WCCO-TV Sports Reporter and Anchor
FLYWAY
What is your greatest hunting memory?
MAX
Greatest hunting memory..too many. Hunting with my dad when I was eight years old and being
introduced to cold mornings and hot chocolate. Hunting with my high school friends. More recently
I've had some great times with a friend, Sever Peterson. We have great conversations in the field.
I also love hunting by myself, I know it's not always smart, but you make all your own decisions. I've got the
greatest sense of peace by myself in duck sloughs in North Dakota.
FLYWAY
What is your gun of choice when duck or goose hunting?
MAX
I've come to appreciate any pump. 870 because it's light, or a benelli that can handle a three and half inch shell.
FLYWAY
Have you ever doubled or tripled?
MAX
True story, one time I was walking through a pot hole in North Dakota, a flock of mallards get up out of the rushes
at twenty yards, I shot twice, thought I got two, went to pick up and there were four dead mallards.
FLYWAY
What is one duck you haven't shot, but really want to?
MAX
Cinnamon teal
FLYWAY
You are from Gaylord, MN. Name two or three lakes out in the Gaylord area that are worthy of hunting?
MAX
I grew up on Lake Titloe and that's where I learned to hunt. It's like the rest of Minnesota now, not so good.
It was just ok growing up, but it's what we knew. There was also a Mud Lake and Hahn's Slough we used to frequent.
FLYWAY
Do you call your ducks and geese in?
MAX
I only call when there is no one else who can, usually the person I'm with is better than me.
FLYWAY
Do you prefer hunting on the water or in the field? And why?
MAX
I love water because I like to set out decoys and it's the way I grew up. I love that in a field you can stay
dry and not worry about water hazards, but I don't like lay down blinds, I like to be comfortable in cover if I'm on land.
FLYWAY
Do you believe in strategizing your decoy placement, or do you believe you can just throw them out there and have success?
MAX
I always use some strategy, stringing out the line for bills, family like groups for early geese etc...but I'm not sure if it works.
FLYWAY
Who introduced you to waterfowl hunting and at what age?
MAX
My dad when I was old enough to walk. It was real treat when he'd let me and my brothers go with him. It helped
that we lived on a lake. I don't even want to tell you how young I was when I first shot at ducks.
FLYWAY
Are there things you see other hunters do in the water or in the field that bother you?
MAX
Don't hunt too close to me, don't sky bust and if the ducks look like they're coming into somebody else don't shoot just because they circled you.
FLYWAY
What are two or three things you NEVER hunt without?
MAX
Face cover in case you need it, netting or a face mask, and coffee to keep me warm.
FLYWAY
You can take three living sports figures on a hunt with you, who are they?
MAX
I'd take Bud Grant, I've hunted with Bud and it's the ultimate for me. I'd also bring Jack Morris, we've had some
fun in the field, and Brett Favre, but I think he prefers deer.
FLYWAY
Do you have any of your kills mounted on your walls at home?
MAX
No, I've never mounted anything and I quit taking pictures of hunts about five years ago.
FLYWAY
Have you ever had a scary or dangerous experience while hunting?
MAX
Don't tell my wife. I was hunting alone in Norh Dakota, walked into a slough I knew very well, about 10 acres of open water surrounded by thirty yards of rushes on half of it..the other half the rushes went about a quarter mile. The water was high and the countour had changed, pockets of rushes had grown in the open water and I didn't pay attention when I first got into it. The water went in and filled my chest waders. No big deal because it was about 50 degrees mid afternoon and my body heat was high from walking. I realized when I wanted to walk out I had no idea where I entered the slough because the landscape had changed. I walked for almost two hours, I'd go into the rushes, lose my marks and eventually end up in deeper water again. A lot goes through your mind when you don't know if you will get out and your feet start to get cold. Eventually I cut the rushes and realized the water was getting shallow. I've never felt so relieved as when I got out. A compass would have eliminated the
whole problem. One other time in North Dakota a fog rolled in, I thought I was walking to my truck, turns out turned too soon, ended up on gravel roads and field roads for two hours until a farmer picked me up, scary but I was on dry land.
FLYWAY
Besides duck and geese, do you enjoy any other types of hunting or fishing?
MAX
I only fish a little, I really enjoy hunting pheasants. I'm part of a group that leases a couple thousand acres in western Minnesota.
FLYWAY
Would you rather see the Vikings win the Super Bowl, the Twins win another World Series, the Wild become Stanley Cup champs, or the Timberwolves become NBA Champions?
MAX
The Vikings, it's what would make the most people happy.
FLYWAY
How does a sports reporter/anchor for WCCO find the time to hunt??
MAX
I don't, that's why I end up hunting a day in North Dakota by myself. I can't plan much out ahead of time.
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Mike Max for taking the time to answer to our interview questions. You can catch Mike weekdays on 830 WCCO from 7-9 PM.
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