Migration Report

[duckbill]

I know that there are new birds. I have seen with my own eyes and my hunting buddy called me about an hour ago and there are some moving. Between the 2 of us we have seen mallards, Buffies, Cans, Goldeneyes, Ringers, Redheads in Wright County in the last 24 hours. It is going to be cold tomorrow morning but I would rather be out there than sitting in my cube.

[Guest]

We may be dreaming Rat, but it's an awfully nice dream to have!!:D

[B. Amish]

i noticed that a lot of the smaller wetlands in northwest MN have been frozen over for the last couple days now, hopefully that means the birds are being forced to go south, but who knows

[Duck-o-holic]

There sure wasn't a push of mallards in western MN this morning (Marsh Lake area). We did see a lot of geese in the area, but still not the numbers that I'm used to seeing this time of year. As for mallards... it was very disappointing, as we saw VERY few! Not much for divers either, where we were. I sure miss using my diver decoys!!!

Duck-o-holic

[Riverratpete]

Yeah, I know since I'm in "cubeland" right now and maybe I'm just frustrated by the lack of birds this fall. Seems like every time I got out there wasn't a whole lot going on. Still got week and a half though but I got kids to coach hockey to soooo.

[whitetips]

I will give the family a call up in upper part of North Dakota a call tonite, with Devils growing to 10 times its size in the last ten years its attracting all the birds, plus all the ponds in that area were full of water all summer, the freshwater shrimp in Devils is there favorite.

It usually takes a freezing clipper out of the Canada with 4 - 6 inches of snow and that hasn't happened in probably over 10 years. Don't count on any movement with south winds and clear skys. Watch football or chase birds.

[joshb]

lots of goldeneyes on the lake this morning

[dkhntr]

Sat the 13th. hunted south Central MN had to bust 1/2" of ice. Didnt have any decoying birds till 11, been there since sunrise. Other group on the lake had one flock before that.

[IceHawk]

Well Our group had a banner weekend shot a nice group of Mallards and a couple of bonus hooded mergansers. The birds really started coming in. We saw numerous flocks of mallards, and a few flocks of goldeneyes. Looks like things may really start to heat up the next few days.

[duckbill]

Saw plenty of birds to keep me in the blind this weekend. Limits of Buffies, Ringers and Bills were made. Smaller slews and potholes froze shut which pushed everything to the big water like we expected. Hard time finding any mallards but shot a few Buffies that are going on the wall. Hoping we get another push or some of the birds that are around hold tight for another week. I will not be able to get out again until night weekend. Hunting in Wright County.

[whitetips]

Report From ND phone call,

Talked to the family up about 60 miles west of Devils and lots of Snows in the Area, 150,000 is what he said, no Northern Mallard flights yet. He said the lack of grain in the area, and the abundance up in Man and Sask. is keeping the birds up there. He said they will be down after weather pushes them out. Bills some on Devils but no Ics ups reported, been too nice, Most of the bills he said filter thru LOTW, RED and then down the flyway. They have a few deer tags to go and will waterfowl after that, he said the season goes to Dec 1st. GLuck

[Dean Schellinger]

Our group did really well on the Mississippi this week. Friday my brother and I shot 5 drake mallards before having to pick up before class at 8:30.

Sunday we managed 11 mallards, all big drakes cept 2 hens, and 2 buffleheads. We saw many loners, that kept coming in, not many flocks. Saw alot of geese but none were interested.

[so haaad]

Here's the DNR field office reports from yesterday...

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/waterfowl/index.html

[oilguy]

Sure is confusing to get to bottom line on this migration. Some sources say ducks, others say no ducks. Here's a couple of my observations from today. Hunted this morning and had a good shoot, actually saw a couple hundred ducks on the "home lake" there havn't been any ducks here since the week after opener. Just went out front to have a smoke and check for birds and some D.Weed is out there fishing. Thats a guaranteed no-shoot for tomorrow, the birds will be G O N E. Now don't get too excited about me slammin the fisherman, because I fish as much as anyone. But I don't fish during waterfowl season. Unfortunately for us waterfowlers, we have to live with big horsepower on the Roost lakes and the best minnow ponds in the country. Maybe something can be done.

[duckbill]

Standing on the dock this morning in Wright County because my buddy had the day off and was out hunting. Great day for it! I justed wanted to see what was flying. I saw Buffies and Mallards flying this morning. Have high hopes for tomorrow morning with the weather supposed to be rain/snow in the morning. I could also hear geese flying over this morning too. To high to see with the low clouds and rain. Good luck to everyone this weekend.