2019 Duck Geese Goose Waterfowl Opener (2018 Too)

[Wanderer]

Well, it’s just about here.  I’ve been plotting and planning in the background of my everyday life.  Testing different decoy rigs, organizing my accessories, getting my camping gear and truck squared away to disappear for a few days.

 

Options are still open at this time but the one sure thing is I’m unplugging and going on a true wander-about.  At least for a few days, 21st -24th.  One good, easygoing buddy, 2 kayaks, a wheelhouse and no itinerary.  Just a desire to explore places we haven’t hunted yet in northern MN between Brainerd and Baudette.  Sure, we have ideas on where.  Some spots scouted in person and others by map and satellite, but nothing rigid.  And at some point if the birds aren’t in the bag, some fish might get hooked.

 

I love this state for the sheer amount of options we sportsmen have.

 

Anyone got any plans they care to share?  Or maybe when it’s all said and done, share some pics and stories?

[MJ1657]

Me and my hunting buddy will start out the day in our duck dock by home. Fried egg sandwiches at around 8:00 I'm guessing.

 

If the geese show up we will have a field hunt when we're done on the water. 

[Wanderer]

Good luck to you and Molly.   

[monstermoose78]

Will be in the middle of Sherburne Wildlife Refuge with river rat and maybe Gordie and my nephew. Wood ducks will get shot at I hope to get at least one. 

[Mike89]

good luck MJ and Molly too as Wanderer said!!!

[MJ1657]

Not duck opener but early goose opener. Tried out the new blind we built. I was happy with three geese seeing how few are around. 

[MJ1657]

We got two today. 

 

Me and Moll set up our north wind blind this afternoon for the duck opener. 

[Mike89]

way to go guys!!!!!!

[gimruis]

Quite the blind you built there.

[MJ1657]

5 hours ago, gimruis said:

Quite the blind you built there.

It's worked well. The blind in the pic is 8'. I also built a 4'. We hunted three people out of the 8' and one in the 4'. 

[gimruis]

Who's all going out on Saturday for the real opener?  Good rain and cooler temps have arrived.

[MJ1657]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Who's all going out on Saturday for the real opener?  Good rain and cooler temps have arrived.

We are

[Mike89]

good luck all!!

[MJ1657]

I just got back from scouting. There were a few ducks on our pond. 

[jgrimmz]

I will be, but I'm going to be sad since all the perfect hunting weather over the last three days rolls out just in time for opener 

[monstermoose78]

I will be out with a few guys blasting at ducks!!

[Wanderer]

For all the stuff I thought I had at my fingertips to pack, I sure am taking all week to get it done!  At least I have all my supplies.  I just keep tinkering on this and that, not getting it bagged up!

 

Leaving tomorrow morning around 9 and should have the entire afternoon to scout our top areas.  We’ll land somewhere in the northern third of the state.

[monstermoose78]

15 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

For all the stuff I thought I had at my fingertips to pack, I sure am taking all week to get it done!  At least I have all my supplies.  I just keep tinkering on this and that, not getting it bagged up!

 

Leaving tomorrow morning around 9 and should have the entire afternoon to scout our top areas.  We’ll land somewhere in the northern third of the state.

Good luck and many the ducks fall after you shoot!!

[leech~~]

38 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

For all the stuff I thought I had at my fingertips to pack, I sure am taking all week to get it done!  At least I have all my supplies.  I just keep tinkering on this and that, not getting it bagged up!

 

Leaving tomorrow morning around 9 and should have the entire afternoon to scout our top areas.  We’ll land somewhere in the northern third of the state.

 

It's always nice when you have a week to get everything nicely packed, organized and ready to go.

It's just that few hours when you get home tired and dump it all in a big dirty pile to sort out that suk!

 

Gook Luck!

Edited September 21, 2018 by leech~~

[monstermoose78]

I got a lab stuck to me, because he saw the shotgun come out. Decoys check, gun check, 83 shells check, decoys check, head lamp check, Finn check, clothes set out check, ducks ?

[Mike89]

I know Finn will,have fun for sure!!!

[monstermoose78]

Finn and I are up trying not wake the wife. Been up since 2 am even as a kid i did not get up this early for Christmas. Stay safe everyone. 

[Cret Jigs]

Clear skies this morning but hopefully you get some dinner .... otherwise  the Pike are biting!!  

[MJ1657]

We we're done by 7 this morning.  Were set up over field goose decoys now. 

[monstermoose78]

Great job guys!! I got 8 shots off the first one was good then I missed 7 in a row. Gordie got one and well river rat got zero. It was a hoot to hunt with them. 

[pikeandchester]

Good opener on the water in the Mankato area. 3 wood ducks and 2 geese. Little guy’s first opener, we left at 10:00 and he wanted to stay longer than I did! 

[monstermoose78]

How is it going today 

[pikeandchester]

Quite a bit slower today. Only saw 2 teal between yesterday and today, which  really surprised me and most of the wood ducks seemed to have moved on. Didn’t stick around long enough for the geese. Hope everyone had a great weekend and good luck!

[gimruis]

I had a good opener.  Two friends and I got 10 ducks and with some better shooting we could probably had 12 or 13.  It was significantly better than the last two openers and certainly better than I expected.  We had nice mixed bag of wood ducks, mallards, teal, and even got a shoveler.  It was very comfortable out there too.  Was nice not to sit there and roast away in my chest waders this time.

[jgrimmz]

I had a good opener, also with ten. We should have taken a lot more, but shooting, jitters, and other factors prevented it (as usual). For us, Sunday was really slow, but still managed to bag a few.