Australian Waterfowler
Transcription
Australian Waterfowler
February 2014 | Issue 1 Inside This Issue 2 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 Welcome to the first issue of Australian Waterfowler, an e-mag aimed squarely at those who venture into the field in pursuit of the waterfowl species that can be taken throughout the Victorian Duck Season. Produced by the Fowl Talkers, we will bring you monthly issues from February through to June that will cover off all things waterfowl. Regular regional wrap-ups, techniques and tips, a monthly destination, product reviews and competitions all await within each issue, as well as the opportunity to brush up on any current issues at a broader level. Duck hunting is a legitimate activity undertaken by an ever-increasing number of people in Victoria. Hunter numbers have grown on an average of 8% per year for the last three years, and with advances in technology, we are now seeing more and more equipment available to duck hunters to increase their chances of becoming successful. The Australian Waterfowler e-mag will provide a way of keeping your finger on the pulse as to what is happening during the Victorian Duck Hunting season. As we write this, the South Australian Duck Season is less than a week away! Surprisingly, the overall bag has been reduced to 10 birds per hunter and a 2 bird limit per day has been placed on Mountain Duck. Blue-Wing Shoveler cannot be taken in SA in 2014. Reports suggest a high number of birds on the Watervalley Wetlands. The Lower Lakes region is also holding big numbers of ducks, while the ever reliable Riverland is holding good numbers of the resident wood and black ducks. While looking promising, the Riverland’s biggest concern will be having enough guns to keep the birds from settling in the quieter spots. If you have never hunted South Australia before we strongly urge you to obtain a SA game licence and get over there and give it a crack. Every South Australian game licence bought goes a long way to securing the future of duck hunting in SA. In Victoria, it’s drying out fast due to the hot weather we have experienced in late January and February. Do not despair though, as the remaining water is holding a huge amount of waterfowl! Some pre-season rain would be a God-send, but if it does not eventuate it will be time to turn our attention to the larger water storages. It was great to see environmental water flow into Hirds and McDonalds Swamps and there should be more of it right around Victoria. The South West and the Gippsland region are holding the most water and birds than the rest of the state and would be a great place to start scouting. Check out the Regional Wrap Up for more information on all the Victorian regions as well as South Australia. We are also approaching the Field and Game Duck Fever Nights that will be held in March where you can hear the results of the waterfowl counts Regional Wrap Up Technique Talk Feature Story Monthly Destination In The blind Bag Hunt & Cook Readers Article Snap Shots Competition Classifieds and stock up on any gear if there is something you might not yet have. The dates are as follows: Frankston: Friday 28th Febuary Sunshine: Monday 3rd March Port Phillip: Tuesday 4th March Bendigo/ Moe, Morwell & Traralgon: Wednesday 5th March Geelong: Thursday 6th March Sale: Friday 7th March At this point, it is important to remember that scouting pays dividends. Members of FGA are conducting waterfowl counts as we type, however, we should never forget that our waterfowl are not shy of flying large distances, so it helps to get out in the field with your hunting crew, and do some preliminary study, even though we are some 4 weeks away from the Victorian opening. At the very least, you will gain some valuable information on wetlands that you may wish to hunt on a whim throughout the season. We sincerely hope that you find good value in this first edition of Australian Waterfowler. Turn to Page 11 for the regular-feature Snap Shots Photo Competition, offering some great prizes for the winning photo Yours in Australian Waterfowling, Fowl Talkers South West A magical sunrise over one of the South-Westís notoriously open lakes While other parts of the state are drying up rapidly, the South West is still looking like a reliable option for the 2014 duck season. The popular haunts of the 2013 season, Lake Lonsdale and Lake Bolac, are still holding good numbers of birds, however Lonsdale is currently sitting at 16% capacity and is quite low. Moving closer to Horsham, Taylors Lake is sitting at 67% capacity and has a large number of Blackies, Woodies and Mountain Duck, as well as the odd Grey Teal. Further south the large open water lakes such as Cundare Pools, Lake Toolirook and Lake Colac are all holding reasonable amounts of water and ducks, however the majority of them are Pink Ear. The ever reliable Reedy Lake in Geelong is currently around 70% full and is holding a large number of birds. Across the Barwon river, Hospital Swamp is also holding a good number of birds, however it is drying rapidly. North East Blackies through the timber - it doesn’t get much better. The relentless hot weather over the last month has taken a serious toll on the North East and prospects are looking fairly poor due to the number of dry lakes and swamps throughout the region. However if you are willing to work hard for your birds there is still some great hunting to be had on large water storages. Lake Hume would have to be the pick of the locations with large numbers of Hardhead, Woodies and Blackies being reported. Lake Eildon is also holding a number of birds and if you can find a nice backwater there is some great shooting to be had. Scouting is the key on these big water storages so don’t be afraid to load up the boat with fuel and go for a good, long look. Lake Cooper near Corop is holding a large number of birds in mixed species however it is extremely low. The rivers and creeks in the North East will provide you with the most consistent shooting in this region. North West The North West still has a number of options available for the 2014 season. Most of you would be aware that environmental flows have gone into both Hirds and McDonalds Swamp State Game Reserves. McDonalds still has water but is drying quickly, however there is a large amount of all species present on the reserve. Unfortunately though, if this hot weather pattern continues it will be unlikely to hold water for duck Opening. On the other hand, Hirds has received a “top up” environmental flow and will hold water for the entire season. When we scouted it in late January it was holding in excess of 15,000 game birds of every species and was the true definition of a duck swamp! It is important to note that Hirds is an extremely popular reserve and we suggest it will be very busy on opening weekend with hunters and greenies to boot. Woolshed Swamp in Boort is still holding a good amount a water and reasonable amount of birds of most game species. Both the Gunbower Creek and Little Murray are going to prove to be consistent options for hunters in the North West with plenty of Woodies, Blackies and Teal always on offer and 2014 will be no different. 2 Teal have been the predominate species in the North-West Gippsland Well let’s just hope the 2014 season in Gippsland is half as good as what the 2013 season was, if so we will be in for some awesome hunting down there. Due to the large estuary systems that make up the Gippsland lakes region, the hot weather that has affected the rest of the state has not had the same detrimental impact on the Gippsland region. The McLennan Straits is looking good with plenty of waterfowl present along the swamplands. Both Dowdes and the Heart Morass are holding water and plenty of ducks. The big open waters of Lake Wellington and Lake Victoria are also holding a large amount of Chestnut Teal and the odd Hardhead, however they also require a lot of scouting to find where they are hiding. South Australia With the South Australian opening now less than a week away, we can now get an accurate idea of how the opening is going to perform and from what we have seen, it is going to be a ripper! Tolderol Game Reserve on the edge of Lake Alexandrina looks great with Black Duck and Teal being the predominate species. Water levels are good and if you can get into the shallow backwaters you are in for a great hunt. The Riverina up around Loch Luna Game Reserve is also looking impressive with large amounts of resident Wood Ducks and plenty of Blackies and Teal mixed in. Lake George is also holding a good number of waterfowl but they are mostly Mountain Duck and it could prove a risky prospect with only the two Mountain Duck allowed in the bag. According to locals, the infamous Water Valley Wetlands is “black” with birds so all those attending should be in for an awesome opening! Advertise Here Contact us at [email protected] to advertise in this space 3 A natural phenomenon, not the stuff that turns giant turbines providing energy to households and businesses throughout Australia, but the stuff that influences how a duck will commit to a decoy spread and seek shelter from the elements. Wind is one of the biggest factors that will effect your waterfowling on any given day. The reasons for this are many and varied and we will cover them off in this month’s “Technique Talk”. The A380 aeroplane is a technologically advanced and well designed plane, though with all these bells and whistles, it still canít defy nature. Planes, like our waterfowl, must land into the wind. Whether it ís a world class engine, or an Australasian Blue Wing Shoveller, the power has to come off at some point, and as the wings are cupped and the feet come down, our waterfowl rely on that headwind to allow them to aerodynamically guide them to their landing position. So, we are comfortable with the fact that ducks must land into the wind, and we assume that we are hunting them over decoys, so in an ideal world, the wind should always be at the hunters back, forcing any incoming birds to present their vital organs as exposed areas to the shot. Not only will the wind at your back make for a more enjoyable decoying experience, it will ultimately result in cleaner kills. The other drawcard in relation to the wind comes down to science. Picture a perfectly circular lake 2km in diameter (below). As the wind blows from north to south, the water is effected by it. At the north, the water is only slightly effected by the wind, and will generally remain calm, but ripples will start to form and head south. From there, energy is transferred to form longer and taller waves. As the waves grow, the wind begins to push directly on the windward side of the wave, transferring even more energy. If the wind blows for long enough these taller waves may gain enough energy to whitecap or break, spilling energy back into the wave system. So back at the south end of our lake, the wind has played havoc with the water for some 2km, building its force and creating choppy water that is by now forming waves at the southern end. The larger the distance, the rougher the water gets, as the wind imparts its energy over longer distances. At the north end, we have an area of water with relatively little movement, as the wind has not had the ability to create sloppy conditions. At the south though, the water has been pushed along by the wind for some 2kms, getting rougher as it goes. Ducks don’t like to surf, they’d much rather rest or feed in calmer and sheltered areas. It pays to keep this in mind when selecting a hunting location. You will always be better placed hunting in areas that are sheltered, the ducks are more likely to fly through the vicinity in their search for a peaceful area, and you will be more likely to convince them that your decoys are where they want to be. You will often hear people talking about Dirty Duck Weather or Ducky Days, these are the days where nature shows us who is boss, where the wind howls and the water is unforgiving. These days are often when you will experience the best duck hunting, leave the boat at home if it ís unsafe, and head to the sheltered waters, you won’t be disappointed. Ducks will always land into the wind The drawing above represents the lake mentioned in the technique talk article. On a northerly wind, the water at the northern end will be calmest, and the water at the southern end will be roughest. It always pays to keep the effect of wind on your hunting location in mind. 4 Silver Linings, they are always there. Back in November of 2012, as I was scaling a snapper after a successful morning, I inevitably spiked myself on the dorsal fin of that particular fish. Unbeknownst to me, a 5 millimetre piece of fin was now lodged into my right middle finger. After an x-ray and ultrasound, I was booked in for an operation that would see me going under for a couple of hours while it was removed, only problem was that it would be smack bang in the middle of duck season 2013. 5 months and 5 stitches later, I had my middle finger taped up and in pain while reports of ducks in the south-west of the state were filtering through. The doctor had granted me one week of sick leave, so after allowing the 24 hours for the anaesthetic to wear off, I made plans with Jacob Wade and Justin Azzopardi to go and hunt one of the regions infamous volcanic lakes the next morning, with the intention of filming a good hunt for the Fowl Talkers DVD, “It’s an Obsession”. The alarm startled me at 2:30am, and I wondered why I could never bounce out of bed to go to work, but had no issue waking up to drive a few hours during duck season. The car had been packed the night before and we met along the way at the BP before the Avalon Airport. It was great to see Jacobís dad Steven had also made the trip down. A line of banter aired across the UHF as the odometer reading went up. The lake we were hunting this morning had seen an influx of birds early on in the season, and with it, some increased hunting pressure. Having previously scouted the area, Jacob secured access through private property, and assured us there were good numbers of ducks. The only problem was getting to them. Like most southwest wetlands, there was minimal cover and the water was shallow around the edges. Iíve mentioned in the introduction that advances in technology have placed duck hunters in a better position to become more successful, and this hunt would see three guns hunting out of layout blinds while working the camera from another concealed position. Jacob has written a review of the Cabelas Northern Flight layout blind, which you can find on page 7. Arriving at the farmers gate, we quietly made our way through to the edge of the lake, and hauled some 80 mountain duck silhouettes, two spinning wing decoys, 3 layout blinds and 120 odd full bodied decoys to our desired position. Two things that make for an awesome openwater hunt are foul weather and big decoy spreads. The latter we had, but the bad weather was totally up to the Bureau Of Maybeology, and whether they had predicted it right. Quickly we got to work, taking the conditions into account, and accordingly setting our positions and decoy spread. The silhouettes add realism to any spread, but also double up to make great concealment for the guns waiting in the layout blinds. The water was no more than an inch in depth, and the closest decoys were placed in the thin sheet of water as they were not able to float. With the landing zone created, and the blinds positioned to take advantage of it, we were set. I was first on the camera while Jacob, Justin and Steve got comfortable in the layout blinds. Tonka and Angus, Justinís and Jacobís Labrador retrievers, were positioned alongside, without complaint. The first shots rattled off on the main lake, and almost immediately a lone teal alerted us to itís arrival, it came from the direction of the main water body. A quick chuckle on the teal call saw it cup its wings and zoom down for a closer look. The shot was called and it was taken quite easily at no more than 25 metres. Tonka was up to the job and brought the bird back to hand. As it became light, it was evident that the weather was not following instructions, and what ensued was a 5 very still morning, with spasmodic shooting by hunters on the lake. There was large numbers of birds, but they were in plain view in the middle of the lake, undisturbed. The un-missable honks of a small group of mountain duck brought our minds to the task at hand. Three birds were slowly gliding in from the left, and with both Justin and Jacob feverishly calling, they committed to their fate. Three guns arose from the low-profile layout blinds and put the birds to rest. The dogs were having a field day, with the open, shallow water providing easy retrieves. It quietened off a little bit, but not for long as a large flock of some 1,000 mountain ducks dropped into the lake from a great height displaying the aerial acrobatics they are renowned for. In the south west, one species that you can always rely on is the mountain duck. The cropping and dairy farms in the area provide ample food for their feeding habits. While we were unable to convince any of the initial flock that our silhouettes were where they wanted to be, the fall-out of the extra influx of birds soon came to fruition. Small groups and pairs began working the decoys, making for excellent hunting and footage. For a while, it was consistent mountain duck hunting, and the calling by Jacob and Justin was faultless. After Jacob had bagged his tenth with an excellent shot on a lone, high overhead honker he was onto the camera, and it was my turn in the layout blinds with Justin and Steven. Immediately, we spotted a lone teal over on the left, again hard at the calling, we brought it into range and it wasnít until I rose to take the shot that it flared upwards and over the dry land, a single shot brought it down to earth. When hunting out of layout blinds, it is important to know that your firing zone is somewhat restricted given that you are essentially firing from a sitting position. Right-handers will have more range of movement to the left side of their body, some 65 degrees, and about 25 degrees to the right. For Left-Handers, it is opposite. It pays to keep this in mind when setting the layout blinds in position, and it is always more helpful to have the layout blind set at an angle to the ducksí approach, placing the bulk of your range of movement over the kill zone. When the wind picked up the teal started moving As the weather remained calm, we were beginning to think it was not going to be the hunt we had hoped for, however the hunting was consistent given the conditions. We were now steadily filling the bag with a mixture of mountain duck and the odd grey teal. In what seemed like an instant, the wind began to rise. It was what we had hoped for. We saw the white caps forming on the main lake, yet our position remained sheltered. With it, began a rising waterline as the water moved across the lake with the now buffeting winds. Luckily the waterproof bottom of the layout blinds allowed us to hunt in the shallow water now surrounding us. seemed like an eternity, before falling to the sound of two shots from Justin and Steven. A count at this point had us two shy of our bag, and it was completed with style. Two mountain duck came from straight in front of us at a decent height. They were called and began to show interest, heading to the left to bank into the wind. The calling continued and they had just turned to drop in when they caught wind of what was happening. With the flick of a wing, they started to turn back and the shot was called. We rose from our positions and fired, taking the two birds, which both landed simultaneously in the kill zone. In no time, the action increased. We were now calling grey teal and mountain ducks at the same time as both species were seeking the sheltered water. Teal were working the decoys and committing with ease, and the mountain duck were wanting to land amongst their silhouetted friends. With that, we began the long task of packing up the large amount of gear we had amassed. Added to the gear were 40 birds that would be turned into sausages and schnitzels and the teal, slow cooked. It was a hard task marching all of the gear back, but at the very least, it might do some good for the waist line. Silver linings, they are always there! The highlight was a set of 3 grey teal that tested our calling for what Angus on the way back to the blind with a grey teal. Jacob waiting patiently, with Angus keeping watch. 6 A beautiful sunset over Lake Kanagulk Lake Kanagulk State Game Reserve is located in western Victoria approximately 15km north of Balmoral and is around 430 ha in size. It is a freshwater marsh that when full has an average depth of around 1 metre. It is a beautiful wetland with dead timber scattered throughout and a dense covering of cane grass which creates small open water patches throughout the swamp. This dense cover creates the ultimate habitat for most of our waterfowl with abundant food and plenty of shelter. Pacific Black Duck and Grey Teal are the most common species however it is not uncommon to see the odd wood duck or mountain duck later in the morning when they have finished grazing in the surrounding farm land, so it always worth hanging around just that little bit longer. It pays to scout properly to get a real idea of bird numbers on this lake. It pays to have a good hard look around the entire wetland when scouting, it as the cane grass can often hide the true number of birds on the wetland and good numbers might go unseen. A variety of hunting methods can be employed however the use of decoys and callers is the most effective. Due to the small size of the open water there is not a need for large decoy spreads, a dozen decoys is ample. The cane grass and dead timber provide enough cover if you stay still, and with a little bit of calling you will bring the birds within range. Due to the shallow depth of the swamp and the large amounts of vegetation it makes sneak boats the ideal method of transport as outboard props will constantly get tangled in the weed. For those without decoys or callers, hunting from a sneak boat can provide 7 some good jump shooting as often the cane grass will hide your approach. As always, hunter safety is a major factor. Make sure you know the location of other hunters around you and allow the bird to reach a safe height above the water before pulling the trigger. The lake itself is not filled by any creeks or rivers so it requires a large rainfall event in order to fill this wetland. As a result it does not always hold water. When full, it is well worth the journey as there are always a few resident blackies present as well as the odd yabby or two if you are lucky. Shooting a bag of ducks is only half the experience when it comes to a swamp like this and you will be hard pressed to find a more ìduckyî looking wetland over in the west than Lake Kanagulk State Game Reserve. The Cabelas Northern Flight Ultimate Layout Blind Layout blinds have been in the American waterfowlerís arsenal for a long period of time, however Australian hunters are only just learning of the success these low profile blinds can provide. Layout blinds are extremely versatile and can be used on large open water bodies with no cover, as well open paddocks and even swamps on occasion. The benefit of using a layout blind over the traditional pit hides or hessian blinds is that they provide you with a lower profile, meaning the ducks are less likely to spot you on their approach. They also offer shelter from the elements and a provide cleaner hunting environment with less mud! However the ultimate benefit of the layout blind is its mobility. If the birds are pitching in another 100 metres down from your position, you can just pick up the blind and be ready to hunt again in minutes. Hunting from a layout blind can be quite challenging initially, with the hunter needing to throw open the doors and sit up before shooting at the target. Timing is everything when it comes to hunting out of these blinds. When you have birds coming into the decoy spread it pays to sit up and shoot that little bit earlier than usual so you can still take an incoming shot. If the bird flares before you have opened the doors, it is too late. Once you have this timing sorted, you will never go back to a muddy hole again. The Cabelas Northern Flight Ultimate Layout Blind is a top of the line layout blind that allows the hunter to shoot in comfort, in turn increasing your chances of getting your bag of ducks. It has a lightweight aluminium frame with easy to release doors and a comfortable padded backrest. It is made out of 600-denier polyester with a weather-resistant PVC backing which makes it extremely durable and will keep you sheltered in even the harshest of conditions. There is also a 10 inch high PVC bottom which allows the blind to be placed in shallow water, keeping you dry. The standout feature of this blind however, is the space within. You do not feel cramped at all and there is plenty of room to allow the hunter to rise up and shoot. The extra room means there is plenty of places to put shells and other hunting equipment to keep them dry and out of the weather as well as yourself. A layout blind is a worthy investment for any waterfowler. Itwill provide you with a lot more opportunities to shoot waterways that previously may have been unable to be hunted due to the lack of cover. Once you have hunted out of a layout blind for the first time, you will never want to dig a pit or try and stake out a hessian blind in the hard ground again. A mixed bag of ducks taken out of the Cabelas Northern Flight Ultimate Layout Blind. Advertise Here Contact us at [email protected] to advertise in this space 8 Sponsored By Wild Duck Rissoto Ingredience • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1.5Liters (6-8 cups) duck stock or chicken stock. 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil 1 large brown onion, halved and diced 1 ripe tomato, diced 2 cups Arborio rice 70g (1/2 cup) frozen or fresh peas ¼ cup cream 4 whole porcini mushrooms (or normal mushrooms if no porcini available) 2 whole Wild Roasted ducks( shredded) Salt & freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup grated parmesan 1 whole orange zest (optional) ¼ bunch flat leaf parsley (chopped) 10grams butter Step 1 (Roasting the Duck) 1. Pre heat oven to 200/220c. 2. Dry the duck with paper towel for a crispier skin. (if possible leave duck uncovered in refrigerator to dry skin out for a few hours) 3. Ensure the end of the duck is open to allow even cooking. (if cooking whole) Never stuff the duck as it prevents even cooking. Instead, place your herbs, zest of orange or garlic inside the cavity for a nice aroma while the duck is cooking. 4. Place duck on a roasting tray. 5. Season with sea salt, freshly ground pepper and (some olive oil,optional) 6. Roast until golden brown then remove duck from oven and leave to rest for 20 mins. 7. Separate bone from duck meat and shred or dice. Step 2 -Place stock in a saucepan. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. Simmer until needed Step 3 -Meanwhile, heat oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium-high heat. Add brown onion, and mushrooms. Cook stirring for 3 minutes or until softened and translucent but not coloured. Add rice. Cook stirring for 2 minutes or until rice is hot. Add two ladles of hot stock to the rice, Bring to the boil. Cook stirring for 3 minutes or until liquid has almost evaporated. Add a pinch of salt and pepper at this stage, Reduce heat to low. Add 1 ladle stock to rice. Cook stirring until liquid has absorbed. Repeat with remaining stock mixture, 1 ladle at a time until rice is cooked. Step 4 Stir in grated parmesan, diced tomato, chopped parsley, orange zest, roasted duck pieces, peas, cream, and salt and pepper, Serve immediately with shaved parmesan on top. For Authentic Italian Dinning head to 369 Victoria Street, West Melbourne. 9 READER’S ARTICLE WIN A $50 GUN EMPORIUM VOUCHER! The Australian Waterfowler is giving readers the opportunity to contribute to the magazine through the Reader’s Article segment. The segment is proudly sponsored by Gun Emporium and the winning article will see the author win a $50 voucher to spend at Gun Emporium. You can write about anything waterfowl related whether it be a hunting story, opinion piece or just a useful tip you have picked up along the way. Stories should be between 400-800 words and include at least two relevant photos. Authors may send in one article per month. Please send all entries to [email protected]. Sponsored By 10 ary Febru r e Winn Teaka bringing back a nice Wood Duck from the 2013 Duck Opening. Congratulations to Andrew Jeffery for winning the $50 Gun Emporium Voucher The Snap Shots Competition is proudly sponsord by The monthly Snap Shots competition is open to all readers. Simply email your picture with a caption to [email protected] and the winning entry will be announced in the next issue. The winning photographer will receive a $50 Gun Emporium Voucher. Each entry is valid only for one month. 11 The Australian Waterfowler is also offering readers the chance to advertise any personal items that they wish to sell. Whether it be decoys, clothing, duck punts or just any items you no longer have use for, you can advertise them here. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have something you wish to place in the classifieds section. About Us Website: www.fowltalkers.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/FowlTalkers E-mail: [email protected] Contact us for enquiries regarding advertising within Australian Waterfowler. 12