WriteOutdoors.com
Writer Outdoor News
What was the first duck you ever shot, where did you shoot it and what kind of gun did you shoot it with?
HUSTVEDT
The first duck I ever shot was in North Dakota on a secret lake where the divers are thick as can be. Two beautiful bufflehead drakes came cruising by and I was lucky enough to hit one with my 12 guage Beretta.
FLYWAY
What is one duck you haven't shot but really want to?
HUSTVEDT
I’ve always wanted to go sea duck hunting in one of the legendary parts of the country like the Chesapeake Bay, Alaska or off the coast of Maine. I like the look of scoters and old squaw but I’d love to drop a beautiful drake harlequin.
FLYWAY
Do you have a favorite duck or goose that you like to hunt?
HUSTVEDT
I love early season Canada goose hunting in the fields of north-central Minnesota. I also love opening weekend duck hunting for woodies and teal. Diver hunting in the middle of October, especially when the weather is brutal and the birds are screaming by the shoreline, is a blast. Going after those big mature greenheads just before the lakes freeze over and fields snow up is also a ton of fun providing I can hit it at the right time and have work off.
FLYWAY
Where were you born and raised, and how and when did you discover your love and passion for the outdoors?
HUSTVEDT
I’m a city kid born and raised in South Minneapolis but from birth I loved hunting and fishing thanks to my parents and extended family. I’ve been fishing since I was old enough to fall into an ice fishing hole and I’ve been hunting since I was able to walk through the woods with my Dad.
FLYWAY
You can go on a dream hunt with any 3 people, alive or deceased. Who are you taking, where are you going, and what will you be hunting for?
HUSTVEDT
I’ll take the sentimental choice and hunt with my grandfather and uncle who are both passed away. They loved the outdoors and it would be fun to experience a classic puddle or diver hunt with them. I’d have my Dad (who is very much alive) with me as well and I can’t forget my cousin Bryan Sathre since its his dad who would be with us. We’d do this hunting right on the shoreline of Lake of the Woods and then take a pile of walleye once we had our fill of ducks and geese.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite area in Minnesota to duck or goose hunt?
HUSTVEDT
There are some fantastic fields around Leech Lake that are awesome for goose hunting. I also really enjoy finding those tough to reach and out of the way areas for waterfowling whether it be for ducks or geese. I have a Hobie kayak, a canoe and my 16 footer that I like to take on a variety of waters throughout the season.
FLYWAY
Have you ever doubled or tripled?
HUSTVEDT
I have never tripled but I did double one time with bluebills. I’m usually hunting with larger groups of people and knowing whether or not a double has taken place when the lead is flying and the birds are dropping is not easy. I’m not one of those guys who is quick to shout, “I got three of those” when five guys unload their guns on a flock of birds. Chances are we all hit them a few times!
FLYWAY
When duck or goose hunting, how important do you feel it is to strategize your decoy placement, or do you believe you can just throw them out there and still be successful?
HUSTVEDT
Is this a trick question? Ha! I honestly believe that decoy placement is critical and I spend a lot of time trying to figure out the best configuration. When field hunting I’ll do a lot of adjusting depending on how the birds are coming in to create the “perfect layout.” It’s tougher to do this on the water, but more than a few times I’ve been caught in the decoys by incoming ducks as I made some adjustments. It usually pays off, however. All that said, in the end, I think that decoy placement is half skill and half luck. If the birds are hankering to land they are going to.
FLYWAY
What calls would we find on your lanyard?
HUSTVEDT
I’m good friends with Jeff Foiles and have a tremendous collection of his calls. I also have some Knight and Hale calls that do quite well. Still, my Foiles calls are my pride and joy.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite gun to hunt with?
HUSTVEDT
My Winchester Super X2 does a fine job when I get it on the birds. It’s kinda like my dog, any of its shortcomings are entirely my fault!
FLYWAY
Tell us about WriteOutdoors and how it came to be
HUSTVEDT
I’ve been writing ever since I can remember including for my elementary school newspaper. I became the Editor in Chief of my college newspaper at the University of MN-Duluth and while I was there I applied to write for the Outdoor News. They gave me the chance to write an article and here we are 14 years later and I’m still writing. I’ve expanded to writing for many other publications including several national ones and I’ve become quite interested in photography, video production and marketing work. Six years ago I decided to roll all of my specialties into a single company called “WriteOutdoors” which is a name came up by my wife (who was then my fiancé). Go to www.WriteOutdoors.com to find out more!
FLYWAY
As an outdoor writer, do you have a story or article that you have written that you consider your personal favorite?
HUSTVEDT
I have a lot of favorites, especially the biographical pieces I write. I’ve spent several hours each interviewing some very interesting outdoors people including Jeff Foiles, Loral I Delaney, Gary Roach, Bud Grant, Jack Morris, John Molkenbur, Tom Dokken, Al Lindner, Babe Winkelman, Big Sean Hammock, Randy Bartz, Ron Schara, Tom Knapp, and Barnie Calef to name a few.
FLYWAY
As the founder of WriteOutdoors what do you believe has been your greatest accomplishment so far and have you experienced any challenges or disappointments along the way?
HUSTVEDT
My greatest accomplishment so far has been to still be going strong and actually continuing to make gains even as the world of outdoor media changes tremendously. My greatest challenge has been in finding the time to do everything I want to do and, more importantly, everything I need to do. My greatest disappointments come regularly whenever I receive a “not this time” reply from an editor. It’s the harsh reality in outdoor publishing that your best article idea gets shot down but that’s life. For every 10 queries you send out consider yourself lucky if one gets picked up. Most people don’t understand that but it’s the reality. That’s changing, however, as more people go online for their information. If I want to write an article about jerk-line tactics in prairie potholes I can go for it and publish online rather than hope for an editor to like my idea. It’s good news and bad news for the industry!
FLYWAY
What is the biggest fish you ever caught and on what lake did you catch it on?
HUSTVEDT
Biggest largemouth is 6.5 pounds caught on a jointed Rapala fishing it like a topwater on Waconia. Smallmouth was 6.5 pounds caught on a jig and grub in the BWCA. Biggest pike was 41-inches caught trolling cranks on Mille Lacs. Biggest walleye was 9 pounds caught trolling crankbaits on Saganaga. Largest muskie was caught on Minnetonka and it was in the 50s. Got it to the boat but never got a solid measurement….but it was well over 50 that I know!
FLYWAY
What is your favorite fish to fish for and do you have any favorite lakes in Minnesota?
HUSTVEDT
I don’t have a favorite fish. I’m being honest when I say I like to fish for all of Minnesota’s game species. For walleye I love fishing Leech and Mille Lacs. For bass I love the Mississippi River, Mille Lacs and all of the Twin Cities lakes. For muskie and pike I love Minnetonka, Mille Lacs and Bemidji. For bluegill and crappie, I’ll never tell. Those lakes are secrets for sure!
FLYWAY
What is your greatest hunting memory?
HUSTVEDT
Every single time I’m in the field, woods or on the water with my father. He’s the reason I love the outdoors.
FLYWAY
As a true outdoorsman, are there things you see or hear about others doing in the field, woods, or water that bother you?
HUSTVEDT
I really don’t like people who double-dip, even if they have the license to do so. I know of deer hunters who fill their tag and also their wife’s tag (even though she never steps foot in the field!). I know of waterfowlers who will take a limit in the morning, eat the birds for lunch, and take a few more in the afternoon. I also don’t like it when people complain about increased opportunities for kids. Youth hunts are necessary for the future of hunting so rather than complain, get involved and introduce a kid to the great outdoors.
FLYWAY
How can viewers of this website find out more about WriteOutdoors and all you have to offer?
HUSTVEDT
Just go to www.WriteOutdoors.com or check out www.YouTube.com/WriteOutdoors and watch some of my videos. Check out my Facebook (WriteOutdoors Ron Hustvedt) or Twitter (RonHustvedt) accounts as well!
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Ron Hustvedt for taking the time to answer our interview questions.
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