Fall Duck Hunting 2015

The past duck hunting season was one of the best ones I can remember. It wasn't the amount ducks we shot which made it good, personally that doesn't matter, but the number of times we were able to get out. As far as hunting goes, it is top of the list for me personally. We are fortunate to be an a location we can go out if the conditions are good and if we only have 45min to a hour, typically the best time to hunt anyways.  If the kids miss first hour, we can call and say they were hunting and be excused instead of making up an excuse!  Also, the weather this fall has made it very nice to be out. Maybe too nice for duck hunting but the days the wind was right, a northwest flow, cloudy and some weather (rain or even a little bit of snow), it was pretty good. The favorite part I like is paddling out in the dark, setting up in the blind and watching the sun rise over the horizon. We had many different combinations this fall of hunters, from friends to family and was good to see all four boys get out at some point. 

 

The first morning I got out was the coldest to start out fall. The moon was setting to the right as the sun was rising to the east. Usually the winter months when I am grooming I enjoying this nature occurrence. 

 

Fog rising from the lake from the cool morning. The temp actually dropped, which is typical, as the sun cracked the horizon.

 

Paddling along.

Heading back in through the fog.

 

The low areas were free of frost when we left but the trademark dip at dawn with clear skies set a coating of frost on the low lying areas.

Camo coverage.

Taking a photo of ducks inside the kitchen breaks code but these pair of wood ducks were unique. Jens and his friend Reed with a pair of woodies from the morning hunt.

 

One of them had a band. Ever time we are out, my dad asks if there were every any banded birds. He was pretty excited and even more so after he logged in the number online.

When I was Jens age, if we shot a banded bird, we would mail in the band. Now you go online and record the number than they send you a pdf to print off. All good. Pretty interesting the duck was banded in Hampshire County, Mass. Probably migrated south for the winter, hooked up with some Midwest birds and decided to go back north with them. 

The boys like to eat duck. Myself included. We immediately clean the ducks when we return and freeze them. Usually we save a few for consumption for lunch or that evening. 

I've got a few different ways to cook them, this time just a simple pan fry with some seasonings for a quick lunch.

 

Nice variety one morning during MEA. Jens and his friends got out every morning except once. 

 

Drew and Jens with a ruffed grouse after duck hunting earlier.

My good friend Bruce Adelsman came up for a few days to duck hunt for the firs time. We went out two mornings. The weather wasn't the best, wrong wind and timing but nice to take him out.

Wind in the face not good for birds.

View from the lake towards the blind.

Lunch time! Your duck is ready boys!

Probably the highlight of the season was the night Jon, Jens and family friend Drew and I went out the night before to camp out in the open under the stars. We couldn't of had a better night.  The paddle out was slow as we were in no rush to get to the blind. We stopped multiple times taking in the still night, observing the incredibly bright stars above and the glow from the city lights of Fargo Moorhead to the west.

After we set up, we got a nice fire going for a evening snack and lively conversation.

Tucked inside the sleeping bags as the day was ready to break.

The day would turn out to be too nice again for duck hunting but a exploration on the island where  plans remain for a future outpost cabin to spend the night before and to ski out to in the winter.

Morning fire and coffee.

Morning harvest.

Included in were two beautiful red heads. One of the neat things about duck hunting is the variety of waterfowl species.





Whatever color meat you want to call it, doesn't get much better.

Paddling back in.

Another great morning.

Paddling back in after the morning hunt with Ryan and Ripley.

Back at the landing with Uncle Ryan and Ripley.

Jens and Drew after a wet morning but great duck hunting weather.

Jake has been super busy his final year of college, being a student, working and captain of the Nordic ski team. Got home one weekend to get out bagged a few nice ones.

Jens got his first deer the morning of deer hunting opener. Few hours later, he was in the duck blind.

Jens with the last duck shot for the year. We were set to head in for a hockey game but he noticed some ducks on the lake managed to shoot one. Went out in the kayak to get it and got a little wet in the process requiring a change in the dress clothes.




What a great season!