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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.

Edited by leech~~
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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 :)

    • 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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