Kraig Storbeck
01-11-2006, 11:31 AM
2005 Journal
DATE: October 6, 2005
LOCATION: Esmond, North Dakota
SUNRISE/ SUNSET: 6:55 AM/ 6:55 PM
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Cloudy
TEMPERATURE: High 15’ Low 5
WINDS NW 15-25
EQUIPMENT USED: 3 Dozen Greenhead Gear® Life Size Series Mallards, 2 Dozen Greenhead Gear® Life Size Series Gadwalls and 2 Dozen Greenhead Gear® “Hot Buy” Mallards. Avery® Floating Decoy Bag, Avery® Floating Pit Bag, Avery® Floating Blind Bag, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® MudBag, Avery® Floating Duck Strap, Avery® Fleece Skull Cap, Avery® Turtlehead, Avery® 12-Slot Duck Decoy Bag.
HUNTERS: Avery® Pro-Staffer Kraig Storbeck and Larry Storbeck
JOURNAL NOTES: We headed up to North Dakota to participate in the opening of the Non-resident Waterfowl season. What we didn’t realize is we were headed right into a major snowstorm that would bring up to a foot of snow in some areas. We looked at the situation as good and bad! On the positive we knew that we would pick up new birds, but also lose the birds that were there to begin with. We pulled into the farmer’s lot at about 2:00 PM and started scouting. The weather made us change our strategy and back pedal to plan B! We ended up scouting the smaller sloughs, which seemed to be holding most of the birds in the area. The birds were in these pockets to find refuge from the highs winds. The winds in the morning were 50 miles per hour. We spent several hours scouting and finally came to a small slough holding thousands of birds. We knew right away where we would set up in the morning. The morning of the 6th brought high winds and cold temperatures with cloudy skies. We had high expectations for this morning and we were not let down.
We started off the morning with a double on Gadwalls which would soon be the majority of our bag limit. We had our 12 birds in 15 minutes and could not believe the amount of birds we were seeing. We continued to let birds land in our decoys and enjoyed what North Dakota is known for, which is fantastic waterfowl hunting!
We decided it was time for breakfast, and we also needed to start thinking about scouting for geese in the evening. We ended up finding a great field that held about 3,000 Canada geese and 2,000 Snow geese. We planned on hunting that field the following morning. We found out the more scouting you do, the more successful you will be. Scouting is the key to any successful hunt in my book. The great thing about North Dakota is the variety of waterfowl. There are not many places you can go and have a bag limit consisting of ten different species of waterfowl. To go along with that is the congeniality of the local residents of North Dakota and their willingness to allow hunters onto their property. We were always welcome wherever we went.
People who are looking for a great place to hunt waterfowl should consider the warm hospitality of North Dakota. I know for me this is an annual trip that I look forward to every year. The great part of this trip was being able to spend time in the blind with my father and sharing lasting memories together. I try to make it a priority to take my father on a trip every year with me. I know I will look back and be glad that I took advantage of the opportunity.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4924/img136729dn.jpg
DATE: October 6, 2005
LOCATION: Esmond, North Dakota
SUNRISE/ SUNSET: 6:55 AM/ 6:55 PM
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Cloudy
TEMPERATURE: High 15’ Low 5
WINDS NW 15-25
EQUIPMENT USED: 3 Dozen Greenhead Gear® Life Size Series Mallards, 2 Dozen Greenhead Gear® Life Size Series Gadwalls and 2 Dozen Greenhead Gear® “Hot Buy” Mallards. Avery® Floating Decoy Bag, Avery® Floating Pit Bag, Avery® Floating Blind Bag, Avery® Floating Gun Case, Avery® MudBag, Avery® Floating Duck Strap, Avery® Fleece Skull Cap, Avery® Turtlehead, Avery® 12-Slot Duck Decoy Bag.
HUNTERS: Avery® Pro-Staffer Kraig Storbeck and Larry Storbeck
JOURNAL NOTES: We headed up to North Dakota to participate in the opening of the Non-resident Waterfowl season. What we didn’t realize is we were headed right into a major snowstorm that would bring up to a foot of snow in some areas. We looked at the situation as good and bad! On the positive we knew that we would pick up new birds, but also lose the birds that were there to begin with. We pulled into the farmer’s lot at about 2:00 PM and started scouting. The weather made us change our strategy and back pedal to plan B! We ended up scouting the smaller sloughs, which seemed to be holding most of the birds in the area. The birds were in these pockets to find refuge from the highs winds. The winds in the morning were 50 miles per hour. We spent several hours scouting and finally came to a small slough holding thousands of birds. We knew right away where we would set up in the morning. The morning of the 6th brought high winds and cold temperatures with cloudy skies. We had high expectations for this morning and we were not let down.
We started off the morning with a double on Gadwalls which would soon be the majority of our bag limit. We had our 12 birds in 15 minutes and could not believe the amount of birds we were seeing. We continued to let birds land in our decoys and enjoyed what North Dakota is known for, which is fantastic waterfowl hunting!
We decided it was time for breakfast, and we also needed to start thinking about scouting for geese in the evening. We ended up finding a great field that held about 3,000 Canada geese and 2,000 Snow geese. We planned on hunting that field the following morning. We found out the more scouting you do, the more successful you will be. Scouting is the key to any successful hunt in my book. The great thing about North Dakota is the variety of waterfowl. There are not many places you can go and have a bag limit consisting of ten different species of waterfowl. To go along with that is the congeniality of the local residents of North Dakota and their willingness to allow hunters onto their property. We were always welcome wherever we went.
People who are looking for a great place to hunt waterfowl should consider the warm hospitality of North Dakota. I know for me this is an annual trip that I look forward to every year. The great part of this trip was being able to spend time in the blind with my father and sharing lasting memories together. I try to make it a priority to take my father on a trip every year with me. I know I will look back and be glad that I took advantage of the opportunity.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/4924/img136729dn.jpg