Gravel Roads, Gas Tanks & Tasty Spit Cups

Almost every day during the hunting season I found myself behind the wheel of my scouting rig,

a 2011 Honda Fit. Many of you may laugh, but when it came to the many miles put on it and the

MPG it got; I think I am the one laughing in the end. Heading out of town with a buddy, some

binocs, a plat book and a last-minute stop at the Casey’s gas station for pop, dip and a quick bite

to eat before trekking off into no-man’s land, in search of the next day’s hunting spot.

Sometimes two of us went out together and scouted, sometimes we had five separate vehicles

out; kind of just depended on how desperate we were for a spot. I think most people scout the

same way as we did. We would turn up some music, typically some sort of mix between Kesha

and Garth Brooks (depended on the day), and drive off out of town. We would go past other

feeds and roosts that had been good in recent years, while also keeping an eye out for other spots. At

times it got super frustrating, driving all over eastern South Dakota and not seeing a single bird.

The sun got lower and lower and we would frantically start driving faster. I cannot tell you how

many times, just as the sun went down and we could barely see anything, that we would find a

field that was absolutely stacked with birds. It’s like God was looking down on us and planned it

out perfectly. We would open up the plat book and figure out who owns the field, and whoever

gets the permission from the farmer, gets to invite who they want and come up with the plan

for when and how they want to hunt that spot.

I always enjoyed driving down the gravel roads, dodging deer, avoiding the ditch due to

watching fields for too long without looking back at the road (we’ve all been there, many times).

It was a time for me to unwind, think about life, enjoy the land that God created for us and

watch the sun set over the horizon. I was out driving in rural Minnesota the other night on my

way home, and it made me think about all the hours I spent driving around aimlessly over the

past few years looking for ducks to hunt, and to tell you the truth, it made me truly happy. I took

in a deep breath and soaked in the stillness of the air, the smell of the bean and corn fields, an

occasional mosquito in the nostril and my pup sniffing everything in sight. There are many parts

to a successful hunt, and it all begins with four wheels, a good buddy, Casey’s pizza and Poker

Face by Lady Gaga. Drive safe and double check your drink before you accidentally drink your

buddies spitter (I speak from experience).

Hunt safe,

Cameron Sundmark

Editor-in-Chief // River Brothers Outfitters

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