Pulled apart the air box today to see about hacking a few pieces out to increase the airflow and decided to check on the MAF at the same time.  Holy moly.  When I pulled the MAF out it had a good third of the screen covered with debris.  Dried grass, what looked like seeds, bird feathers and who knows what else all that was.  Also the screen was covered in what looked to be soot or carbon residue.  How all that got past the air filter is beyond me.  Cleaned it all up and took it for a drive.  It seems to have a much snappier response now that it is able to breath a little better.  And to think there is a large following out there that advise everyone to de-screen their MAF.  No thanks, I prefer not having foreign material in my engine.