Early fall on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage

I went on a hunting, fishing and camping trip to paradise two weekends ago. I had so much fun, I plan on going back at least one more time this fall.

The Turtle Flambeau Flowage is located in Iron County. If you want to get remote and stay in Wisconsin, I would suggest checking out this remarkable piece of land and water.
Friday, Sept. 18
High 76, Low 47

This would be a casual, but go-for-it type of weekend. Gear-wise, I was loaded to the hilt, considering I was only on a 52-hour experience. I would be trailing a canoe behind my 16-foot boat, and the boat and canoe would be loaded with bow hunting, goose hunting, camping and musky fishing equipment.

As usual, my pups “Ice” and “Brownie” were my chief travel companions and goose fetchers.

I had a pleasant surprise as I made the journey by water to find a campsite. The scattered wild rice crop that I discovered last September was now about a five-acre buffet for the local duck and goose population.

Before I even found a campsite, I stripped down to my boxers, jumped in the water and built a temporary blind with high anticipation for the following morning’s sunrise opener of the Exterior Zone Canada goose season.

Finding a campsite was a small chore as my first two choices were occupied.

My third choice came with a hopeful sign of good things to come. It was an island and I literally beached my boat within casting distance of where I caught a 47-inch musky a year earlier.

The air temperature was warm and the forecast was for the same, so I made a strategic decision. This would be a no-tent kind of a weekend.

I unfolded my cot, put a sleeping bag on top of it and set up a table and put my Coleman propane stove on top of it. I rigged up a propane light that would run off a 20-pound tank and camp was built.

I had just enough daylight to throw a few casts with the secret lure that caught two musky a year ago and apparently the musky were not hungry.

Saturday, Sept. 19

High 75, Low 46

I was up at 4:30 and on the one-mile journey in the dark shortly afterwards. I had four flocks of Canadians fly within spitting range in the same direction, so I knew the 11-87 would be making noise on this hunt.

While I was putting out my spread of six floating decoys, I was being bombarded with mallards and woodies that were looking for breakfast.

For the next hour, I observed about 500 ducks and 200 geese gorging themselves on wild rice.

Most of the geese were coming in along the shoreline, so I pulled my spread and relocated. I actually fell asleep while covered in camouflage on a sand beach.

A trio of Canadians made a huge mistake. They woke me up and only one flew away.

I tried fishing musky. It was really hot and the report I got from a local conservation warden was that musky fishing was good but catching was not.

My afternoon ended in tree overlooking a deer trail with a compound bow in my hand. It was so hot out I did not feel the presence of a whitetail deer nor did I see one.

Once again, I fell asleep from my open-air camp while looking at the stars.

When I woke up, the stars were still out and I canoed in the dark to the perfect goose hunt with a very happy golden retriever and cocker spaniel in my canoe with me.

I passed up flock after flock of geese and when the perfect double provided two great shots, I sent them to goose heaven where stress is not a part of the vocabulary.

Later, I went scouting for deer where few people walk and was amazed at the amount of bear and wolf sign.

I packed up my simple camp and did the three-mile journey back to my truck with one thought on my mind. When can I come back?

Fall is here, enjoy!

Sunset