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They say the duck hunter is a “different” breed. The words “crazy”, “insane”, and “odd” are all tags that have been placed on us. After all, they say, who in their right mind would voluntarily leave the comfy confines of a warm bed at 3 a.m. on a frigid December morning, tread through freezing water or lay in a frozen field, all just to chase some silly ducks and geese around in sub-zero temperatures?

They will never understand or comprehend that this is what we live for. We enjoy making our beds on the cold, hard fields of the Midwest. We cherish the opportunity to hunker down in the cattails of frozen lakes, our boats and our blinds become our resting place. This is where we find our peace and serenity, only here does life seem to make sense to us. This is where friendships and memories are made; we form bonds that last a lifetime out here. Our hunting buddies become our brothers in the truest sense of the word. See, it’s a brotherhood with us duck hunters. We respect and look out for one another. And let us not forget about our dogs. Out here is where our dog becomes our one true companion, and it’s here that we realize we are lost and incomplete without them. The trust, loyalty, and partnership we share is priceless.

Ask any duck hunter why we do it and you will almost always get the same answer – it’s in our blood. This is what makes us feel most alive. For us, duck hunting is a thirst that will never be quenched, a hunger that will never be satisfied. You might say it’s a disease for which there is no cure. It became an addiction the moment we shot our first duck or goose. The sight of a flock of mallards or geese circling the sky, locking their wings, and preparing to descend into our decoy spread gets our blood pumping to levels you simply cannot imagine. This is our life, this is what we live for, and we make no apologies for it.

We work hard, and we hunt even harder. We are a meticulous bunch. We strategize and plan our hunts in fine detail; our success and safety depend on it. We battle the harshest of weather conditions and never complain. We embrace it. We adapt to whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us with sound mind. We are ready, we are well prepared, and we will endure. That is our mentality and that is what is required of us.

All of this for some silly ducks and geese, they ask? Maybe we really are “crazy”, “insane”, and “odd”. I think I can safely speak for the collective bunch when I say we are okay with that.

On behalf of Adam and myself, welcome to Minnesota Flyway. We are simply two duck hunters who had a vision to enter cyberspace and go on a journey. Where this takes us remains to be seen, but we would like to extend the invitation for you to join us. Consider this a place where you can feel at home with others who share your passion for waterfowl hunting, a place where your voice can and will be heard, and a place where your ideas, input, thoughts, and suggestions are not only wanted, they are needed. We all are an important piece to this puzzle, and your participation and support in this endeavor is of the utmost importance to us. We all have things to contribute and share to help each other be more successful and safe while hunting. We all have a voice. We all have different ideas, strategies, and ways we go about our business when we hunt. Some have more knowledge or are more experienced than others, and that is okay, we can all still learn a few things from each other. We are all important players in this sport we respect, love, and cherish. We ask that you join us on this journey. We will always be looking for ways to improve and expand, and we ask for your help in doing so. Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@minnesotaflyway.com with any ideas, advice, input, or concerns that you may have.

In closing, I should to take this opportunity to thank some special people. First and foremost, my friend and my hunting buddy, Adam. We had a vision and you were the one who made sure it became a reality. Without you, none of this would be possible. I have cherished every moment of our hunts together, even the hunts when we came home empty handed and were ridiculed by our wives. I look forward to many more hunts together. You have taught me a great deal of things along the way, and I am most grateful. Your hard work and perseverance in designing this website has been astounding. Minnesota Flyway would not exist without you at the controls. You are a good man, a great friend, and you are the brother I never had. I am proud to be taking this journey with you.

Josh, no amount of thanks or praise will ever suffice. Your knowledge, skills, and advising through this long and oftentimes challenging process has been nothing short of amazing. You are a stickler for doing things the right way and taking no shortcuts. Your attention to detail baffles and scares me! From the moment Adam and I had the vision for Minnesota Flyway, you were there for us every step of the way. Your guidance and advising have been a blessing, and your web designing skills and knowledge are as good as it gets. Thank you for everything, we are forever in your debt.

In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our wives, Amy and Tara. Your patience, understanding, and support through this process never wavered. We had a vision for Minnesota Flyway and you allowed us to run with it. You both were instrumental in offering us advice and ideas, you were our greatest critics and that is exactly what we needed you to be at the time. Regardless of what you believe, we really do love you more than the waterfowl we chase! Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to do what we love. It requires us to be away, and you are always understanding and supportive. Nobody ever said being married to a duck hunter was going to be easy, right?

We hope you will enjoy your stay here at Minnesota Flyway.

Happy Hunting,
Dave Tuttle
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