2012 waterfowl~

[snow]

Season is on our door step folks! I for one cannot wait,went to my spot to check things over late yesterday afternoon,sadly the corn is still standing in my field so we'll be pass shooting in the A.M.,looks like a good supply of local mallards,some teal and wood ducks to be had,the water on a small nearby private lake looks really low this season,other small ponds on the property are dried up so anyone on water should have a good shoot.

Goodluck to everyone goin out and be safe!

[Cody Gruchow]

Up by park rapids. It's really cold. Even colder tomorrow. Checked the spot and watched a good number of ducks go in and out

[snow]

What a great opening day! low ceiling,spintin mist,stiff nw west wind and lots of ducks in the air,seen large flocks of wood ducks right@ day break,some teal and a handful of mallards.

[dakids]

  I have not hunted ducks for ov er 15 years. I miss it. Can u guys take and share some pics. Views from the blind, closeups of the ducks and the beautifull feathers, dogs. Anything ducky.  Thanks

[kenhuntin]

I have just experienced the best duck openers since I fell in love with duck sloughs in 19 and 77. Sat of opener 4 of us had our 24 birds in the freezer by 10:00am. The bag consisted of mostly mallards but some blue wings and woodducks. There were so many birds in the air that I am surprised they did not collide with eachother as they took to their morning flight. Sunday was a great morning flight as well. By sunrise I had two teal dead on the water as well as one drake woodduck to my right and another beautiful bird to my left dropped out of a flock of what must have been thirty. Now I was gonna just let the rest go and wait for an opportunity on the big mallards. Soon enogh came in 4 teal like a lightning bolt and landed right in front of me then more woodies buzz by and land within 20 yards. I was completely in a wonderful world watching the teal work on their pecking order and biting eachothers beaks. as the woodie hens were peeping and carrying on with the drakes showing off their headdresses in the early sun. then along comes a pair of otters that had been monkin around the other other side of the slough on saturday loping through the catts and huffing at eachother I was well hid and they were in close so I could get a good look. Then one of the buggers honed in on one of  the downed woodies and they fought over that thing until it was just feathers in a matter of seconds. If I was hunting with a dog that would never have happened. But I don't have to pick up dog crap year round either.

[snow]

Dak,

Here is a hybrid drake mallard/drake woodduck~,wooduck and view from my pass shooting spot~

[dakids]

Thanks snow. Keep them coming.

[FireRanger]

Was up nort at our spot by Squaw Lake, MN and had a fairly decent opener. LOTS of woodies flying and ended up with mostly a woody bag over the weekend. Also shot some Bluebills, Red's and some Teal. Saw a few Mallards flying but our area isn't known for high numbers of them historically. Was able to bag 3 geese and 3 grouse while in transitions from spot to spot. Overall a good weekend. Nice to see the Woodies up in population. The temps were cold and was surprised to see the snow falling for about an hour. Loved the fresh air and can't wait for the next 6 weekends in the swamp. I'll try to get some photos up aswell.

[glenn57]

hey fire ranger, we are about 17 miles to the east of ya!!!!!!!!! real close to jessie lake!

[mnhunter1]

i got 4 opener 3 young drake mallards and 1 bluewing in the east central part of the state. lots of mallards and teal not as many woodys as in the past

[kenhuntin]

Seems as if this year wherever you go there are decent opportunies on waterfowl.

[Cody Gruchow]

im seeing alot mallards when i went on monday morning. they always slide just before they get to the decoys

[FireRanger]

Heading up in an hour, will give a report when I get back. The Mallards and Northerns have started...saw a duck tornado last week...awesome.

[HD]

There are a lot of woody's left in the state. We flushed 50 plus off of my pond yesterday morning.

[kenhuntin]

Hunted Starbuck again yesterday  morning. The shooting was over at 745 am with mixed bag of woodies ,greenwing and bluewing teal. Could not hardly see Minnewaska because it was covered with coot. I mean thousands! Alot more geese around this week we just could not coax any in to the water. With this drought I believe if you have the opportunity to hunt a spring fed slough you are one lucky waterfowler. HD is right about the fact there are alot of woodducks still here. (not that he should ever be doubted)

[Cody Gruchow]

i went this morning. i seen a few mallards, had one group of 3 come in at first light. other then that it was a very slow morning. seen a few pintails and one bull canvasback.

[snow]

Well the weather sure brought mew birds into my area here in central Mn,last night the geese were moving into a local picked cornfield well past dark,I was out with the pup around 7pm and watched silhouettes land,group after group,nosey as hell too.This morning I setup in a nearby picked corn field,it took more time to put the dekes out than the shooot,it was over in 15minutes,had to go to work otherwise we had mallards working the area as well.

[lentz]

How do I found out f a lakes okay to hunt?


Diamond lake right behind Rogers called the co and he didant answer

[FireRanger]

Heading up for the last northern trip of the year. Will report on return. I would imagine this cold snap will definetly get the last of the birds to up and leave the northern areas. Lets hope for a good last shoot.

[snow]

Well today was a different story,sunrise brought clear empty skies,watched hi-balling divers heading east and south,small water was frozeup near my area,no shots fired,bummer!

With that said,contacts in nodak said the birds are pouring into the minot area by the 1000's from canada,fields are white with snow geese,darks and specs are mixed in,more to come guyz,just be patient.

[kenhuntin]

The congregation of canada geese has exploded this week in the NE metro. At least on the lake I have been occasionally hunting since the early goose season. Came off the water at 9:30 this morning because of domestic obligations but bagged 6 for three hunters The birds did not fly untill a little after 8:00 and there is no excuse other than poor shooting for being shy of a limit. The ducks were very scarce with only one bufflehead decoying. Of course while we were picking up it was then that a pair of mallards winged in and hopefully they will make it back to breed next year. If you ever want to see more birds come in all you have to do is leave your gun onshore while you monkey with decoys or go pick up a bird or take a leak. It is almost guaranteed that is when you will get burned by a flock of ducks.

[snow]

Thought forsure with this front moving in today the birds would be on the move,was'nt the case,never saw a duck or a goose,sat until 9am,maybe tomorrow,the snow up north and the dakotas should push'em down.

[kenhuntin]

It is over now for the ducks but Saturday there were mallards by thousands in the fields around lake Emily in Starbuck Mn. Sunday there was not one bird to be seen. Now the Boys down south will be having a hayday