[fireduck]

Acouple of guys and I are planning a trip to Quill Lake SK the second week in Oct 2005.
Is this a good place to hunt. Is there places for us to stay, plenty of places for us to hunt, And birds.
We are still are in the planning stages so if you have an advice I would appreciati it.
Another thing, buddy of mine thought you could not hunt in SK on Sundays? Is that true?
Thanks,
JOE

 

[ponass]

Fireduck,

We've been going up there for going on twenty years and to answer your questions:

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

and last but not least - Yes!

To top it off they have a free hunters appreciation dinner in Wadena Wednesday nights during the season. If you go that week you will be there during prime time for everything you asked about. Last year there were over 2.5 million snows on the Quills during the week you are thinking of going. Is that enough?

 

[HardCore]

I've always heard this area has the most hunter pressure than any other in Saskatchewan. A buddy of mine moved areas because of this and they always go up in early October.

ponass sounds like he knows more as he hunts up there, but I felt it's worth mentioning.

 

[ponass]

I'm sure it depends on just where around the Quills you hunt. We are in a farm house just out of the Quills and we rarely see any other hunters when we are in the field. We see plenty when we go in to the hunters dinner but not when we are out hunting. Last year we did see two other groups set up when we were leaving the morning hunt but only on one occation did we even hear shots fired in the distance. Use your Sunday wisely and scout not only for birds, the farmers will tell you if anyone else has asked permission to hunt, and look for hunters driving around scouting like you are. A good place to ask is at the ESSO(used to be the B&D Husky) in Wadena as well as the Resource office that shares the same building.

 

[fireduck]

Thanks everybody for the info

 

[GOOSEenemy#1]

Do you mostly hunt snows in that area? Because that what im looking for, weent to manitoba last year had a blast but need to get a litlle revenge on the white ones from this spring. Thanx for the info!

 

[fireduck]

Its going to be a first for me. I know a pretty big population of snows comes through that area. Dont know how long they stay.

 

[Duckbuster3]

I went to that area for the first time last year.... All I can say is "WHOA!" I'd heard there were lots of birds, but I didn't expect what we got. The amount of birds were great, the farmers were even better. I didn't hear a single "No" while asking for permission. As far as competition, there was very little. Like Ponass said, we only heard shots one day in the week we were up there.

Have Fun! It would be tough not too!

 

[kandahar]

I grew up in that area. Last year we were up there too early Last week in Sept . with a full moon and snows were unsettled and didn't go back to same field but would hit recent combined fiel. Lots of Big Canadas though. They deke well. You might try the Jansen area west of Quill Lakes or Copeland area southwest of Dafoe.Snows were comming off the community pasture swamps. Bring white coveralls. Also you might try the bean fields west of Watson near St. Gregor. Personally I like to shot big Canadas as they come in feet down with a load of fast Kent BB's.. My wifes cousin and I are thinking of going to that area this fall if conditions are right..bring a medium weight jacket as it gets chilly in the morning..Most of the farmers there know me and we were never turned down last year.Pr oper spotting and exact placement of dekes and blind formation is critical.

 

[grenhdkilr]

So where in saskatchewn do you go for dark geese we were also going to go to quill lakes area but heard it was mostly snows.. :beer:

 

[beany122]

hello im actually going to be guiding up in the quill lakes with X-treme waterfowl Outfitters in the area actually right around clair sask......and believe me there is millions of snows and if u have questions about the dark ones believe me there are plenty of those to shoot too, also lotsa and i mean lotsa of cranes .....its just a waterfowlers heaven believe me

 

[SaskatoonGooseHunter]

I would suggest you get your hands on the booklet LURE OF THE LAKES. It's described as, "Your FREE GUIDE to tourism, food, fun and history in the Quill Lakes - Foam Lake Heritage Marsh areas of East Central Saskatchewan."

I picked up this year's edition at the Coop in Wadena last night on the way back from my cabin. It's got lots of good info and many businesses advertise in it. There's an article on the snow-Canada hybrids that were shot by Rose Valley last fall.

I'm not sure who would mail you a copy, probably the Chamber of Commerce in Wadena, Wynyard, or Foam Lake. Sorry, I don't have their phone numbers but try www.town.wynyard.sk.ca or the D.U. office at 306 338-3677, or the Wadena News at 306 338-2231.

 

[yakhunter]

Is there Canadas around that area? im looking into going up there next year to do some goose hunting.

thanks

 

[kandahar]

There are some big Canadas and lots of lessors
However you will be disappointed if you are looking for specks as they are closer to the West- Central Saskatchewan
Snows are abundant and so are the sand hill cranes.
Lots of mallards later in the season

 

[yakhunter]

Thanks for the info. Hope to try to get take my dad up there next year. would you recommend anything? gear or locations to hunt the canadas. live in washington and herd it was a little different hunting. I appreciate the hel.

 

[ponass]

Early season has lots of local Canadas. The snows come in late September and stay till the end of the first week or so of October. It really depends on what the weather pushes down from up north. If the ice and snow comes down it pushes the snows out and the Canadas and big greenheads come down. For years we hunted the third week of October and tried to hit the greenheads and Canadas, but the past 5 or so they didn't come down until November, so we switched to the first week of October and hit the snow/canada mix. What ever time you pick, you won't be disappointed.

 

[kandahar]

Looks like a bumper crop this year..lots of water.Tough to beat the East Central Location.
Just bring your usual laydown blinds about 3-4 dz dekes ( canada) and maybe a min of 100 rags for snows and about 6 duck dekes with the roboduck and 200 rounds of ammo and a back up gun and have your papers in order..check out my older posts and you will get more info

 

[goosehuntingchat.com]

We've never had problems with Canadas in Sask. Traditional methods always work well considering they don't get much pressure.

 

[buzzbp]

We are planning on heading up there Sept 8 week. Is that too early to get a mix of all birds (Snows, canadas, cranes, ducks) or are there plenty of resident birds?

 

[kandahar]

You will have alot of crane action so bring the bbs
bring your duck setup gear for ponds and shoot divers and puddlers and spoonies..waders robos dogs..you might see the local lime greenheads.
Any geese you will see will be the locals in small family groups that will be near the big refuges/roosts..look for fields near these areas
Any fields you find will be the early crops..harvesting will be in full swing and the farmers will be busy.
If you see any early snows that will because of a dramatic weather change pushing them from the north.
You might try some upland game hunting if the season is open for them.
The mosquitoes are out in full force so bring lots repellent.
It is mostly shirtsleeve weather.
If you go on a guided hunt consider yourself lucky as the guides control/own the fields near the roost and you will score