By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bruceross@wi.rr.com
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s August, 2021 Newsletter edition.
Pam’s new Gator Trax, from ZMAX Waterfowl, as a fishing boat. This fall, it will become Bruce’s duck boat, with a Backwater longtail hung on the transom.
It’s been a quick and busy summer, hasn’t it? September will be on me before I even have a chance to build the blind on my new duck boat… errr, my wife’s new bass boat.
As mentioned last month, we were able to get likely the last (or maybe second to last) Gator Trax boat orderable/deliverable this year through ZMAX Waterfowl in Eagle. I was able to custom-order it in April, and receive it in July. I consider myself fortunate, given the state of the boat market today.
You’ll get a chance to see Brek and a few of his boats the end of this month at the EXPO. I’ll be bringing my homebuilt boat to the EXPO to compete in the “Show off your Rig” contests – and maybe Pam’s new Gator Trax, too. It’s a 1554, flat bottom, and in what little free time I’ve had since its arrival, I’m customizing it further, with an initial focus on amenities (in a duck boat?) and fishing to support my extended family’s planned vacation in the Northwoods early in the month.
But I’m not going to get much fishing time since it’s only…
23 Days and counting…
…until the inaugural Waterfowl Hunters EXPO kicks off in Oshkosh on Saturday, August 28th. With all the media coverage we are getting (to be expanded even more in the next weeks), you’d have to be under a rock not to know about the EXPO. Advance ticket sales are up dramatically, we are down to our last few available booths, and our rock-solid activity line-up is, well, rock solid. It’s cheap enough at $10 for entry (no parking fee either!), but we will be extending the buy-one-get-one free entry promotion for another couple of days. Act quick if you want to take advantage. Wanna get in free? Volunteer for half a day, get some free chow and a hat too.
Bring your buddy (either two legged or four-), bring your family (youth zone activities), and bring your own rig to show off!
And it won’t be long before you can unsheathe your shotgun, since it’s only…
27 Days and Counting…
… until early teal season, when the DNR says we will see more blue wing teal than last year (4% more, if their estimates are accurate). Even if you don’t hunt this early season, it’s a sure sign of the approaching regular season. Some good news on that front, too – Woodie numbers are up an astounding 31%! While Geese are up too (3%), the mallard estimates show a decline of 5%. Overall, and despite the dry weather we had this spring, the DNR reports the WI duck total count is up 7%. And slowly, the drought conditions are improving across the state. Here’s the latest drought monitor map:
See on the water!