Monday, October 4, 2004

Crex hunt a bust so far Grantsburg, Wis. Day one of the 21st annual Crex Invitational Waterfowl Hunt came and went without a lot of action. Seventeen hunters killed a total of 6 ducks and 3 geese today, under blue skies and a WNW wind. Don Erickson and I arrived at the landing on Fish Lake only to find two other rigs parked and a third one launching. The two spots we had in mind were already taken, so we headed across the lake to hunt the ice ridge on the east shore. At least we would have the sun at our back, even if the wind would be coming in over our left shoulder. Turned out it didn't make a ton of difference. Dozens of sandhill cranes and a handful of cormorants flew over before sunrise, but the ducks were few and far between. The guys at the two better spots got some shooting and dropped a few birds, but we never fired a shot. Bruce and Mike hunted the south end, then moved to the east shore about 8 a.m., where Bruce shot a ringnecked duck and saluted a goose. A few minutes later, four mallards gave us a good look and dropped in about 60 yards out. One drake and three hens, from what we could tell. They stayed well out and headed south slowly, then flushed when the guys to our north shot at another flock. We pulled the plug at 9:00 and headed for the Clam River, which we floated until 2:00. We jumped several small flocks of wood ducks, but did not score. A gorgeous day for a float, and the river was up, so we moved right along. Saw a couple eagles and evidence of a lot of shooting this week: blinds and empties. Got back to the Wood River Inn in time for a nap before supper, but I'm still bushed. After day one, Keith Crowley is the leader with a pair of drake mallards from Upper North Fork. We drew for tomorrow before dinner. I'll be hunting Upper North Fork with Harley Lindus, of Grantsburg. Evrard and Crowley saw lots of ducks there today, so we are hopeful for some action tomorrow. This is Crowley's first year on this hunt, but he's an avid waterfowler who just got back from hunting ducks in Manitoba. He is the author of a new biography of Gordon MacQuarrie, out last year and still selling well. Check out his website. Dinner was ground moose, donated by either Jim Evrard or Dana Olson, or maybe both. Delicious and filling! Now I'm ready for about 6 hours of shut-eye before we do it again. This hunt uses a point system to keep score. Drake mallards, Canada geese, drake wood ducks, any teal and certain other ducks are +3 points. Hen mallards and hen wood ducks are -1 point. Most other ducks are +1 point. Lost cripples and any shells over the 10-per-person-per-day limit are -1 point. Keith Crowley's two mallard drakes have earned him +6 and the lead. He is not hunting tomorrow, so it's anybody's trophy to win! Final hunt report tomorrow! Later... 9:37:47 PM    comment []

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