Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd Pug Power waterfowl article written by Philip Shirley

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=105 BGCOLOR="#FFCC00" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="052f0ca3.png"> <div> <B>Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd</B></div> <div> <B>" Where the birds call home..."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A</B><B>lberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="050a3670.png" border=0 width="163" height="103" ALT="Alberta Flyway waterfowl outfitters flying goose" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="170" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="ROWS" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#BBBBBB > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="index_2001_season_in_review_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Medi"><U><B>Season Highlights</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_outfitter_profile_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Outfitter Profile</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_habitat_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>The Habitat</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_typical_hunting_day_informatio.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Typical Hunting Day</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_conditions_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Hunting Conditions</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_facilities_and_ameniti.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Facilities & Amenities</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_license_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Hunting License Info</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 21 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_dog_policy_information.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Dog Policy</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_bird_limits_and_posses.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Bird Limits</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_firearms_import_inform.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Firearms Policy</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_bird_game_care_informa.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Care of Bird Game</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl__ducks__geese_how_to_get_there.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>How to Get There</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl__ducks__geese_hunting_rates_in.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Hunting Rates</B></U></A><B> </B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl__ducks__geese_contact_informat.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl__ducks__geese_photo_gallery_in.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Picture Gallery</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#DDDDDD HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="166"><div> <A HREF="alberta_flyway_waterfowl_outfitters_ltd_waterfowl_hunting_client_testimonials.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Ltd "><U><B>Client Testimonials</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=375 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <A NAME="another_pug_adventure_goose_and_duck"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>Another Pug Adventure: Goose and Duck Hunting in Alberta, Canada</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> By Philip Shirley</div> <bR> <div> The sun was not yet in the sky, but already crimson and orange streaks were piling up along the horizon. Six of us hunters were on our backs among the decoys, forcing ourselves to remain still. Our guide, Darrell Nieberding of Alberta Flyway Outfitters, was ten yards behind us in the 500-acre field to have a better perspective to call the shots. Already we could hear hundreds of Canada geese honking their morning hellos in the surrounding pea fields. Several flocks of 25 to 50 restless and eager birds were silhouetted against the beautiful dawn sky.</div> <bR> <div> Through the slits of the magnum goose decoy blind chair, I could see a flock of 75 mallards locked up to land in the V made by the spread of Canada goose decoys. The wind was picking up at our backs as daylight came in the 24-degree weather, causing a shiver to run down my spine. We had spread five dozen or so full-body Canada decoys in front, then set out a dozen magnum shells to help conceal our decoy blinds, then spread another several dozen photographic silhouette decoys behind us.</div> <bR> <div> It was the first morning of a three-day hunt where Benelli USA and Pug were providing several outdoor writers the opportunity to field test new shotguns and to see the Pug in action. Pug dealers George Dress and Bill Dress of Pasco Ranch & Home in  Pacso, Washington, hauled two new Pugs to the hunt-the Back Forty series F570 6x4 and the F480 4x2. I was here representing Pug Power.</div> <bR> <div> Benelli was represented by Stephen McKelvain from Maryland. Also present for the field testing and hunt was Wolf Creek Productions, including Tom Kanalis, Tom Nichols and Dave Gruber, the host of Benelli's American Bird Hunter. Wolf Creek filmed segments for American Bird Hunter to be aired on the Outdoor Channel in 2001. Winchester was good enough to provide cases of their Supreme High Velocity Steel Shotshells for us to test in the new Benellis.</div> <bR> <div> To our left, a flock of several thousands of snows and blues was pouring over the line of trees. Suddenly, the air was filed with the chatter of ducks, the whistle of wings, and an assortment of honks and squeaks from various species of geese. For a Southern hunter like myself, who typically hunts ducks and geese that have been called, decoyed and shot at as they pass over parts of Canada and half a dozen states before they reach us along the southern end of the Mississippi flyway, this was heaven. </div> <bR> <div> We were hunting with Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters, a leading outfitter run by Jeff Klotz and based in Calgary, in Alberta, Canada. The trip was organized by an affiliate of GodwinGroup, Tripp Advertising in Minnesota, allowing us to bring together Benelli and Pug as co-sponsors.</div> <bR> <div> Outdoor writers along for the trip included Judd Cooney who writes for several magazines, Philip Bourjaily, contributing editor for Field & Stream, J. Scott Rupp, editor of Petersen's Hunting, Dave Holmes, outdoor writer for Shotgun Sports, and Gordy Krahn of North American Hunter.</div> <bR> <div> By mid-morning our group of six hunters had 48 geese lined up for photographs. They were mostly Canadas, including nearly 10 greaters, with a couple of snows mixed in. The other party had similar luck the first morning. </div> <bR> <div> In the afternoon, we headed out to another pea field planted on rolling hills. At the bottom of each hill was a pothole filled with hundreds of mallards. We loaded the two Pugs at the edge of the field with our guns, shells, decoys, a thermos or two, and bucket seats. The hunters picked for the potholes farthest away climbed into seats. </div> <bR> <div> With Dave Gruber in the front seat beside me, along with guide Jeff Klotz and a young lab named Barley in the back seat, we topped a hill in the Pug F570 and began the descent toward the shallow, marshy end of the pond to set up in the tall grass. A flock of at least 500 mallards rose from the pond, swarming around us like hornets.</div> <bR> <div> As soon as we were set up, Dave Gruber used one clean shot to drop the first brave greenhead to venture back in for a look, with Barley enjoying a romp across the pond and up the hillside on the other side to make a gorgeous retrieve. Before dark we were loading jackets, ducks and gear back into the Pug and driving around to various potholes to pick up everyone. The bright sunlight faded to an orange and pink glow through a row of trees still filled with bright yellow leaves lining the field. </div> <bR> <div> I forced myself to stand still and silent for a moment and looked at the incredible beauty surrounding us, and reminded myself to be thankful I could experience the outdoors that many are not fortunate enough to know. Most of us had a limit, but it did not really matter at this point.  All had a great day and congratulated each other for a double here and a pretty passing shot there as we loaded up for the drive back to the lodge.</div> <bR> <div> For two and a half days Alberta Outfitters demonstrated why they are known as one of the top outfitters in North America. For Pug, it was another great adventure in the outdoors we treasure.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Philip Shirley is an avid hunter. To support this avocation he serves as president of GodwinGroup, an advertising agency based in Jackson, Mississippi, that specializes in destination marketing, tourism promotions and consumer product marketing. </I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alberta Flyway Waterfowl Outfitters Medi"><U><B>BACK TO HOME</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>