Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Waterfowl Reports


Recommended Posts

My dream is to live in Devils lake during duck season. Then the rest of the year i will live there and catch fish as the season never closes.

Like I said its a dream but one of these days I'll wake up and it will be true. grin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just make sure you build your retirement home with a HUGE dike around it!

Honestly though, Gordie. That's a pretty doable dream. North Dakota is a fantastic state, and the Devil's Lake area, as you know, is an outdoorsmen's mecca.

I think that's a GREAT dream! Call me when you get settled in and I'll come over and help you keep all those pesky deer, birds, and fish outta your yard! laugh

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Opened duck today on the Leech Lake Reservation. Hunted Bowstring this morning and it was good. Seen loads and loads of teal. Very few mallards and seen a few canadas. Best duck hunt I've had in a few years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Opened duck today on the Leech Lake Reservation. Hunted Bowstring this morning and it was good. Seen loads and loads of teal. Very few mallards and seen a few canadas. Best duck hunt I've had in a few years.
d

Did you see many Ringnecks labortian and thanks for the report.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seen some far off birds from time to time with black heads but they were flying high and away. Went back out on Sunday and things really cooled. Might have been because we forgot our decoys at home and were pass shooting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I always get uneasy when I hear record numbers or near record numbers, and why are those geese in such massive flocks already ? Maybe that's why we haven't hardly seen a goose since it opened. 4 different counties I hunt in and it's not worth trying, there are few around or they just don't want to fly ? Last year record ducks or something and I'm not sure we saw any ducks, is it tough to find fields for geese ? It's all corn and beans primarily and with no small dairy farmers anymore they aint choppin corn or planting oats ? So the honkers moved west to find the fields ?

Two things constant in this world. Waterfowl are going to fly south and Musky buck is going to scour the same 4 counties and find zero to no ducks or geese. I'm kidding of course. From what I'm seeing it should be a pretty good opener in MN.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What does everyone thimk about the cold front?

Do you think it will push out the local teal and woodies? Few years ago we had good numbers around then a cold front came in, the woodies and teal got push out and left not many ducks around on opener. Any thoughts about this weekend?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

lol I liked that, no worries, it is too bad really, not for me but the hundreds of kids who will never take a duck, maybe a goose. At least I scouted this weekend, ducks seen 0 geese seen 0. Walked a mile long stretch of river that runs through our section and 0. Some day there is going to be a duck in that river I just know it. River looked great, little to 0 current, lots of downed trees etc. for woodies to stand on, but a goose egg again. All my bowhunting scouts saw a total of a pair of woodducks opening night. Dad said in the 60's you couldn't find a hotel room in our county, roads as busy as opening of fishing, I said how drunk were you in the 60's.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

MuskyBuck go to a different area. The area I usually hunt is a bust this year because the rice got flooded out. We will be driving farther this year for the ducks. Scout, scout, scout and by that I mean different areas.

Whats the saying about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? wink

The woodies shouldn't leave this early but I am sure a lot of the BWT left with this cold front and NW wind. We saw boat loads of teal last weekend scouting so it should be interesting to see how many of the little buggers are left. Good luck this weekend!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been traveling a lot of the central to eastern side of the state and I have seen more wood ducks than I have ever seen and this morning I noticed a major abundance of teal.

Musky Buck I feel for you as you said how food it once was and noew nothing sorry for your loss. I also think you may want to change your name to Musky Duck grin

Sorry man I just couldn't let that one slide thru.

Good luck to you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been traveling a lot of the central to eastern side of the state and I have seen more wood ducks than I have ever seen and this morning I noticed a major abundance of teal.

I've seen a lot of wood ducks this late summer/early fall too compared to other years. I'm in the southern part of the state.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Teal and woodies are on the move! Been scouting every other day for the last week.wetlands swell with fowl and then gone,then swell again!! Noticed ALOT more teal on tonight's drive !!

If your area looks nill,lots of teal and woodies still above us!!

Good luck!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey feathers, tried calling ya and left a message but never heard back. Whatd you Find? I'll be there opener, along with my dad, a buddy and his nefew. My dads heading over there on Thursday to do some more scouting. I'll let ya know what he finds out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey feathers, tried calling ya and left a message but never heard back. Whatd you Find? I'll be there opener, along with my dad, a buddy and his nefew. My dads heading over there on Thursday to do some more scouting. I'll let ya know what he finds out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Had a great opening day (Hutchinson area), a couple birds shy of filled out, half mallards, half teal. Could have had more teal but I think the rest of the group was holding out for the wood ducks that never came.

My dog found everything, so she's in mid-season form. It was great to get out and have the trigger squeeze adrenaline, blow the calls, and bag some birds. I have a great group to hunt with, never a dull moment.

Hope everybody had a great opening day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saw lots of ducks today. Got to shoot too so it was a good day. There was tons of shooting going on all around us. The first shot of the year was about 20 minutes before legal shooting light, I couldnt even see all my decoys! But all in all, it was a good opener!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

bagged birds wise, worst opener in years... But, the birds where where we where, but the lake was dried up really bad, in fact walked shore line to spot and set up layout blinds... Birds where consistantly swinging about 40-50 yds out, which was consistant to keeping just inside the water line, so we where not presented much for great shots. But, the 15 mins before shooting we probably had 1500+ birds circling... Unt was short, once they where banged at for a while they left... about a half hour of good duck moment then they left. The group that got there at 3am, and beat us by 5 where in a much better location to play the wind, and appeared to be getting a few birds...

So, Good show, semi miserable conditions, a lot of ducks, And found out army surplus snow shoes make good mud walkers!!!

Good luck out there!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

South Central MN hunt this weekend was very good for both birds flying and birds in the bag. Both days our group of 3 were a couple shy of our limit and with better shooting it would have been limits both days. Everyone knows how that goes...great opening weekend on the water.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hunted southern mn river valley, very poor hunting, everthing dryed up, between 4 of us on Sat we had 1 mallard, today 3 of us had 1 woodie no ducks to be seen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A buddy and I hunted both mornings with good sucess. Saturday filled out in 25 minutes, 8 mallards GWT BWT Shovler one Goose. Sunday we sat in a little woodie hole and got 6 drakes. The best opening weekend I've ever had and might possibly be the best I'll ever have.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

had a great opener weeekend. Only shot 7 birds Saturday but it was a great mixed bag. 2 drake mallards, hen mallard, drake woodie, hen woodie, drake wigeon, and a golden eye!! Sunday morning we shot a drake and hen woodie,2 teal and 5 geese...one of which was banded smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Southern mn river valley. Tons of woodies around. Fast and really close. Sat-2 limits of woodies, several really pretty drakes. Added a hen mallard and merganser. Sun-2 more limits of woodies along with a couple of drake green wings. Best opener in years. 18month old lab did all the work on Sunday and found everything. Hope the success continues.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Man it's good to see all these good reports. Last year was pretty rough. Hopefully we can hold a few til I'm able to get out on Thursday

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mankato Area - Got a limit on Saturday and me and the neighbor got 7 on Sunday. Mostly teal with some mallarda and few woodies. The area we had been hunting for early goose was holding hundreds of woodies, but they were for the most part gone with that darn front. If you want a good show, check out the back side of eagle. Hundreds if not thousands of birds there today. Too bad its too low to access because my buddy hunted the north side and only got a couple.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.