In my experience, Canada is one of the most thrilling waterfowl hunting destinations you can travel to. In September and October the country is quite literally crawling with ducks and geese as they feed and stage on their way south from the breeding grounds. Guided and freelance trips to Canada have become increasingly popular in the past few decades, and like many who choose to do so, I’ve found myself north of the border more than a few times in recent seasons. For the past three years, my favorite trip to make north has been to Michitoba Outfitters in Manitoba. As a hunter, one of the many appeals of Manitoba is the sheer amount of water it has. Ponds, sloughs, and lakes are everywhere. This means there’s a lot of great waterfowl habitat.
Not as highly trafficked as some of the other popular waterfowl hunting provinces, Manitoba is a waterfowl hunting mecca for those of us looking for a taste of field hunting and some time on the water.
The Lodge
Driving into Canada can be fun, especially when you pack the car full of your hunting buddies. I typically opt to fly into Winnipeg and snag a rental from there to the lodge, which is only a brief 2.5-hour drive. Once you’re out of town, you’ll find yourself in a sea of ag fields dotted with sparse stands of timber and lots of water. Upon arrival, owner and head guide Kris Wijcik always makes sure we feel like family and that we know that for the duration of our stay. Two-a-day hunts offer constant action (which is perfect), but the downtime we spend at Michitobas Lodge is always a treat. The lakefront property is simply as good as it gets out here. Although it’s secluded from almost everything around, ducks and geese don’t have any issue finding it, and they’ll pack onto the lake. The lodge itself is the perfect combination of a cozy cabin getaway with touches of modern style and comfort. I’ve been in and out of a lot of different lodges while traveling to hunt and the lodge at Michitoba Outfitting really is just a slice of Canadian Heaven.
Dry Fields, Hunting Water & Every Type of Fowl
The Michitoba team always puts you where the birds are, which means some days you’re on water and some days you’re in ag fields. In typical Canadian fashion, the dry field hunting is lights out regardless of whether you’re chasing ducks, Canadas, snow geese, or cranes. No matter what the scout may have looked like the day before, there is always the chance of a mixed bag. Personally, I really love to shoot ducks out of dry fields, but when the opportunity arises to knock down some cranes, you will be eating well come supper time.
If you’ve never hunted in Canada, the sheer number of birds you’ll get to see will likely leave you a little shell-shocked after the first group of birds sets their wings in the decoys. What’s even more exciting is the way Kris and the Michitoba crew set up for dry field hunts. Most of the time, you’re right in the action, sitting in a layout chair/kickback chair surrounded by a salt-and-pepper spread of snow geese and Canadas on tall stakes for cover. Some people don’t like to hide in the decoys for fear of getting picked out easily by birds, but this crew knows how to do it right. Being ‘in on the action’ might be a little overplayed as a saying, but up here, it’s quite literally where you are. On a few occasions, I felt I could have reached up and grabbed mallards right out of the sky as they swung around for a final pass before landing out front of our boot bags. In addition to hunting out of the spread, sometimes the situation just screams for an edge hide. So when an edge hide is the way to go, you’ll likely hunt out of Michitoba’s custom-made blinds. Comfortable, brushed to the nines, and usually sporting a buddy heater or two, it’s never a bad day when shooting limits out of these.
For the most part, you’re hunting in the fields, but when the opportunity arises to hunt water, you better not pass it up. The blinds are classic edge hides on ponds and marshy sloughs. Early season, this can be pretty productive for puddle ducks and divers and even the occasional honker flock. But to top it all off is the layout boat hunting. Yup, you heard me right, layout boats. Weather permitting, and if you’re into chasing divers, there are a select few opportunities to load the boat up, hit the water, and spend the morning or afternoon chasing ducks out of the layout boats. Ringnecks, scaup, bufflehead, canvasback, and the occasional puddle duck are all on the hitlist when the boats hit the water. In my mind, water hunting is some of the most fun shooting you can have, especially in a place like Canada. My waterfowl upbringing may have jaded me a little on that, but trust me. Don’t sleep on the chance to hunt water in Canada, especially the way this crew does it. Check out a snippet of it for yourself here.
Land of Plenty
As most hunters are probably aware of, the limits for waterfowl are liberal. In Manitoba, the limit on ducks is 8 a day, 5 cranes a day, and 5-8 dark geese a day–depending on residency status and zone. Although the limits are liberal, Kris feels he has an obligation as a hunter and user of this resource to show restraint for species like pintails that have been plagued with population declines. “I could take a group of six hunters and kill 48 hen pintails up here. I would never do that, and I don’t let the guys I run shoot many pintails because we’re not just hunters, we’re also conservationists. At most, we like to let our guys shoot one or two per person.” Sometimes, it’s not about how many you shoot. Seeing a ball of pintail, or any duck for that matter, roll into your spread can be an experience in and of itself—and in Manitoba, there is no shortage of ducks. If you’re curious about hunting regulations, licenses, etc., check out the Manitoba Hunting Guide here.
Your Guide
Kris Wujcik has been a professional guide since 1993, and all of those years of learning and skill show themselves each and every time you hunt with him. Before you’ve rolled out of bed for the morning hunt, Kris is likely already up, having a cup of coffee and fine-tuning the game plan for the morning ahead. To be able to hunt with someone and kill a bunch of birds is one thing, but to be able to hunt with someone who has dedicated their life to mastering the skills it takes to be successful day after day is something special. What I admire about hunting with Kris the most is his patience, his persistence, and his general joy in being able to call what he does a job, day in and day out. “The main drivers for me are I just enjoy watching birds work. I enjoy watching my dogs work, and I love seeing people’s faces light up when they’re having a great time”. When you finally make it to Michitoba Outfitting for a hunt, I hope you get to share the blind with him.
Supper Time
Whether you’re coming in for lunch between morning and afternoon hunts or settling in for dinner after a great day of shooting, absolutely nothing compares to a hot, fresh, homemade meal. Kris and his wife, Nance, are excellent chefs, and if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that you had better save room for seconds. No one’s going hungry in this lodge. After your meal is over, you can settle into a recliner with a good drink, recall the day’s hunt, or flick on the TV and enjoy the comforts of home from the lodge.
Final Thoughts
Manitoba is a sportsmen’s paradise, and there’s no doubt about it. Outside of bird hunting, there are a million and one things you could go do and see, and don’t even get me started on the size of the deer up there… If you’re a bird hunter like me, the real allure lies in the early alarms, cold mornings, and coffee shared in the blind between flocks. Michtioba Outfitters is one of those hunting destinations that are good for your soul. Good hunting, amazing views, and some great people running the whole show. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to experience a view like this while setting up a spread.
If a trip North of the border is on your bucket list, or if you’re looking to hit a new province this year, Michitoba Outfitting in Manitoba is a Canadian hunting destination unlike anything you’ll likely experience anywhere else. Kris and the Michitoba crew will make sure you’re well taken care of, fed like a king, and have the opportunity to burn through some boxes of steel. CLICK HERE to learn more about booking your next bucket list waterfowl hunting adventure with Michitoba Outfitting!