9/26/73 Raining when we got up. We went ahead with packing and putting island away anyway. I decided to burn off frustration by hauling load of stuff. Did. Used tarp and nothing too wet. Came back after Layna and we took another load about 4:30. Stopped at Amidons’ for goodbye drink. Layna stayed at #265 while I went back for 3rd time. A couple of very, very tired old people tonight, altho a very satisfying day.
9/27/73 A few bluebills down and we set out decoys for Opal. She got 2 bluebills while I got 3 mallards jump shooting. Wayne paddling in stern. Much excitement when Wayne made 5 “sound shots” at crippled mallard. He named creek “Quacking Duck Creek.” What a man to show such enthusiasm with such a damnable handicap! Last year I wrote that Opal, Wayne and I all realized that that would be our last year of hunting together. Now I think he will outlast both of us. He is 72 which gives me great hope for my own future.
9/28/73 Set out decoys and then sat, and sat. No ducks and Opal kept asking, “Why?” No answer. A dead calm morning, fall coloring at its height. Reflection across bay absolutely spectacular. Wayne and I jump shooting - and got 1 teal. Opal got 2 bluebills alone. On to Funnel where I shot 2 mallards and 2 bluebills. Back to Happy Shack. Hot! Home by 5:00. Called Layna. Full of good talk. She had had a busy 2 days highlighted by partridge flying thru bedroom window. We ate him for supper.
9/29/73 Off for Red Lake at noon. Fall coloring spectacular. Arrived at Willie Good’s at 4:30. I put on hip boots and hiked over muddy plowing to end of Willie’s field. Quite a number of geese in area. Some flew by in shotgun range. Back to farm at 6:30 just as Williams and Raymans pulled in. Big reunion. Much planning for tomorrow. George Rayman has purchased camp from George Williams. I am glad it is still in “family” altho I seriously doubt if I will ever hunt there again.
9/30/73 Slept in until 8:00 and all hands up for big breakfast prepared by Maria. Eggs served in true Mexican style. The six of us piled into George’s car and off for Kee-Wa-Say. We scouted area thoroly and were a bit amazed at scarcity of ducks. No geese. Drove on to outlet where we bought our permits at $25.00 a crack. The Red Lake Band have taken upon themselves to make a few hunting regulations of their own. Minnesota says no hunting tomorrow until noon and a 4:00 closing for full season. Indians say we can start at daylight tomorrow and hunt until dark for full season.
10/1/73 We were at our posts long before daylight. At first signs of pink in east, we heard geese coming. They paid no attention to the decoys or to George’s calling. I shot 2 honkers alone and doubled up on a snow goose with G.W. A small flock landed in far end of field and G.R. and I decided on a sneak. After more than an hour of maneuvering, we flushed them. They were closer to me and I downed a big honker. On way back to stand, a bunch of six flew behind us and I knocked down another. George didn’t shoot.
10/2/73 Back to goose pass at daylight. Yesterday’s shooting must have wised them up because very few came in low enough for a scratch shot. Took safety off many, many times, however, in anticipation. The three girls to Thief River Falls and had a good time. Layna bought a set of dishes. No criticism from me, she deserves them. The idea of having the three women in camp is great for the hunters all domestic chores taken care of. I am not so sure that it is such a great deal for them.
10/3/73 Out on goose pass again before daylight and altho birds still plentiful, they were wilder than ever. No luck. Against protests of others we decided to come home after lunch. Thus endeth my goose hunting for 1973 and maybe forever. No regrets. P.S. I used my 20 gauge with #6 shot to get the few birds brought into camp. Paper said that opening was poorest ever in Minnesota. How damned lucky I am to be able to look back on the “olden days”.
10/4/73 Layna took me to landing and off for island by 10:00. Checked with Clarks and learned that Eileen, Carla and Dana had had one helluva time in yesterday’s storm. Lost a small boat. Dan feuding with Dana and refused to ask him for a damned bit of help. We pulled out Duretek boat, took off motor (a pig) drained plumbing, put up shutters. Then Dan decided to look for lost boat. We found it on Dahlbergs Island - sunk. Had one helluva time getting it up and home.
10/5/73 Layna and I to island at 10:30. Our project to pull out Starcraft. After taking out all loose equipment, including windshield, I made a quick run around island. It ran like a scared deer. Lord, how I hated to pull it out! Well, it hated to come out. We ran into a number of complications, mainly in trying to keep stern drive off ground. It is a long time since Don & Layna tackled a project like this together and it was great. We had it up on blocks and engine drained by 5:00. Decided to come home. We dozed by TV until 9:00 and gave up. Tired but full of a sense of accomplishment.
10/6/73 Off for island before 7:00 a.m. Made a rather elaborate frame work for cover on Starcraft. Discovered there was no way I could put plastic tarp over it alone. Wind wrapped me up in it instead of boat. Gave up. Finished draining plumbing and back to 265 by 1:30. Wind went down by 3:30 so Layna and I took off for island. We had no problems in putting covering on boat. It looks like a well wrapped Xmas package. When we left island our only cargo was 6 glass plates. I would say we are completely moved.
10/7/73 Trouble in middle east. The Jews and Arabs in almost all out war - or are we again being deceived by the news media? Wishful thinking on my part because I am so fully aware of what a war will do to our well-ordered lives. Well ordered, and today lazy. Read paper and watched 2 football games. Layna washed windows and gave hedge a much needed clipping. Football is the one facet of our lives where we don’t see eye to eye. It does not create a problem, however, each does his own thing.
10/8/73 Dennis Clark left his bicycle in our shed. I took it out for a little spin this a.m. To Birch Point and then on around loop to Point O’ Pines. It went so well that I decided to go up the lake after lunch. No problem.
10/9/73 Last night Layna dug into deep freeze and brought out 7 ducks to be used in tonight’s dinner for Buck, Dale and kids. A good visit with the family. It is good to have them near. Jayme and Terry gone. Buck and Dale will soon be alone. So goes it. Wrote to Browns.
10/10/73 Left Judys at 9:00. Light rain. To NW Bay and Happy Shack by 10:30. Ducks darned scarce. Wayne shot a bluebill all by himself - that made his hunting season. What a goddamn pitiful deal this is, altho he doesn’t complain.
10/11/73 A full day of hunting before us. We should have stood in bed. We ran at least 7 miles, much of it thru prime duck country, lots of wild rice and didn’t see a single duck! Incredible. I was standing up in boat looking for an otter we had seen and Wayne started motor wide open in gear. I fell backwards and landed on gas tank. I am sure at least one rib is cracked. It hurts.
10/12/73 Despite a howling SW wind and a spattering of rain, we were out again at daylight. We did not see one eating duck! Back to Happy Shack, did a few odd jobs and off for home at 10:30. The first wave that hit us as we rounded point flew completely over us. “I am not going!” Opal shouted. Well, we went and she did not abandon ship, altho she must have considered it. A rough crossing. Home by 1:30. Glad to get there before Layna could start worrying. Nixon announced Gerald Ford as his candidate for VP.
10/13/73 Bill White and Bud King pulled in to 265 at 11:15. Layna fed us lunch and before it was over, I could tell that King was my kind of guy. Picked up Gerry Armstrong and at Crawford’s at 3:00. All (except me) eager at prospect of getting our limit of ducks. Damned few ducks, wind strong from west. Back to Wee Mando at dark. one bluebill, one merganser the total bag. No matter. Good food, drink, companionship. Sang and talked till midnight. My back giving me hell. Maybe I should have stayed home.
10/14/73 Out at daylight. Bud and I in blind, Gerry and Bill shagging. A calm, foggy morning. We didn’t see ever one damned duck. Conversation great, with no interruptions. Bud, a rich man’s son (Watkins Products) has been everywhere and done everything. Cuba, Bahamas, Peru, Panama, Africa, Australia, New Zealand - name it and he has been there - hunting or fishing. No bragging, all very casual. My back giving me hell.
