Monday, November 23, 2015

Last Weeks Hunting Report

 This last week  found us out  in the fields chasing our web-footed friends. Last weeks  strong northwest winds seem to have brought in a few fresh geese but we lost some of our ducks that have been hanging around Rochester.  The only drawback with hunting right now is the unseasonably  warm temperatures and bright sunny skies. This seems to have pushed the geese into a late afternoon feeding cycle which only lasts for about 45 minutes to an hour.  The winds of change are on their horizon as Friday a cold front is going to sweep through our area and with it bring cooler air!  Hold onto your hats because things are about ready to get real spicy around Rochester! This is the time of year that we all wait for... Big slob geese, and cool crisp mornings with hopefully an inch or two of snow! 

 This last Sunday I had the privilege to be hunting with Bryce and Skylar (Bryce's 10 yr old daughter) when Skylar shot her first goose!  Words cannot begin to describe the enjoyment that we all had when she dirt rolled that single at 15 yards. And I wasn't sure who had a bigger smile, Bryce or  Skylar!  There were a ton of pictures taken and even more high-fives given to Skylar. It is always nice to see a young person introduced to the wonderful world of waterfowling.  Congratulations Skylar on your first goose! 

Skylar and Bryce with her first goose!


MANY photos were taken of this proud moment


A pair that did it perfectly!

 
This flock got crushed!

 
Yes we shoot ducks in Rochester!

 
The "Windmill" produces again


 

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Hunting Has Started

I know, I know.... I've been slacking on putting out posts on the Blog! Well I'm happy to announce that we'll be updating this Blog often now that hunting has started to kick into high gear. 

Its amazing how fast 2 months of hunting can roll past. It seems like we were just swatting mosquitoes in the early season and then I blinked and it was the beginning of November! We had a pretty low key early goose season with a lot of hunts taking place with family and friends.  We spent quite a bit of time in the field with our 4 year old boys, Kelton and Brady. This years early goose season was warmer than usual with temps in the high 80's and even some low 90's.  Needless to say hunts only lasted a couple hours and were mornings only!

Then we moved right into the duck opener.  We decided to hunt a secluded little wood duck honey hole and did very well, even though we couldn't see more than 30 yards in front of us because of the thick fog. It was a fun opener with enough woodys decoying to keep the gun barrels hot and the shooters humbled!

The month of October had us getting our fields ready and fitting in some hunting where ever we could. We had a couple work weekends in order to get the pits looking great and getting them all cleaned up and ready to hunt. We've also spent a lot of time getting decoys and trailers ready for the upcoming grind that will start soon. There is a ton of work that goes in to getting our fields ready and what we consider huntable.  A special thanks to all our guys that show up and bust their butts getting the pits ready. Jeremy, Charlie, Dave and Bob always show up and get the job done.  I say it every year, but if it weren't for these guys helping get the fields looking perfect, our hunters wouldn't have such great hunts. Thanks fellas for the hard work! 

These two pics were of different flocks of geese coming into the decoys during a couple early season hunts.



Hawk retrieving the first goose harvested in the "Verizon" field


We were able to take 3 kids out on a goose hunt in October. The pile wasn't huge but the smiles were!


Kelton helping out calling on a flock of geese on an afternoon hunt


His calling must have been good enough because he helped me get my limit that day!


All hands on deck for getting the pits ready... Even if the hands are that of 4 year olds!


The early bird gets the worm. We work at all times of the day, even at 4:00 am!


And this is the finished product


There's an old saying "Every dogs got its day" and this year at Last Pass we are living this saying out hunt after hunt. Little Miss Josie has started to come into her own and is starting to become an excellent retriever.  She's a machine when it comes to retrieving ducks. Geese are still giving her a challenge but she is stepping up and starting to show those big slobs who's boss!

Hawk and Josie on duck opener


Hawk with a drake woody


Josie with her first duck retrieve!


I know February and March seems very far away but its actually right around the corner and that means SPRING SNOWS!!! Just a reminder that we are currently taking bookings for the 2016 season. Dates are filling up so get ahold of me or Bryce to get you and your group in the books for the greatest show in waterfowling!