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Like the title says, Do any of you carve your own decoys or decoys for others??? Either decorative or gunners??? I've done repaints for a few years. Then started carving last fall when I helped with a carving contest the goose was in She really enjoyed it. And since I was helping to teach and demonstrate I got involved a little bit too... Greenwing teal were the contest ducks so that's what was carved. This year the duck for that contest is the Bufflehead. And while it is barely June, and the contest isn't until early February, I have been working on patterns and cut my first test bodies today. (Hen and Drake) I've been carving my own fish decoys for several years, figured why not add ducks to the mix as well. If these ones go well and it turns out to be a decent decoy, then it will be a Scaup, and a Goose for another contest. (Although I need to finish the fish part of that contest before I mess with the ducks) So back on topic.... Who here carves??? Care to share your work???

The reverse migration is in full swing!!! The spring breeding colors on the returning ducks makes it worth the effort to keep an eye out alone. We've seen mostly divers and geese since the ice went out. The puddle ducks won't be far behind. A lot of what is here now is just resting and grabbing a quick bite and a drink. But some will stay. I had a hen hooded merganser standing on the top of one of my Woodduck boxes the other day, and have seen several drake mergansers on the lake. The goose and i got several new Woodduck boxes out for this year. No new mallard tubes, but we will get them out next year. Can't wait to see if they get used.

Well it's officially only hours away. Good luck to everyone who's hunting this year. Be safe. That waters cold. Those shotguns bite hard. Nobody wants to hear a horror story about someone here on the boards or anyone in the state for that matter. After all, it's just a duck, not worth getting hurt over. Most importantly HAVE FUN!!!! Enjoy the sunrise in the blind. Take a kid or a friend who's never been in the duck blind. Try a new spot or slew. Chase a band. But most of all enjoy yourself and the season. I realize that we have had a pair of early goose seasons and a youth waterfowl hunt, but this is the big one. Please share your experiences. Share pictures. Stop by and tell stories with as much or as little details as you feel like sharing. We will enjoy your successes and laugh with you at fails.

Well, we are at the half way point for the 60day season. (Give or take a day) According to my notes from last season my last hunt of 2014 was on October 28th. The following week the world froze over and the migration passed us by. This year is shaping up to be better in that regard. There is no hard freeze up forecast. Even checking baudette and Ely is showing overnight lows in the low 30's - high 20's with some snow flurries, but no accumulation and daytime temps in the high 40's. I think there is definately going to be some "deer season" duck hunts this year. For those of us who really are gluttons for punishment, late season geese and divers could be a ball. A lot of the "big ducks" only migrate as far as they need to and still find open water and food. So as long as some of the farmers leave their fields un-turned so the birds can still glean some corn from the chaff, and the small lakes don't freeze, we will still have birds to chase. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some November diver hunts. I have never wanted deer season to show up and be over so fast in my life. If it's all froze up fine, lets hunt deer and look forward to spearing. As long as there's open water, lets go duck hunting.

Well the week off in the central part of the state is coming to an end. I am looking forward to being able to hunt evenings soon. It will give the goose a chance to hunt after school a few times. That's going to be sweet. The local flock of geese by the house has settled down again. They have gotten bigger in numbers as well and are focused up on cerial grains one day and chopped corn the next. Still returning to water mid day and again late, 10:30pm-ish. So they are feeding well into the night. Looking at my counter the start to this year is on pace with last year bird wise. I have taken my first widgeon and Greenwing teal this year. I have also seen my first canvasbacks. On the bonus side I have hunted many new places and shared the blind or field with a lot of new faces this season. With the collapse of the deer herd I the area my family hunts the chance to hunt waterfowl has really brought the joy back into it for me. I hope those of you who are taking advantage of being out are enjoying and respecting the adventure.

I got a Facebook bump today with photos from 10 years ago. They were pictures of me and my buddies, with piles of geese around us from successful early season field hunts. Boy, did the memories come rushing back! I was in college at the time at UND. How I graduated in four years with a degree still boggles my mind. We literally spent a minimum of four days a week either scouting or hunting. It was an incredibly irresponsible, exciting, fun and unforgettable time of my life (that's me, second from the left on a pretty regular hunt for our group): Field hunting was literally all we did. Didn't matter the time of year or what we were after -- if it meant getting ducks and geese, it happened in a harvested field of some kind. The lone exceptions were a diver hunt to Stump Lake (back before it connected to DL) and our annual "defecate Duck Shoot," so nicknamed because we'd hit a random pond and whack whatever came by. Well, life goes on. Friends moved away, and I soon found myself 75 miles south and in new territory. My first few years were spent getting to know the area. I actually had a few decent field hunts, too! It was exciting times again (me with my first solo limit in the new town, circa 2009): Then, son No. 1 came along. Wow....just, wow. I love him dearly. More than I could ever have imagined, but he quite literally turned my world upside down, especially when it comes to hunting. I no longer hunt every weekend from September to January, and when I do my days are primarily limited to half-day excursions. And my waterfowling has completely changed. I can't remember the last field hunt I was on. With time such a rarity, scouting runs are few and far between. My field decoys and layout blinds are no doubt covered in dust and home to God knows how many critters. I find myself, almost unequivocally, hunting water for both ducks and geese. I know this is frowned upon in my neck of the woods, especially with everyone worried about "busting the roost." However, I know that I can grab a bag of decoys and my dogs, run to a pond just before first light, and have a good chance at birds while still being home before noon. Just can't say the same about field hunting. It's gotten to the point where I'm actually playing with the notion of selling all my field stuff. It's just taking up space, and I likely won't be using any of it for years....if ever again. Plus, the competition for fields in North Dakota is incredibly fierce, whereas the myriad ponds and sloughs are virtually untouched. I feel like I'm merely taking advantage of severely underutilized resources. So what are your thoughts? Anyone experience anything similar? And should I sell all my field stuff or just keep it in the attic in case, one day, I get the chance to go again? (Mandatory shots of the wirehairs waiting on some more ducks to decoy):

Federal Duck Stamps are available as of today!!! Cant say I have ever seen a Ruddy Duck but it was the contest winner and will be gracing the back of our licenses this year. I believe everyone who hunts waterfowl over the age of 16 needs a stamp. But considering what the funds go for consider buying one for your youth hunters as well. Seasons are creeping up on us fast. I am looking forward to it!!!!