Welcome to Winter is a text conversation between photographer Doug Steinke and his friend Cory which ended up being a photo essay that was published in the December 2019 issue of Strung Magazine. The pre-game chatter while planning to decoy and hunt is something we all do but when it comes with world class visuals, it’s pretty hard to beat. All of the photos are, of course by Doug Steinke and he was responsible for the hash browns and eggs as well.
Friday morning. 10:00 am Platte River, Nebraska. Late November 2019
Cory: Hello
Doug: Is it snowing there?
C: Just started but it’s not sticking yet.
D: It’s about time winter got going. It’s been too warm for too long.
C: What we need is for this storm to bomb out.
D: Haven’t you seen the new forecast?
C: Not yet.
D: They upped everything. Blizzard warning for the Dakotas tonight. We’re in a winter storm warning. They upped the snow totals to 8-12″ by noon tomorrow and a blizzard watch tomorrow night. Northwest wind blowing 20-30 mph with gust to 50. Temps dropping to 10 degrees by sundown.
C: Really? Oh, that’s perfect! Maybe it’ll shape up like a couple years ago when we hunted that blizzard.
D: Yeah, we shouldn’t have been out in that storm.
C: Are you kidding? We didn’t even have to call. They just kept coming, wave after wave flying on the deck up the river.
D: Yeah. That was an epic day. It was totally worth it.
C: There were 5,000 canadas on the main roost yesterday and I saw more coming from the north on my way home last night.
D: A buddy who lives up by Mobridge, South Dakota said all their small water froze yesterday. Those birds have to be somewhere between here and southern South Dakota. Is Kevin out this morning?
C: Yes. He said they were just starting to see new birds migrating, but nothing was stopping. Lots of snows and specks heading south in a hurry.
D: They must be pushing ahead of the storm. If we can get to the blind tomorrow, we better be on our second cup of coffee by shooting time. There should be new birds roosting on the river and other hunters will kick them out of their decoys in the morning. We should have some easy decoying birds.
C: Why don’t we leave the full bodies in the trailer and just go with a few floaters and all the silhouettes? Then we won’t have to worry about brushing snow off the decoys.
D: Good Idea. I’ll bring extra brooms just in case. I’ll have two guys with me.
C: I’ll have two as well.
D: Perfect. I’ll stop by the grocery store and grab bacon, two dozen eggs and hash browns.
C: I’ll swing by the truck stop and grab some plates, more forks, and salsa packets.
D: Shooting time is 7:28 am. So, 6:15 at the gate?
C: Yep. Bring your dog tomorrow. I won’t have room with three of us.
D: Dude, there’s a huge flock of lessers flying over right now! They’re a mile high, headed south. It’s going to be tough to sleep tonight!
C: Yeah, it could be epic!
Doug Steinke is one of the best waterfowl photographers in the country.
See more of his work and visit his studio online at the Siverbelly Workshop.
