"WATERFOWL NOTES"

BEFORE YOU FORGET ABOUT WATERFOWL FOR THE NEXT 5 to 6 MONTHS

There are very few snows in the southern part of the Central and Mississippi Flyways; most waterfowl are heading for the breeding grounds. As spring approaches most hunters are concentrating of other outdoor actives, mostly fishing. The upper Midwest will have a few more weeks of conservation season and there will be some big harvest but for the most of the country good snow goose hunting has passed for this season.

The average waterfowl hunter has in one form or another six cases (or more), tubs or bags that contain items he uses for hunting through out the season.

Auto Tub – A plastic tub that stays in the auto with cloths and small items to use through the waterfowl season. Hats or caps, face masks, dickeys, rain suite top and bottom, bug proof hood and jacket, quad parka, vest, sweater, bibs, extra shirt, extra pants. Wash & clean every item that needs cleaning, fold or roll and place back in the tub. Write a list of items plus the items need for the tub for next year. Place a few pieces of 

Cloths Storage – In my case I keep these in the closet to dress at home. Most days I leave from home to hunt. Camo shirts – heavy and light, Tee shirts - camo long sleeve and short sleeve, Hunting pants – un-insulated and insulated, Belts, Socks - polypropylene and wool and Short boots. These I leave in the closet.

Gun Case – In my case I carry two cases one each for each shotgun, the semi auto that is my main gun and pump that shoots 3-1/2 to 2-3/4 inch hells. Hang the gun casers in the storage room, clean the shotguns and place in a gun cabinet.

Blind Bag – I remove every item and place in a plastic tub, label the tub, aqnd write a list of every item plus the items that need to be replaced. Several items I put in the gun cabinet – binoculars, range finder and GPS. The digital camera goes in the glove box in the car.

Shell Bag – Remove the shells for storage and hang the cases or case on a hook in the storage room.

Decoy Bag – This is some chore. I have about twenty and they are stored in a 10 x 20 storage building.

But before waterfowl hunting forgotten for the year, clean up and repair. Remove the shotguns and see that they are cleaned; any damage or worn parts are repaired or replaced. If any questions arise take the shotguns to your gunsmith for professional cleaning and/or repair. Store the shotgun in the gun case or closet with the muzzle down.

The Blind Bag should be emptied, the contents placed in a plastic tub. Except - the binoculars, range finder and GPS should be wiped off and stored in the gun cabinet or a shirt and/or sock drawer if you do not have a gun cabinet. The camera in your glove box of the auto, or some place in the home. All items that need to be replaced should be and those that should be discarded are discarded. Wipe out the Blind Bag, zip it shut and place on a shelf in the storage room or hang from a hook against a wall.  Make a list of the items in the tub; tape one copy to the top and a second copy in the tub. With a permeate marker write Blind Bag Contents on all four sides.

The Shell Bag or Bags should be emptied, and wiped clean. The flashlight, etc. placed in the Blind Bag Tub Contents. Any shells placed in dry boxes. Have dry box for each size shell. Example – a box for 3-1/2” 12 gauge BBB, another for 3”, 12 gauge No 2, etc.
Make a list of contents, with number of boxes of shells. Tape one copy to top and place a second in the boxes. With a germinate marker write Goose Shells 3-1/2” or what ever on all four sides.

TIP: Check the shells, if any do not have the shot size legible, write it on the brass with a fine line permanent marker before storing.

Purchase a portable cloths closet (Wal Mart has the Rubbermaid brand for less than twenty dollars). Clean out pockets of coats, vests, bibs, rain suites, bug suites, and hunting pants. Place pocket contents in a plastic case and place case on the floor of the cloths hamper. Have cloths cleaned and treated with Scotch-Guard and then put on coat hangers and hang in bag. Spread a box of mothballs on the floor. Wal-Mart sells packets of powder that when hung on coat hangers will absorb moisture to prevent mildew if case is placed in a storage room. Place hats and gloves on top shelf.

Remove decoys from decoy bags. Check floating decoys. Seal all holes (shot holes can be repaired with caulking, cracks with a heat gun and cracks and holes by filling with a plastic foam), wash and brush with water and Simple Green (biodegradable cleaner), touch up with paint as required, check decoy string and weights. Replace where necessary. If decoy bag has holes, pull together with decoy string or cable ties. Replace carry straps and draw string (if necessary). Put cleaned and repaired decoys in bag and hinge on hooks on a storeroom wall.

Pull out all Texas Rag Windsocks, Windtamers and other windsocks. Shake out, if stakes are broken replace with new stakes, if rag is damaged and can be repaired with staples, then repair if not replace. Roll and place back in decoy bags. Depending which flyway you are in when rolling up place 1 to 9 blue to snow in the Mississippi flyway and 2 to 8 blue to snow in the Central flyway. Roll all the dark rags together, if possible have on bag with 100 Windtamers or 150 Texas Rag Windsocks.

All other decoys should be removed from bags and cases, cleaned, repaired, paint touched up and put back in case and stored. Charge 6V and 12V batteries and put in cases with decoy that they run.

Check over your ATV and trailer. Wash them both clean. Replace items that need to be replaced – lights, wires, bags, etc. Touch up paint where scraped and is showing rust or will show rust in the future. Put gas treatment in gas tanks. Check the oil, grease, etc. Set a time for preventive maintenance before the next season with the ATV shop.

Those with a boat know the drill, you will be using the boat for fishing if not treat it in the same manner as storage of the ATV & trailer. Clean, repair and/or replace.

 Lastly, if you are on a lease, check with other members to see if everyone is planning to come back. Set a time when half the money is due around May to June first and the remainder when the landowner says it is necessary. If you lose any members start now to find replacements. If you plan on finding a new lease do it now.

WATERFOWL CALLS

You should keep your call free of debris to sound as designed. “Hunters don’t think about all the partials that can get caught in a duck call,” Howard Harlan, custom call maker says. “If you are in the blind eating or drinking coffee or soft drinks, those things can all leave a buildup on the call’s read. That can alter the sound of the call or make it stick and cause it to lock up.”

“If you hunt a lot, clean your call regularly during the course of the season,” says Eli Haydel, long time call maker.

A call has five basic parts, the barrel, stopper, tone channel, reed and wedge. Some calls the stopper and tone board are built together. There are two basic call materials – wood and plastic.

Rinse the wood calls, shake out the water and set on end with the barrel down on paper towels to allow the call to dry.

Attention should be paid to the condition of the call’s reed or (dual reeds) regularly during the course of the season. Open the call and with an indelible pen mark the place of the wedge on the reed, then mark the reed placement on the tone channel. You need to know exactly how and where the pieces originally fit. You need to know the reed and block length, and how much of the reed was exposed. Now take the wedge and reed apart. Wash each part in mild warm soapy water, rinse in clear water. Set out to air dry on paper towels. 

“The distance you move the reed is as little as 25 to 50 thousandths of an inch to change the sound,” says Howard Harlen. By moving the reed in and out you can create a higher or lower pitch in the call. “Lengthening the reed or pulling it (or them in double reed) out, will make the call blow harder, and you’ll get a little deeper (coarser) sound. It will take a little more air to make it function. Shorting the reed (or reeds) will make the call blow softer, and you’ll raise the tone to a higher pitch.” Says Mike Lacy of big river game calls in Illinois. If you move the wedge block forward, the call will blow a little smoother and a little higher in pitch.”

Reeds can be sanded to make them thinner. The thinner the reed, the finer the tone.  Before changing the reed contact the call maker and obtain several new reeds. The thickness of the reed and placement at the factory is the position that the call maker feels is the best. Reeds come in varying degrees of thickness and are cut or trimmed to match the tone board.

Try and keep the call warm and dry during the season. In very cold weather don’t leave the call in the truck, take it inside with you. In the field place the call inside your coat.

To clean during the season, remove the stopper from the barrel. Rinse in warm water. “After you rinse your call, take a piece of dental floss and insert it from the front end and pull it all the way back; between the reeds (double reed) and the reed and tone board (single reed call),” says call maker Eli Haydel.

Never take the tip of the reed with your finger and pull the reed straight up, sometimes to where it lies on the top of the stopper – and snap it hard. It will bend or break the reed. “The distance between the reed and the tone board has everything to do with the sound of the call,” says Howard Harlan.

FEBRUARY CALL IN SPECIALS

U.S. Freight FREE on ALL orders exceeding $ 100.00
(Reduced freight out of the U.S.)

Call (281) 821 – 3795       We accept Visa, Master card & American Express

All Wind Decoy Kits – The ultimate windsock decoy. Replaces most ground field goose decoys – full body, shells, silhouettes, and some windsocks at a less price per decoy. Box contains 12 each polyester goose bodies, 12 each 24” x 3/8” hardwood stakes, 10 feeding heads and 2 alert heads. Also included are the screws and plastic washers. To assemble a small Philips head screwdriver, either battery operated or manual and 30 minutes of you’re time or less. Available in Snow, Blue, Spec and Canada. -  $ 38.00 per box of 12

Headless All Wind Kits – Box contains 200 each polyester goose bodies, 200 each 18” by 3/8” hardwood stakes. Also included are the screws and plastic washers. To assemble is done with a small Philips head screwdriver, either battery operated or manual. Available in Snow goose.  - $ 140.00 per each per box of 200

Goose Magnet Landing Decoy – injection molded polystyrene head is highly detailed and extremely durable. Wing struts are injection molded ABS which is impervious to heat and cold. Body and wings are made from Ironhide (Ironhide is a strong spunbound fabric that wears like iron). True to life feather coloring. Body is a windsock to keep decoy facing into the wind. Works extremely well on ½” metal conduit or graphite mounting poles. Available in Snow, Blue, Canada and Spec. - $ 23.00 per each 

Graphite Mounting Poles – All purpose high tech graphite and carbon fiber poles. Black to dark gray color, does not require camo painting. Weight 3-oz, 45-inch in length, tapered for easy insertion into ground. Allows for totally free pivoting for Goose Magnets. - $ 18.00 per 3 pack

Wave Magnet string decoy – A string decoy with 38-footr long line and 5 highly detailed, life-like, magnum sized bodies made from Ironhide fabric which is impervious to the weather. Built with a pocket in the tail to catch light wind and for a weight to prevent flapping in high wind. Fabric is quite and non-glaring like some string decoys. Rolls to compact size to fit in a coat pocket or Blind Bag. Can be strung between two each 10-foot ½” metal conduits (painted camo, dark brown or tan) or two each 45-inch by ½” graphite poles. Available in Snow and Canada decoys. - $  34.00 per each

Mr. Lucky Bag – Black heavy duty cordura fabric, hard bottom and padded sides, adjustable carrying straps, contoured carrying bag that secures duck in place with interior pockets for wings, battery, 3-part stake and charger. $ 22.00 per each

Mr. Lucky Remote Control – 3-way switch for constant running, on and off. Receiver will pick up at 90-feet, plugs in easily to decoy with a small transmitter that attaches to call lanyard or outerwear for quick accessibility. The simplest installation and use of remote control on the market today. Built for Mr. Lucky only. - $ 59.00 per each

THP Snow Goose Cassette – The best snow goose tape of the sounds of snow geese on a roost. Professionally recorded and edited by professional goose guides and long time hunters. Also available in CD for a few dollars more. - $ 10.00 per cassette

Dennis Kirk Snow Goose Tape with Canada Cassette – The best small spread snow goose tape. Perfect for 1 to 3 hunters than don’t want or have time to put out a spread of thousands, but put out several hundred with dark decoys mixed in. Not heard by snows on every field during conservation season. $ 12.00 per cassette

Lewis Flip Top Blind Plans – Step-by-step instructions with drawings, list of materials needed and list of tools required to build. In August of 2005, the materials at Home Depot were less than $ 30.00, and could be transported in an SUV. Blind can be built in the garage in very light weight panels, carried in an SUV to the place to hunt and assembled with a cordless screw driver in less than 20 minutes. - $ 25.00 per booklet

Strong Built Ground Blind – Aluminum frame, Gore-Tex waterproof fabric sides, bottom and top, with built-in comfortable one-man seat, foot top flipper to flip top to the rear. Available in camo patters of Corn Stalk and Real Tree. Set up dimensions 48” x 45” x 34”, lightweight 25 pounds, Fold Up (transport) dimensions 49” x 33” x 7”, Easy open peep hole in top and back. Can be set up in a couple of minutes in the dark of early morning. This blind is equally good for turkey and deer. $ 162.00 per each

DNG Waterfowl Spice – Developed by waterfowl hunters to give old or young ducks and geese that “I want more” taste. - $ 6.00 per 6-oz shake plastic container

DNG Bar B Que Spice – Developed by a multi-winner of Bar BQ contests to spice any meat. - $ 6.00 per 6-oz shake plastic container

Sweet Chipotle Season-All    - The very best of the spicy steak dry seasonings, super good as a marinate spice for duck and goose. - $ 6.00 per 6-oz shake plastic container

Dave’s Peppa Royale – The award winning liquid replacement foe Pickapeppa, A1 sauce, Worcestershire sauce or Tiger sauce. Dave’s was a two-year winner over all comers. It can make a taste difference. - $ 9.00 per 5-oz glass bottle

COOKING EQUIPMENT  CALL-IN SPECIALS

Call (281) 821-3795                 We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express

NOTE: Purchase any two (2) items in BLUE and receive an additional five (5 %) percent off

Weston Deluxe EM-2 Meat Grinder – Electric, designed so that steel shot passes through rather than getting hung up and damaging the rotating blades. Perfect for chili meat, spaghetti meat, sausages, meat loaf and hamburger. - $ 110.00 per each  (U.S. freight included).

Jaccard Deluxe Meat Tenderizer – 48 stainless steel blades produce incredibly tender meat. Enhance the penetration of marinades. Dishwasher safe. Eliminates pounding with half the effort and mess. - $ 27.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

15” Barbeque Tongs – Not the normal tongs. Allows the pickup of large pieces of meat and vegetables on the grill with out dropping the load or scorching your hand. –
$ 11.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

10” x 11” Wire Basket –Open and place in large or small pieces of meat and vegetables, close the lid. Turn over; never loose any ingredients and/or cooked food. Great for grilling goose stakes, fajitas, hamburgers. $ 19.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

Kabob Basket – Includes skewer frame and 6 skewers. Flip waterfowl kabobs all at one time. No burned fingers or lost food into the fire. - $ 24.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

Kabob Skewers – Package of 6 extra skewers for Kabob Basket. Load extra skewers to save cooking and prep time. - $ 6.00 per pack of 6 (U.S. freight included)

Rib Rack – Holds 6 slabs of beef ribs, 12 slabs of pork loin ribs, non-stick, size enables use of for roast or smoking an entire large goose or turkey. - $ 15.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

Meat Press – inch-by-inch steel plate with wooden handle. When grilling breasts, steaks, etc. place the press on top and reduce the cooking time. - $ 14.00 per each (U.S. freight included)

COOKING WATERFOWL

Grilling and baking waterfowl makes the best tasting of waterfowl meat to be used in soups, stews, gumbos, casseroles and salads that call for cooked waterfowl.

All waterfowl meat should be soaked in water plus 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar. Refrigerate, change water with vinegar every 20 minutes until water runs clear.

It is best to marinade in liquid 8 hours to over night after tenderizing with Jaccard Deluxe Meat Tenderizer and four hours when marinating with injector.

Grilling – Coat breast with oil – olive, Canola or bacon drippings – cook over gray charcoal fire for about 5 minutes per side. Cook until medium-rare, about 170 degrees F.

Coat whole bird with oil inside and out with oil. Sprinkle with dry seasonings inside and out. Place in a disposable foil pan; pour in a couple cups of liquid – water, beer, soft drink, and/or combination of all sliced orange, apple, pear and grapes. Place in grill – not over direct heat – and cover with foil, seal around edges of pan. Place a half dozen pieces or more of hickory or apple wood over fire to smoke. Cook until meat is medium-rare about 170 degrees F.

RECIPE

CANADA STEW with RED WINE

2-3/4 cup cooked Canada goose, cut into 2-inch cubes
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 oz fatback or salt pork, cut into 1/8-inch dice
5 rib celery, 2 diced, 3 cut into 2-inch lengths
4 ea carrots, peeled, 1 cut into 1/8-inch dice, 3 cut into 2-inch lengths
1 ea medium onion, cut into 1/8-inch dice
10 clove garlic, peeled
2 ea bay leaves
1 bottle dry red wine
2 Tbls tomato paste
6 ea small white potatoes, quartered
Fresh parsley, chopped

In a shallow bowl place flour. Season meat with salt and pepper and dredge to coat in flour. In a heavy pot over medium heat, cook pork fat until it renders its fat. Sear goose cubes on all sides in fat. Remove meat and set aside. Add diced celery and carrots, onion and garlic to pot. Slowly cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add bay leaves, wine and tomato paste. Stir to dissolve paste. Add meat. Taste. Season with salt and pepper. Cover pot and simmer over low heat until meat is fork tender, 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Add potatoes, remaining carrots and celery; simmer until cooked about 25-30 minutes longer. Serve in bowls; garnish with parsley. Yield: 4 servings.

RECIPE

DUCK – SOUR CREAM CASSEROLE

2 cup cooked duck, chopped
1 Tbls olive oil
1 Tbls butter
1 cup purple onion, course chopped
1 tsp DNG Waterfowl spice
16 oz sour cream, divided
4 cup (16-oz) Monterey Jack cheese, grated, divided
2 cup Tortilla chips, crushed
3 can (4.5-oz) diced green chilies, divided
1-1/4 cup milk
2 Tbls all-purpose flour

In a skillet heat oil over medium heat, add butter. Sprinkle Waterfowl spice over onion. Sauté onion until tender. In a bowl combine duck, 1/4-cup sour cream, 1-1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese and chips. Stir in onion .In a greased 13-by-9-inch baking dish spoon in duck-chip mixture. In a saucepan over medium heat whisk together 2 cans of green chilies, milk, and flour; gradually add remaining 2-1/2 cups cheese, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth; pour sauce evenly over the dish. Spread remaining sour cream over sauce. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Drain remaining can of green chilies and spread evenly over top of dish. Yield: 6 servings.

RECIPE

TOSSED SNOW SALAD with HONEY DRESSING

1-1/2 cup grilled snow goose breasts, cubes ½-inch
1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
1 ea cucumber, peeled, seeded, diced
6 ea green onions, (white & some green) chopped
1/4 cup celery, diced ¼-inch
1/3 cup carrot, peeled, diced, ¼-inch
1/2 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp DNG Waterfowl spice
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp Cajun Chef’s Green Hot Sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup canola oil
Romaine lettuce leaves

In a mixing bowl toss goose meat, cabbage, cucumber, onions, celery and carrot. In a second bowl whisk Waterfowl spice, oregano, cumin, hot sauce, salt, vinegar and honey. Whisk well. Slowly pour in cold oil in second bowl, whisking constantly. Pour vinaigrette over salad; toss to combine. Cover, refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. To serve place lettuce over 8 plates, spoon salad evenly over lettuce. Yield: 8 servings.

The February winner is and the runner-up is John Rollins Sr from Blairsville, GA and the runner-up is Jeffery L. Baden of Nelsonville, OH. Mr. Rollins will be receiving a pack of Game Tags and a special wholesale pricelist good through July of 2006. The give-a-way for March is a pack of waterfowl game tags and a special wholesale price list of DNG products.

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