I tink he vas more ‘fraid of dat tam rope dan he vas of dat shotgun goink off!”

Pell is author of an excellent series of books about people, places and events around Swan Lake, Nicollet County, MN. Contact him at fowlstories84@gmail.com.

Textbook Ending

By SCOTT DINGER Each of us spend time in the off season planning, prepa ing and dreaming of waterfowl hunting season. The dreaming part takes on many forms for each of us. We hope our dreams take shape prior to, during, and after the season ends, so that they become precious memories that somehow carry us through the next off season.

Last year prior to the season, I had been very busy. I built a hard blind for my duck boat after having grown tired of hunting in the freezing weather on open water. The hard blind was built using metal conduit for the frame and then skinned with corplast and painted. It was a design based on what I thought would keep us warm and dry between flights of birds. I practiced with my “DubHgall” company 3D printed duck and goose calls more diligently.

I trained my second retriever, a wirehaired pointing griffon I had named Chana. Her older sister Tsippa had had a great first year in 2019. We were busy indeed. Busy in hopes that the time would pass quicker and see me and my buddies and dogs out as many days during the season as was sanely possible.

All the off season went according to plan. The boat blind was built but untested. The call practice began to sound better and the new pup was poised but also untested from the boat. However, these projects were a much-welcomed pastime that got me through the off season.

Our season here in north Idaho opened October 19th and found me and both dogs set up on a local small lake where I figured I could work out the newness of it all without the added distractions of hunting with others. The lake rarely if ever sees hunters although it has pretty good early season waterfowl numbers, it seems that it’s more of a loafing spot and has little to no food sources in or around it.

I usually hunt solo the first few days of each season so I can more easily settle in. This past season seemed especially so, given the new boat blind and new dog. Hunting the first few days alone helped me to become confident that the preparation in the off season had been helpful. Those first few outings last season were productive and tended to add to the momentum for the rest of the year.

On opening morning, I had set out in some heavy lily pads with a dozen or so goose decoys out past the lily pads in open water.

I had scouted there the past few mornings prior and saw that the geese came through on their way to a flooded hay field that was closed to hunting. My hope was that I could call the birds in close enough to take a look.

The hunt went very well. I managed two honkers that the new pup eagerly retrieved once I had coaxed her into the water off the dog ladder. I hunted that spot an additional morning and then went and paid for my boat slip at the marina where I keep my boat during the season.

We hunt mostly open water on a lake near Coeur D Alene, Idaho.

I learned to hunt this lake from a former co-worker named Pat. He had hunted the area for 25 years and counting and invited me along a couple times after he knew that the meat was appreciated by me and my family.

Our style of hunting is to set up in open water in a bay with floating decoys. The water is over 6 feet deep requiring long decoy strings and heavier weights. There is no cover and no backdrop to hide behind. We tie up to some old pilings in the bay that were once used for the timber industry. The hard blind offers us concealment and warmth from the often bitter cold and wind. We hunt mostly honkers and mallards that most often present only pass shooting. We typically hunt at least 90 days per season. I became fully invested in this hunting in 2017 when I bought my first duck boat. A Tracker Grizzly 1548. I think that since starting out, I can count very few occasions when we had not at least had an opportunity to shoot at birds every time we go.

Although it is nice to fill the bag, the time spent in the blind with family and friends is what I have come to appreciate the most.

Once the decoys are out, we button up the roof on the boat blind, fire up the buddy heater and enjoy good conversation. When it is time to eat, we usually heat up a deer sausage on the top of the buddy heater. No shortage of good conversation and good snacking for everyone. Even the dogs. Afterall, they are the ones having to get into that cold water. Sometimes several times per day.

The past two seasons my co-worker, Kevin, has been my primary hunting partner. Kevin had never hunted waterfowl until I invited him along a couple years ago. After that first season, he was always more than willing to join me on the boat. His excitement to hunt waterfowl made my time on the boat even better. It was nice to have someone else dedicate themselves to improve.

His reward came about two-thirds through this last season when over the course of two days, he managed to shoot two banded ducks! Now Kevin is really hooked!

The 2020 season seemed to be better than the previous two.

We were having good outings but never once did we limit out. It never seemed to matter because we were plain and simply having fun trying.

Facing the last day of the season seemed to suddenly loom ominous.

Time flew by. The dogs were performing well and the new pup was actually becoming the better waterfowl dog.

My calling effort coupled with some learned decoy strategies helped see that we were successful taking birds every outing. I had figured out that fewer geese decoys simulating family groups spread out all around the boat brought the birds within 20 yards and oftentimes seen the birds actually settle into the spread or swim into the spread. You could plan on the wind blowing every day from the south west. You could also plan that at least once per day around midday, the wind would stop altogether. For those times I attached a jerk cord to a goose butt decoy set right in the middle of the spread and pulled constantly to make the decoys move or create a ripple on the water.

Ducks seemed easy. Just a couple mallard decoys about 15 yards out on both sides of the boat usually resulted in several shots at ducks every day. I think our best day last season was 5 geese and 8 ducks between two shooters. I say easy because we consider our time on the boat to focus mainly on hunting geese.

We have learned through the years that you can hunt most of any given day and have little to no action with geese. Then, sure enough, the moment you decide to take a shot and are going through the process of recovering the duck, a flight of honkers comes into the bay and there you are -- busted. Caught with your blind open and your dog in the water.

In recent years however, we have begun to take more shots at ducks due to the increased hunting pressure in our part of the world. Our community has seen record growth and with more people here, the hunting spot has seen a marked increase in other people doing the same as us. What was once strictly honker hunts has slowly become come one, come all. We appreciate all the meat we can harvest. Between Kevin and I we have10 mouths to feed.

The last day was soon upon us. On Day 89, we had finished with a couple birds in the larder. Prior to heading home for the day I spoke with Kevin about what we would do for the last day of the season. Since the birds had become stale and were tough to decoy, we agreed that since we had such a wonderfully success-

ful season, that we would hunt half the day rain or shine and not a minute longer. Something we both knew would be appreciated by our “hunting widows” waiting at home. Regardless of how successful and fun it is being out there, 90 days is a bit of a grind sometimes. Our wives would most likely agree.

January 31st, Day 90. The last day of the season saw us competing with a few other hunting parties that we usually don’t have to contend with during most of the season. Spring-like weather brought out the fair weather types en-masse. We ended up setting our rig in the middle of a bay surrounded on three sides by quite a few groups of hunters.

Taking it in stride because of our having hadsuch a wonderful season, the four hours we had set to hunt passed by quietly reflecting the season. I always journal our seasons, daily totals and other notables as part of my overall goal of self improvement as a waterfowl hunter. My tally stood at 53 honkers, one snow goose and 74 ducks -- my best season ever for the boat.

We were down to the last hour before noon and our mutuallyagreed to quitting time. Our gun barrels had remained cold and the dogs had remained dry and snug in the boat. I looked out into the distance and saw a pair of ducks coming towards the spread, very high up. They began to circle us. As it happened, I cracked a quick couple hails on the DubHgall call and noted that both birds turned back to us instantly in response. Cupped-up and dropping in as they circled, I was able to see that it was a pintail drake and hen! Although springtime brings thousands of them as they head north each year, our area rarely sees pintails during the regular season. We are off their usual southern migration route. So this was a completely unexpected delight, just to see them. And now, even more exciting is that they were actually dropping right in above us!

I felt as if time began to slow down. I managed to spit out my call and utter to my buddy, “If there was ever a time I don’t want to miss, this is it.” I did not have time to explain why as the birds had now committed and were within range. They passed over and to my side of the boat.

A perfectly-placed shot dropped the bull cleanly out 25 yards or so from the boat. The new pup sprung into action and did her part. A perfect set-up, shot and retrieve. The pup gently released the bull into my hands at the boat. I will never forget those few moments for the rest of my life.

Although I had enjoyed many moments out on the duck boat the entire season, that moment seemed to be the perfect textbook ending if there ever could be such a thing. A bull pintail, my first-ever pintail, my new pup performing wonderfully, a wonderful overall season filled with great times with friends, new strategies and gear dreamed, built, put to use. Textbook!

Arriving home later that day, I gushed to the wife about the day.

Especially the pintail. As usual, her enthusiasm was less than mine. But somehow, she must have known how truly special the pintail was for me and agreed to allow me to have it mounted.

It will be proudly displayed on my wall next to my first whitetail buck. Again, textbook I say. Textbook.

There was “something” about this set of decoys. Could a Sotheby’s Folk Art expert figure out where the decoys had been carved? Or by whose hands?

Uncovering Texas’ Turn of the Century Lost Decoy Carvers

By R.K. SAWYER

Collectors of Texas carved decoys always seem to work a little harder than their counterparts in other states.

Many decoys were lost to history during the state’s frequent floods and hurricanes. As well, the Lone Star State’s carving and painting style are often not as refined as those from other regions, and they haven’t always received the attention they deserve. There were hints of a once fairly prolific carving culture in the central coastal Texas region of Matagorda Bay area, yet no one could find any decoys or even the names of the carvers.

Until now.

For years, Lone Star Outdoor News (LSON) founder and dedicated Texas decoy collector David Sams printed a small advertisement in the LSON journal that read “Decoys Wanted –

Wooden.” Most folks who called him had no idea what kind of decoys they’d just discovered in their attic, and David often reluctantly had to dash the dreams of a Even those that have been crudely repainted, like t priceless or historical find. graceful style of an Edward Whittaker working dec But as he rummaged through Port O’Connor’s Tim and Theresa Whittaker’s barsenior consulting specialist to Sotheby’s rels of decoys, David says “I recognized American Folk Art Department and an there was a difference in some and knew essential resource to anyone trying to there was something there!” identify Texas decoys.

David anxiously awaited, he says, “the Ron was as excited as David. Not only Ron Gard approval.” Ron is the former did the Whittakers

The Saluria Station lifesavers, early 1900s. Edward Timothy Whittaker is standing second from right. His brother George is standing right.

have a few decoys carved from the Matagorda Bay region, they knew where they were made – the US Coast Guard Saluria Station at Pass Cavallo on eastern Matagorda Island – and who carved them – Tim’s grandfather, Edward Timothy Whittaker.

The precursor to the US Coast Guard started building and manning lifesaving

lived on the island. Edward Whittaker’s blocks were fashioned from driftwood collected on the beach, using only hand tools such as a hatchet, knife, and a hand plane. He produced decoy bodies with graceful lines and a rounded bottom, but with a practical head design that sat low on the body and had a thick neck and bill. Most of the remaining Whittaker decoys have been repainted – not surprising, as they were working decoys for over half a century – but from what can be seen, his brushwork

was subtle although not particularly detailed.

Edward was 54 years old when he died of a heart attack while working at the Galveston Life Saving Station. He was buried in Old Town Cemetery, Brazoria County, where he was joined nearly a half century later by his wife, Theresia Annie Schuster. His decoys, and his legacy, live on today.

Reprinted with permission from Lone Star Outdoor News – https://www. lsonews.com

this Whittaker redhead, cannot hide the coys.

stations in Texas in 1878, their keeper’s job to search for signs of shipwrecks from a watchtower. When a ship foundered, they dashed down the beach in horse-drawn carts loaded with equipment to attempt a rescue. A crew of rowers – surfmen – launched surfboats, often in furious storms that any wise mariner would have done their best to avoid. Theirs was a job filled with moments of terror followed by weeks to months of stifling boredom. During these times, some lifesavers carved decoys.

Edward Timothy Whittaker was born in 1878 in Point Isabel, Texas. His father died when he was ten, and with his brother George, he supported the family as a waterman. In 1901 Edward enlisted at Saluria Station as a “Surfman,” living at the remote outpost for the next 20 years.

Edward’s most prolific carving period was between 1901 to 1920 while he

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47th Annual • Middle River, Minnesota

September 24, 25, 26 • 2021 September 24

“All Aboard for Fun...in 2021!”

Get Your Goose Festival Button at any MR business for free events & cash prizes of $100, $200, & $300

1-5 pm Farmer’s Market on Main Street 3 pm Beer Garden & Pork Sandwiches, Sportsmen’s Shed 4 pm Opening Ceremony - Main Street Stage Following Opening Ceremony: Sidewalk Chalk Decorating contest for all ages - check out the great artwork. Winners will be announced 5:00 Goose Drop (Buy a square and hope the Goose “drops” on your square!)

5:30-7:00 Official Ceremonial Christening of “Frank, the Caboose” at Ye Olde Depot Theatre - everyone welcome to tour the caboose and enjoy coffee and cookies.

4:30-7:00 pm American Legion Auxiliary Meatball Supper, American Legion Club 6 pm BINGO @ American Legion “The Outsider” by Paul Slade Smith at Ye Olde Depot Theatre 7 pm “If you thought the past elections have been hilarious, wait till you see “The Outsider!

Preliminary Event 9 pm–1 am “Eagle Creek” @ The Wheel Miss Middle River Pageant 9 pm–1 am “Tami Lee & the Northern LIghts” @ American Legion All Day All Day 8 am-5 pm 9 am- 5 pm 9 am-3 pm 10 am-3 pm 10 am 11 am 11 am 12:30 pm After Parade After Parade After Parade 1-4 pm 2 pm 2:15 pm 2:30 3 pm 3:15 pm 3:30 pm 4 pm 5 pm 5 pm 5 pm 5:30 pm 7 pm 8 pm-11 pm 9 pm–1 am 9 pm–1 am

Saturday, September 11, 7:30 pm ~~ MR Legacy Center

September 25

Main Street drawings for prizes @ Silver Bullet Scavenger Goose Hunt Craft & Flea Market. Information @ goosefestfleamarket@gmail.com and Goose Festival Facebook page Goose Weigh-In contest. $$CASH PRIZE$$ for the heaviest bird @ Silver Bullet Morning Coffee and Noon Meal (Our Savior’s Thief Lake) Community Center GMR Art Club exhibition Beer Garden & Pork Sandwiches, Main Street Sportsmen’s Shed Inflatable Kid Games next to Spruce Valley Community Center Music on the Street by Northern Jazz FESTIVAL PARADE, for information call Tishara @ 222-3928 or text 689-4076.

Lineup starts at 10:30 behind the Legacy Center – judging 11:30-12:00.

Antique Car, Tractor & Pickup Show, Memorial Park (next to water tower) Register at show. Awards @ 3:30 Face Painting by Ashley Visit the Nasa Space Ball! Try a spinning ride!

Music by “Cathy Erickson @ American Legion Ping Pong Plop - Main Street - Kids ages 2-10 Music by Justine Johnson Main Street 2-person Cornhole Tournament - Preregistration is required.

Call Robert @ 218-469-0072 Signup by 2:00 @ The Silver Bullet Kiddie Quarter Scramble @ sand volleyball pit Meet the MRHS Reunion Classes of 1961 and 2001 Music by Boe Beito BAJA RACING at Legacy Center Goose Drop (Buy a square and hope the Goose “drops” on your square!)

BINGO @ American Legion Goose Cookoff, Main Street Picnic Shelter, Merchant Buck & Trophy prizes.

Call 222-3767 for questions or to register Goose Calling Contest, Main Street Stage, sponsored by Cabela’s “The Outsider” by Paul Slade Smith at Ye Olde Depot Theatre (advance tickets @ Young’s Store) Teen dance @ Legacy Center for grades 7-12 - music by Kickin’ Entertainment, Kenny Lubarski. $12 admission - doors close at 9 “Eagle Creek” @ The Wheel “Tami Lee & the Northern Lights” @ American Legion

September 26 10:00 a.m.

8 am-11 am 8:30 am

11:30 am 1 pm 1:00 pm 1 pm

FUN RUN Contact Terri Peterson @ 218-689-4601 or tpeterson@mccfreeze org Pancake Breakfast @ American Legion, served by Middle River Youth Group North Country Horsemen Saddle Club Game Show @ Ornquist Arena 7:30 a.m. Registration Opens; 8:30 a.m. Lead-line & Small Fry Age Divisions immediately followed by the National Anthem and remaining Age Divisions Contact Shirley Horien 218-686-4163 or go to www.northcountryhorsemen.com for a complete showbill Community Church Service ~ featuring Aaron Michael Weil, Contemporary Christian Music with a touch of bluegrass - Community Club stage.

(First Lutheran if inclement weather.)

LAH Bingo - Register with Music entertainment from 1:00-2:00. Bingo begins at 2:00.

Raffle drawings Co-ed Sand Volleyball Tournament at the Sand Pits - Ages 18 and older.

To register your team or for more information, Call Dakota at 689-3306 Daryl Jarshaw Memorial Tractor Pull, Farmer’s Coop Grain & Seed Elevator (Free admission with Goose Fest button)

GOOSE COOKOFF Saturday, 5:00 @ Main Street Picnic Shelter

•Tables, electrical outlets provided Just bring your favorite Goose Dish to share with the public for tasting •Public tasting to vote for winners CASH & TROPHY PRIZES

Miss North Star Pageant Sunday, September 12 ~ 2 pm

Middle River Community Theatre presents “The Outsider” by Paul Slade Smith

Tuesday, Sept. 21 - Saturday, Sept. 25 @ 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 26 @ 4 p.m.

Advance tickets at Young’s General Store 222-3513

Get your ticket now! if you think the past elections have been hilarious, just wait till you see “the outsider!”

FUN RUN Legacy Center Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Contact Terri Peterson @ 218-689-4601 or tpeterson@mccfreeze.org

FESTIVAL PARADE Saturday • 12:30 p.m.

Any and all entries welcome! Lineup begins at 10:30 a.m. behind the Legacy Center.

Judging from 11:30-12:00 for trophy prizes.

Information @ Tishara Melcher 222-3928 or text 689-4076.

Trophy division prizes & $200 M.R. merchant bucks for overall winner ***Featuring Grand Marshal FRANK NESBIT CEO, ILS Railroad GOOSE DROP!!

Buy a chance on the luck of the “drop”! Which number will the goose pick? Squares for 2 separate boards available at Middle River C-Store or at the event if there are chances left. $10 a square Two separate board droppings:

**Friday following the Opening Ceremony or **Saturday @ 5 pm

win up to $500!!

FESTIVAL FEATURE:

BAJA RACES Saturday 4 p.m.

Get on track & head to the Goose Fest!