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 Photos


Recommended Posts

Wow, what a day today!!! Went out with bottom-bouncer today and lets just say the migration is on like Donkey Kong in Western NoDak right now!!! Tens of thousands of snows and just as many mallards. We started out on a big slough that I had seen thousands of mallards at earlier in the year, and this time the mallards were sitting in the limited open water (everything else is frozen) along with a MESS of snows. We watched the snows get up for a while, heading to a field to feed, and decided to follow them. After a couple of miles, this is what we found. Sorry for the poor quality, but all we had was our cell phones. Those little dots are all snows, and this is about 10% of the birds.

IMG_1000.jpg

Bottom-bouncer dropped me off at the field since he didn't have a license and watched from a distance. I just layed in the field next to a haybale and watched as they circled all around me, just out of range. Finally a few came in range and I let loose. First 3 rounds hit 1 bird but it was a little far away and only took some feathers off. They kept circling. Next volly was only 1 and again, a couple feathers but no worse for the wear. Next volly claimed a snow and spooked the birds a little. I got up, ran 100 yards to where they started circling the field again and just laid down in the 8" tall stubble. They contined to circle and I dropped another one. Now they were finally spooked and took off.

IMG_9208.jpg

IMG_1643.jpg

We drove around for a while and found another 10,000+ snows in a field but were denied access for tomorrow. We started driving some more and found a field just next to the slough that was FULL of mallards. I belly crawled up to em and when I was about 60yds away they spooked. I pulled the trigger twice and on the first shot dropped 1, second drop hit 2 birds. I left em alone after that and will be returning tomorrow to see what I can get actually being set up in the field. Wish me Luck!!!

All day there were thousands of birds in the air. Every time we looked there were birds flying all around us. Mallards, snows, lessers, greaters, and a few divers but not very many. All around it was just an incredible day to be a waterfowl hunter, and one I won't forget any time soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And Tyler, great pics! It's not always about how many you kill, but the experience. Kill pics just can't capture the feeling of fully committed mallards coming into a spread!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

full-19479-25852-550638_1015220031426043

Here is a group shot from our trip to North Dakota from 2 weeks ago. Camera batteries died so this is really the only pic I got. This was our first day up there and we got our 8 man limit. The coolest part was that we shot 14 different species of ducks that day. Coming back to MN and seeing a fraction of the ducks sure is depressing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awesome pic Todd!

Here is my first Black Duck, a monster drake i shot on Lake Michigan on monday. Also killed a really nice bull can the evening before but failed to get a pic.

blackduck.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of birds flying through Central/East Central ND.

We had a great few days of hunting in the snow. If you have the opportunity, now is the time to be up there. full-33631-25965-trailer.jpg

full-33631-25966-blind.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was fortunate enough to get out with the local diver freak and had a 4-pack of scoters buzz us. We each dumped one. Awesome memory!

full-1826-26121-picture4982.jpg

Following morning we lit up the ringers with a few hoodies and bluebills mixed in...

full-1826-26122-22.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That second pic is cool, but you guys must have held your breath for a long time to stack all those ducks under the boat! grin

As always, great pics Matt. Glad to see your still chasing waterfowl!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awesome photos Matt, hopefully those divers make it down my way soon grin Congrats on the scooter, thats a big one. Happy Hunting

Kettle

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bryce,

Good to see Jez is still in action. Diamond retired - arthritis. Pepper - the replacement dog - (middle of the 3 below) is doing very well in her first season.

A day in Nodak 2012:

full-48-26241-nodak2012.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see that Matt shot a nice scoter, and I thought I would post the one I got last year. Looks different but for sure a scoter. Any ideas of what type?

scoter.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The orange inside the nostril is almost blaze when they are freshly killed. You can kind of see the orange nostril on the duck in the photo on the top.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

still leaning ruddy .... come to faribault theres about 100 scoters then I am no sea duck expert . however I see your case size and nasel post still not that of a scoter.

but bill and size doesent really match a ruddy either . scoters are not that un common throughout Mn I have seen a couple killed ..evan took an oldsqauw personally last fall in southern mn. and nephew took a surf hen last fall also 50/50 on the matter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The topic was unlocked

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.