Canada Waterfowl Day 1

[Dave at kelton]

First day at the lodge and a different start to the day with coyotes howling and squabbling nearby at 5.30. A cold night down to -11 meant with very dry air it was a shock to the system at first but we were pretty well equipped after a trip to Cabelas yesterday. Half hour drive to the stubble field to set up in the dark with a solid hide dressed with fur and black birch. Just like pigeon shooting it’s all about the wait until the birds hit the flight lines and hopefully see the decoys. It was 9.00 before the first Canada’s began to come in and very nervous but occasional skeins came interspersed with duck in their 30’s and 40’s.  Some good shooting and testing as the birds flared when the front of the hide dropped and we stood to shoot. An exciting start with 19 Canada’s and 15 ducks before leaving around 11.00.

Wall to wall sunshine brought the temperature up in the afternoon when we headed out at 14.30. Stubble again and the intention to use lay out blinds but we couldn’t get them dressed so moved back to the big hides. We were still setting out the decoys when the first ducks came in but hey ho. The ducks continued to come in spotting the goose decoys from half a mile away and curling before dropping in. By about 5.00 we had topped up the duck to our limit of forty for the day before the geese began to flight. They came in skein after skein. Largely the big Canada’s with the odd group of the smaller lessers. Half an hour and we had also hit our 40 limit of Canada’s. The duck were still coming and we had the geese dropping in with forty or fifty duck stacking up above paddles down.  About as exciting as it gets.

As the sun began to set we had Canada’s pouring in but we were already moving off the field to let them feed and save it for another hunt.

[WalkedUp]

Exciting day, great write up. I bet the cold air and fast action were an unforgettable combination. Are the coyotes in season? 

[Smokersmith]

Sounds like it couldn’t have gone much better… very pleased you were able to make the most of it 👍

[Centrepin]

Sat in -11, hardier than me😁

Nice write up, glad it's working out.

Do you take your own guns or hire whilst there? 

[London Best]

WOW!

Am I jealous, or what?

[marsh man]

Slightly different from the landscape you are used to in Scotland , minus 11 at this time of the year would kill us off quicker than the virus , mind you it was plus three in my motor this morning with the first frost on the windscreen this season so we might have it all to come.

Canada's in Canada is as good as it gets and something I would have loved to had done but now I will settle for you to keep us informed on what we are missing .

Excellent write up Dave and great photos , Many THANKS for sharing .    MM

[Dave at kelton]

Thanks everyone. 5.00 am here and started warming up to -8😂. The best it gets will be snows if we can find them but the Canada’s here are pretty damn good, not like our fat waddling things. Agile and alert, particularly the lessers, about the size of our pinks. We hire the guns, Benelli super black eagle  Not worth the hassle of going through customs and security with our own. Any problems someone else’s responsibility. Don’t know about chayote seasons.

will try and post again tonight.

[Krico woodcock]

8 hours ago, Dave at kelton said:

First day at the lodge and a different start to the day with coyotes howling and squabbling nearby at 5.30. A cold night down to -11 meant with very dry air it was a shock to the system at first but we were pretty well equipped after a trip to Cabelas yesterday. Half hour drive to the stubble field to set up in the dark with a solid hide dressed with fur and black birch. Just like pigeon shooting it’s all about the wait until the birds hit the flight lines and hopefully see the decoys. It was 9.00 before the first Canada’s began to come in and very nervous but occasional skeins came interspersed with duck in their 30’s and 40’s.  Some good shooting and testing as the birds flared when the front of the hide dropped and we stood to shoot. An exciting start with 19 Canada’s and 15 ducks before leaving around 11.00.

Wall to wall sunshine brought the temperature up in the afternoon when we headed out at 14.30. Stubble again and the intention to use lay out blinds but we couldn’t get them dressed so moved back to the big hides. We were still setting out the decoys when the first ducks came in but hey ho. The ducks continued to come in spotting the goose decoys from half a mile away and curling before dropping in. By about 5.00 we had topped up the duck to our limit of forty for the day before the geese began to flight. They came in skein after skein. Largely the big Canada’s with the odd group of the smaller lessers. Half an hour and we had also hit our 40 limit of Canada’s. The duck were still coming and we had the geese dropping in with forty or fifty duck stacking up above paddles down.  About as exciting as it gets.

As the sun began to set we had Canada’s pouring in but we were already moving off the field to let them feed and save it for another hunt.

Stuff dreams are made off!! Is it a guide/outfitter you use, or you invited over guest?I hope one day to go to Canada to experience the duck/goose shooting. 

[Gerry78]

14 hours ago, Dave at kelton said:

First day at the lodge and a different start to the day with coyotes howling and squabbling nearby at 5.30. A cold night down to -11 meant with very dry air it was a shock to the system at first but we were pretty well equipped after a trip to Cabelas yesterday. Half hour drive to the stubble field to set up in the dark with a solid hide dressed with fur and black birch. Just like pigeon shooting it’s all about the wait until the birds hit the flight lines and hopefully see the decoys. It was 9.00 before the first Canada’s began to come in and very nervous but occasional skeins came interspersed with duck in their 30’s and 40’s.  Some good shooting and testing as the birds flared when the front of the hide dropped and we stood to shoot. An exciting start with 19 Canada’s and 15 ducks before leaving around 11.00.

Wall to wall sunshine brought the temperature up in the afternoon when we headed out at 14.30. Stubble again and the intention to use lay out blinds but we couldn’t get them dressed so moved back to the big hides. We were still setting out the decoys when the first ducks came in but hey ho. The ducks continued to come in spotting the goose decoys from half a mile away and curling before dropping in. By about 5.00 we had topped up the duck to our limit of forty for the day before the geese began to flight. They came in skein after skein. Largely the big Canada’s with the odd group of the smaller lessers. Half an hour and we had also hit our 40 limit of Canada’s. The duck were still coming and we had the geese dropping in with forty or fifty duck stacking up above paddles down.  About as exciting as it gets.

As the sun began to set we had Canada’s pouring in but we were already moving off the field to let them feed and save it for another hunt.

Fantastic my friend I can only dream of shooting geese like that I’m usually stuck in muddy gutters 😊😊🍀freezing and cold 🥶