On the X for the Last Hunt of the Year

November 15, 2012

The snowstorm was coming fast, and I knew this likely would be my last time afield in Manitoba. I called my buddy, James, and he scouted a cornfield with hundreds of geese close to my home in Portage la Prairie.

We set up the next morning in the blowing snow and waited for the geese to arrive. Soon after, mallards bombed our decoy spread. The early flurry of ducks was good for his black lab, Doo, who was more than happy to get to work right from the get-go. But by 9:30 a.m., it was starting to look like the geese had moved elsewhere for their morning feed.

Or maybe not.

Wave after wave of Canada geese descended upon our decoys, making it clear that we were on the "X," as James had hoped. It turned out to be the best hunt of the year for me in Manitoba, and the last one before freeeze-up.

Waterfowl have since moved on from this part of the world, so best of luck to those south of us as the birds make their migration.