Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2018 - Equipment Annual Rel #1 i Wildfowl

THE STORM STRUCK the shallow bay and suddenly I was Forrest Gump, out on a shrimp boat fighting the waves, clinging to the gunwales and feeling very much alive as saltwater splashed up from below and freshwater fell from the sky in torrents. Ryan Lambert of Cajun Fishing Adventures, a major waterfowl outfitter out of Venice, Louisiana, had hauled me aboard his big johnboat to go out and seine for shrimp. The richness of the delta was on full display as we soon sorted through pounds of the tail-snapping creatures and crabs scurrying on the decks in the warm, driving wind and rain. These waters have been good to the weathered outdoorsman, who has run trips here since the 1980s. He has made a fine living guiding sportsmen, and so…

WE WANT YOUR INFORMATION Please send band report information including Band Number, Species, Sex, Banding Date, Banding Location, Recovery Date, Recovery Location, Hunter Name and Address and Comments, or photocopies of your band certificates for banded waterfowl taken during the 2015-16 season to: Bob Humphrey (bob@bobhumphrey.com) or Wildfowl Magazine, 727 Poland Range Rd. Pownal, Maine 04069. Wildfowl will attempt to publish as many band reports as possible. Please be sure to submit your own name and band information to the USGS.…

RUNNING DOWN THE Atlantic seaboard into South Carolina you hit what is known as "The Low Country," which includes the Sea Islands, once known for its wealth of rice and indigo that flourished in the hot subtropical climate. It still weathers hurricanes and high tides on the full moon. But at one time, it hosted enormous rafts of ducks. The sports in this image were hunting near Georgetown sometime after 1912. The gunner on the left is cradling a Winchester Model 12, which was introduced that year. Double guns, like the other hunter is holding, stayed in vogue until World War II, when production switched to the war effort. Returning servicemen and women had gotten used to the likes of the M1 Garand and looked to semi-autos and pumps for…

A BITING COLD WIND WHIPS across the Susquehanna Flats as I slip over the side of the boat into frigid belly-deep water. Despite uncountable layers of longjohns, I am not warm...or comfortable. The single-piece, head-to-toe, vinyl-ish rubber suit I am wearing allows me to stand shoulder-deep in water without getting wet, but the rubber cuffs are tight around my wrists. An attached hood squeezes the outline of my face like an oversized rubber band. Charles Jobes, a second-generation decoy carver from Havre de Grace, Maryland, instructs five of us to take a position behind a “stick-up,” an oversized Canada goose silhouette mounted on a metal pole. Each has a small wooden box mounted on the back for shotshells, my camera and a bottle of mostly-frozen water. Notches cut into the…

MY BOOTS SLOSHED AS I SHUF fled through the calf-high water trying not to trip on a tree root locally called a limberjack. Snow from the night before clung to the trees, giving the bottomland woods a Norman Rockwell touch. Already, ringing high balls could be heard all around us as we finally reached our duck hole in the vast Bayou Meto WMA near Stuttgart. We were late and as luck would have it the hole my host hoped to score about 150 yards away got most of the shooting. We vied for passing flocks all morning, but they wanted to be over there, and that’s all there was too it. From the cacophony surrounding us, it was not hard to understand what calling means to hunting wildfowl. After all,…

THE PAYOFF: THE MOMENT WHERE all the planning, scouting, and daydreaming comes together in the form of back-flapping wings at 15 yards. But a slam-dunk fly-swat can turn into scratch-em-at-60 yards with a poor hide. But that is on YOU. Today’s blinds are ultra-portable, comfortable, and so well thought out there is no excuse not to be concealed. No matter the conditions, there’s a blind for every situation...and some perfect accessories to go with them. ■ DAKOTA X BLIND An accordion-style frame sets up in less than a minute, and the X Blind can be moved with ease when the wind invariably changes. The Velcro top eliminates black holes, plus it traps heat on bitter cold mornings. A dog entrance allows for hassle-free retriever work and a mesh viewing window…

WITHOUT THE DOGS, duck hunting isn’t really duck hunting. That said, having a retriever along means you have to have the right stuff to help him do his job, keep him safe, and keep him going. There are plenty of necessities for early mornings in the boat or blind, but also for backyard training sessions that keep your pup sharp—even when the fall flights are months away. TANGLEFREE DEAD BIRD Retrievers run through bumpers faster than frat boys busting up a high-school kegger, but the Dead Bird’s are durable and last longer. They come in 2” or 3” models in orange, white, or black and white flasher. $10-$13 | TANGLEFREE.COM DOKKEN’S DEADFOWL Designed to encourage proper pick up and hold, the DeadFowl also discourages dogs who shake the…

YOU KNOW THE OLD FELLA AT duck camp who is a legend in his own mind? The one with stories of his champion dog, never misses a duck, and how he shot a limit of greenheads on Armistice Day...in a sweatshirt? In a few years, when its our turn to tell the lies, we’re going to have to get a bit more creative, because the clothing we wear is warmer, drier, and better-fitting than our father’s waxed cotton. It’s hardly a feat of courage anymore to spend a January day leaned against a tree in waders…. actually it’s pretty darn comfortable, and here is why. ■ GORE OPTIFADE MARSH Marsh was scientifically created to add depth of field and confuse the vision of some of the sharpest eyes in nature…

NEBRASKA'S SCOTT FESMIRE was having an exceptional season with his new golden retriever, Andie. “She was just under a year old, and making great strides,” said Fesmire. “Conditions were getting right, so I figured things would pick up and we’d have our best hunting over the next few days.” They went to a favorite spot where Fesmire put out a spread of 100 or so snow goose socks. As birds began searching for an evening roost, Scott and Andie shot a pair of wart-faced Ross’ and six adult snows. Satisfied, and knowing the chore ahead of picking up decoys, Fesmire stood to exit the blind when he heard the barking of snows. “As the birds came in, I picked out a nice blue (goose) that hit the water with authority,”…

This teaches the dog that every thrown dummy, and later on, every shot bird, is not for him to retrieve. TWO OF THE most important attributes of a started or finished dog are steadiness to flush, shot and fall and complete quietness in the duck blind. There is nothing more annoying during a hunt than a dog that whines or barks when birds are working, and breaks on the sound of gunfire. These undesirable qualities are normally the result of the trainer not spending ample time with the dog during the initial steadiness phase of training, combined with the owner/ handler not taking the time to properly transition the dog from training to hunting scenarios. Understand that steadiness is not achieved by a few quick lessons with the dog at…

IT’S NOT EVERY DAY FLIPPER helps you test out a fancy new shooting iron. But it’s not every day you watch a Sea World performance from the duck blind, either, Josh Ward was peering from his hide in the marsh grass, watching dolphins splash and feed in the shallow waters off the Sea of Cortez during a slow morning duck hunt, when a boisterous pod of bottlenose worked over toward a resting flock, disturbing them. The birds took flight toward the other shoreline. Big mistake. Raising his Benelli Ethos 20-gauge, Josh rolled three drakes in three shots, sending dead ducks skipping across the water. He became one of few men on earth to shoot a clean triple on drake wigeon and likely the sole hunter on earth to do it…

A WISE GOOSE HUNTER ONCE SAID, “decoys are only a persuasive tool, there is no substitute for being where they want to be.” Even big spreads built into the thousands can only persuade a duck or a goose to go so far off a flight line. But you do need decoys to kill birds, and with the help of top manufactures, hunters are finishing pressured fowl with smaller spreads and building giant rigs full of motion and realism. With a little luck, it will put more birds on the pile and more smiles on our faces. ■ AVIAN-X TOPFLIGHT MALLARDS Break out the big bag—Avian-X has added oversized mallards and black ducks that are 30 percent larger for better visibility. Models come in either foam-filled or standard packs, and feature…

IF YOU WANT TO HUNT DUCKS WHERE THEY LIVE, you’re going to need a boat to get to them—bottom line. Whether you are in the market for a new boat or you are ready to take the plunge and buy your first, there are countless options: big, beefy, sea-worthy sleds that take you beyond the surf, nimble johnboats that run through timber and one-man skiffs perfect for quiet beaver ponds and backwaters. No matter how you like to hunt, there is something just for you. GO-DEVIL HUNT DECK Built with seamless 1/8” aluminum, the Hunt Deck is available with a bench or split seat. It offers a multitude of options, plus lots of standard features, like a grab bar, front and rear navigation lights, push pole and a roomy front…

TODAY’S GAS- AND INERTIA-OPERATED semi-autos give you three quick shots when the sky turns black with greenheads. Gas guns shoot softer, but need more cleaning. Inertia guns run cleaner and have fewer parts. Pumps always get the job done. All guns now come standard with vent ribs and an assortment of screw-in chokes, so you can fit the pattern to the situation, from mallards in the timber to fickle snows on the fringe. Any of these bang-sticks will make a fine addition to your duck blind this fall. BENELLI SUPER BLACK EAGLE 3 Tested all over North America, this spiffed-up third-generation semi-auto—now available in lefty—has a big loading port to throw in a shell when things heat up. The large bolt release is hard to miss and loading the magazine…

DECOYS, GUNS, BOATS, AND CALLS are the glam gear and important to a hunt, but the accessories meld them all together. From duck straps to sophisticated hearing protection, these are the items that are often overlooked, but can save your ass when it matters most. If you are looking for the best marsh tools for the fall, look no further. This year’s guide will help deliver you to the blind in style and has all the new gadgets to keep you comfortable once you get there. ■ YAMAHA VIKING EPS Burn a line down the levee in this three-seater 4x4. A 686cc liquid-cooled SOHC 4-sroke engine and Ultramatic V-belt transmission drives the Viking, which is equipped with On-Command 4WD, a 600-lb capacity rear cargo bed, and steel skid plates to…

IS THERE A better time to be a duck hunter? You wouldn’t think so. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey, the total number of breeding ducks in the U.S. and Canada has been above the long-term average of 40 million birds for a decade now. In recent years, those numbers have been at record or near-record highs. All is not well in duck country, though. It may be a great time to be a waterfowler, but it isn’t such a great time to be a duck. Threats to vital nesting habitat and crucial wintering grounds continue to mount. Drought, wide-scale erosion, impacts from farming and the demand for more natural resources are placing a major burden on waterfowl habitat everywhere. The good news is that groups like Delta…

BEFORE SHOOTING LIGHT, a flock of Canada geese landed, honking at the edge of the Shawn Groene's GHG decoys. Minutes later, a flock of mallards arrived at legal time, and the group of public-land hunters knocked down four greenheads. “It happened so fast, but it was a great test for my blind,” Groene said. “Hunting is tough on our public waters. Fooling any geese or ducks at all makes a morning memorable. “ A 31-year-old delivery driver from St. Louis, Groene hunts Ted Shanks and Fountain Grove conservation areas, plus the Salt, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. “I built my boat blind because we used to have permanent structure blinds, but ice and floods kept wiping them out,” he said. “You had to build a blind at a site marked by…

MATERIALS, DESIGNS AND THE FUNCTIONALITY of calls have improved tremendously over the years, and callmakers today are churning out some of the best, most realistic calls we’ve ever seen. But that doesn’t mean the classics are in the dust. Some of them can still make piles. It has been incredible to see the wide range of calls that have come to fruition, and the number of folks out there making singles, doubles and short-reeds—seems every duck hunter wants to try their hand at call-making. But these are the best of the best. ■ SURE-SHOT YENTZEN ONE2 Louder and more durable, the ONE2 is a redesigned version of the ONE with a new reed system that’s fast and responsive. The ingenious screw-lock system minimizes air loss, plus the call is nearly…

TODAY’S LONG-TAILS, SURFACE-DRIVES AND OUTBOARDS have more features than ever and are more powerful and reliable. You can’t say that about the old motor on the transom of your boat, can you? It may get you to your favorite duck hole this season, but will it get you home? If you’re not sure, it’s time to start shopping, and we have you covered whether you hunt big-water divers or love those muddy swamps for early teal and wood ducks. YAMAHA OUTBOARDS PORTABLE Strong and light, you can move this outboard from your boat to the truck bed, no problem. Available in 15-, 20- and 25-hp, these four-strokes are reliable, quiet and powerful. The freshwater flush device flushes the engine without running it. $3,875 | YAMAHAOUTBOARDS.COM MUD BUDDY 40EFI…

THIS YEAR’S AMMO AND CHOKE MANTRA? What goes around comes around...again. Punishing loads made of tungsten and bismuth are back in a big way, and at economical prices—so now you don’t have to skimp on ammo performance. To go along with the heavy-hitting loads, choke tube designers are turning to near rocket science technology to ensure these shotshells deliver optimal patterns, and that we kill more mallards—with one shot, of course. ■ HEVI-SHOT HEVI-X A tungsten-based load, Hevi-X allows you to shoot smaller pellet sizes with the killing power of larger shot, resulting in higher pellet counts and denser patterns—with more energy than lead! Try 6s on greenheads; you won’t regret it. Available in 12- and 20-gauge in BBs, 2-, 4- and 6-shot. $32-$42 | HEVISHOT.COM ■ RIO…

THE ULTIMATE PRIZE FOR WATERFOWLERS is a piece of land they can call their own, a private oasis where you call the shots. And if you are looking to build the best waterfowl complex on the river, these are some of the necessary tools to utilize. Whether renovating an existing property or planning to purchase an established honey hole, it takes a considerable investment of money and time, and you can benefit from the expert advice of the following companies. ■ GRAFF HABITAT PROPERTIES Jody Graff is a real-estate agent who also happens to be a wildlife and habitat specialist and land consultant, making him a go-to resource in Missouri’s famous Golden Triangle. Graff provides full support to landowners (or potential landowners) who share his passion for ducks, helping other…