Recent content by nater

Drove further west yesterday and found some very solid cattail ice. Didn't break through a single time. It's out there!

The snow/ice was melting all night down in the SW. Drip drip drip. Cattail fringe ice is still in terrible shape despite -20 or whatever Saturday night. I've seen lots of tracks in the grass on the last couple of hunts, but still primarily finding birds in the cattails. Be prepared to get your...

Outstanding! Glad you were able to get out with your pup again. It was 34 where I was hunting. 4-5 inches of snow other than where it's drifted. Cattail ice still sucks.

Interesting. Ked flies are pretty common on grouse in MN but I haven't heard or seen them on pheasants.

Yeah, you would think. Long story, but he paid a small fine and that was it. Karma caught up with him later, but not in a way that restored my hunting permission.

I've dealt with a variety of trespassers on land where I was given exclusive permission to hunt. It almost never ends well. In the worst case example, I lost permission on an incredible deer property because I called the CO on a guy who poached a deer in front of me (with a rifle in a shotgun...

Agreed, but the snow has consolidated quite a bit in the southwest. It was easier walking on Wednesday than it was on Sunday. The grass hasn't fully lodged yet, and we'll have a few days above freezing next week after the cold snap. I wouldn't be surprised if the birds will move back to the...

Went back today...and found 'em! Tuesday night's storm was not as impactful as I feared it might be. In terms of habitat conditions, the snow still isn't crusty, despite the rain yesterday. Only got about 1/2 inch of new snow. It's going to be a cold weekend, but next week looks awfully nice...

This was a particularly memorable hunt for my older dog. He wanted nothing to do with the tailgate photo though. Yes, MN. No, I won't tell you where. But if you find a pair of Smith sunglasses in the snow out there...that's the spot.

Muzzleloader season orange requirement is in effect from 11/29 - 12/14. Don't shoot the messenger :).

I hope you get the send off and closure you're looking for. My older dog is in his 10th season and I never take any day for granted with him.

Reminder that youth deer season (statewide, today though Sunday) means FULL BLAZE for pheasant hunting, per below. Shirt/jacket + hat (if wearing one). A hat alone isn't enough. Never a bad idea to throw some blaze on your dog too. • All hunters and trappers in the field during the open...

One of the nicest opening days in recent memory, in terms of weather. Our group of 7 shot 2 roosters at the first spot this morning, and had a few other missed opportunities. Went out for a solo hunt to finish the day, and got multiple points on birds returning from the surrounding corn. Scared...

I hunt WPAs 50% or more of the time, so I always shoot non-toxic. 12 ga Federal Black Cloud #4s are my go to, though an IC choke for most of the season. I haven't patterned them in a while but they were lights out last year on actual birds.