Waterfowl Hunting

[Rick]

OK Duck and Goose hunters, let's hear from you here.

[Benny]

I have been waiting for this forum for a while now, Thanks Rick.

My hunting partner and I are looking for Metro land to hunt the early goose season , would be intressted in a lease or getting rid of problem geese. Anyone have or know of some land for us to look at? Thanks, Benny

[fishtrap3]

Question about the AL391! Would it make a good multi purpose gun(ducks&pheasents)? Is it worth the cost? Anyone have or shot one of them.

[Guest]

Seems there is controversy over early goose over water and youth seasons. I hunt western Mn and don't have a problem w/ either. I got my daughter and son into waterfowl thru this program and would not consider removing the program for my own gain. I work w/ farmers who loose $4-6000 annualy to goose feeding on seedling soybeans.
It seems in our area ducks leave fastest when the 4 pm closure is over from constant hunting pressure against them!! Not one day or noise fron goose hunting.
Your thoughts.

[Jim W]

Hey Bennny! You should contact the DNR about problem Geese. I have a friend(DNR employee) who annually is abliged the chance to blast problem geese. Maybe they need some additional guns? Wouldn't hurt to check it out.

[Borch]

All I've read about the past two years in regards to the early youth waterfowl day is how the kids are spooking the ducks or how kids are not able to identify ducks properly at sunrise. I feel the youth day is a good thing to get todays youth more interested in hunting. Adults are there to call and advise but the kids are the ones who get to shoot without competition. In regards to opening weekend ducks being spooked, I've notice that ducks are more decoy shy now, but I noticed this BEFORE the youth day was instituted. As far as identifying ducks this is a year round lesson for my kids. To those who whine about the youth day I've got one thing to say, Think about tommorrow, todays kids are tommorrows hunters or hunting anti's. Think about it!

[This message has been edited by Borch (edited 08-28-2000).]

[Guest]

The only problem I have with the youth waterfowl day is that it is held BEFORE the season opens.
Whatever happend to going out with dad and grandpa on opening day? Whatever happend to tradition?
As a kid I looked forward to getting up on opener with the adults and make our way to the traditional opening day lake. Why cant the adults take their kids during the season?
People pressured the DNR for years for an early teal season, they couldnt get that through so they disguised it as youth waterfowl day. Yea, I know, the adults can't (or so it seems) shoot during this day, but everyone darn well knows that this takes place.....A LOT.
Make a day DURING the season where adults can go out and accompany their kids without a license. Make going duck hunting with dad and grandpa DURING the season a tradition again.

[Borch]

TDH,

I agree with the opening day tradition. That's what I grew up with. But when I hunted on opening day I didn't have to contend with multiple groups of hunter using the same land(half of which feel that if they can see them they can shoot them. Whether hunting public or private this has been an increasing problem. Many openers have come and gone without a shoot fired even though you had birds working and some butt head thinks that a 100 yrd shot is a good one and spooks them. I mean the days not a total loss, I spend time with my kids and get to talk about acceptable shooting practices. As far as those who would bring a kid out so they could shoot ducks illegally, they give the rest of the hunters a bad name with their "poaching" with the kids(isn't that a special family moment). Any rate sounds like we're both in favor of getting the kids involved in the outdoors. Whether it's a special season or not. Get your kids involved in someway(and I mean the daughters too). If you don't have kids take a friend's kid(bring the friend along too).

[Benny]

Thanks, jim w. I was just going to call the waterfowl specialist from the area I hunt to see how the population is this year. I will be sure to ask about the opertunities there for early goose season.
As for the youth hunt, I agree we need to get the yuongsters out there and with out us adults beating them to the shot. But why not change it to the opener and only youths can shoot on Saturday, starting at sunrise?
This way the ducks won't have time by Sunday morning to fly away, we get to set up a blind and hopefuly our kids will bag a duck and learn the sport.
Thanks, Benny

[Borch]

Any ideas as to what would be a good shot gun for a small framed hunter. My 12 year old daughter is much smaller than my oldest daughter was when she started hunting. She has shot a 12 gauge winchester 1300 but it is really too much gun for her to handle. I've already have a deer rifle picked out(rem. Model 7 youth in 7mm-08). But I'm not sure which direction to go with the shot gun. Something short enough and light enough for her to handle that won't knock her off balalnce when she shots it.

[This message has been edited by Borch (edited 08-30-2000).]

[Guest]

I am with Bornofice. My wife is very small and she shoots the same Browning 20 Gauge. I am sure this gun would fit any smaller person, and it is fairly light weight. ScottS

[Guest]

Borch, I bought a Browning BPS 20 gauge for my wife 5 years ago, and she really likes to shoot it. In fact, I really like to shoot it. It's a great upland gun. And, it's also a very respectable waterfowl gun for over-decoy hunts. Probably not a good pass shooting gun. It's light, but has very minimal recoil. I think the fact that it is well balanced makes up for the lack of weight in the recoil department. The forearm is within easy reach of a smaller person, and the pump has a fairly short stroke. The stock is pretty short, but you can always have that made smaller if it is still too big for your daughter. That's my reccommendation, but I'm not a small person either. If you live in the Twin Cities, I suggest you stop at Joe's Sporting Goods in St. Paul. They have some knowledgable gun folks there that could help you pick the right gun. Plus, they usually have a fairly good selection of used guns as well as new.

[Guest]

Hay Rick?

Were is the Piggy Hunting page?

Backwater.........><,,>

[J.A.Say.Tree]

In regards to this youth waterfowl day... It seems to me that the "cause" is much greater than the effect.

Getting kids involved in hunting is a "cause" that well warrants this special day. As far as I'm concerned, the effect on the ducks is minimal. Sure they get moved around a bit, but I doubt they're high tailing it for Arkansas with the first sound of gunshots.

And if they do... so be it. There'll be more coming (if it ever gets cold around here!)

[Guest]

So how did the early Goose Hunters do. The reports around our area-Chain of Lakes, was pretty good. Most felt it was better last year, but that it was pretty good overall. I was wondering how everyone else did around the State.

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ScottS
[email protected]

[Guest]

as far as a gun for the small framed person remington makes what is call youth model it has a shorter stock it's available in both 870 (pump) and (1100) auto 20 gauge. anther option is to have the stock cut down at any gun smith. another thing if recoil is a problem try porting the barrel.

[Guest]

Another youth shotgun option, my wife uses two different guns. She uses a Mossberg 500 Bantum 20 ga. for turkey, and last year I gave her a Beretta AL390 20ga youth. She shot in trap league this summer with the beretta and liked the way it fit and handled. This is great since she is 5'1", and there isn't much she can find that fits her well.

Rob

[Borch]

Thanks for the info guys. I've been looking at the Browning Bps 20 youth and the Remington youth guns. I'll check out the Berretta too. Good hunting!

[Guest]

How about the Benelli Nova? I just picked one up yesterday, but have yet to fire it. I've heard positive things about this one prior to purchasing it. It is a 12 gauge, and with a 12 comes more recoil. The recoil reducer option for this gun might come in handy with 3.5 in. loads, or for folks who are recoil sensitive. My review will follow shortly after a trip to the gun range.

[Guest]

For all of you metro, or nearby metro geese hunters,and with what is left of the early hunt,I got to say there are many geese up my way northwest of the cities. I have a couple of picked cornfields across the road from my house, and every time a cold front goes by, I have gotten dozens, if not hundreds of geese going over my house.Too bad local ordinace will not allow hunting here, but there are plenty to shoot at if a guy could around here. I am right by the Mississippi River, so that may have something to do with the flight patterns as well.

[Borch]

Have any of you been seeing much for ducks? Here in the St. Cloud area been seeing a few but not as many as I thought I would. Most of the smaller pot holes are dry. So you'd think there would be more ducks on anything with water. Not that I've seen anyways. Fair amount of teal and woodducks though.

[Benny]

Jim W. , I called the DNR and US fish and wildlife up in Fergus falls. No one would give out the name of any farmers who are having problems with the geese.The CO and the wildlife poeple all said it was pretty slow for geese, the flocks have all disappered and only a few straglers being taken. It was worth the try though, I talked to some real friendly people there.
Maybe some one from Fergus area will read this post and put me on a number to call or a place to try, I did find out that the pond I usually hunt ducks on is open to the early season over water reg,s. Well thanks and good hunting, Benny

[Borch]

Well, duck hunting finally opens this weekend. Did final preparations and took boat to the slough. Water is very low but there were ducks everywhere(Yahoo!)Also several geese. Good luck to everyone this season and have a rewarding safe hunt.

[Guest]

Well lets here it. How did everyone do opening weekend. I hunted 5 mile east of Waseca and we did very well. It was not the best opener we had but it was near the best. Lots of Mallards, teal and woodies around, water was low but manageable. Lots of shooting Saturday, lots of skyblasting Sunday. How did everyone else do?

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ScottS
[email protected]

[Benny]

Hunting in the Mille Lacs WMA was slow for us, we saw lots of woodies and teal. A flock of geese came by but someone skybusted. A few mallards were around but most were not to intrested in the dekes.We got to see a family of trumpeters ,2 adults and 3 young ones swim around. We jumped a few ponds but not much in them after 9 am on Sunday. There were a lot of hunters there on sunday also, had some clown shooting a .22 cal all through the woods. Thier bullets were ricosaing (tough one to spell) all over.
Well good luck to all, Benny

[Guest]

I knew there was a reason why I don't hunt that WMA on the weekends. Too many knuckleheads there. Sorry, not refering to you,Benny.Weekdays only at Mille Lacs for grouse,ducks,etc. I didn't get out last weekend.I had to work.(sigh) Next week will be different story.

[This message has been edited by Rockman (edited 10-03-2000).]

[Borch]

I used to hunt the Mille Lacs WMA and did very well. Dewitt Pool I believe. Nuts the first weekend by the third weekend only ones there. It gets better as the season progress'. Also later in the season, stick around until noon or so. We pulled many flocks of Northern mallards there later in the season(one flock or more than 100 birds with only 2 dozen dekes). Good luck.

[Gerd]

I hunted west of New Ulm about 20 miles. I'm kind of new to the waterfowl hunting, but for the small amount of time I got out this weekend, I did alright. Two wood ducks in 3 shots. Only one flock of about 15 birds seen. A few geese were flying over, but way too high. Okay, here's a question for you all about goose decoys. I need to get some, but I don't want to spend a hundred bucks on a dozen decoys. What are some of my alternatives? Are those rag decoys worth buying or are they a waste of time and money? Thanks for any help you could give me.

[Borch]

We did real well hunting west of St. Cloud. Lots of teal, woodies, mallards and a few divers to boot. Not as many geese as expected but we did get a few opportunities. It was real tough going though. A lot of muck not much water. But the ducks were flying so not much too complain about.

[Borch]

For field hunting rags will work as part of your set up. My friends and I have also made our own silloettes(sp?) out of 1/4" plywood, black, grey and white paint, 1/2 dowel(flatten one side to screw the goose to it and sharpen the other). If you lay out your pattern correctly as I remember you can get either 8 or 10 out of a sheet of plywood. Make sure you make several different poses. You will also want some shells and you should have a decent spread. Throw in a flag, a couple landing geese and a full body or two and you've got it made(it there are any geese that is). Good Luck.