October 15-25-2009
Burr, Saskatchewan, Canada
Robert Blackford (AKA The Colonel)
Scott Cummings (AKA Smoothie)
Greg Whitteker (AKA Half Empty)
David Daniel (AKA Horn Dog)
David Carroum (AKA Houdini) + Satchel Page (8 yr old black lab)
Ron Geels (AKA Shiner Dog) + Jake (4 yr old black lab)
Burr, Saskatchewan, Canada
Robert Blackford (AKA The Colonel)
Scott Cummings (AKA Smoothie)
Greg Whitteker (AKA Half Empty)
David Daniel (AKA Horn Dog)
David Carroum (AKA Houdini) + Satchel Page (8 yr old black lab)
Ron Geels (AKA Shiner Dog) + Jake (4 yr old black lab)
(Jerome Rath's Farm)
Hosts: Jerome Rath & Kelly & Rachel Abrey
Jerome is a 67 yr old widower that runs an active 100% organic farm in Burr, SK---about 1.5 hrs east of Saskatoon. Without a doubt, the most gracious and generous host and friend we've ever encountered. Jerome, father of 2 grown daughers, embodies the determination and work ethic of the Canadian prarie province farmers. A typical day involves feeding & gathering 130-150 eggs from his laying hens, baking 12-15 homemade pies with fruit grown in his 2 acre fully organic garden, working his cattle or feeding his 1,200 broiler chickens, and havesting potatoes, strawberries, saskatoon berries, onions, cabbage, garlic and carrots from his garden. Jerome bakes daily and sells his vegetables, homemade dishes, and baked goods in the Humboldt, SK farmer's market. Born on the same 160 acres (1/4 section) of land as the 3rd generation of German Catholic immagrants, Jerome's family only received electric power in 1954. If it can be baked or cooked or growth from scratch ---Jerome can do it.
Kelly & Rachel Abrey - Father and mother of 3 children outside Plunkett, SK, the Abrey's are 3rd generation farmers that farm 2,500 acres of canola and wheat, raise alpacas for wool and are nuts for duck and deer hunting (not to mention stark raving mad Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL fans). The Abrey's have some of the largest white tail bucks I will ever see taken right from their farm. Kelly provided unbelievable help to us when we needed permission to hunt his neighbor's farms when we founds the ducks and geese.
The six of us started the 1,780 mile drive to SK at 5am Oct 15 arriving 32 hrs later in Burr, SK......no sleep! The last 8 hrs were in sleet and ice fog. After unpacking and eating a HUGE home style cooked meal by Jerome and family, we scouted for birds. Days 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 & 7 were unbelievable. We shots mostly mallards and saw groups of ducks and geese that numbered as high as 15,000!!!!!! We saw a huge bull moose, the northern lights, bald eagles, fox, and enormous deer. Currently we are driving back thru North Dakota almost to the South Dakota state line. I am hoping to be home in Frisco by 3pm Sunday after driving all night with Scott and David Carroum in time to wish Preston a big 4th Happy Birthday. I have many many pics to share but here are the summary stats.
(Our decoy spread)
Jerome is a 67 yr old widower that runs an active 100% organic farm in Burr, SK---about 1.5 hrs east of Saskatoon. Without a doubt, the most gracious and generous host and friend we've ever encountered. Jerome, father of 2 grown daughers, embodies the determination and work ethic of the Canadian prarie province farmers. A typical day involves feeding & gathering 130-150 eggs from his laying hens, baking 12-15 homemade pies with fruit grown in his 2 acre fully organic garden, working his cattle or feeding his 1,200 broiler chickens, and havesting potatoes, strawberries, saskatoon berries, onions, cabbage, garlic and carrots from his garden. Jerome bakes daily and sells his vegetables, homemade dishes, and baked goods in the Humboldt, SK farmer's market. Born on the same 160 acres (1/4 section) of land as the 3rd generation of German Catholic immagrants, Jerome's family only received electric power in 1954. If it can be baked or cooked or growth from scratch ---Jerome can do it.
Kelly & Rachel Abrey - Father and mother of 3 children outside Plunkett, SK, the Abrey's are 3rd generation farmers that farm 2,500 acres of canola and wheat, raise alpacas for wool and are nuts for duck and deer hunting (not to mention stark raving mad Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL fans). The Abrey's have some of the largest white tail bucks I will ever see taken right from their farm. Kelly provided unbelievable help to us when we needed permission to hunt his neighbor's farms when we founds the ducks and geese.
The six of us started the 1,780 mile drive to SK at 5am Oct 15 arriving 32 hrs later in Burr, SK......no sleep! The last 8 hrs were in sleet and ice fog. After unpacking and eating a HUGE home style cooked meal by Jerome and family, we scouted for birds. Days 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 & 7 were unbelievable. We shots mostly mallards and saw groups of ducks and geese that numbered as high as 15,000!!!!!! We saw a huge bull moose, the northern lights, bald eagles, fox, and enormous deer. Currently we are driving back thru North Dakota almost to the South Dakota state line. I am hoping to be home in Frisco by 3pm Sunday after driving all night with Scott and David Carroum in time to wish Preston a big 4th Happy Birthday. I have many many pics to share but here are the summary stats.
(Our decoy spread)
Stats:
10,580 total miles driven between 2 trucks
2 diesel trucks + 2, 16' trailers completely packed
600 duck & goose decoys
7 hunts
8 final approach blinds
Waterfowl Taken:
Day 1----43 birds
3 widgeon
3 pintail
1 green wing teal
1 canada goose
35 mallards
Day 2----50 birds
35 mallards
2 canada geese
2 pintail
2 gadwall
9 widgeon
Day 3----14 birds
3 pintail
10 mallards
1 canada goose
Day 4------48 birds
36 mallards
2 pintail
1 gadwall
9 widgeon
Day 5----48 birds
33 mallards
11 widgeon
4 pintail
Day 6-----51 birds
18 canada geese
29 mallards
2 pintail
1 gadwall
1 widgeon
Day 7-----56 birds
8 widgeon
18 pintail
30 mallards
313 total birds
22 canada geese
291 ducks (198 mallards)
10,580 total miles driven between 2 trucks
2 diesel trucks + 2, 16' trailers completely packed
600 duck & goose decoys
7 hunts
8 final approach blinds
Waterfowl Taken:
Day 1----43 birds
3 widgeon
3 pintail
1 green wing teal
1 canada goose
35 mallards
Day 2----50 birds
35 mallards
2 canada geese
2 pintail
2 gadwall
9 widgeon
Day 3----14 birds
3 pintail
10 mallards
1 canada goose
Day 4------48 birds
36 mallards
2 pintail
1 gadwall
9 widgeon
Day 5----48 birds
33 mallards
11 widgeon
4 pintail
Day 6-----51 birds
18 canada geese
29 mallards
2 pintail
1 gadwall
1 widgeon
Day 7-----56 birds
8 widgeon
18 pintail
30 mallards
313 total birds
22 canada geese
291 ducks (198 mallards)
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