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.

2020 Waterfowl Hunting Reports by Troy Smutka of Great Day on the Water Guide Service

Troy Smutka
 Share Followers 2

Recommended Posts

  • Popular Post
Troy Smutka

Troy Smutka 307

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

This season got off to a slow start after my son got his first ever bird on his first youth opener. Parker's first shot at a duck or goose got him a ten pound Canada goose. Early regular season netted a few bluewing teal, wood ducks, and a mallard, but we weren't seeing as many birds in central MN as we usually do early in the season. With the cold fronts and even some snow lately, things have picked up with us decoying mallards, pintails, greenwing teal, shovelers, canvasbacks, ringnecks, redheads, and bluebills. Worried about an early freeze up with the current weather and forecasted weather, but we shall see. Good luck, and I will see you out there somewhere.

IMG_6366.jpg

IMG_6387.jpg

IMG_6400.jpg

IMG_6431.jpg

IMG_6440.jpg

IMG_6444.jpg

IMG_6454.jpg

IMG_6466.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 3
  • l Love It 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...
Troy Smutka

Troy Smutka 307

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Sorry I haven't posted recently. We have been out hunting pretty regularly. What a weird weather pattern this fall. Guess the weather would be as abnormal as everything else in 2020. Where we hunt in central MN, we have frozen over the small and medium water twice, and then warmed it back open twice. Record snowfall from October is gone in November. With this unusual weather, we have noticed a very irregular migration. Gusty WNW wind and cold days that we thought would be lights out were disappointing, and some good hunts happened on warm SE wind days that we didn't have high expectations. There are still plenty of mallard, bluebills, goldeneyes, buffies, and mergs north of us, but not much using the lakes around central MN right now. We are switching over to field hunting near town, as there are a lot of geese and mallards sitting in town and feeding in surrounding fields. Attached are some pics of our last couple weekends on the water. Hopefully some pics from field hunting with another report will follow after Thanksgiving. Good luck, stay safe, and happy Thanksgiving.

IMG_6521.jpg

IMG_6476.jpg

IMG_6487.jpg

IMG_6525.jpg

IMG_6527.jpg

IMG_6544.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

×
 Share
Followers 2
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

    • Brandon Smith
      Hide dropoff
      By Brandon Smith
      Where are people taking hides these days? I haven't seen hides for habitat dropoffs this year.
    • monstermoose78
      2020 gun deer season 🦌
      By monstermoose78
      Good luck every this weekend!!
    • ANYFISH2
      Grey Wolf Delisting
      By ANYFISH2
      It appears the US Fish and Wildlife Service is in the press of removing the Grey Wolf from the Endangered and Threatened lists.  After waiting period they will be delisted on January 4th 2021.
    • going4it
      Leafs dropped?
      By going4it
      Heading up this week to chase birds and wondering if the leaves are mostly down? Thank you for the info. 
    • gimruis
      2020 Pheasant Hunting
      By gimruis
      Not sure if anyone else saw this but the statewide pheasant report was released by the DNR yesterday and its up 42% statewide.  Its the highest numbers in over a decade.  A mostly mild winter and a dry spring likely accounted for lower mortality and a good hatch.  There will be no shortage of birds...or hunters.
       
      https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/hunting/pheasant/prospect_map.pdf
    • Brian Balzum
      Best 357 pistol cartrige for deer?
      By Brian Balzum
      I have a new Ruger GP100 6" barrel and I'm looking for the best cartridge for deer hunting? Max distance would be 30 - 40 yards
    • ANYFISH2
      Camp Ripley 2020.
      By ANYFISH2
      Just heads up, if you haven't already heard.  Camp Ripley youth hunt has been cancelled for 2020. 
      Public hunts will not have a lottery, information and purchase dates will be released in August.  This allows for a easier cancelation of the hunts.
       
      Thanks Covid.
    • monstermoose78
      Anyone see 50 grain vmax 223 ammo
      By monstermoose78
      I can’t find varmint loads any where, Any help? 
    • Borch
      Vote on 2020 HSO/FM Turkey Quest Photo Contest
      By Borch
      Click here to see photos and vote.
    • Beinglis23
      which Bait is best for rainbow and brown trout
      By Beinglis23
      which Bait is best for rainbow and brown trout

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Mike89
      Who adds value?

      By Mike89 · Posted

      only you!!!  LOL!!
    • Wanderer
      WTB Ski Doo Skandic

      By Wanderer · Posted

      Have you posted any Want to Buy ads on the other sites you’ve been shopping?  Might just tip someone’s hand that doesn’t want to post one for sale.   Good luck!
    • smurfy
      Who adds value?

      By smurfy · Posted

      what???? letting me know when he sets his garbage out!!!!!!🤣
    • Mike89
      Who adds value?

      By Mike89 · Posted

      that is darn good of you IceHawk!!!   I salute you for that!!  
    • IceHawk
      Who adds value?

      By IceHawk · Posted

      If you only knew how much I have done to help out youths hunting and fishing by donateing ,teaching and by being a positive role model, mentor. . Those that know me know how much it means to me to see a smile on a newbies kids face after he ices his first fish!  In fact I just gave one of my clam pros to a buddies 14 year old son that is really getting hooked on the sport. How many are willing to do that 😉   Thought it was a bear digging in my garbage cans little did I know a smurfy would pop up from the ruins 🤣 Hope fully you get some use out of them 😀
    • smurfy
      Who adds value?

      By smurfy · Posted

      its ok, i'm a 63 year old kid and i did some dumpster diving, aka shopping and got them. they didnt go to the landfill!!!!👍😂
    • jim curlee
      WTB Ski Doo Skandic

      By jim curlee · Posted

      Still no luck, so far the closest I've been is the 2nd caller, 33 minutes after the sled was posted. lol I have called on every used Skandic that has come up for sale within 500 miles of Cook.  There was one out in Seattle yesterday, lasted 7 hours on craigslist. I thought about it, then reality set in, and I figured it's just a touch too far to go for a snowmachine. lol I'll keep after it, but at this point looks like I'll be rolling on the Tundra again this winter. Just can't get myself to drop $13,850 on a new snowmobile.  
    • grasshopper
      Early Ice in Minnesota

      By grasshopper · Posted

      I've been ready for awhile. Already used 2 20lb tanks and no fish. 
    • idlesmelt
      Who adds value?

      By idlesmelt · Posted

      I had to give icehawk a bad time about throwing jigs out.  i'd like to see a young kid starting out get them, would mean more to me
    • SkunkedAgain
      Vermilion Ice-Over Predictions

      By SkunkedAgain · Posted

      It's 2020, so yeah, it makes sense!
×
×
  • 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.

  I accept