August 19, 2022 Limiting out on Small Water: How to Duck Hunt Secondary Creeks By: Justin Hunold When I started duck hunting I always had pictures of standing timber, flooded food fields and prairie potholes in my mind’s eye. The locations I ended up taking a lot of my ducks from looked nothing like these “dream” spots. I ended up shooting a majority of all of my waterfowl from a small, untapped and often duck choked feature, Secondary Creeks. Let’s look at how you can build a system for secondary creeks that can get you into ducks no one else is pursuing. Look at google maps of any big river. As you look at the layout of this river a few apparent areas will hit you in the face. You’ll see a good point, island, broken shoreline, or maybe a flat in the back of a cove. It hit you and everyone else in the face. Now , from that same view take a look and see if you can find some small creeks that spurt off the main river. These are secondary creeks and these are your mission. Scouting From my canoe I slipped under a small culvert bridge and into the creek that fed from the river to a gigantic swamp a few miles away. While I know the birds on the river get shot up and the swamp gets a lot of pressure the creek that runs between the two is tough to get into and takes some forethought. This quick detour during a smallmouth fishing trip showed me quickly where all the ducks would end up when the shooting starts. This creek was choked with ducks, geese, natural food and had cover up both sides in the form of trees. Best case scenario is you get to scout these areas by water or foot, worst case you escout them. What I like to look for is a simple pool or bend in the creek, outside bends will have fast water so for my money I prefer an inside bend with its slower current. If you can find a point or oxbow even better but remember we are working on a micro habitat so they won’t be hugely apparent. These areas will likely hold natural food for puddlers. If you have to go in completely blind, use these as a good bet for a set up. If you get to scout ahead of time, this is where I would start and expect to see ducks. Gear Paddling my canoe under the culvert before daylight I was careful not to make too much paddling noise. My headlamp shined off of the dozen decoys , spinner and shotgun case I had with me. If this spot held ducks like it had in the late summer I wouldn’t have to worry about a huge set up. This style of hunting is a game for a minimalist set up. These are small spots, the draw is the isolation, cover, food, and lack of pressure. Pack accordingly. A Canoe or Kayak are probably the best ways to access these small creeks. I like to carry a dozen high quality mallard decoys, although these can be tailored to your regions and species, one or two spinning wing decoys and maybe a quiver decoy of some sort. There will be natural movement imparted by the moving water, which is really awesome. I will carry a few Canada silhouettes from time to time depending on how the seasons crossover or overlap. I have put these to use even in this small area. This is a great scenario to try out a 20 gauge, with the generally tight shooting and decoying birds. I like a light gun with an fairly open choke. Small creeks mean close birds, and if you’re setting up in the right spot they will be lighting into your small spread. A 12 gauge will work by all means just keep in mind the shots will probably be right in your face. Choose your choke and your load accordingly. The basic waterfowl load out will work, blind bag, head lamp, clothing and waders. I really like carrying a marsh stool or dove stool. Normally building a brush blind is a pretty easy task in these locations. Their isolation leads to ample brush build up of all sorts Set Up Brushed into a small impromptu blind made of a few branches and some grass my watch let me know it was legal shooting, and not five minutes later I head the whistling wings bombing overhead and after one pass and a turn two Wood Ducks arched through the trees and tried to touch down. My gun went off and a beautiful Drake hit the water. This was the beginning but it would be repeated throughout this hunt with Mallards and Woodies both. Using natural barriers and cover is the way to go in these situations. I love making a nice easy blind by brushing in a deadfall if possible. Otherwise I will just tuck myself into whatever cover is available. From there I use a small scattered spread of decoys. I leave the J’s and U’s for the big water. I normally set the dekes out by hand but in smaller pairs or triples. I put the spinners on staked on the edge of the opposite bank. This simple spread has accounted for more puddle ducks than any other set up I have ever hunted them with. Small Water Big limits After stowing all of my gear I paddled out of the little stream just a few short hours later than I had entered, I was lighter on shells and heavier on Ducks. Having killed my one man limit that morning I chuckled as I loaded up within sight of a big river boat blind, knowing I hadn’t heard a shot from them all morning. For once I got it right and the slim and trim was where it was at. I have moved around the eastern seaboard, and when it comes to finding new waterfowl hunting this is my go to technique. You can walk into these spots a lot of the time, I always have a kayak or canoe, and when you don’t know anyone keeping it simple can make all the difference. These secondary creeks are my secret spot to kill limits of ducks when I feel like I don’t know what I am doing. Now it’s your secret too.
August 12, 2022 An Argument for Sub Gauges: Why you should hunt with a 20 By: T.J. Rademacher The venerable 12 gauge can do it all. It can be loaded in a 3 1/2-inch configuration and pack enough payload to knock down just about any small to medium sized game animal that walks or flies on this continent. Most 12-gauge auto loaders will reliably cycle all common light 2 ¾ trap and skeet loads available. Most folks feel this is enough. Is there really a good argument for sub gauges in 2022? I’ll admit when the sub gauge craze resurfaced recently in the waterfowl community I may have pictured a person behind a pair of horn rimmed glasses with a man bun, especially when I heard someone express their passion for shooting ducks over decoys with their 28 gauge. A 12 gauge makes things more dead and does a better job right? I mean what in the skinny jeans and mustache wax are these guys talking about? Well, turns out there actually are quite a few arguments for their use. I’m not a complete convert to the smallest of fowling pieces, but I do have to admit some of the merits make sense. I also use a 20 gauge quite regularly now. To be completely honest there really isn’t much that a twenty gauge gives up with the modern loads that a 12 gauge is going to offer a distinct advantage in for general purposes. Obviously pay loads are lighter but it’s to the point of splitting hairs for most applications one would likely encounter in the field. In a previous article I touched on shot shell technology. How we have gotten back to lead-like performance in some offerings for waterfowl loads. Most older traditional loads weren’t screaming fast before the introduction of steel. So with the options available now you have plenty of kinetic energy transfer to reliably kill birds at reasonable ranges. Also as I have previously stated in another article if your gun is patterned right it really may not matter what gauge you shoot. If you are being responsible with your shooting opportunities. Your choke and load selection matter just as much here as they do with your 12 gauge. I’ll also add that many serious hunters have found that the patterns from sub gauges are often more consistent than those of traditional 12 gauge loads. Many turkey hunters swear by the 20 gauge and its ability to maintain super tight patterns for those spring gobblers. 12 gauges weigh more and if you are out slogging through the marsh with a gun that isn’t as heavy as a more traditional gas operated model it makes a difference. A lot of upland guys use these lighter offerings for just this reason. There is an old saying that goes “ounces add up to pounds and pounds equal pain”. This is true. Hold about a 7 lb. weight in front of you and then a 6 lb. weight, notice the time difference you are able to keep it elevated. Fatigue is cumulative and after a long day in the field the lighter gun is going to be way easier on you. The lighter weights on well balanced sub gauges allow for very fast pointing for instinctive shooting. This makes them great for times when you are in thick cover and need to squeeze that quick snap shot off at a wood duck spiraling down through the trees. The recoil on a sub gauge is also lighter. This will allow for faster follow up shots when you weren’t quite on the mark the first time. Also for high volume shooting they will treat your shoulder much better. Guys with shoulder problems often find these firearms to be much more comfortable to shoot and less likely to aggravate injuries as badly due to the reduced recoil impulse. Smaller framed shooters such as women and kids are prime candidates for sub gauge shotguns. This is especially true when being introduced to shooting sports and hunting. It is important to ensure that the first experience is not intimidating and picking a tamer cartridge such as a .410 may be an easy way to start building confidence around firearms. Availability of ammo is really not much of a factor for all but the smallest bores. You can reliably find 20 and 28-gauge ammunition on shelves with good regularity. Obviously, this can vary due to the supply chain situations that have been encountered recently but, it is safe to say you can find it even if it’s not exactly cheap at the moment. Sub gauges are a great way to expand your experience in both realms of shooting sports and hunting. You can do it all and with less recoil. Components have come a long way and the gap on performance has closed up enough to where you really should consider sub gauges as an option for your next adventure. They fill niches in your hunting styles you really never knew you needed until you take one for a walk. This is coming from someone who first thought you needed a 3.5 inch 12-gauge load to shoot wood ducks and mallards when I was first starting out as a young water fowler. As I gained more knowledge I went to 3 inch 12 gauge loads and finally after some encouragement from friends and proof in the industry I firmly believe there isn’t a reason not to own a couple of sub gauge guns. You don’t have to but you should if you can afford to do so. It just makes it that much more pleasant. Be kind and encouraging to new hunters and shooters. Take kids and inexperienced people. This pastime can be very intimidating to people who are interested. Be open. Be accommodating. We need new blood to keep our awesome traditions as sportsmen and women alive T
August 5, 2022 A Waterfowlers Preseason Checklist By T.J. Rademacher We are now basically a month out from being able to get after them again fellas. In my home state of North Carolina, we are allowed to start hunting resident geese on September 1st. It’s a great way to shake off the dust and get back after it. The key to having the best possible experience in any waterfowl hunting scenario is being prepared for as much as you can be. It’s like laying down a really good paint job. The key to success is all in the prep work. Here are some things you probably should have already done if you are a month away from getting back into the grind. If you are a field hunter, you should already know where the hot fields are going to be. Local farmers rotate crops yearly, so you should be riding around looking for fields that will probably hold birds when it’s time to start cutting. This is a good strategy for both geese and ducks. If you have been in an area for a while you will have picked up on roosts and heavily trafficked fields in these areas. These are high percentage options for good hunts throughout the season. I Try to do this early. If I can catch a farmer out without totally holding him up from something important I’ll try to introduce myself or if we know each other make sure to get permission on his land again. If you’ve treated his land with respect in the past you will likely have your spot held for this season. If you hunt over water or moist soil units both public and private, you should already have been out looking for the places where the food is going to be. You should be knowledgeable on what ducks actually eat naturally in wetland areas or areas that flood seasonally. So, when you break into a clearing and find it choked with smart weed you can put a mark on your GPS. This is going to be a place to be looking at when the birds get here. Again, you should already have permission knocked out on private land. If you haven’t done this, you are behind and you need to go and do this to salvage what’s left. Being proactive rather than reactive is key so you can broaden your options this season. If you hunt out of established blind sites you should have already made sure they’re still there and if they are in hunt-able condition. Go ahead and remove overgrowth to create holes for birds to land in. You’ll be way ahead of the game when it’s time to be in there enjoying your time afield. Also clear this with a landowner to make sure it’s okay. Verify that this is legal on the piece of public land you are planning to hunt. Do not just assume if your name is not on the deed. You should be scouting boat lanes and channels to make sure there isn’t going to be something that blocks your access. Again be prepared. You should be washing decoys now if you didn’t do this before you put them up last season. Go through every one of them and make sure they are clean and any small repairs are made before they need to be in the water. All of the weights, stakes and other required items for functioning decoys should be inspected and any necessary repairs on rigging need to be made now. You should not be running to Walmart for stuff at 10:00 pm when you need to be up at 3:30 the next morning. Check batteries on your motion decoys because the lithium ion batteries may not hold a charge if you do not periodically charge them during the off season. Believe me I learned this the hard way. There is still enough time to get new ones and install them. Check your remotes on the spinners and ensure they function properly. Everything should be bagged and read to go. I label bags so all I have to do is grab and load things as I need them. It saves time and frustration when it’s late and you are trying to get ready for the next day’s hunt. Your outboard or surface drive should have been running all summer while you were catching fish but if it has sat around for a while make sure the plugs are new and the carbs are cleaned and ready to go. You don’t want to be rebuilding carbs the night before a hunt or waiting on parts when the birds get her and it is time to be on the water. You should already have a few spare parts for items that routinely need to be replaced. I’ve learned this the hard way as my current outboard has aged. You should be constantly inspecting and doing proper maintenance on your motors, boats, ATV/UTVs, and hunting wagons because they’ll take care of you if you look after them. Stop using ethanol gas in small engines, it’s not worth it even if you’re a college kid one budget. It destroys fuel lines and will clog jets on carburetors. Your blind bag should have that 5-month old granola bar stash cleaned out and restocked. You should already have a Ziploc bag of toilet paper ready to go. For further information, refer to my article about blind bags earlier this year. It will get you squared away in a hurry. Layouts and frames should be prepped and function checked. Get that first layer on the blinds so all you have to do is blend them the morning before. Your hedge trimmer should be ready to go for grassing blinds now and all your brush cutting items should be located and in your truck box so you aren’t digging though the bottom of a trailer for them when it’s time to use them. Check your gear. Make sure it’s still in good shape. If you have a pair of waders make sure you function test them before opening day so you can repair them or get a new pair. Make sure you have some wader patch kits available. If you can afford it, have a backup pair if waders. This is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. It’s a huge save when you find that briar patch or forgot about that barbed wire fence. Long story short you should have never stopped working on stuff after the season ended. If you are under the gun it’s time to prioritize and get stuff taken care of so you aren’t chasing your tail for the next month. The off season is just another season for you to be keeping the excitement alive. Also you should have been shooting your shotgun during the summer so you are ready to take advantage of your opportunities when they present themselves. Don’t be shaking the dust off with that first group of birds. It’s time to get after it boys and girls. Here’s to another successful season!
July 29, 2022 A Moment By: Amber Casey Leaves rustle to the right as the last few minutes of shooting light approach. I roll my eyes, knowing it’s too dark to see what just came into shooting range with the naked eye. The .450 rests quietly against the pine tree. I reach across for it, making every noise possible – the rubber sling getting caught on a twig and lifting up every pine needle and leaf surrounding it, the fabric of my jacket scraping against the bark as I turn, and resting the gun a little too hard on my knee after raising it up. I find the dark blob in my scope, and the deer is facing me around 80 yards, ears up and very alert. After four hours of sitting, you’d think seeing that deer would be the highlight of the hunt. That is far from the truth. For a moment, my eyes only see rolling hills covered with towering pine trees that give a beautiful contrast against the bluebird sky. They only see the sun peeking through the boughs that periodically hit the tree trunks making it look like the soft glow of a fire. They only see a distant branch that looks like a whitetail buck causing my heart rate to spike. What they don’t see is the glow of a computer screen or television. They don’t see a highway filled with tail lights heading to the hustle and bustle of the city. They don’t see people that have been taught to panic and live in fear. For a moment, my nose only smells fresh dirt from pulling away the bed of pine needles and leaves for a quiet spot to sit. It only smells the inside of my fleece buff that hasn’t been washed all hunting season. It only smells the damp oak leaves packed on the forest floor and that distinct aroma of a wood stove that comes from nearby dwellings burning wood to heat their barns or homes. It doesn’t smell the exhaust fumes on busy city streets. It doesn’t smell the musty office building. It doesn’t smell food cooking in the kitchen at 5:30 PM – reminding me of the monotony of everyday life. For a moment, my ears hear that annoying rustle of leaves that can only be made by a fox squirrel, tricking you into thinking it’s the biggest buck of your life walking into your shooting lane. They hear a doe bleat can that sounds like a dying goat being put to use by another hunter a couple ridges over – maybe he’s here for the same reason as me though. Instead of getting frustrated, I smile. They hear the deafening silence of the evening as the sun sets and the breeze dies down to nothing. They don’t hear the radio playing in the kitchen/office for eight hours and fingers typing on a keyboard. They don’t hear the chatter of people in the grocery store or the news stories that make me cringe. For a moment, I feel at peace. I feel my head rest on my pack for a quick minute as the sun kisses my face before prime time hits. I feel my toes going numb even with 2,000 grams of insulation as Raynaud’s disease takes effect. Even though I can feel the chill of the evening come through my clothes, I feel my body relax. I feel the thermals start to drop as the sun descends. I feel my nose being turned on like a faucet, dripping into the fleece buff that needs a good washing. What I don’t feel for a moment is anxiety. I don’t feel trapped. I don’t feel overwhelmed. I don’t feel the buzzing of a cell phone because, thankfully, there’s no service out here. I don’t feel like I’m only existing. For a moment, my mind slows down. It stops overanalyzing every situation. It stops worrying and wondering. It stops reflecting on the good, the bad and the ugly throughout my life. It focuses on what’s in front of me right now – what I can see, smell, hear and feel. For a moment, I’m in the moment. I let down my gun as it gets too dark to see, even through the scope. The deer nervously walks away, then I hear bounding. I can only assume that damn white flag is up too. I pack up and wait, giving the other hunter time to do one last scan at last light and enjoy the final moments of the evening – alone and without me intruding on their quiet walk back. My heart sinks as I make my way off the ridge, knowing my four hours of therapy is over. I savor the walk back to the truck. As I come out of the woods and make my way across a field, I stop and look back. The last light of the day in the western sky contrasts with the sparse clouds and treeline. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, enjoying one last moment.
July 22, 2022 Afternoon is for the Birds Turkey Hunting Tactics for the Afternoon By : Justin Hunold As you go to bed thinking about another early morning chasing Toms you begin to realize that between the grind of everyday life and waking up pre dawn on the days you can hunt that you’re wearing thin. So, skip the alarm and take advantage of the secret that can lead to responsive birds, fun and the chance to take one of those Tom’s you’ve been chasing home. Hunt the afternoon. Now, quick disclosure, hunting turkeys in the spring in some states is a morning only affair. It is illegal to hunt later than 12:00 pm. I will say I consider hunting in the afternoon anything after about 10:00 am. In the noon cutoff states that leaves you two hours to hard charge a bird. In states where you have the ability of hunting all day, afternoon hunting gives you a lot of opportunity. Why sleep in ? You may have heard that the best way to kill a Tom is to put them to bed the night before. By watching where the birds roost a hunter can sneak in tight to that tree the next morning. Setting up close to the roost is what everyone likes to do if possible. As the season goes on the tougher this becomes. Hunting pressure and the life cycle of turkeys can change where they roost as the season goes on. Also, when the toms fly down, that is the time they will most likely “Hen Up’ or find a receptive hen. This makes calling to them very tough. Patterning birds becomes tougher as the season goes on. Hens begin to nest, Toms travel more looking for hens and food. The food sources also change, and Turkeys are omnivores. For all of these reasons slipping around the woods later in the day can put the odds in your favor. When Should I get out there? At some point around mid morning Toms and Hens split up generally. This is why you want to be walking a ridge or river bottom or maybe even driving logging roads. Stop at points on the road or terrain that put you at the advantage for a set up. Use your turkey calls to try and strike up a gobble. As the season wears on the more likely a later hunt will be fruitful. As Hens are on the nests there are fewer and fewer opportunities for Toms to find love. It becomes a 2x multiplier in the afternoons late in the season. The Hens that aren’t on the nest might get some attention in the morning but just as in earlier in the season, that too shall pass. In some states, such as Pennsylvania, a hunter can’t hunt in the afternoons until after the second week. Let’s face it most birds are killed early in the season. So, the long beards that are around to talk turkey by the second and third week of the season have had their share of calls thrown at them, along with maybe some shot and arrows. Most of those calls and projectiles come in the morning, most of them in and around likely strut zones. As the days continue to grow longer, in more ways than one, you’ll likely find birds becoming more terrain based. I have found a lot of birds will congregate in and around water. Specifically, streams and rivers. There tends to be food, water and cover in a condensed zone around water. Ridges that might be getting a bit more choked with understory might be a close second as far as the later spring shift in habitation zones that you might find a bird. Tactics for a late alarm clock Don’t call unless you feel like you have a good set up within a few yards. Remember with the sun a bit higher you’re going to want to be in the shadows. The birds will really shine coming through the woods, and as much as I love seeing them steam in the early morning chill when they gobble, their iridessence is very prominent in the afternoon sun. When I am hunting later in the day I also tend to tote less gear. A lot of times my decoys stay in the vehicle. I also bring locator calls like the faithful crow call, owl hooter and peacock call. As, much as I keep them with me, in the afternoon, I rarely use them. I tend to lean on my actual turkey calls for locating birds. This is why the pre set up matters. Remember those shadows? Use them. You’ll likely be hunting in cover, actually in the woods. As far as turkey calls go, a box call is tough to beat for getting that response gobble. Box calls inherently cut the wind and tend to be a bit louder than other friction or mouth calls. Locating with a turkey call is a lot like locating with a locator call, it’s all in the reaction. Remember as the season gets older the birds do too, and they get wiser as well. These birds will be more likely to be quiet. They have been called to a lot. But in the warm spring sun setting up in a likely area and sitting in the warm sun can be a great way to pull the trigger on a bird. Some of the most successful turkey hunters I know have taken to a lot of sitting and less calling. This has to do as much with your attitude as the turkey’s. I leave my blind at home as well. These midday hunts aren’t the place for a black hoodie and hub blind. These hunts are the place for good boots and a bottle of water, put those miles on! Early in the morning I will spend less time calling from the woods trying to find a bird, I let my vehicle do a lot of that work. In the afternoon I might be stopping in the same areas but pushing much deeper before I call. Closers With all of that in mind, for a chance at a bird, you don’t have to be blurry eyed and burning your mouth on coffee that’s still too hot from just coming out of the pot. Wake up with the sun, make yourself a nice breakfast and maybe do some stretching. You may have gotten to sleep in a bit, but you’ll still be working to get a chance at a Turkey. The difference in the afternoon is that you might be the only one in the woods working to get that bird and you might have a more responsive partner in this spring dance.
July 15, 2022 Interloper- High Pressure Fishing in the LOC Derby By: Justin Hunold Over an IPA in his kitchen Craig said “You’ll meet Paul the Captain, Matt who lives fishing and has a ponytail and Brandon who is learning the game.” followed by, “I just fish with these guys here and there. They are Legit.” I will be an interloper in this game. I have to explain, for Craig to call someone a legit angler means they are as real deal as ibuprofen is to pain relief, leave that aspirin at home kids. Craig is a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain, Federal Border Patrol Agent on Lake Ontario and, oh yeah, he owns 315 Guide Services. Needless to say he knows what it takes to be a Great Lakes Waterman and the people that make his cut are on a very short list. In the late 1960’s the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began to stock west coast transplanted salmon into Lake Ontario. This effort was to reinvigorate the fishery. During the years of market fishing and hunting the native Atlantic Salmon had been all but extirpated from the smallest of the Great Lakes. Chinook (King) and Coho Salmon were introduced, they are bred in the Salmon River Fish Hatchery. The facility is located just a touch towards Santa’s house, up the latitudinal lines in the town of Altmar New York. There is a culture in upstate New York around these fish. These small towns north of Route 49 double, triple or even quintuple their populations during the salmon’s annual run up the local rivers to spawn. Pulaski and Oswego lead the way as far as name recognition goes, people come from around the world to invade and wade the rivers in those municipalities. Oswego County Holds ten world or state records for size of fish, both of these towns are in Oswego County. Mind you Pulaski High will graduate less than 100 seniors in any given year. Math is constant. You wouldn’t think of it as an outsider, the math that matters is the dollars and cents on the line this particular day. You see, Team No Dil’Emma (Paul, Matt and Brandon) were leading the Fair Haven Challenge Tournament and running lines trying to capture the $25,500 prize for the largest Salmon of 2020 in the Fall LOC Derby. That is line one of the math, but the subsequent lines add up to those prizes if they are quantified correctly and the fish cooperate. At 4:30 am we pulled into the parking lot of the docks. My Yeti had kept my coffee too hot to drink at this point. We walked ourselves and our gear down to the boat, Matt was already gassing the rig up. Matt is the glue of the team. Part of the math is how the members meld together, and in that department from my observation Matt is the JB Weld of the whole thing. After a few minutes Brandon and Paul showed up and they all began to prep. Introductions were quick and the BSing started, but the tension of the morning was palpable. Most people in my position are the people who pay for fishing charters, treated as Royalty for a few hours on the boat. I wasn’t there for that, I was there to see what a high end prize focused team did throughout the day, and down to the second to catch fish. The detail is amazing. My goal was to take it all in, take some pictures and stay the hell out of the way. I didn’t want to cost them any fish, tackle, time or money. The lines can’t hit the water until 6 am eastern time, and these are very strict rules. I had to enter the LOC derby just to ride along for fear of disqualification. We were under way and as the Twenty Eight foot vessel rounded the breakwall we went under full power. Matt was driving the boat, I was sitting across from him looking back on the organized chaos happening between the bounces of the waves under No Dil’Emma’s belly. Paul was rigging up Flashers, baits, and organizing all of the fishing gear. Paul is the leader of the team and this is obvious, he was talking to Craig and Brandon and explaining what bait on which rods and two nets for every fish. What rods to get ready, and where they would be located, making the back of the boat look like an arachnid with too many legs on one side. You see on a normal fishing day Paul would be driving, Matt would be rigging and making the every second decisions and Brandon would be executing those orders. This is the way of things. Craig would be the lowest man on the totem pole, he isn’t a crew member but he knows enough to lend a hand. Under these high stress payday possibilities Paul was making all the calls, rigging rods and taking charge of the back of the boat. Brandon was placing the rods on the racks of rod holders. We were in about 170 feet of water when the countdown started. Matt announced three minutes, the guys in the back still scrambling to take care of all of these rods that can sum up about five figures between rod, reel, line and actual fish catching tackle on the end. That is not to mention the Scotty electric down riggers, the eight to ten pound weights on those with a probe for the Fish Hawk trolling system attached just above the faceted fish shaped rigger weight. The probe alone is upwards of $300 retail, this system gives the actual depth of the baits attached to the down riggers along with trolling speed and temperature at the depth that the baits are at. Two minutes, the planer boards were attached to the outriggers and sent out port and starboard a few hundred feet from the boat. These are used to spread the baits out so that the actual trolling footprint of the boat is much wider than the width of the gunnels. They are also useful for having baits at multiple depths in the water column One minute, this is where plans are being stated out loud, Brandon has moved to the front of the boat, and inhabited the Captains seat at some point in the functional frantic moments. Matt is back snapping the lines into the down riggers, Paul is prepping more flasher/cutbait rigs, Craig is mirroring Matt’s efforts on the opposite side of the boat. “All good, 6 O’clock!” Brandon exclaims. The lines hit the water, the down rigger lines go down and out first, followed by the dipsy rods attached to the Planer Boards and then a rod loaded with 500 feet of copper line. All of these rods are at controlled and calculated depths. The math is astounding: the speed of the boat is controlled at the surface with the motors and Trolling Bags, which are essentially water filled parachutes on each side of the boat. That speed is displayed on the GPS on the console above the steering wheel, but that isn’t the speed of the baits which is the crucial number. Speaking of the speed of the baits, that is displayed on the Fish Hawk which at that very moment wasn’t operating properly or at all for that matter. Paul walks up to look at it and then back to the aft fishing deck a few times frantically, then he hits the computer-like display like Fonzy and the jukebox and bingo bango it suddenly starts working. That was the biggest burst of luck this team would see all day. The speed of the bait is a function of water pressure and drag at depth, speed of the boat, and the ever present current that you’d never expect on a lake of that size. So all things being equal the boat may be traveling at 3.5 miles per hour at the surface and the baits will be traveling at a slower speed say 2.7 at depth or sometimes with the current blowing up the butt of the boat the disparity between the numbers will be a lot closer. The fish will dictate the proper speed of the bait presentation. But that’s not the only math that they dictate. The depth they inhabit is dictated by the water temperature they live their best lives at, generally around 50 degrees fahrenheit. So, any given day the conditions above the surface can change their preferred depth by feet in the double digit range. Cold rain can bring them up in the column, so can wind, water turn over, sunlight and an assundry of other factors that I have no ideas on. Now back to the rods with Dipsy Divers and Copper Line. They are depth control measures. Dipsy Divers are basically a flying saucer with line ties and unequal weight distribution. They dig into the water and because of the size and hydrodynamics the Dipsy takes the baits down to a predictable depth. Copper line will run the lures down via its denser than water nature, for every 100 feet of copper line the lure gains twenty feet of depth. We were putting out 500 feet. Is your head spinning yet? All of this rigging took fifteen minutes. The calculus doesn’t stop there, Paul and Matt are checking the depth finder constantly, while Brandon is using compass headings to direct the boat over a certain depth of water. Yet with all this math the only thing that matters as far as numbers go is tangible pounds of salmon in the boat. And at 7:20 they had their first chance at making that number more than 0. The rod that has the 500 feet of Copper loaded on it showed a strike, Matt grabbed it. If you watched any sort of big water fishing you’d expect Brandon to drop the boat into neutral and let Matt proceed to fight the very fresh, very big King Salmon with rod and reel alone. What I actually saw was amazing teamwork between driver and angler, using the boat to fight the fish in a way I hadn’t seen before. This plays multiple roles but one of my observations was that it allowed the crew to not have to clear any of the other lines out of the way for a long time, the boat was able to keep tension on the fish while Matt played him and finally it kept the rest of the baits moving so that the odds of a double were increased. The shuffle of two nets getting line up like two outfielders backing each other up happened about fifteen minute after the strike. It was all business after Paul netted the fish, no big celebration, no hugs, no fist bumps or pumps. Back to work, Paul was working on making sure the right rods were in the right places with the right baits and Matt was double checking depths and drags, everything was checked and double checked. Nothing is left to chance, except the mood of the fish. There is a misnomer in the non-angling world, that fishing is luck. I assure you most of fishing is not luck. I can tell you numerous stories about how it isn’t luck, until it is. This day out on the boat was littered with a bunch of unlucky strikes, balling baits up, pushing baits forward, not getting hooked when the fish would take a bait. None of these things are controlled by the angler. Those parts of fishing are luck. “Lots of downtime.” Craig utters out loud “Ain’t no uptime” Paul only half jokes. “Temperature is down 20 feet from yesterday.” Paul states. This literally means in the game of chasing temperature, the magic number of 45-50 degrees, that the water of that particular heat signature is twenty feet deeper than that temperature was yesterday, the water is warmer than the day before. See you’re always chasing numbers in this game, not the game species, but the numbers that lead to the optimum habitat. Brandon goes to the back of the boat to relieve himself, and a fish hammers the rod that he is standing over. Brandon the consummate angler grabs the rod rather than zipping up. The fish is on and Brandon has a wide stance to keep his pants up rather than to provide good leverage on the fish. He took a camera in his face especially well considering the circumstances. Craig took the fishing rod from Brandon and proceeded to play the fish out. Matt landed the fish in the net with Paul standing behind with net number two as back up. Again when the chinook hit the floor at 9:56 there was no uproar, no hubbub. Just professionals looking for perfection of presentation as they got ready for the next one. At 10:29 a rod goes off again, Paul grabs it and has the fish loaded, rod bent. Matt is at the helm at this point and is using the boat in conjunction with Paul’s reeling and leaning. The fight last for fifteen minutes, long enough for the other two guys to grab nets. Then it happens, the line gets slack and it is obvious to Paul that the fish which was once there isn’t any longer. Pure dejection. “That one hurt big time,” He says to me. Rough math is rough but, going into the weekend they were up about a fish worth on everyone in the Fair Haven Challenge. A team can weigh five fish, and they just lost a good one. Had that fish been in the boat the team would have more than likely been in the running, without it they wouldn’t bother weighing the other two. The day rolled on like the waves on the surface, but unlike the waves the fishing was inconsistent. What’s funny is this group of guys that I really enjoyed hanging out with kept telling me that they wished they had shown me a better day of fishing. I had a great time, for a person who loves processes and unscripted stories, to watch a team perform like a play out in front of me was a pleasure in and of itself. I assured them that there was an amazing story on this day and that it doesn’t have to be littered with big fish. It can have more fish next time, but to tell the story of the fish isn’t the story of the Team, the men, the boat, the towns, the culture, or the math. All too often we as angler judge our days with a scale, ruler or phones full of grip and grins. I got to make some friends, hang out with my best friend and learn more math in an 8 hour run than I had in four years of public high school. I can’t thank Paul Powers, Matt Reibenfeld and Brandon Mirrer enough. We will write a big fish story next time.
July 8, 2022 Should I Buy a Wall Tent? By: Justin Hunold Scrolling through Instagram, thumbing down through all of the images of the outdoors that help inspire my adventures, I see it. The wall tent at night, backlit from the lantern inside, stripped trees for the lodge poles with a set of moose antlers above the door, I swooned with idyllic romanticism. If this sounds like as great a picture to you as it did to me, let’s talk about the upsides and tips for camping in a wall tent. All things being equal, camping is an amazing way to take in the outdoors. Whether you spend the night in a camper with AC or in a bivy under the stars, waking up to the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world does wonders for the human spirit. For the past few years I have spent a few weeks during the late fall in a canvas wall tent. Though the one I have been using doesn’t harken back to the image painted earlier, it does fall in a great spot between the camper and the bivy. My cousin Marc did a bunch of research, separately of my tent lusting, and decided to pull the trigger on a Davis Wall Tent. He also purchased a wood stove for it and so began our soiree of primitive camping for hunting season. This is a quick overview of why you may want to look into a wall tent setup, and some points to think about once you decide a canvas vacation home is for you. Let’s first look into why a person would want a canvas wall tent. Room is the first deciding factor for most folks. Unlike a nylon dome style tent, a wall tent is built for maximum height and, with straight walls, actual capacity for people and gear. Next, canvas wall tents are still portable but it can be the size of a typical cabin that one might stay in at a campground, very convenient. You can set up a full cabin anywhere you may need it. That may be the woods for a week during hunting season, or it can be for a garage sale or graduation party at your home. If I were to guess, the number one reason most folks go to a wall tent is overall comfort and protection from the elements. Canvas wall tents are built with stove jacks to host a wood stove. Canvas tents are naturally waterproof and insulated. Unlike propane heaters, wood is dry heat, and outdoors folks can use it to actually dry out clothing and gear. This alone is next to impossible with any other sort of non-radiant heat. Canvas is a great insulator. Everyone will stay warm with the stove in the winter, no wind cutting through the tent, no water building up. I know, the saying is “cotton kills”. In this case, that blend of cotton or polyester is great protection from the elements, hot or cold. Wall tents are naturally waterproof and make amazing wind barriers. In the summer you can open the windows for a crosswind and stay very cool. It’s definitely not the aforementioned camper with air conditioning, but it’s markedly better than a nylon dome tent for sure. We’ve covered the why’s of a wall tent, so let’s take a dive into some of the how’s, tips and points of interest. The how’s are pretty simple: most companies will offer kits that have poles included or just corner brackets and you go to a hardware store and have conduit cut to length (provided in the instructions). To build the tent you frame out the roof first then install the wall poles. Tie down points are sewn into the tent in key positions. Use all of the tie downs- they exist for a reason. There are a few options for floors, with the two most popular being pallet bases with plywood for a semi-permanent feel or waterproof canvas tarps. After much experimentation, we chose canvas tarps, leaving an open spot in the corner for the stove. If you decide on the wood floor, you will need a fireproof mat for that area. If you plan for a few people to stay in one tent, there needs to be rules. One of our big rules was no air mattresses. This came about in year two, just like the canvas tarp floor, after we realized how much room they take up. Cots elevate the sleeping area, meaning that the user can stow gear under them. They can also double as a seat if needed. Also, designate areas to hang drying gear. You don’t want your sleep system to get soaked because someone else hung a wet jacket over it. As far as the stove goes, you’ll need welders gloves or the like to tend to it often. A kettle of water should be a constant companion of the wood stove for both a source of hot water and a bit of moisture in the air. Some wood should be stacked inside, this way there isn’t a reason to open the doors unless it’s to relieve yourself. There should also be an assigned person to cut the stove off when the party leaves and someone else should double-check! Stoves are not to be taken lightly in a tent, as the wind can move the cover or in the extreme, disconnect the stove pipe (chimney). A small folding table is an amazing piece of kit for a wall tent. It generally turns into a catch-all but it’s nice to have. We would generally stack our non-perishables in rubber totes under it. Again, singing the praises of the wood stove: you can cook just about any stovetop meal on the wood stove so don’t skimp on the cuisine just because you’re roughing it. We keep a thermometer above the table, mostly because it’s fun to see it reach the mid-seventies when it’s in the single digits outside and we are having a few drinks. Another friend of mine uses an ice fishing sled and a solar shower to shower inside his wall tent after a day of hunting. We never went that route, although, by the end of the week we probably should have. With the ability to have hot water and dry out your garments, this means a person can actually wash clothes if needed. Speaking of friends, if you want to stay on speaking terms with anyone you’re sharing a wall tent with for extended time you’ll want a pair of inside-only shoes. Any kind of shoes will work, a lot of people will wear slippers or a Crocs style shoe. Tarps will be clean but you’ll still need shoes. A few more necessary items include a lantern or two, a decent hatchet, a cast iron pan, fire poker, and tongs. I would also suggest a few pots for water or a tea kettle, a French Press or percolator, and a wind-up alarm clock. Marc chose to have an awning built into his kit and a window stitched in opposite the door. Both of these were clutch points of customizations. We can keep wood, gear, and our coolers under the awning and when need be get some air moving through with an open window. He decided to forgo the stakes that the company offered. The first time we tried to use it in high winds we realized quickly that normal tent stakes weren’t going to cut it. From there we decided to use pressure treated 2”x2” cut to a point and notched an inch up from that point. Tie the rope to the stake around that notch and then drive the pointed end of the ten inch stake down into the ground. This action sucks the rope into the ground as well and makes that thing as steady as a Pennsylvania coal miner. If you’ve tent camped before, everything you’d bring with you for that applies in the wall tent world. It’s all about what makes you happy. Try it out a few times and you’ll be surprised what makes the cut and what doesn’t once the comfort side is taken care of. A wall tent isn’t for every situation, you’re not packing this thing into the backcountry in your backpack. When you’re able to access the campsite from the road, by vehicle, horseback, or bike with a trailer, a wall tent is tough to beat. If you’ve been thinking about that camper and you just aren’t sure, take a look at a wall tent. Camping with friends or family and wanting some space, or maybe to feel comfortable solo camping for a long period you need to make a canvas wall tent a consideration. If nothing else you might get to post a cool picture of it on social media.
July 1, 2022 Kitchen Craft: What Do You Need for the Best Wild Game Recipes? By : Justin Hunold When you pop open your freezer and see Ducks frozen whole, Goose Breasts, Major cuts of Venison, a few Rabbits and all your fish from the spring and summer you’re actually looking at the summation of a whole lot of fun and hard work. So, with that in mind, why make cooking game meals hard or boring. That would make for an awful outcome to an amazing story. Good food makes us feel good. There is much speculation that our ancestors’ ability to cook food led to the rapid growth of their brains. We long ago mastered fire and spit roasting. For some reason, even though people have been cooking game meat longer than anything else, people suck at assembling the meals from what they take from nature. What do you need to cook game meat? What will help you bring the field to the table full circle? Here are some tools I use when the cut of meat I have deserves as much peonage as the story I will tell about how it got to my plate. Cast Iron Skillet- A good Cast Iron Skillet will last longer than you and your kid’s if it is well taken care of. They are inexpensive, transfer heat consistently and actually help you stay healthy (helping your iron intake). This is the one tool on this list I wouldn’t give up, if given one choice for a pan this is the only one I would own. They can be used as a frying pan, a broiling pan and a roasting pan. A cook can sear a nice cut of meat in a cast iron pan and then immediately transfer it into the oven to raise the internal temperature. They can be put in the coals of a campfire, on a grill top or used to deep fry fish and this will only help their long-term seasoning. That is the downside of cast iron if it has any, maintaining the seasoning. Once you’re used to the maintenance it becomes a non-issue. Plus, they are super inexpensive, so next time you’re walking through Walmart or Target poke into the camping section and grab yourself a 9” Lodge Cast Iron Skillet. They are US made and about $20. Crockpot- This is my drama pick. There are two camps for crock pots, the old school pot and lid style you put in the oven or the self-contained electric style. I fell into the second. I use a crockpot that has multiple settings, with sear, stew, slow cook, bake, steam, and roast being applicable for meat and fish. I like the one-unit versatility that this tool brings. A cast iron pan might be able to be used with a lot of types of heat, but a good crockpot is a self-contained, one appliance kitchen. I have also used my crockpot to deep fry, and to make Asian hot pot style meals. Some folks say that slow cooked crockpot meals from a traditional enamel pot taste better, but I have to say my crockpot meals never seem to lack flavor or texture. Maybe I will get a traditional crockpot in time but for now I will be leaning heavily on the multitool of the kitchen, that is my electric crockpot. Instant Pot- Can an instant pot and crock pot really be that different? The answer to me is simple – Yes. There is an old adage- fast, cheap, and well pick two because you can’t have all three. An instant pot disproves this theorem. If you can add some goose breast in with a multitude of ingredients including rice, stock, onions, and then set it and forget it for less than an hour and you will have meals that you thought impossible with a meat you used to relegate to jerky. The best part about it is its one pot clean up and totally contained. Oh, and did I mention it’s fast, good and pound for pound pretty cheap? The support of this cooking tool is amazing. People use these for all sorts of recipes that are available all over the web and it’s a staple in busy homes and with folks who meal plan. Sous Vide- This is cheating plain and simple. Sick of overcooking Duck, Goose and Venison? “Game meat is so dry” goes away with one of these simple tools. And just because you might not know how to say it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it. In principle it’s a bait aerator with a heating element. You put a sous vide into a large container full of water, set the temperature and then immerse a plastic bag full of seasoned meat into the water. Now you can walk away, and the immersed food will cook to that exact temperature all the way through. A sous vide can run for eight hours, and that meat will never get hotter than the surrounding water which is set to the temperature you require. It’s cheating but it tastes oh so awesome and the presentation looks nicer than shooting a double in two shots on video. There used to be a debate about the BPA’s and other toxins in the bags, and as a father I totally understand that. There has been a sub industry to address this with bags, containers, and other tools to assist in healthy use of a Sous Vide. If I am introducing someone to game meat, I use my sous vide. If I do my part to season and sear the cut properly and the bags don’t let the water in, it will turn out perfectly and they will like it. Air Fryer- Now I like frying cutlets and fish in a deep fryer or a pan with two inches of oil as much as the next guy, but I have to say an Air Fryer is every bit as good in a lot of ways. Plus, an air fryer is a lot cleaner. They can be used indoors and don’t provide nearly as many viral videos of decks and garages bursting into flames by people who have no business trying to use a vat of oil and incendiary rings of pressurized propane. The ability to make perfect golden fried walleye cheeks and sweet potato chips all with one kitchen tool can turn anyone into a great one trick pony, but it’s a hell of a trick. Don’t let the simplicity fool you. An Air Fryer is great at one thing and as anyone who tries to master any one thing will tell you, to perfect one thing is no simple feat, and therefore this kitchen tool is tough to beat. If you use it right, the batter dipped fish or the panko crusted goose will keep guests wanting for more and they won’t care that it’s coming out of a basket with paper towels. In fact, that’s the endearing part, right? That is the fish fry aesthetic. And it’s what people want in an authentic outdoor meal meant for summer nights and light beers. These are five tools I use to add some pizzazz to my field to table cooking. Yes, I can be very technical and cook with a pan, layering flavors with aromatics and reductions but when I want a good meal without all the BS that comes with trying to be a chef these are the appliances and applications I reach for. We are all very busy, and a lot of these gadgets allow for a set it and forget it mentality in your cooking. And in a way they can add to the experience. Yes, there is an experience of really cooking like you’re trying to earn Michelin Stars. I would venture a guess that your guests would much rather spend time sharing drinks and conversation than sitting at the table missing the host who needs to be solely present in the kitchen for the preparation of the meal. If you can layer a few of these tools together you can present a hell of a game dinner while truly entertaining the guests and making them listen to the hunting and fishing stories that go with each dish. When done right, the food will make them ask for a next time. Don’t worry, next time they’ll ask you to play chef and stay in the kitchen. Or if you, did it really well, they may ask to join you in the field to try their hand at field to fork.
June 24, 2022 Hunting Buddies: What Makes a Good Hunting Partnership By: Justin Hunold Aside from my father I would say I have had two real hunting partners in my life. One is family and the other mine as well be. I have two really great fishing buddies as well. Furthermore, I have a cousin who is also very busy with all things in life. We don’t hunt together often but we also talk and text about it constantly. If the opportunity presented itself I believe that they would be good hunting partners too. What has set them apart from the dozens of other people I have spent hours with out in the woods and on the water? Well, other than their ability to put up with my bullshit that is? Let’s dive in and try to figure out what makes us tied at the hip for outdoor adventures. I asked them all the same questions via text message and prompted them to be brutally honest about their answers. I wanted to see if we could drill down on some common themes to bring out what has made us good partners in our adventures. What makes me compliment them in the pursuit of the natural world. The question is based on this “Why are we good hunting partners?” The Good: The question was “What is the best part of having me as a hunting/fishing partner.” If I were to look at the cumulative answers it comes down to shared values. I think this is probably the most important statement in a good partnership. I don’t necessarily mean religion, political or fiscal values either, although those may help. Family values fall into this category, if you prioritize family, like I do, your hunting partners need to understand that. I don’t care what’s happening, I will not miss Halloween or my son’s Birthday. Both of which fall during hunting seasons. My buddies need to understand and be okay with this. We may have to drive separately or hunt/fish alone one or two days during those stretches, but those are boundaries I put in place and with that they can do the same. Brad is my cousin, I hunt with him the most. He has a wife and a step son. We have cut trips short or rearranged weekends for baseball and ultra marathons. Craig and I have been friends for 20 years. I was in his wedding and I am his daughter’s godfather. We both understand the priorities of parenthood and take the fact that we ran around the woods and water at will together for 10 plus years into account. Now we do it when our schedules line up. Work ethic is another aspect in the spectrum of values that was noted. Jim, who I have spent more time on a boat with than probably everyone else combined, stated that the competitive nature of our fishing was a draw and bonding opportunity. We fish in very different styles so we were always grinding to catch more or bigger fish, there was always one more cast. Tom, is another cousin. We don’t get to hunt together a lot, he is a family man with a wife and three kids and a MLB player. We talk about hunting on almost a daily basis. He pointed out that we have the same level of work and effort. Brad said we are willing to do anything and go anywhere to get the job done, without complaints. Your hunting partner needs to love the process as much as you do. Your levels of input and output need to be nearly equal. Craig also brought up valuing conservation of the resources including responsible harvest of fish. Brad focused on the fact that I enjoy the entire process of hunting, scouting, setting stands, building blinds, cameras, content and that we share the year round mentality. Your values don’t have to be the exact same as your hunting partners, and if you have multiple hunting and fishing buddies they don’t have to have the same values either, but yours need to complement each of them. Jim doesn’t keep a whole lot of fish, Craig does, I keep this in mind with each of them. TJ will get up at 2 am if that’s what is needed to catch the first flock of the morning, Brad on the other hand will hunt his way in during gray light to best take advantage of his level of patience and will change tactics at the drop of a hat. TJ and I stick to a plan, with Brad I am very fluid with planning. You’re there as much for them as they are for you. And that’s for the bad too. The Bad: “ What’s the worst aspect of hunting/fishing with me?” I asked each of these men to be brutally honest with me. That’s a lot to do with someone you need to trust with flying hooks, bad weather, treestand, fast and deep water and firearms. There have been moments with each of them that I was ready to leave them out there and I know for sure they have more times than that when they were ready to tell me to pound sand and we are done doing this together. Here are the examples that came to light that I may not have seen coming. Competition, Jim and I are competitive with fishing and we have viewed it as a good thing most times. Yet, deep down in my dear friend’s soul lived a beast that wanted to toss my over competitive ass into a deep hole with an anchor tied to my leg because of that same competition. At least that’s the way I read his text answer. He mentioned something I do all the time that I had no idea bothered him. I slap my lures off the top of the water to clear weeds. I do it maybe dozens of times on a given fishing trip. He hates it. I understand why that’s annoying and I totally won’t ever do it again when we are together, unless he is out fishing me. One of the things Brad mentioned was along the same lines, the good was we feed off of each other. The bad aspect was the same, we feed off each other. So, instead of one helping the other push through the tough days or mornings of laziness we join in commiserating or skipping time in the stand we should be partaking in. So, we have always known that but now that it has been verbalized I will do my best to push when it is on me to do, but I will ask him to do the same. It’s a partnership after all. TJ pointed out the fact there were plenty of early days that we didn’t like each other until the decoys were set and we were watching for incoming birds. We both learned you didn’t have to want to like someone to work as a team. This occurred with some of those very early, very cold and very quiet long line sets. We hunted enough together we didn’t really need to speak to lay out twelve dozen decoys on long lines in the pitch black. We were well oiled even if we were giving each other the silent treatment. The Ugly: With TJ, Jim, Craig, and Tom they all gave an answer that I take as the biggest compliment. It’s the ugly truth of growing older. The worst part is we don’t get to do this stuff together enough. That was their “worst part” and I agree. I spend weeks a year hunting, scouting and camping with Brad but trying to line that up with the others is almost impossible. So at the end of the day, we do our best and know we always have the outdoors. Friendship, this is the highest priority. For my family and friends that I hunt and fish with, we value that bond more than anything else. We level at the same place, fish, bucks and ducks are great, but time spent together is the driving factor in all of this. Whether its skipping morning sits to grab coffee and drive around glassing fields, grabbing Bojangles after a duck-less morning, beers and rigging rods only to get skunked on the first salmon trip of the fall, sharing baby pictures and trading one liners from the Simpsons or texts of trail camera videos, pictures and talking about heavy metal therein lies the point. I value them, and I think I can say with confidence they value me enough that success is a great goal but it truly is the journey that matters. And when success happens I am happy to have such great men in my life to share that great feeling with. I know they have my back and I have theirs. I believe this is the essence of the pursuit of game, a story as old as time. These bonds are forged in the first embers of the human spirit and continue to burn no matter how much time they are left to the side of life. A cupped bird, a chasing buck, a spawning salmon, dropping acorns or hard hitting smallmouth is all the spark we need to continue to burn that fire. A hunting party is as ingrained as procreation or communication. It’s what makes us human, and if you find the right hunting and fishing partners, they can help make you a better human.
June 17, 2022 Guided Hunts and Being a Good Client By: TJ Rademacher I’ve had the opportunity to be on both sides of the client-outfitter relationship. I came out of high school and spent a short time as a big game guide in Montana and Idaho. I got to experience the ups and downs of being in the outfitting business. Since it is a service there is a high amount of pressure to get your client into position for the best opportunity you can. Typically, there are fairly large sums of money changing hands. With that exchange come expectations from the client. This is perfectly acceptable. You should expect the highest amount of effort possible to be put forth by your guide and the outfit to help you get the opportunity for a successful hunt. The key word in that statement is opportunity. The critters you pay good money to chase are not in on this exchange of money. I don’t care if it’s a laid-back South Texas Teal hunt or grueling pursuit of a big western bull elk, critters do what critters do and they have one thing on their mind. That is survival. They are working for one more day and trying to not get themselves killed. They do not care about what you want. Where they were yesterday, they may not be there today. It’s still hunting at the end of the day. It’s best to remember this when you pay an outfitter for their services. You should not be a push over if you think you are genuinely taken advantage of to be sure but managing your expectations and not letting yourself think that your money alone will buy your success is what I’m driving at. Here are a few things that will help you choose outfitter and end up being more successful. Hopefully, it lends some light on how to be someone that an outfitter looks forward to having back too. This lays out the thought process on how to be successful on a guided hunt. At the beginning of most hunts there is usually some sort of safety talk from the outfitter or guide. This is a general layout of the expectations, what is acceptable behavior around firearms and other key subjects for the area you are in. I’ve seen and heard about some wild stuff going down. Pay attention to what is expected. You don’t want your guide on edge wondering if they are going to catch a Nosler partition through their ribs because of a client constantly fiddling with safeties and being generally unsafe with a weapon. Follow the rules don’t cut corners and practice the rules of firearms safety. Most guides are the same as you. They love the outdoors, and they love getting after it and being successful in the field. Most take a huge amount of pride in being the one to count on and help deliver that success. They stay under a constant amount of scrutiny from clients themselves and the managers of the outfit. They want you to be successful because they want to be a successful guide. Be gracious from the start. The amount of logistics and prep to get you where you need to be are huge. In many ways the logistics are what ends up making you successful. Stay humble and treat it like you are a team. It’s okay to ask why you are doing what you are doing sometimes. It shows you are genuinely interested and will typically be appreciated if it comes from that angle. The thing I would tell you to avoid is being the person openly questioning somebody who has likely forgotten more hours in the area you are hunting than you have put in probably anywhere. This is not a good way to form a successful team and may hinder your success greatly. Check your ego at the door and be in the moment there with your guide. They will appreciate your attitude. Come prepared. When you are researching an outfit to hunt with, you’ll typically see a packing list of some sort. Pay attention to this and either pack or purchase the items you think you’ll need accordingly. If you must purchase something like boots make sure you are wearing them months or at the very least, weeks in advance of your hunt if you are planning on a western big game hunt. I’ve seen new boots smoke clients within a couple days. Don’t do that to yourself. Along with breaking in your boots or other gear you need to be physically up to the challenge. Don’t be the guy who so horribly misjudged the physical requirements of a hunt that they can’t take advantage of the guides experience due to lack of ability to get to the places they need you to go. This is your responsibility to make sure you have the endurance to do this in advance. It’s hard from the guides perspective to feel a ton of sympathy when you don’t plan ahead. Actively participate in the hunt from start to end. It is about the experience and your guide can see that. You will always get more from someone when you try and match their efforts or assist them in some way. Don’t be the guy who doesn’t help brush and A-frame or at least offer to set out/ pick up decoys. It’s a small gesture that will help earn mutual respect between both parties and in some cases influence your success. This Is especially true when you are setting up 60-70 dozen silhouettes on a Kansas field hunt where the farmer won’t allow trucks and trailers in the field. It’s all part of it and you need to help roll with the punches to be successful. Tip. Even if you are not as successful as you had figured. the effort to get you on the best opportunity possible was most likely put forth if you went with a reputable outfitter. Your choice in outfitter is your responsibility. You should seek out a group of people who are honest and hard working. They typically have been in business for a while and have a good track record of keeping their clients happy for the most part. Don’t try to cut corners and go with someone who doesn’t exhibit most of these qualities. Especially the honesty and work ethics part. Your tip is your sign of appreciation to the individual that helped you have the best experience available at that time. You should recognize their efforts by tipping accordingly if they have done their job to the best of their ability. Sometimes you are unsuccessful no matter what happens due to a variety of reasons. A lot of these are beyond anyone’s control. You can have a skunk at peak rut as well as the day of a peak migration. If you’ve made it this far you’ve seen that a guided hunt is an interactive experience and comes with some simple responsibilities on your part. Accepting These will help you have the best experience you can possibly get access to at that particular point in the season. Plan ahead and book during times that have historically been the most productive for the outfitter in the past. Above all be gracious and positive. Be ready to put in the effort to get you the rest of the way to success. Also remember That this is supposed to be fun. Don’t take things so seriously that you aren’t taking something positive away from the time you are in the field. Cherish each sunrise. You aren’t guaranteed tomorrows. T