Date: November 27th, 2005
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Hunters: Brett Beinke, Greg Owens, Gavin Owens, Jeff Bruns, Ryan Barthel and myself.
Gear: 7 Dozen Full Body Canada Decoys, A Box of Tungsten 1 shot, Layers of warm waterfowl patterned camo, Browning Gold Hunter, a Snicker’s Bar, Bottle of Mountain Dew, Short Reed Goose Calls (Mainly Zink) and a group of the most well rounded waterfowler hunter’s I know in Minnesota.
Weather: Raining and Foggy and in the low 20’s with a 5 mph wind from the NW
The Boys
A fond memory I have of this year gives a new meaning to the crème of the crop goose hunting. The boys from Broken Wing Outfitter invited me down for some pit hunting in Rochester, Minnesota. The Rochester vicinity located in south eastern Minnesota has a few perks like the Mississippi River boarding around the Grey Cloud Refuge and several fields outside that offer food sources and nutrients they crave once they wake up in the morning. Little and unexcpecting do these geese know that where about seven dozen life like decoys cover the fields there are some of the best callers and guides in the state hiding beneath the ground peering through the flip up tops in these pits. Talking to the geese with the short reed calls and flagging with an attractive spread create the perfect zone for some high quality goose hunting. This year the boys cleared over 1,000 geese for the entire season this fall between early, regular, and late season.
Down in the Pits
For anyone who has not experienced pit hunting the best way for me to summarize it is these pits are dug into the ground but create a hidden space comfortable to fit anywhere from a few hunters to over a dozen. Check your local state rules and regulations as some states have specific limits of hunters for pits. However often times you will see heaters in the pits to keep the hunters warm and even sometimes a cook to prepare your breakfast while you are waiting for the next flock to come in. Flip up top camouflage covers with a see through mesh top allow you to keep your eyes locked on the flocks and prepare for the main guide to set the buzzer off which allows the tops to flip open and the gun barrels raised and the shooting begins. That is when good marksmanship and reaction time really helps increase your percentages of harvests. It is very comfortable to hunt in pits and I would suggest it for first time hunters and veteran hunters who may find it difficult to hit the water or lay down in the field blinds. It is really truly the crème’ of the crop goose hunting and makes for a most enjoyable experience. It took me a bit to get use to what was going on but once I did I thought it was really neat and a unique way to waterfowl hunt.
Like Dad, Like Son
I also enjoyed Greg Owens’ adorable son, Gavin who had his plastic shotgun with him and starred at me for a while before he said one single word. Once I got him talking you could see the happiness and fun he was having being at his father’s side. Those are the type of memories we should be instilling into our youth. We also both had Snickers packed in both of our gear bags. (Great minds think alike!) Greg also has a young daughter that I look forward to hunting with next year as she complies with a pretty busy social schedule at her young ripe age….
Gratitude for Good Times
Often times it is hard to find men who are very welcoming and offer the equal respect in the field and water. I really enjoyed hunting with this diverse group of guys as they had extended the invitation to come down there and hunt. We shared so many stories and laughs that morning. The morning was a bit cold with mild raining sleet and an early thick blanket of fog all around us. As the fog began to lift the geese began to fly. We had switched into an adjacent field with pits that had already been limited out in the early morning. As we were hiking out to the pits several flocks of geese were checking out the spread and eager to slide in between the decoys. Once we got set up it only took a couple of nice flocks to limit out. When in doubt any type of hunting if one game plan isn’t working, switch it up and increase your odds of success and knowledge. You only learn from personal experience. I would like to extend my gratitude once again to the owner of Broken Wing, Jeff Bruns and my fellow hunting friends all members on Avery’s Prostaff; Greg Owens, Brett Beinke and Ryan Barthel. They are a great group of callers and know how to persuade those honkers and talk their language. Not to mention I had a great day of shooting and got my two geese limit out of one flock. I was pumped needless to say. Hope to come visit next year!
