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09-17-2004, 05:45 PM
OUTDOORS
Guide never misses trick in water or afield
Friday, September 17, 2004
Orwell- The fall season is special for outdoors-minded folks, sort of like browsing the menu in a good restaurant.
Will it be a sizzling steak or a juicy lobster? Well, why not both?
Mark Zukowski and Steve Jager were in that kind of mood the other day, ready for a cast and blast adventure. Zukowski had the blast, an early morning goose hunt in Trumbull County. The sportsmen would focus on the cast later in the day, heading from their Grand River docks to round up jumbo yellow perch off Fairport Harbor.
"It's a busy time of year, with too much fun available," said Zukowski, with a laugh. A two-fisted guide, he takes anglers after perch, walleye and steelhead trout with his On-Line Charters and caters to turkey and waterfowl hunters with Game Bird Adventures. When the seasons overlap a good night's sleep is guaranteed to suffer.
We met well before dawn the other day near his Concord Township home. Zukowski's pickup truck was loaded for Canada geese. Dozens of decoys were in the bed of the truck, as well as Avery ground blinds for each hunter. Once the shotguns and shells were stowed we hit the road.
"I scouted this area yesterday and it was full of geese," said Zukowski. "The farmer gave me permission to hunt. He said the geese were eating him out of house and home. I don't think it will take long to get a limit."
That can be a tall order with a limit of five birds per hunter during the special early Canada goose season, which ended Wednesday. The regular duck and goose seasons in northern Ohio begin Oct. 16.
Meticulous about his hunting spread, Zukowski directed traffic as we set up a few dozen decoys in a clover field and positioned the trio of ground blinds that would hide the reclining hunters. Hay and clover had to be inserted into a series of straps in the camouflage material of each blind to make them blend with the field we were hunting.
The rising sun filtered through the morning haze and fog by the time we were done, a little tardy for Zukowski. We had yet to hear the familiar honk of a goose, though. The big birds were even later than we were.
"They were landing in the fog yesterday," said Zukowski. Jager and I gave him our best shots, calling into question his scouting ability and critiquing his hunting spread. Jager and his partner Jack Wachs operate Got-Em-On Charters, docking next to Zukowski at Grand River Marina. The guides there are quick to help each other and always ready with a practical joke.
The morning mist began to slowly disappear as the minutes ticked away. A half-hour later the sun was over the tree tops and the geese had yet to arrive. Any minute now, said Zukowski, the flocks would appear over a tree line to our south and head straight for the decoys.
Zukowski was right, and in spades.
Honking to beat the band, the first flock of about a dozen geese had us hunkering down in our ground blinds. With Zukowski calling the shots, we sat up in unison and bagged five of the big birds. A few circled and came back, most likely young geese that had never experienced gunfire, and another goose was added to the total.
Less than an hour later it was time to round up the decoys, blinds and gear. Next on the agenda would be cleaning the hefty birds, followed by lunch.
It had been a great morning in the goose fields, but the day was far from over.
"Ready to go fishing?" said Zukowski, up to his elbows in goose down. He was eager to shuck his hunting clothes for a pair of shorts, sandals and a T-shirt. The yellow perch were waiting.
To contact On-Line Charters or Game Bird Adventures call 440-639-0095 or email zuks@sbcglobal.net.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
degan@plaind.com, 216-999-6136
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
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http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1095413424297491.xml
Guide never misses trick in water or afield
Friday, September 17, 2004
Orwell- The fall season is special for outdoors-minded folks, sort of like browsing the menu in a good restaurant.
Will it be a sizzling steak or a juicy lobster? Well, why not both?
Mark Zukowski and Steve Jager were in that kind of mood the other day, ready for a cast and blast adventure. Zukowski had the blast, an early morning goose hunt in Trumbull County. The sportsmen would focus on the cast later in the day, heading from their Grand River docks to round up jumbo yellow perch off Fairport Harbor.
"It's a busy time of year, with too much fun available," said Zukowski, with a laugh. A two-fisted guide, he takes anglers after perch, walleye and steelhead trout with his On-Line Charters and caters to turkey and waterfowl hunters with Game Bird Adventures. When the seasons overlap a good night's sleep is guaranteed to suffer.
We met well before dawn the other day near his Concord Township home. Zukowski's pickup truck was loaded for Canada geese. Dozens of decoys were in the bed of the truck, as well as Avery ground blinds for each hunter. Once the shotguns and shells were stowed we hit the road.
"I scouted this area yesterday and it was full of geese," said Zukowski. "The farmer gave me permission to hunt. He said the geese were eating him out of house and home. I don't think it will take long to get a limit."
That can be a tall order with a limit of five birds per hunter during the special early Canada goose season, which ended Wednesday. The regular duck and goose seasons in northern Ohio begin Oct. 16.
Meticulous about his hunting spread, Zukowski directed traffic as we set up a few dozen decoys in a clover field and positioned the trio of ground blinds that would hide the reclining hunters. Hay and clover had to be inserted into a series of straps in the camouflage material of each blind to make them blend with the field we were hunting.
The rising sun filtered through the morning haze and fog by the time we were done, a little tardy for Zukowski. We had yet to hear the familiar honk of a goose, though. The big birds were even later than we were.
"They were landing in the fog yesterday," said Zukowski. Jager and I gave him our best shots, calling into question his scouting ability and critiquing his hunting spread. Jager and his partner Jack Wachs operate Got-Em-On Charters, docking next to Zukowski at Grand River Marina. The guides there are quick to help each other and always ready with a practical joke.
The morning mist began to slowly disappear as the minutes ticked away. A half-hour later the sun was over the tree tops and the geese had yet to arrive. Any minute now, said Zukowski, the flocks would appear over a tree line to our south and head straight for the decoys.
Zukowski was right, and in spades.
Honking to beat the band, the first flock of about a dozen geese had us hunkering down in our ground blinds. With Zukowski calling the shots, we sat up in unison and bagged five of the big birds. A few circled and came back, most likely young geese that had never experienced gunfire, and another goose was added to the total.
Less than an hour later it was time to round up the decoys, blinds and gear. Next on the agenda would be cleaning the hefty birds, followed by lunch.
It had been a great morning in the goose fields, but the day was far from over.
"Ready to go fishing?" said Zukowski, up to his elbows in goose down. He was eager to shuck his hunting clothes for a pair of shorts, sandals and a T-shirt. The yellow perch were waiting.
To contact On-Line Charters or Game Bird Adventures call 440-639-0095 or email zuks@sbcglobal.net.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
degan@plaind.com, 216-999-6136
© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
Print This E-mail This
http://www.cleveland.com/outdoors/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1095413424297491.xml