Vivid Memories of Waterfowling

[ilovesprig]

I love the history of wildfowling in the U.S and read about it as much as possible. Most accounts are of the great memories that the writers have of their favorite gun, dog, friends, or epic hunts........In my 45 years of waterfowl hunting (with decoys), I've had many vivid memories as the writers have had.......

My 1st trip to Canada is one of those memories........ I had met a kid that was my daughters teacher here in Escondido. He told me he had family in Canada. So that started the wheels turning. After contacting them in July, I asked my good friend Dr. Jack, if he was interested in going. He was, so we planned on leaving on 9-13-01. Well, we all know what happened on 9-11-01. Our flight was postponed for about a week, but we were off to the "Duck Factory".

This was pretty much as freelance as you could get with the exception of talking to this family a couple of times. In our luggage we had 2 dozen smashed Feather Flex honker shells, 6 Feather Flex full bodies, and a spinner. Plus our 2 guns, 4 boxes of shells each, and a little camo....We landed in Edmonton and found the 1st Wal-Mart after we got our rental car. Back then, your wildlife certificate was about $20.00, duck stamp, $12.00, and your game bird license, $75.00.....The best part was the Canada dollar was only .63 on the American dollar......

After driving about 50 miles, we're in the city of Camrose. The whole way we're seeing ponds with waterfowl. We then drive south to my friends uncles farm house. They literally take us in like were family...... After dinner, we drive out to some barley field (it was dark) and they tell there were a "bunch" of ducks working this field......With great anticipation and little sleep, we get up in the morning and try to remember where the hell we were the night before. Well, we weren't exactly where we were shown, but damn close. Not having layouts blinds, we just piled up barley swaths, covered ourselves with some, and laid on our backs. Our handful of decoys were placed pretty much right around us. When daybreak came, the air started coming alive with mallards.....And I mean 100's and 100's of mallards, feet over our head, and landing all around us......This scenario is still vivid in my mind. Jack and I still talk about it.......Oh, Canada indeed!..... A morning I'll never forget...... ;D

Let's here about and see some of your most memorable hunts............ 8)

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[nicapopolis]

Pretty cool Steve. I have had some memorable times... I will have to post them another time when I'm not putting a baby to bed.

 

[Lungpopper]

Nice write up Steve. Never had the opportunity to do any traditional duck hunting. Have jump shoot a few.
Funny you wrote about Dr. Jack. I recently did some work for him at his business in El Cajon.

 

[ilovesprig]

Small world Darryl......Met Jack about 20 years ago.....I'll have to fine some old pix of him..... ;D

 

[SluiceCoot]

My most fond memories are upland hunting with my dad. We've been upland hunting together every year since I was 13 (this year will mark my 20th consecutive year of hunting the dove opener with my pops). Quail are our bread and butter! My dad never was never really into waterfowl hunting. He never wanted to wake up super early and freeze his ass off standing in water all day. Can't say I blame him. Waterfowling should be classified as a mental illness. 4 years or so ago one of my co-workers invited me on my first duck hunt out at Kern. I was hooked! So my waterfowling memories don't go back that long but my fondest memory was from last year. My dad, his hunting partner, Tom, and I went on a goose hunt in Sacramento. We stayed at Granzellas and had a wonderful time together. After the hunt my dad was stoked. We are all booked for this year and it looks like this might become a yearly thing. Nothing better than hunting with your pops!

 

[ilovesprig]

That's great SC..........All my memories of hunting with my dad are of upland and deer hunting as well. Although, I was with him jump shooting the Owens River Gorge below Lake Crowley, when I got my very 1st duck (greenhead).

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