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2019 Duck Geese Goose Waterfowl Opener (2018 Too)


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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Holy snow!! It was coming down this morning around 8 am. Had geese flying but could not see them. Got buzzed by many flocks looking the wrong way as I could not look into the wind and snow. Had plenty close enough but never fired a shot. Off to the rifle range tomorrow with the old man. 

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Snow?!  Hadn’t heard.  I’m still in Nodak and it’s been sunny and 69-70 degrees for highs!  Big wind yesterday but not so much today.  Birds are around but you have to look for em.  Been driving about 4 hours a day scouting.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
18 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Snow?!  Hadn’t heard.  I’m still in Nodak and it’s been sunny and 69-70 degrees for highs!  Big wind yesterday but not so much today.  Birds are around but you have to look for em.  Been driving about 4 hours a day scouting.

 

Just so we're clear. You left this kind of harvest to drive around in 70 degree weather for 4 hours a day, why again? ?

 

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Before the snow started! That wind was wicked. 

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
11 hours ago, MJ1657 said:

Post some of your waterfowl hunting pics Leech. 

 

Not hunting the wet birds this year sorry.  So you mistook my lil funny to Wanderer?  I think he knows I was just pulling his chain.   ?  Good Luck.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Didn’t quite have the repeat of yesterday but managed to eek out some birds over an extended morning.  

 

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Hoping to keep it up this weekend but those lows in the mid-teens make me shiver a little just thinking about it!

 

In a boat I wouldn’t give it a second thought but paddling gets stuff wet, including my hands.  Will probably rely more on lines this weekend than loose blocks.  I’d like to have the room of a boat though for that.

 

Give and take.  Still learning this late season stuff but I’m really enjoying it.  Anyone else still chasing the birds?

Edited by Wanderer
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If some new birds show up I'm hoping to Saturday and Sunday morning.

 

We have about 250 geese regularly coming to the farm and our duck pond. They have seen and heard everything and are not interested. 

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3 hours ago, MJ1657 said:

They have seen and heard everything and are not interested. 

 

Good chance there will be a few new birds in this weekend - I think anyway.

 

Do the feeder flocks start small?  If they do, try just 2-4 of your best dekes out alone in a part of a field they haven’t pounded yet.  Sit back, don’t call, and see what happens.

 

I learned a lot the evening I hunted alone in ND and let birds pass my spread without shooting.  It was going to be a landing gear down shoot or nothing.  I finally pass shoot two big Canadians when the feed was already well on and it was obvious they didn’t want a spread.

 

4 birds became 40 which became 400 which became 4000 in maybe 30 minutes.  It was pretty epic.

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Checked some spots last night in the 11 degree temps.  No good!  Once the wind laid down the water started skimming over.  I saw more ice with snow on it than water in ducky spots through central MN.

 

Yes, BIG water might still be play but I’m not planning on paddling anything this weekend unless I find a surprise somewhere or get offered a ride in a bigger boat than what I have.

 

Might have to settle for deer this weekend.

Sigh.... ?

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Find a little river or stream 

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1 minute ago, monstermoose78 said:

Find a little river or stream 

 

I’ll be keeping my eyes open and checking hidey holes.  I’m just not planning for or expecting anything.  At least not like last weekend.

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Geese, ducks and swans have been POURING out of Canada over the last 3-5 days!!!  There's a BUNCH headed toward you boys down south!  Our water is freezing up solid in the north.  They won't stay here long.  They rarely ever do. :(

 

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big lake had about a thousand geese on it today, the most I have ever seen out there. also seen massive flocks of mallards coming off the corn fields flying into big lake.

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Da last birds are a headin’ out.  Bummer.

 

There are still some around and they’re awesome late season beauties but the finding and getting to them can be tough right now, that’s for sure.

 

I passed on an offer to go out this weekend; the group got a little big for my preference.  They did OK.

 

Still haven’t hung up the shotgun yet...

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  • 4 weeks later...

A friend from western MN sent me a shot from last night.  The big Canadians are around.  Man, they’re hardy!

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Honestly, I think there are a number of geese that don't even migrate south anymore.  They just live in the river which is open all year round.

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5 hours ago, gimruis said:

Honestly, I think there are a number of geese that don't even migrate south anymore.  They just live in the river which is open all year round.

 

Agreed, there always seems to be some geese over wintering.  I continue to see geese flying around and roosted in open rivers.  Swans too.  Had a pair circle me tonight while I was ice fishing.  It’s getting to be an ordinary thing - seeing swans in the winter.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

2019...Ducks, Geese, Waterfowl Opener.... what ya planning and who's gonna get their goose? 

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Still working on the goose this year.  I haven’t had as much opportunity as I hoped.  I’ve heard some have done really well in the area but they’re also the ones who’ve done their homework and have good fields to hunt.

 

Duck Opener for me should be the Baudette area.  Never seriously hunted up there but we have a place to stay and a duck toon to use so why not?

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I plan to go on the opener.  With all the rain this year, I am thinking there will be no shortage of water.  I hope its not 85 degrees out.  About 60 and cloudy would be pretty ideal.  Wouldn't bother me if I didn't harvest a goose because then I don't have to eat it.

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This will be my second year not waterfowl hunting in Minnesota. Some of it is due to being too busy with school and some has to do with the pressure of hunting we have in MN. I'll save this year to go to Alberta or Saskatchewan next year.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Being part of my brothers wedding on Saturday and then slaying ducks Sunday 

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We got a couple one morning. Need some crops to come off for the goose hunting to pick up at home. We're still a couple weeks away from making corn silage. We're usually done by the end of August or so.

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  • 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.
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