Hautman brothers make history

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1 Newsletter of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association Fall 2015 Hautman brothers make history Duck regulations coming earlier next year For many waterfowlers, it s become somewhat routine to have an inclination about what the fall s guck and goose regulations will be, but not know for sure until the early part of August. That appears set to change next year. That s because, as Canada does, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will use data from the previous year to set regulations. As a result, rather than having to wait until the summer, hunters will know the what the season looks like months in advance. MWA is supportive of the change, though understands some hunters may be leery. However, we believe setting the season early provides more time to discuss important duck-hunting matters, such as start dates and season splits, before the season is literally right around the corner. The bottom line is it has worked well in Canada and we believe the advantages outweigh any potential drawbacks. Joe Hautman s winning image in the 2015 Federal Duck Stamp art contest. Image courtesy of USFWS It s hard to be a waterfowl hunter in Minnesota and not know and appreciate the work of the Hautman brothers - Bob, Joe, and Jim. They grew up in St. Louis Park and are well known wildlife artists. If you ve been to a few MWA events, you ve seen them around. All three were inducted into the Minnesota Waterfowl Hall of Fame in We would like to extend our congratulations to the Hautmans for their performance in the 2015 Federal Duck Stamp art contest. They swept the top three spots in the prestigious art contest, which 157 artists entered this year. Joe, who lives in Plymouth, won with an acrylic painting of a pair of trumpeter swans. Bob, who lives in Delano, took second with an acrylic painting of a pair of mallards. And Jim, who lives in Chaska, took third with his acrylic painting of a pair of mallards. It marks the eleventh time won of the Hautman brothers has won the contest. To see Bob and Jim s second- and third-place paintings, and to read more about the contest and their efforts, see Page 6. Bringing new waterfowlers afield: We all have a role to play While the number of state duck stamps the Minnesota DNR sells isn t the same as the number of hunters who head out waterfowl hunting during a given year, it s a pretty good snapshot of activity, given that all duck hunters need them. Duck stamp sales Year Sales 2005: 102, : 101, : 100, : 95, : 89, : 88, : 89, : 90, : 90, : 90,376 As you can seen in the table to right, duck stamp sales have dropped, but also appear to have stabilized in recent years. That s a good thing. But we should have a goal of increasing the number of waterfowl hunters in Minnesota, not just maintaining them. We encourage all hunters to take someone in the field, whether it s someone new to hunting or someone who hasn t been out in a while. Thanks, and have a great season!

2 A Word With the President... Stop gathering and hunt! I have been reading recently from the Old Duck Hunters Association by Gordon MacQuarrie. If you haven t read his books, pick them up. They are a reminder of how hunting used to be when I was growing up. One thing that was poignant was the notion that hunting was for the men of the family and not the women. Fast forward 50 years and this notion caught me off guard. Doesn t this mean we are missing out on half the population if we aim our organizations only toward men? One-half of the population is a large percentage and an important part! When I was in my 30s, I was lucky enough to have an intern work with our SWCD. She was a high school student who grew up on a farm and MWA President Mark McNamara was very interested in shooting sports. But she never had anyone to go hunting with, as hunting in her family was for men only. Over the years that she worked for us, she learned that I was an avid duck hunter and asked if I would teach her how to duck hunt. I was cautious at first, as I hunted with the men in my family since the age of 9, and have stories from Gordon MacQuarrie. I knew hunting to be a family tradition. She wasn t family. She was a teenager. She didn t know the first thing about calling in a duck, preparing the duck blind, or have the years of family history related to duck hunting. She did, however, have a love of the outdoors unparalleled to many of the hunters I knew, and she was a sponge of information, wanting to ID every species of waterfowl, plant, and animal that she could see. So we decided to give it a go. We introduced her to the tradition of hunting. Consequently, she became like all my other buddies and we have been hunting together for the past 18 years. It s not a traditional story of introducing someone to hunting, especially when it is someone of the opposite gender. Perhaps my situation isn t unique. When you look at your daughters, wives, and sisters, are they also interested in the tradition of hunting but just never felt they could participate? Maybe they just want to be asked to come along? What my experience has shown me is that although we have progressed, women are still left on the sideline when it comes to hunting and hunting organizations. They are assumed to not be interested in, or capable of, hunting. Hunting is still perceived as a guys sport, and it shouldn t be. We have an entire group of women, young and old, who have an incredible understanding of the outdoors, of the fauna, flora and of the ecosystems. If we continue to aim our outdoor/hunting organizations toward men, we are missing out on some great ideas and some great people who could help us make our organizations better. The Minnesota Waterfowl Association isn t about men. It s about people coming together out of the passion for the sport and the environment. What a shame to not include ALL people who are interested. Help teach and instill our values into every generation. Invite someone to hunt with you, and make sure you ask the girls, too. Minnesota Waterfowl Association Staff and Board of Directors President Vice President Vice President Vice President Mark McNamara Mark Evers Doug Schoenecker Steve Pagel Treasurer Secretary Past President Development Coordinator Bob Page Pete Stasney John Wolf Andy Fondrick Executive Director MWA Biologist Administrator/Bookkeeper Brad Nylin Matt Stasica Luci Patch addresses for all staff and members of the Board are at

3 By Andy Fondrick MWA Development Coordinator The Development Coordinator s Report With the hunting season now in full swing, I hope everyone has had a fun and successful start to their waterfowl season. Fall is my favorite time of year with the changing of the leaves, cool nights, and, of course, the chance to get out and do some hunting! The MWA has been very busy since our spring newsletter. The third annual MWA MWA Charity Golf Tournament was held at the New Prague Golf Club in July. The famous wildlife artists the Hautman brothers took some time away from their art to show off another one of their talents and, in doing so, shot the low score and took home the first place prize. The MWA also held the North Star Regional and Minnesota State Duck and Goose Calling Contests out at Prairie Pothole Day. This is the second year the MWA has hosted the prestigious competition, but it s the first time it occurred in-house at an MWA event. In its 27 th year, Woodie Camp took place at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls from Aug (See a full story about Woodie Camp on Page 5 of this edition of the newsletter.) This year s camp featured 48 campers, including a record number of female campers (13), learning that there is more to hunting than just the hunting season and how to enjoy the tradition of waterfowling year-round. Shortly after the conclusion of Woodie Camp, the focus shifted to our Young Waterfowlers Program. In this program, kids meet all the requirements needed to receive their firearms safety certificate, with a waterfowler s twist. On top of completing their firearms safety, the 13 participants wrapped up the course with a world-class hunt at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge on Youth Waterfowl Day. The MWA was also a part of the Three Rivers Park District Waterfowl Camp, a day camp where the kids also receive their firearms safety training. Many of our chapters held banquets in late August and early September. Overall we have had a very successful fall banquet season. The numbers look positive coming out of each of the banquets. I have been putting added emphasis on analyzing each banquet and creating a fund-raising report not only for my own knowledge, but also so I can also be better prepared to help our chapters, new and old, achieve their fullest potential. In my short time with the MWA I have really enjoyed getting to know our chapters and members across the state. With our growing programs, the MWA needs additional chapters to add to the already established chapter base. Our current chapters are stronger than ever, but the more chapters we have as part of our organization, the more successful we can be in promoting the MWA and working toward our mission. In light of that, if you or someone you know is interested in starting a chapter or have any questions about what that might take, please me at andy.fondrick@mnwaterfowl.com or call the MWA state office at The MWA gun calendars are in, so make sure to get yours soon. Each calendar purchased gives you three chances at winning one of the 128 guns that will be given away throughout the year. Be sure to check out the MWA website at as there will be some newly added content and features in the near future. Also, follow the Minnesota Waterfowl Association on Facebook and Twitter for frequent updates, stories, and events. Thank you to all of the members for supporting the MWA. We could not do what we do without our membership and chapters. Be sure to get out to enjoy an MWA banquet near you, or even get a group together to start a chapter of your own! Please don t hesitate to contact me at any time. In the meantime, I hope you get out and enjoy the resources we all work so hard to protect and enhance. Andy Fondrick

4 Black ducks in Minnesota... And the hunters who hunt them By Joe Shead Reprinted with permission from Outdoor News The average paddler through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area may see a lot of wildlife. Frogs, herons, eagles, deer, and maybe even a moose are all possibilities, and this abundance of wildlife is one thing that makes a trip into the B-Dub so memorable. Ducks are also frequently spotted, but look closely. Those mallards might not be mallards after all. Rather, they may be a closely related species called the American black duck. Black ducks are most abundant along the Atlantic Coast, but they are also found in smaller numbers in the Mississippi Flyway. They are prized as trophies by hunters because of their wariness. They are often referred to as being the smartest of ducks. We have black ducks up in the Boundary Waters. They nest up there, said Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl biologist. It s been quite a while, but we flew a special survey for breeding black ducks in the early 1990s. Eight hundred seems to ring a bell. We probably have a few that breed in other areas as well. Black ducks closely resemble mallards in size and shape. In fact, both sexes closely resemble a hen mallard, although their plumage is much darker than the tawny hen mallard, hence the name black duck. They are easy to distinguish when they are mixed in with a flock of mallards, which they frequently do. The black ducks will appear, well, black, by comparison. Both sexes of black ducks have that same dark hen mallard plumage. The distinguishing factor, however, is the bill. Drakes have a yellow bill, while hens have a dull green bill. Black duck harvest in Minnesota Year Harvest 2000: 1, : : 1, : : : : 1, : : 1, : : 1, : : : : 1,460 Information from flyways.us One of Joe Shead s hunting partners shot this black duck while hunting during the 2014 duck season. During an average season, hunters in Minnesota shoot 800 black ducks. Photo courtesy of Joe Shead Black ducks, as mentioned, are commonly found mixed in with flocks of mallards, especially late in the season. The two species commonly hybridize. Partially because of this, the population of true black ducks has declined in the past few decades. Cordts said black ducks aren t limited to just the Boundary Waters. We band a few up around Thief Lake and Roseau every year, Cordts said. I ve heard about them in the Mississippi in the southeast, in the northeast and out in the prairies pretty much statewide. Cordts said the Minnesota harvest of black ducks is generally small, with an average of about 800 birds being killed by hunters each fall. Do people specifically target the pocket of breeding black ducks in the Boundary Waters come fall? I ve heard a few guys mention it, but I don t know how common it is, Cordts said of hunters specifically going into the BWCA to hunt these relatively uncommon trophies. The ticket to bagging one might be summer scouting of rice lakes in and around the Boundary Waters. That would go a long way toward success. Whether successful or not, a wilderness quest for the wary black duck sounds like a great adventure.

5 A look back at Woodie Camp 2015 There s no doubt about it: 2015 marked another fantastic year of Woodie Camp at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls. This was the 27th year the camp has been held, and, all told, more than 1,000 kids have attended. This year, we had 48 campers and more than 40 volunteers who contributed their time and shared their passion for hunting and all things waterfowl. As an organization, we would love to build on the success of Woodie Camp and offer a second week, given that each year we have to turn away some kids. But until then, we ll jam as much into a week as possible. Following is a brief recap of each day to give you a flavor of all the things the kids see and do during their week at Woodie Camp. SUNDAY Campers arrived, moved into their rooms, and began to meet one another. Then we broke the campers into two groups and began the week. One group learned about the basics of shooting and proper technique using BB guns. The other group got their duck and goose calls and began learning how to communicate like waterfowl. MONDAY Campers did more shooting with BB guns, this time aiming at moving targets. They also learned about dog training and attended a class called Waterfowl 365, which, as its name implies, teaches all sorts of different things about waterfowl. The kids also began shooting shotguns and learned about how to identify waterfowl. TUESDAY Campers learned to shoot targets coming toward them, and took advanced courses on goose calling and waterfowl identification. They also learned about field decoying and prairie ecology. WEDNESDAY Right away in the morning, the kids learned how to clean ducks, then learned about how to make marinades and cook them. The day also included a boat and water safety course put on by the Otter Tail County Water Patrol. At night, half the campers learned about planning a hunt, while the other half learned to navigate at night. THURSDAY Half the kids began the morning learning how to paint bluebill decoys, while the other half learned about building wood duck houses and hen mallard houses. They were lucky enough to learn from Dr. Roger Strand, who s probably the state s foremost expert on wood ducks. The kids also grilled and ate their ducks, and practiced shooting at a variety of targets. Half the campers learned about planning a hunt, while the other half learned to navigate at night. FRIDAY All the campers did a prairie walk and banded ducks. For many campers, banding a duck and releasing it into the wild are highlights of the week at camp. More photos at SATURDAY This marked the final day of Woodie Camp. We said goodbye for another year and thought about the great volunteers we have. Until next year...

6 Bob Hautman s second-place painting. Image courtesy of USFWS Jim Hautman s third-place painting. Image courtesy of USFWS Below is the news release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcing results of this year s contest: A trio of brothers from Minnesota made history as they took the top three spots in the 2015 Federal Duck Stamp art contest. The announcement was made by Jerome Ford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director for Migratory Birds, at the annual art contest, held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, W.V. Joseph Hautman, of Plymouth, won the contest with his acrylic painting of a pair of trumpeter swans. This is Hautman s fifth Federal Duck Stamp contest win, making him one of only two artists to have his art appear on five duck stamps. His painting will be made into the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or Duck Stamp, which will go on sale in late June The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and raises about $25 million each year to provide critical funds to conserve and protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Robert Hautman, of Delano, placed second with his acrylic painting of a pair of mallards. Robert Hautman has won the Federal Duck Stamp contest twice. James Hautman, of Chaska, took third place with his acrylic painting of a pair of mallards. He is a four-time winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Eligible species for this year s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, gadwall, mallard and trumpeter swan. "I congratulate Joseph Hautman on his win and the entire Hautman family on their artistic talent, said Ford. This is not just any piece of art, but one whose impact will be felt for generations to come. Duck Stamps have helped to protect more than 6.5 million acres of waterfowl habitat in our National Wildlife Refuge System; now that is a lasting legacy. Buying Federal Duck Stamps remains the simplest way to make a difference in conserving our nation s birds and their habitats, For more than 80 years, hunters, bird watchers and millions of people who simply care about the environment have put their stamp on conservation with their Duck Stamp purchases. Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Federal Duck Stamp. Conservationists, stamp collectors and others may purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. A current Duck Stamp can be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee. Ninety-eight percent of the proceeds from sale of the Federal Duck Stamp go to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which supports the purchase of migratory bird habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System. Minnesota Waterfowl Association, Inc. 907 First Street North Hopkins, MN Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Mpls., Minn Permit No. 3722