Authorized capturing time arrives and we’re prepared for motion. A small flight of buffleheads go by out of vary adopted by a few bluebills. The subsequent group of 5 bluebills spots our decoys and swings towards us. My searching associate, Bob Boychyn, drops the lead hen and I’m in a position to take a second bluebill.
Wingmen Guiding proprietor Adrian Taylor sends out his four-year-old Chesapeake, Max, who retrieves the primary hen after which returns to the water to seek out the second. Because the retriever returns to the blind, a single bufflehead rockets by at 30 yards. We each shoot and miss, however I’m simply completely satisfied the birds are flying.
What The Bay presents
Earlier within the morning whereas we have been driving all the way down to Belleville and the Bay of Quinte, we voiced our apprehension about how the early November migration of geese had been progressing. We have been booked in every week earlier for a late-October hunt, however Taylor instructed we defer due to the marginally later than regular arrival of divers. We have been happy to listen to that the final couple of days had provided nice looking for his purchasers.
The Bay of Quinte is positioned lower than two hours east of Toronto on an extended, slim inland bay of Lake Ontario. From Trenton within the west, the bay extends east to Belleville and Deseronto after which turns south in direction of Picton. With quite a few totally different ramps scattered all through the bay, there are a number of searching places primarily based on various wind circumstances and hen behaviour.
Taylor’s boat, a 20-foot Crestliner Retriever, doubles as a blind and gives easy accessibility to a wide range of searching spots. Small islands, peninsulas, marshy bays, and closely treed shorelines are all selection places for a morning hunt.
The proper set-up
Our boat is positioned on the finish of a small level of land in a few foot of water with shoreline bushes 10 toes behind us. A Beavertail folding blind with grass matting gives good camouflage because it fully covers the highest of the boat. The openings within the prime of the blind enable hunters to face up when capturing — as many as 4 hunters may be accommodated, with loads of room for gear. Our 100-plus decoy unfold enhances our set-up.
It’s been 20 minutes since our final duck, so we’re prepared for extra. The wind is 15 kilometres out of the west and the temperature is rising to five ̊C. It’s the primary week in November, so we’re not going to complain concerning the climate.
Two flights of bluebills go inside 100 yards, however they don’t veer. A single whistler surprises us from the wrong way, almost flying previous earlier than banking and instantly approaching. My searching associate makes a pleasant 20-yard shot and Max finishes off with an enthusiastic retrieve.
An hour into the hunt, we have now six birds, a few buffleheads, three bluebills, and a goldeneye. Good numbers of geese, together with mallards, are shifting backwards and forwards, so we determine to be a little bit bit selective and go on the buffleheads.
Mallard time
A couple of minutes later, we let two buffleheads go by means of the decoys after which I hear Taylor imitating a mallard. Identical to that, three northern mallards cup their wings. I miss my shot, however my buddy drops a pleasant drake.
It’s getting near 10 a.m. and the geese proceed to fly. Taylor begins the mallard name and he coaxes a drake into 40 yards for me. Max is extraordinarily happy with himself when he deposits the hen at our toes.
“Another duck and we’ll have our restrict and be prepared to go again in for breakfast,” stated Boychyn.
My expertise
Taylor has been working Wingmen Guiding for 9 years and has constructed a stable popularity. His excessive share of repeat purchasers is a testomony to his exhausting work and productiveness.
Throughout conversations previous to our hunts, Taylor all the time knowledgeable me about his each day scouting actions and the altering patterns of flights of various species of geese. We all the time had a main in addition to back-up spots. Wingmen additionally tries to match the hunt to the kind of expertise the purchasers are searching for.
It’s been an important day with Wingmen Guiding and I’m already trying ahead to subsequent fall. Simply to be on the secure facet, I’ve already requested Max to remain in form for subsequent yr.
Species & hunts provided:
- Beginning in late September, Taylor has entry to small ponds within the Madoc/Tweed space for wooden geese and mallards.
- Area hunts for Canada geese may be organized.
- In direction of the tip of October on the Bay of Quinte, the bluebill migration begins with redheads shifting in in direction of the tip of the primary week in November. Goldeneye (whistlers) begin to migrate within the second week of November. Mallards, widgeon, and pintails transfer by means of persistently, particularly earlier within the season. Looking lasts till freeze-up, or concerning the first weekend in December.
Getting there: Take Freeway 401 to Belleville
Value: Base price is $250 per hunter for teams of two to 4
Lodging: Resorts and B&Bs may be present in Belleville
Contact: Adrian Taylor 613-743-4820
Initially revealed within the Nov.-Dec. 2020 version of Ontario OUT of DOORS.
