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Waterfowl Reports


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I guess I will do the honor of starting the annual thread, even if the MN hunters can't contribute for another week grin

Hunted the WI opener today. My original central WI plans fell through so I ended up doing some last minute scouting yesterday close to home. Wound up on a WI river backwater in northern WI.

It was a very weird day. Saw 2 woodies from about 9-11:45 and that was it. Just before noon when I was going to pick up it got really crazy. A huge flock of mallards got broken up by another hunting party and all of a sudden there were groups all over the place working. About this time good numbers of woodies and a few ringers showed up as well. Should have probably done more shooting but was fun to watch. Wound up with 3 mallards down(1 lost, ran into the woods while I was reloading). While I was attempting to recover the cripple, birds continued to work my decoys and had about 12 woodies land in my spread...It was an action packed 20 minutes or so in an otherwise slow day.

Saw quite a few other hunters out. Not a ton of shooting but a fair amount. Gonna try again in the morning.

River was really high. A lot of flooded vegetation. Birds were staying off the main bays and sticking to smaller backwaters.

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Went out in South Dakota for a couple of hours on Saturday morning. Could not get to the spot I originally wanted to hunt due to the flooding. Hunted some public land and got 3 Gadwal and 1 Goose. Saw a ton of birds.

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Sounds like there is plenty of birds out in the Dakotas. A co-workers was out scouting a week ago and said he saw a ton. I was looking at the "marsh cam" where we are headed on Wednesday and there is a ton of birds just north of Winnipeg. Check this out

http://www.oakhammockmarsh.ca/nature/live-video/index.html

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Sodak Opener: WATER EVERYWHERE. the area i wanted to hunt was impossible to get to from any direction due to water over the roads. didn't have plat books for the 2 counties i found good fields in so i sat around all weekend watching football.

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For all the birds I saw during early goose season, I can't begin to wonder where they are now.

Went to our usual resident opening spot in North Dakota and didn't see half of what we usually see. By Sunday, there were even less. I'm going to hit it hard this weekend and see where they all went. I was literally covered in ducks in August, but now they're nowhere to be found. I think all the water really has them spread out.

So in conclusion: yes, you will find ducks in Nodak, but be prepared to log some hours behind the wheel!

Oh yeah, and good luck to all you non-residents this weekend!

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It's the same in MN I was seeing piles of ducks up to about a week ago and they seem to have left or are spread out by all the water we got last week. Gonna be warm and sunny up to opener maybe that will dry up the fields and push the birds back to the big water. If not it will be a lackluster opener in western MN

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Hello, we had a brief cool down a couple of weeks ago and a Youth

Hunting Day.

A few teal and woodies left around here but not many.

tweed

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Tweed I was down your way today and saw tons of ducks most in flooded fields east of you and a bunch off of the over flow on the Minnsota river. I was really suprised to see that many ducks most of them in the fields were mallys.

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As I was cleaning the garden yesterday evening I watched several large flights of Honkers lined up in V's, flying pretty darn high in a beeline south. If I didn't know any better, I'd say some of these birds are migrating already.

Could we be in for an early freeze up?

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As I was cleaning the garden yesterday evening I watched several large flights of Honkers lined up in V's, flying pretty darn high in a beeline south. If I didn't know any better, I'd say some of these birds are migrating already.

Could we be in for an early freeze up?

Funny you say that. I was talking to a friend last night, and he goes "you know, they are forecasting a nice fall, but those hairs sticking up on the back of my neck tell me we're going to get two feet of snow by mid-October."

I hope he's right!!!

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Scouting report: NW MN: 09/30/10 - this morning the fields that held thousands of geese last week are now empty. There are still decent numbers of birds around, very few ducks from what I've noted, but the remaining geese are scattered out. The weather is beautiful, and the fields are still pretty sloppy from last weeks rain, so if you're coming up I'd plan to bring insect repellent. With weather so cooperative, and such an abundance of food available, it's going to be a tricky opener up here. Even fields with decent numbers of birds have them scattered out over much of the field - no real concentrations of birds. I'm pretty sure we've seen some birds moving south already.

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Definetly some birds on the move already.Been watching pods of birds on the river and rice around here for a couple months with comparable numbers as last year.Leech is loaded as usual along with several remote local spots.Keep the barrel warm and the dog wet!!

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beast, i love that camera! i find myself watching it more and more every year, just wanting to get back up there. it's been 5 years now and it's driving me crazy

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Worst opener I've had since moving here 5 years ago. We had 3 mallards buzz our slough and that was it. On the way out I ran into the landowner that asked me if I had seen all the ducks funneling into the corn field to the south of his property line on the other side of his timber....uh no, so off I went to get permission from that landowner who has let me bowhunt in years past so I thought it would be a lock...denied. Since it rained heavy 10 days ago he has a low spot in the middle of his field that has about 2 feet of water in it and in his estimate there are a couple hundred mallards on it. Aaaagh. Denied because his son bowhunts the adjacent timber. Frustrated.

Hopefully sunrise tomorrow will be better.

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The slough we hunt we had no luck on,really about as slow as I remember.We then went and jumped four little ponds including some flooded corn, finally on the last pond woodies. We came out of it with four all drakes hopefully sunday a.m. will show some better results.

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3 guys 4 doz. decoys 1 slough and 18 ducks in 1.5 hours flat, and we were picky for our last 10 birds( 9 mallards, 2 pintails, 4 blue winged teal, 1 green winged teal, 1 gadwall, 1 spooner) of all 9 were drakes not sure on the B.W.T!? Lots of ducks around!!!!

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pretty slow morning...ended up w/ 2 ducks and a goose. highlight was seein my 6 month lab try to retrieve the goose...she tried the foot, the wing, the neck and still couldnt get it off the ground. she did do a good job on the duck tho, defanitly got excited and wanted more birds!

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Was a slow start until we started jumping ponds. Ended up with 1 goose, 4 teal, 1 shoveler, 1 widgen, and 13 woodies. Great day to be outdoors.

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Slow, not many local ducks around. Talked to friends that were hunting other lakes in the county and the same results for them.

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First time in a few years Iv'e hunted the MN opener, should have had a limit of woodys and Mallards but.......... laugh Nice morning to be out and accually seen enough birds to make it interesting.

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Hunted Carlos Avery both days. Saturday saw a fair amount of birds. All before the wonderful 9:00 start of course. Never fired a shot ! Were pretty pumped up about this morning but when the shooting started ( a FULL 13 minutes early !) Nothing survived. It was a non-stop firework grand finale that did not die down till 3 minutes after legal time. We never saw a duck. For the first time I left my calls home ! If you wanted to hear pathetic calling you should have heard us trying to call ducks and geese by mouth ! Finally got a shot at a Suzie and we got her. Missed 2 teal. That is all the oppurtunities we had. What is with the new stealth mode these hunters have now ? They do not turn on a light and stay quiet so u don't know they are there. Light comes and we were surrounded. Bad scene ! If you are gonna be close enough to hunt my spread at least flash a light so I can move !!!!

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hunted out west. 3 guys 17 birds the first day. 6 mallards, 1 redhead, 3 bluebills, 5 gwt 2 bwt. and missed a decent number also.

the next day 2 guys same spot and shot 3 bwt and 1 can

wasn't really that great even on the first day.

In our area, it started about 15 mins before legal shooting hours on both days.

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Lots of birds around. Teal, mallards, ring bills, woodies, geese in that order.

19 for 5 sat had a great time. Quite a few guys out but little sky busting so it was manageable. Everybody had a few birds.

12 for 4 sun but saw a lot of birds even 930& later. Most guys we've had or seen on opener for awhile. The most ducks too.

They r planning 2011 already

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Great opening weekend...the best i can remember in quite some time. 10 birds for 2 of us on Saturday and a limit today. Woodies, ringnecks, and teal. no mallards but we saw a bunch today.

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We did ok this a.m. eight for four of us, 3 teal, 1 widgeon,1 shoveler, 3 woodies. Still had trouble finding many birds,we jump shot 3 of the eight. i have to say every opener is great just being with the family my wife and both boys hunt with me it's a great thing. Looking forward to next wknd. when we can try the rotos out again hopefully the weather turns a little crappy.

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this is the best weather you can get for duck hunting! but mojo's would be nice!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
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