How's everyone doing so far this season?

[Tyler Rother]

Haven't been out as much as I'd like to, but have been scouting almost every day while at work. Lots of birds around now. House is nearly finished being worked on, thank god! Am getting on this weekend both mornings, and possibly a field hunt Saturday night.

How are all of you guys doing? Seeing a lot of birds?

Shooting many?

Will hopefully have some pictures/footage up from our hunts this weekend.

Tyler

[Go Big Red!]

Haven't been out since late Oct. Won't get out until next year with deer hunting and coaching high  school hockey.

Have not seen much for ducks.  Most of the potholes in the NW metro are freezing up so I have not seen much in numbers.  Most fields are tilled up as well so if you can find open water, I'm sure the birds will be pouring in.

[Tyler Rother]

We'll be at the pond around 1 am Saturday morning cutting the ice if need be, just a sheet of paper on it now tho. Fields in Lonsdale not tilled yet, could be good, unless the birds stay to the Northfield side of 35.

Lots of geese in Rosemount yet...

Still looking for a field in the area, but keep getting shot down. Won't give up!

Tyler

[Go Big Red!]

I have even read that when the ice gets too thick to cut, hunters could layout blue or black tarps on ice and spread out decoys around it.  Makes the birds think there is open water.

[JECAMERON]

I've seen birds land on ice many times.
You could probably fool them by augering a couple holes and tossing a decoy in each 

[Tyler Rother]

That's funny Cam, and yeah Big Red, that worked for us once, don't try the poly trick when it's sunny out lol... Reflects in the sun, cloudy days I think work the best for that, might try that this weekend, setting a goose spread behind us while we hunt the water, see what happens.

[JECAMERON]

... might try that this weekend, setting a goose spread behind us while we hunt the water, see what happens.

Sounds awesome, a hybrid spread.

[Go Big Red!]

Saw a pile of lesser geese and mallards in Rogers Wed morning.  Tuesday night was a different story; had 6 huge flocks of geese fly over head and had to be 1000+ birds go by heading south.

[high_roller21]

I got these tonight, I should have limited out on green heads, had 2 groups of 60+ greenes land in the decoys but on the first group my guns action was FROZEN and after I spooked them up I only got one shot off, but I nabbed 2 off the second group 15 mins later.  Got a solo black duck later and at the end of the night had a group of 15+ divers land in the decoys and got 2 in that. This was my 2nd time ever duck hunting and I guess waiting and letting the birds glide into the decoys to land and not calling when they were in range payed off.  I had to pinch myself because this was something I seen in shows and never thought it could happen to me.  This was public water in the metro.  Others on the lake skybusting birds 75yrd out didn't get very good results, I never seen a bird drop.  I cant wait untill next year!!!!!

[greatwhitehunter3]

Have had some of my best hunts in the last two weeks. Geese are piling up. Hard to say what they'll be doing with this latest storm pushing through though.

[kenhuntin]

I got these tonight, I should have limited out on green heads, had 2 groups of 60+ greenes land in the decoys but on the first group my guns action was FROZEN and after I spooked them up I only got one shot off, but I nabbed 2 off the second group 15 mins later.  Got a solo black duck later and at the end of the night had a group of 15+ divers land in the decoys and got 2 in that. This was my 2nd time ever duck hunting and I guess waiting and letting the birds glide into the decoys to land and not calling when they were in range payed off.  I had to pinch myself because this was something I seen in shows and never thought it could happen to me.  This was public water in the metro.  Others on the lake skybusting birds 75yrd out didn't get very good results, I never seen a bird drop.  I cant wait untill next year!!!!!


 love the fish and fowl photography room I hope  I can talk the wife into one of those. Keep knocken em down.

[Go Big Red!]

Saw a ton of mallards in the Otsego area today.  All have been sitting on the Mississippi River since the little ponds have froze over.