Fields Bay Outfitters, a great opportunity for local sportsmen

Leo and Brian at the show

This past January at the Yankee Sportsman's Classic, I spent quite a bit of time talking with Brian Bouchard and Leo LaBonte.  Brian is the owner of Fields Bay Outfitters and Leo is both a guide and an award winning decoy carver.

I will state up front that I am not a duck or goose hunter.  My friends will state that I am not a deer hunter either, but the difference is that I do hunt deer...just not well.  I have never hunted ducks or geese.  In fact, I have never really wanted to hunt them.  It was my understanding that you hunted ducks and geese in the worst weather and I couldn't imagine having to shell (pun intended) out all the money for decoys and gear.

I had approached Brian at his booth to ask him a couple questions I had about duck and goose hunting.  One question led to another and Friday's questions led into Saturday's questions.  Both Brian and Leo were very helpful and I am intrigued with the Fields Bay Outfitters' business model.  Who knows, maybe I'll try waterfowling after all.

Let's start with waterfowling.  Fields Bay Outfitters targets local sportsmen wanting to try waterfowling, but who don't want to go out and invest the money in all that they'd need - boat/canoe, insulated waders, a dozen or so decoys, etc. (new Lab puppy, training, chewed shoes and furniture, new hardwood floors and bathroom to bribe wife...that's another story).

Most local guides are looking for out-of-state clients to take hunting and fishing.  Out-of-state clients aren't likely to return to hunt or fish a guide's local productive spots on their own like local clients might.  Fields Bay Outfitters hunts on leased land where they hold exclusive rights.  They can provide their local clients great hunting opportunities without the worry of returning non-paying hunters ruining productive spots for future clients.  Fields Bay Outfitters provides local sportsmen with a perfect opportunity to "test drive" waterfowling at very reasonable rates.  They also have a "no shoot, no pay" policy.  If a client doesn't have an opportunity to shoot at any ducks or geese, then the client does not pay.  Note that this is not a "no hit, no pay" policy, so, sadly for some, poor shooting is not rewarded.

Another interesting aspect of hunting with Fields Bay Outfitters is that most of their waterfowl hunts are conducted over hand-carved decoys.  Most of these decoys are carved by Leo.  The decoys are functional works of art.  Leo's decoys have each time they were hunted over written on the bottom.  They decoys are for sale and make a wonderful souvenir of your hunt (particularly if you are taking your one of your daughters, say Katie or Maddie, on their first hunt).

Leo's carved Brant on right

Speaking of decoys....  While I've never hunted ducks or geese, even I have a decoy or two in my house.  My first decoy was inherited from my pépère (grandfather).  Others were acquired later.  I understand from Brian and Leo that collecting decoys can become an obsession.  Brian even has his mom and aunt on the look-out for decoys at garage sales.

Leo blames his father-in-law (a decoy collector) for getting him interested in decoys.  Whether this is true or not, it makes for an effective come back to your wife's complaints.  "Well, if it wasn't for your father, I would have never started collecting decoys.  So blame him."

I was very impressed with Leo's decoy painting.  It showed great attention to detail.  I asked Leo about how he went about learning to paint decoys.  Leo said he has spent countless hours trying different techniques to get the painted feather texture just right.  His feather color is determined by painting on actual feathers to match the colors perfectly.

While I've focused on waterfowling, Fields Bay Outfitters also offers turkey and predator hunts.  Information about hunts, as well as contact information, is found on their web site, http://www.fieldsbayoutfitters.com/.

Brian in photo taken with iPhone

As I've mentioned previously, I'm a gadget guy.  I asked Brian what gadget he found to be most useful in the field.  iPhone was his immediate reply.  He uses his iPhone to get wind and weather information, to access social media, to take pictures, and to scan credit cards.  He then told me of a picture of him that was taken up in Canada using an iPhone that was a final contender in a photo contest (left).  This photo and many others can be found on the Fields Bay Outfitters' web site.

I am definitely planning a hunt with Brian and Leo in 2013.  It's just up to Katie and Maddie to pass a hunter safety course and get their hunting licenses.  I understand that there is even a paternal figure in their life, that writes a blog, whose first name begins with K, who will finance this endeavor.  And what young lady doesn't look great in camo?

Yankee Sportsman's Classic

I'm still digesting all the information from the speakers and exhibitors at the Yankee Sportsman's Classic held this past weekend, from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, January 18th - 20th.  I won't go into what products I bought, publications I subscribed to, or organizations I joined because there is always the chance, remote as it is, that my wife could start reading my blog.  Let's just say I did my part to defend our Second Amendment rights and I will be receiving at least one extra-large publication from Maine once a month.

It was great seeing a lot of kids at the show.  Many of them were trying their hands at target shooting, archery, and fishing.  Some kids were enjoying themselves by running around with a skunk skin over their arm pretending it was alive and scaring (I mean startling) older sportsmen .  There also seemed to be many spontaneous reunions between old classmates, neighbors, and friends.

 As of Sunday night, I failed to win two raffles.  I'm OK with that.  I have my sights set on the "TWO ALL-EXPENSE PAID MANITOBA, CANADA TROPHY WHITE TAIL DEER HUNTS & TIMBER WOLF HUNTING."  If I win I will, of course, declare the value of hunt to the IRS and pay taxes on it.  I guess I'll have to if I write about it!  I got two tickets, one for me and one for my dad.  I told my dad I'd take him if I won.  I'm hoping Dad will reciprocate the favor.  The drawing is on April 30th.  (I understand that even if you decide not to hunt timber wolves in Manitoba that is no guarantee that they won't hunt you.  Seriously.)

I had the pleasure of interviewing several of the seminar speakers and vendors.  Those interviews will appear in detail in upcoming blog posts.  Here is a quick summary of what I learned:

• Fanatical outdoorsmen are just plain interesting.  They have spent thousands of hours more than you (or least me) studying their craft.  They also probably tend to support the Second Amendment more than your average citizen.
• If you love your job it doesn't seem much like work.
• If you are a self-employed lodge owner and guide in Maine you work awfully hard.
• A professional game call maker can blow through a handheld pencil sharpener and make it sound like a hen turkey or mallard duck.  So when you buy the barred owl call, don't be surprised that it sounds like a constipated goose (not that I really know what that sounds like).  Becoming proficient with anything requires practice and lots of time spent with your dog launching himself at you each time you blow into the call.
• If you are going to rattle for deer in the Northeast, rattle for at least a half hour.  And real antlers work better than a rattle bag...unless they are from most Vermont deer, then just rub two pencils together.
• The best week for rattling success is the second week in November.  The best time of day to rattle is between 10 AM and 2 PM.  (This will make Dick M. happy and reduce our chances of ever taking a midday break at the local diner.)
• The best day to take a Boone and Crockett buck is on November 11th.  To be safe, you should probably hunt other days as well.
• When hunting in Manitoba, always load your gun 300 yards from the road - the minimum legal distance.  You may not be hunting wolves, but that isn't a guarantee they won't hunt you.
• Bucks grunt while fighting.  A doe rarely comes to a buck call.  A doe usually responds to a doe call.  Husbands usually respond to the "dinners ready" call.
• Never bait coyote using an entire cow carcass.
• Never have a frozen cow carcass dropped into the bed of your pickup truck - it could break out your back window.  (I suppose you should also mention it to your significant other that you intend to bring a cow carcass home.)
• Deer are just a fancy, glorified goat.  They will climb up to 3000 feet to avoid hunting pressure.
• Beagles don't bark around the house if you run them 9 miles a day.  Swim them if it is hot.
• Snowshoe hare have two uteruses (or is it uteri?), just the does, and are almost always pregnant, even when nursing a new litter.  Unlike rabbits, hare kits are born with fur and able to see.
• March is the best month to hunt hares in Maine.
• Wood ducks are the best tasting ducks.
• It is no wonder that collecting hand-carved decoys becomes an obsession for some.
• It is possible to try hunting waterfowl without going broke.
• Passion for the outdoors and wildlife is infectious...and not easily treated (even under Obamacare).

Brian and Leo at their booth

Let me thank the following for giving me their time and for answering my many questions:

• Bob Howe (owner and Maine Master Guide) with Pine Grove Lodge;
• Ken Hammel (owner) with Mountain Hollow Game Calls;
• Brian Bouchard (owner and guide) and Leo LaBonte (guide and decoy carver) with Fields Bay Outfitters; and 
• Wayne Laroche (owner and author) with Trackometer.