Dave Tuttle
Minnesotaflyway.com
BEAVERTAIL
FLYWAY
What was the first duck you ever shot, where did you shoot it and what kind of gun did you shoot it with?
TUTTLE
My first duck was a drake wood duck shot on Rice Lake near Waconia. What really stands out about that day is how hot it was for October. We were in our waders and short sleeve shirts. It had been a slow morning so we decided to lay back in the boat, put our feet up, and take a little nap. Just as we got comfortable and in nap mode two drake woodies decided they wanted to hang out in our decoy spread. We knew something had landed because we heard the water splash. We got up, then they got up. I took the first shot and dropped my first duck with my always trustworthy Remington 870 12 gauge.
FLYWAY
What is one duck you haven't shot but really want to?
TUTTLE
A coot. Kidding! For me it would be impossible to pick just one because there are two particular ducks that I have on my wish list. One is a Drake Canvasback and the other is a Drake Pintail in full plume. Both of these ducks take my breath away with their beauty and elegance, as well as their ability to elude me and my Benelli. My day will come, let there be no doubt about that.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite duck or goose to hunt and why?
TUTTLE
I love duck hunting with a passion. I love hunting them all. Having said that, there is nothing that gets my blood pumping and my adrenaline rushing more than the Canada Goose. I wake up early every morning during hunting season hoping to draw a bead on a Canada Goose. The sight of them in flight, or circling the sky and preparing to decend into a field or on the water just does it for me. They are not the most graceful of birds when it comes to landing, but I love them just the same. I am amazed and perplexed by their different vocalizations. They mate for life and are very protective of their own, I guess you could say we share some of the same tendencies.
FLYWAY
Where were you born and raised?
TUTTLE
Andover, MN. I graduated from Blaine High School and then decided to join the Armed Forces. Proud veteran of the United States Army.
FLYWAY
What is your greatest hunting memory?
TUTTLE
I have two that seem to stand out more than others. My first deer hunt with my dad in Crosby/Ironton will always be special to me. We were in a tree stand and a doe walked right underneath us. I was young and I remember shaking with excitement. My dad told me to relax and get ready because a buck would likely be hot on her trail. He was right. Not two minutes later we heard some rustling off in the distance, in the same direction from which the doe came. I looked at my dad and my dad looked at me, he smiled and said "he is all yours, good luck". I will never forget it. I raised my rifle and there he appeared, noseto the ground and in a slow trot, hot on the trail of that doe just like my dad said he would be! He made his way toward us through the Oak trees and stopped dead in his tracks about 20 yards from us, ears perked up and nose in the air. My dad didnt have to say a word, he was broadside to me and I pulled the trigger. His back legs dropped from underneath him and I took a second shot to close the deal. I shot my first deer, a 6-point Whitetail buck. We high-fived and hugged each other for what seemed like hours, then he taught me how to gut it. We had many memorable deer hunts after that, but that one will always be special. I lost my dad in January of 2004. Not only was he my best friend, he was also my mentor. He introduced me to hunting and taught me many things I still carry with me today. Miss you everyday, Dad!
The second greatest hunting memory for me happened last year with my hunting buddy, Adam. We were on Indian Lake near Gaylord and this monster Canada Goose was flying solo across the lake. For whatever reason he just didn't seem interested in landing anywhere near us. I watched him fly away and went into an instant state of depression, I wanted that goose and I wanted him in the worst way. Not five minutes later he decided to fly back in our direction, just off to our right. He circled a few times trying to decide if it was worth landing. Adam started calling him and he must have liked what Adam had to say because
he came in and started his decend into our 6 Canada decoys. I remember telling myself that if I somehow managed to miss this shot I would hate myself forever. He locked his wings, Adam said "NOW" and I took aim and fired. He fell from the sky and it sounded like a rumble of thunder as he hit the water. The hugs and high-fives I gave Adam to this day makes him a bit uncomfortable, but I was pumped beyond belief. He was a monster and he is currently at the shop getting ready to be displayed proudly from my ceiling. All credit goes to Adam on this one, he somehow managed to call him in.
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FLYWAY
Are there things you see or hear about other hunters doing that bother you?
TUTTLE
I would say that if you dont know what you are doing when calling waterfowl, dont use the time on the lake or in the field during hunting season as your time to practice. Practice at home or in the offseason, in the meantime, leave it to those who know what they are doing to bring the ducks and geese in. I have a hard time watching the ducks and geese fly away because somebody decides to use that time as their forum to practice their calling. Practice is important, just do it at home. The only other thing that bothers me is when hunters decide to sleep in and then come rumbling through during prime time hunting hours to set up. My advice would be to stay in bed and try again tomorrow, dont ruin it for the rest of us. Our season is short and we take our hunting seriously, be respectful and be smart about what you are doing out there. Skybusting bothers me a great deal as well.
FLYWAY
If you could go on a dream hunt with any 3 people, who would they be, where would you go, and what would you be hunting for?
TUTTLE
This is a tough question, but an interesting one. Tony Vandemore and Field Hudnall would top my list. Not only do I appreciate what they do for the sport, I think I could learn a thing or two from them. What Tony has managed to do with Habitat Flats is nothing short of incredible, and Field is top shelf in so many areas, especially calling and developing new products. The other would have to be Jase Robertson. Does this guy ever miss? Jase lives and breathes duck hunting, something I can relate to. He is fearless, funny, and he knows what he is doing out there. If I had the opportunity to hunt with those three we would be hunting ducks, probably Mallards, Teal, and Woodies in the flooded timber of Arkansas or Louisiana. I wouldn't mind going on a goose hunt with those three in Canada either.
FLYWAY
What are 3 things you NEVER hunt without?
TUTTLE
Pop Tarts (smores or blueberry), Mountain Dew or Coke (need the caffiene), and a good attitude (bring it on!!)
FLYWAY
What is your favorite gun to hunt with?
TUTTLE
The Benelli SuperNova pump-action 12 gauge. They say this shotgun is "rock-solid to the core", they are not lying.
FLYWAY
Do you believe in strategizing your decoy placement, or do you believe you can just throw them out there and be successful?
TUTTLE
By no means am I an expert in this area, however, I do believe there is a method to the madness when it comes to decoys and decoy placement. Ducks and geese are hard birds to figure out sometimes, they baffle me with some of the decisions they make, and with some of the decisions they do not make. We have spent hours setting up what seemed to us to be the perfect decoy setup and placement, only to watch them circle around us and fly in the opposite direction because there was something they didnt like about or spread. Other times we have been in a rush and our decoy spread looked like a soup sandwich, it had no rhyme or reason to it. There would be strings around the necks, decoys too close together and banging in to each other, and they would decide to land in our spread and we would have success. I will go to my grave trying to figure these birds out. Why they do the things they do is beyond me. But yes, I strongly believe in strategizing your decoy placement.
FLYWAY
I am throwing you a party for your birthday this year and inviting 3 of your favorite bands or singers to perform for you, who will I be inviting?
TUTTLE
Foo Fighters, Breaking Benjamin, and TOOL. I like U2, Fuel, Disturbed, and The Tragically Hip too.
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