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Ian F.
11-13-2007, 11:56 AM
To tell you the truth I’m quite tired after 3 nights in a strange bed and am doing massive catch up at work, but figure a little time to write may just perk me up a bit.

I think I’ll start with some thank you’s, and in no particular order…

Justin, a guy out kayaking and camping for the weekend that had no issue with us gunning off the island he was on first. Hats off to a fine gentleman!

Marc, the owner and manager of huntingbc.ca, who has brought me in touch with many people I now call friend and provides me a place to talk with folks of similar mindsets.

[Michel,[/b] a great hunting partner who puts off work to get me into some snows and makes a great substitute for a lab, hats off again Michel, hats off!

I think I’ll do this chronological so I might as well start with a Friday, actually lets back it up a bit. For the last month I’ve been preparing for a high profile training session at work that finished on Thursday. I was totally spent, all went well and I booked Friday off to either recover, celebrate or both.

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/MDwithsnows.jpg]

The amount of ducks and snows flying Friday was beyond description. The birds didn’t really want to be with us, but enough wanted to look that both Michel and I had plenty of time to spend cleaning. The cleaning wasn’t limited to the dead birds though, this was a mud hunt, through and through.

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/mewgeese.jpg

I’m holding a limit here we stopped well short of 2 limits and glad we did! 10 birds on this string and yes there is some weight! I’m 6’2”, 250lbs with 56” chest if you need some scale.

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/ferry.jpgI

literally got home from shooting snows, changed rigs to sea ducks and crabs, loaded the truck and headed to the ferry to Vancouver Island with Sherrill and Hannah. The traffic here on Friday was unbelievable, but we made the ferry on time and even managed to get put on an earlier boat running late! Thank god for reservations!

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/first.jpg

I had scouted the area in September, but it was a different tide and even though I put waypoints in, and thought, I uploaded them it was a different day. I found some birds and bumped them, before I even got set up they returned and I dropped my first ever harlequin. YE HA is an understatement.

I have very few 1st of species left, Cinnamon teal, cackler, lessers and brant being the only somewhat common ones in this part of the world. I can say this, as the list gets shorter each one becomes a bigger deal!

Ian F.
11-13-2007, 11:57 AM
http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/pairwithdekes.jpg

It wasn’t too too long till #2 came in and my day for Harleys was done. I hunted another hour and no scoters to be found, so a pick up and search was in order.

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/day1birds.jpg

I found a bunch of birds and reset, it wasn’t long until I had quite a little bachelors club joining me. The clocked ticked 10 and it was time to go and spend the rest of the day with my family and in-laws, talk about perfect, ducks first, family after everyone happy!

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/crabs1.jpg

Almost forgot, on the way back I picked up the 2 crab pots I had out, 2 ½ limits of crab between them! I kept the 4 biggest and had lunch and then some!

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/justin.jpg

Sunday Marc came along with me for a shoot and just as we were putting out the last string of dekes, Marc says “Is that a tent on the island?” My response will be censored. We put out the last of the birds and go to shore. A knock on the tent finds Justin inside and we ask him about shooting saying we’ll move if he has issues. His only retort was to ask if he could watch and take pictures! Super nice guy, and certainly not the response we were expecting!

Ian F.
11-13-2007, 11:57 AM
http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/meandmarc.jpg

Marc and I had a great shoot, both getting our count of Harleys as well as some nice drake skunks. 2 whitewing females/Imm drakes came in and I couldn’t help myself, they were such a rare bird back east that any were prized. We also got a pair of these strange looking sea ducks, brown, white rumps, black tails and long, I mean really really long black necks with white cheek patches, anyone know what they are?

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/drakesdaytwo.jpg

The boys club from day 2 with Marc, just one shy of full colour.

http://partridgecreek.ca/Partridge%20Creek/Gunnin%20pics_files/crabs2.jpg

Marc and I had a rough ride back and let me tell you after 8 years hunting the north Atlantic in the Maritime’s, growing up on the great lakes when water boils up from flat in 15 mins it’s always nerve wracking no matter how much experience you have with it! We made it back safe and sound, but no one ever likes to make those trips, and if they do I don’t want to be with them.

The wind kept up and got worse over night, I had crab pots out from the day before and they sat until Monday when My father in law and I were able to pop out and get them. We literally hit the only lee in the weather all day!

Ferries where shut down until lunch and thank god once again we had a reservation! Most of the folks on our 7pm boat had been waiting since lunch!

3 great shoots out of 4 planned days, doesn’t get much better then that!

Very best,

Ian

MichelD
11-13-2007, 05:48 PM
You're welcome Ian.

It's always a pleasure.

Especially when this voice bellows "Nice shootin' Tex!" from the ditch the occasional time I hit one.

Sure enjoyed learning how to use the new/old A5 too.

Is that a telephoto you used for that picture? Makes that 300 yard dash through the muck look like a cakewalk!

Chuck
11-13-2007, 06:03 PM
I'd just like to complement you on a very nicely done report/account of your experience - and with pictures too. Congratulations!

Scottish Warrior
11-13-2007, 06:39 PM
Great pics, thanks for sharing Ian.

Ovis17
11-13-2007, 08:31 PM
Looks like a great trip. I've always wanted to mount a drake Harlequin. One of the few drake mounts I don't have.................

ianwuzhere
11-13-2007, 08:36 PM
good pix- looked fun. thanx for sharin..

Marc
11-13-2007, 08:42 PM
Was a great hunt Ian, the boat ride back was a different story :biggrin:. Hope to get the chance to share a buck or a goose blind with you again int he future.

Justin sent me some pictures and I'm waiting for him to finalize his membership so he can see what we're all about.

rishu_pepper
11-13-2007, 09:03 PM
Nice harleys, gonna mount them?

Always enjoy your stories Ian, looks like you guys had a great time! Next time let me in on the fun too :biggrin:

Crazy_Farmer
11-13-2007, 09:15 PM
I have very few 1st of species left, Cinnamon teal, cackler, lessers and brant being the only somewhat common ones in this part of the world. I can say this, as the list gets shorter each one becomes a bigger deal!

Should've said that eariler in the year as they already migrated through. Still got lots of lessers flying around, mostly with larger flocks of westerns. Buts its sure fun to shoot those little guys. As for the cacklers is this little enough for ya lol?? And pictures dont even give that good of a scale. A normal western we get are anywhere from 10-13 pounds, the lessers which is the bigger one around 5-7 pounds and the little cackler around 2-3 pounds. Have about a 2-3 foot wingspan though so in the air they still look kindof big except for the really short neck.

http://members.shaw.ca/stevensml/hunting/Oct14th4.jpg
http://members.shaw.ca/stevensml/hunting/Oct14th6.jpg

Dano
11-13-2007, 09:40 PM
Great photos Ian! Didn't know there were Harlequins so close to us.
I figured your list was getting small, something tells me the Brant will co-operate this year too:-D. Did I tell you I saw a Rudy duck a couple times out on the Pitt River (over 20 years ago). Tried to get it but it was always out of reach and I never fired a shot. Think I would opt for a pictures now though...
Good to hear you guys had a favorable responce from the kayaker. We had a visitor out at the marsh a few weeks back, a biologist who my partner recognized from meetings out in Delta. This guy was in a group that lobbied to get Burns Bog area shut down (it is closed now). I wonder what he was doing out our way...
We had a good mallard shoot saturday, saw Rick and he had a good morning too (he was going for an all drake shoot and was well into it when we talked).
Keep the photos coming, I'll try and get the camera out more often as I know my posts have been lacking them this year.
Dan

Scottish Warrior
11-13-2007, 10:57 PM
We had a visitor out at the marsh a few weeks back, a biologist who my partner recognized from meetings out in Delta. This guy was in a group that lobbied to get Burns Bog area shut down (it is closed now). I wonder what he was doing out our way...


This is more than a little concerning.........

Ian F.
11-14-2007, 09:12 AM
Thanks all for the kind words, certainly increases the enjoyment of the hunt when you can share it with friends.

To answer some questions..

Yes all of these birds will be mounted, some for me and some for friends to use as carving reference. Seems to me to be a great second life for such beautiful birds!

Crazy Farmer, a big part of the kick I get out of waterfowling is going on what I call quests. Part of the quest is doing it on my terms, almost always fumbling my own way. I could have easily booked a guide to go shoot a harely years ago, but that's not fun for me. I'd rather put in the time, carve the decoys and try my best on my own. What happens, at least for me is the journey is the most important part of the quest and success only closes the process. Maybe next year I'll start chasing the geese with a bit more earnest, but only time will tell!

Dano, lots of harleys on the island, and plenty on our coast as well, only issue is that you need to get away from the lower mainland as they don't like people and do like more isolated rocky areas. Always a chance on the Pitt as they breed and spend the summers on mountain rivers, so my guess is Pitt lake sees some every year. I've seen a few ruddys in BC, but I think I would wait until almost the last day to try and take one for a mount, that'd be the best chance for spring plummage versus the drab winter one they are in now. This year's brant season is awesome, two full weekends! I'll be out for 6 days minimum, can't wait!

Very best,

Ian

Sasquatch
11-14-2007, 12:17 PM
Great post Ian, I always enjoy your stories and wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing.

duckslayer
01-10-2008, 02:16 PM
WOW that would be a dream come true hunt for me harleys and burrows in the same hunt ,hope some day i can go out west on a quest myself
Slayer