Waterfowling Crossroads

Well another diappointing waterfowl season for me and I sit here today wondering what the future holds for me in this sport. 10 years ago I could never have imagined that I’d ever have these doubts about hunting ducks/geese.

For the second year in a row I’ve skipped out on ND which I’m sure is a big piece to my doubts, but the last two years there were some of the worst ever. Plus, my family land there is 9 hours and 500 miles away. Not an easy trip but one that requires long range planning.

I had some access here in WI for a few years but have now lost that access and frankly, field hunting around Hudson is very hit or miss. Once the birds you’ve scouted come once to your spread, they’re gone for the day.

I’d love to teach this sport to my kids and even though I have daughters, I think they would hunt with me if I could show them some success and excitement.

So what to do? Do I buy a small boat and figure out hunting on the river? Even the reports there were pretty poor this year.

Do I put all my eggs in one basket and take the girls out to ND once a year? Being in school, WEA would be the best but its always so early in October here. ??

It’s tough for a kid that grew up in ND and hunted every weekend of the fall and sometimes before/after school to get to this point? I have thousands of dollars invested in the sport but am really questioning the opportunities in this area and the future of my involvement given what would need to be done to be successful (hunt only ND, put in the effort needed to get access in WI). I don’t know if I have the time!

Anyone else in this predicament or similiar?

ET

I’m with you guys on this one…I just don’t have the time to do it all (why can’t October be 6 months long?) and it’s hard to pour such precious time into an activity that has grown so frustrating in recent years. But to let it go!?! The sight of a duck cupped and committed, the whistling of wings as you’re setting out the dekes – and the comraderie and humor in the duck boat with the fellas…How on earth could I set that aside?

Having said that – I did set it aside this fall. Didn’t buy stamps. Yeah, I missed it, but I made good use of the weekends in the stand and chasing grouse.

It’s a tough call. My dad was an avid waterfowler in his younger years, then gave it up for a decade or so, then drove straight back into it when my brother and I were old enough to hunt. He wanted us to be introduced to the sport and I’m eternally thankful that he did. I guess that my plan is to do the same. Set it aside for a few years, and when my boys (aka: “The Men” / “The Deerdraggers”) are of age, I’ll be shopping for a replacement duck boat and start restringing the decoys.

if its something you love to do dont give it up. i went to nodak this year, and it was as tough as i have ever seen it out there we still shot birds and it was still fun. the hunting around here this year was crap for the most part, more people than i have ever seen and less birds for all of us. i still went. i had many days this year where all we got was 1 or 2 or even got skunked. fact of the matter is i love doing it and i will go no matter what.

i would take the girls out to nodak. even the bad hunting out there, is better than the good hunting around here most days. 3 and 4 years ago, were really bad for us as well in nodak. no water, not many birds, and everything there was smart and educated. 2 years ago was probably the best year and last year would have been but the high water prevented us from hunting some amazing spots holding thousands of birds. i would give it a try next year. if half the water is out there that is out there this year you will do good

It is a tough choice and I went through the same thing. I too have thousands wrapped up in waterfowl hunting. Dekes, boat, motors, shotguns, blinds, jackets, waders, the list goes on and on. The problem I have is seeing little to no return on that investment and the problem was getting worse every year. I also realized with duck hunting, bow hunting, and pheasant hunting that I was doing each one half . Pack that in with a wife and 2 kids (one in hockey) and a heavy out of town work schedule, and you quickly find out one had to go. Duck hunting was my passion for many years, but it was the least productive and most time consuming because I had to drive so far to find them. Now I am not spread so thin and can enjoy bow hunting much more because I can actually pour some time into it. I no longer consider myself a waterfowl hunter. Just a guy with big collection of waterfowl hunting gear sitting in my shed.

Took a few years off ,started it back up this season with my son…….lousy year.

Holding a 12 year olds attention is tough enough, when my patience wore thin it was an easy call.

Probably going to retire the lab and start reinvesting into the archery scene again.

Like stated, you can’t do it all and after coming home exhausted and birdless far too many times I will NOT look back and second guess myself, lifes too short for that. Good luck Cougareye, if you give it up I’m fairly certain you’ll find something else to pass the time

Glad, more like sad, to see I didn’t miss much…. haven’t duck hunted in at least 12 years….

well not everyone gave it up this year! there were people all over!

Similar problem with me as I grew up in South Dakota and have lived in the Twin Cities for the last 17 years. My fix is a trip to Canada for ducks and geese every other year. After 3-4 days of sky carp and ducks, I get it out of my system. The final fix will be in about 6 years when I move back to South Dakota.

I was the opposite this year. I usually spend most of the fall deer hunting. I got tired of all the complaining. Earn a buck, CWD baiting etc…
I had only made half a$$ attempts at waterfowl but I really enjoyed it much more than sitting in a treestand.

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It is a tough choice and I went through the same thing. I too have thousands wrapped up in waterfowl hunting. Dekes, boat, motors, shotguns, blinds, jackets, waders, the list goes on and on. The problem I have is seeing little to no return on that investment and the problem was getting worse every year. I also realized with duck hunting, bow hunting, and pheasant hunting that I was doing each one half . Pack that in with a wife and 2 kids (one in hockey) and a heavy out of town work schedule, and you quickly find out one had to go. Duck hunting was my passion for many years, but it was the least productive and most time consuming because I had to drive so far to find them. Now I am not spread so thin and can enjoy bow hunting much more because I can actually pour some time into it. I no longer consider myself a waterfowl hunter. Just a guy with big collection of waterfowl hunting gear sitting in my shed.

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what do you have for sale?

Every year I get to the point where I ask myself if it’s all worth it. Each stinky season tends to be stinkier than the preceding season. But, when September rolls around and there is a chill in the air, I tend to forget how stinky the seasons were before and maybe this time it will be different.

I went to ND twice this year and it was a tough one but we got some birds and had a blast. If you’ve got kids who are of hunting age you had better get them out there. A kid who can bag one duck or goose in a season will still consider it the best season ever.

I bet all of you Debbie-downers already forgot how much your season stunk!

NOPE! Just ate some ducks and found out that I don’t have any to grill for the summer.

You need to chase the spring snow geese to fill yer freezer!

Plenty of ducks in the Dakota’s, WI and MN…just need to work a little for them. Shot most of my birds this year off public land/water…

I would love to hunt the river, just dont know where to go. Guessing it is hard bottom, slow moving where the ducks are, might want to give it a try. Sounds like a good time…

Can’t imagine giving it up!!! But I agree with some of the above comments, it is nice to sit in a tree stand or chase roosters around too. Mix it up…and get back to ND! Always worth the trip…

Stacking up a pile of birds is fun…but I think just being there in ND with family and friends hunting (birds or no birds) and NOT being in the cities with the cidiots is good enough for me! Love it.