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Waterfowl Reports


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Have a great time Todd. I know your photos will make us drool when you get back. grin

ND was a bust, I believe we literally missed it by a day, got there around 11 AM Friday and 95% of the water was locked up, but there were birds in the air all over. Started scouting and by 2 pm we had 4 very good spots to choose from, all with good numbers of mallards and geese feeding in cut corn. Just befor dark we found the mother load 5K mallards and 500 geese on posted land, got permission. Saterday morning was -5 nasty cold, NOTHING flew got out of there around 10 to go warm up and get some grub. Drove past the roost mile away on the way in and the little bit of water that was open friday was about half, 10,000+ snow geese had left over night but there had to be 20 to 30K mallards packed in those open holes of water, and half that many dark geese. We were back in the blinds by 1 around 3 the ducks started to get up by the thousands, gain alitutude and were heading out, that string of mallards went on for over an hour non stop, and then it was done. Around 4 the honks did the same thing came off in waves and for an hour skipping over us landing in a field a mile away in SD, a few thousand ducks did go back to the roost at dark and about a 1/4 of the geese did as well. With forcasted lows this morning to be -8 we decided to pack it up and head home, we drove past the roost at 8 AM this morning and they hadn't moved yet.

When they get that bunched up and that many of them you better be where they want to be, because they just follow the leader. Pretty disapointing but still worth the trip.

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Found a little open water today and did see a few ducks. Watched a pretty good size migrating flock land on another open hole. Seen one of the biggest flock of whistlers I've ever seen. Lots of ice around me. Tipped over a common sawbill and a redhead.

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Dan, are you saying you saw whistling ducks or is that a nickname for a duck? Cuz I'm pretty sure whistling ducks would be a little outta place here smile

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Been there Dan. Many times. I know the feeling really well.

Bout' the only thing you can do is find a good place to pass shoot birds going from roost to feeding areas, or back again. I've had some dynamite shoots doing that.

Love that last shot NoDak migration though. Just epic!

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Ended the season on a low note, had to watch 2000-3000 mallards go round and round about a mile north of our field and was able to squeak out a half dozen a day for three days. Was fun to see them just would have liked to get a few more. Once the big swarm starts it's tough to pull them away. Let the late season goose hunting begin!

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Hunted a picked corn field today in Rosemount. 5 man limit of mallards in about 1.5hrs from 2-3:30pm. Mallards were coming in waves, seen a couple thousand ducks easily. Also got 5 bonus geese, seen a good amount of them but they were tougher to work.

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Last day of the season. Hunted same field in Rosemount as the day before. 4 man limit of mallards and 3 honkers. Had to work for these today. Hunted from 1:30pm till sunset. Got the last 2 ducks in the last 5min to close out the season. Until next season..

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Central MN

Last ducks of the season came from a big lake in our area that was still open as most of the other water in the area had locked up. Good to be able to hunt water the last day of duck season. We saw quite a few ducks, and managed to shoot six mallards, three goldeneyes, and a redhead. Field hunted over the long holiday weekend for geese, as ducks were closed. Not as many geese as we had hoped. Big groups were shy, but we finished enough singles to groups of five to keep the gun barrels warm. Disappointing part was seeing dozens of nice groups of mallards and finishing five good groups over the goose decoys, but only being able to watch as the season was closed. It was fun to watch, but it would have been nice to take a few of the nicer greenheads out of these bunches. Oh well, maybe next year. Time to move to ice fishing. Check for my ice fishing reports to start on the Hutchinson, West Metro, and Mille Lacs Fishing Reports soon.

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Evidently I didnt hunt enough ducks this year. Arizona here I come. Departure 1:00 Sunday. Already time to get out of this cold and let the ice get safe for fishing. 3 day hunt M-W. Can't wait!

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Saw a couple thousand geese flying over 94 by Fergus Falls yesterday. Huntable birds too, watched a lot of em landing in fields.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Some of those birds still making their way down the river.

When ever they show up they decoy easily and we wack'em.

goose count this week in the pit at 18. Jerky operation in full swing!

With 6 guys hunting they get smart real fast and you have to be there at the right time.

Birds still tough to pattern all the time but some days we get it right.

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  • 3 months later...

Flock of bluebills sitting on a melt pond this morning! Saw widgeon, pintails, gadwalls, and mallards in NW Missouri last weekend. Should be lots to see in a few weeks.

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Pair of sandhills standing on lake yesterday on way home from work. Otherwise not much noted. Still driving on lakes. Small creeks and rivers starting to open up in spots. Chisago county.

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Along I-90 there was plenty of birds around, no real migration with the 30mph NW winds though.

Canada geese (big and small) everywhere, one large flock of snow geese, few areas with big bunches of mallards and one large flock of drake spoonies blush in an open sheet water pond in a field along the road.

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We had a number of honkers showing up in NW MN prior to the snowstorm on Friday. Temp dropped dramatically on Saturday and haven't seen any birds since. That's not to say they aren't still around somewhere. I just haven't seen them.

We are still tightly in the grips of winter up here. Really can't tell it's late March by looking outside. Still hardly any bare ground anywhere, and we still have huge snow berms all over the area.

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There are birds in ND...but I'd say the main push remains south. Honkers and a few mallards on the mighty Red by my house, but that's about it. No sheet water to speak of in the fields, and the sloughs are locked tight under a few feet of ice yet. Weather dependent, may see some good SG numbers this weekend, however I doubt they'll linger for long if they don't have roost water. I'll wait a few weeks, then try my hand at some juvies.

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I'm between Bismarck and Minot and the Honkers are all over. I've seen thousands this morning.

Ya, the honkers always come first. They're the early birds. Most of the ducks and snow geese are still south.

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Little push of honkers. Pairs all over ag fields and small flocks everywhere I looked between Centerville and Forest lake. Worked in Minnetonka today. Outside all day. Never saw a bird.

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Prolly see a pile of em' move north today. Supposed to warm up nicely, and the wind is gonna push em' pretty hard from the south.

Hope to actually witness some snow melt up here in the NW! Really looking forward to warmer weather now.

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Seen my 1st flock of walleye eaters yesterday and my 1st coots today. Mallards have been on the most e right with geese.

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On Sunday we had Canadian Geese flying all over up here. It was a gorgeous day, with lots of snow melting, and very little wind.

Then yesterday happened..... frown

I'd guess we got close to 10 inches of fresh new snow, accompanied by 40-50 mph north/northeast winds, and this morning it was a whopping 7 degrees outside!

There isn't a bird to be seen anywhere up here now! eek It pretty much looks like mid-January outside...on April 1st.

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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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