2009 Waterfowl Reports

[Cheetah]

Saturday morning was good for me. All the local ponds near the lake I hunt were frozen, and that pushed the ducks to the open water where I was. I ended up with two drakes. There was a large flock of geese on the other side of the lake, and quite a few ducks flying about. I am on my way out the door to hunt today again, weather is a little warmer, hopefully the ponds froze up again otherwise it might be a slow one.

[icecold]

My sons and I put our gear away yesterday, thats enough for this season, or the season that never was? We went Thanksgiving day, fri, sat saw about 8-15 birds, Fired on one flock of mallards, should have let them work the decoys alittle more, got to trigger happy to soon hopefully next year will be better, Now its time to concentrate on snowmobile season and alittle ice fishing

[tweedlap]

I had a buddy in SW MN tell me yesterday that he saw as many

alligators as he saw ducks. This morning he said there was

at least 500 mallards in the same area.

There is still hope !

tweed

[morefishplease]

Hunted Albert Lea area Thankgiving day and packed everything up that afternoon. Fewer than 500 mallards on the refuge. Still a few geese around but not even close to as many in other years. Just a sad season all around, the worst in my years of hunting.

[Cheetah]

I had a good hunt this morning, more birds flying than Saturday. Unfortunately all the ponds near the lake I hunt were open so the they all piled into those spots. I took home two mallards.

It was a slow season for me, like everyone, but I think in total I scraped up three geese and 9 or 10 mallards. Plenty in the freezer for me and my wife.

[kobear]

I was out Wednesday and Friday. Saw a few birds but only a handful. Lot's of geese in west central. If Canadian duck production keeps goin down hill future looks??? I read ND, MN, and SD produced more ducks than Canada this year but Dakota ducks don't come through Alex.

[Gordie]

Super duty, Rumriver rat,Nate and Myself went out today on pelica and not much going on as the flight goes but we were ready 13 dozen decoys,14-15 gun shots and one drake mallard to show for it. flight or not 4 waterfowlers in a boat made for a great way to end the season. lots of laughs and plans for next years flight. Thanks for the fun day guys.

Oh and yes I'll still hit the duck lake flight or not for at least peace of mind and hopefully a duck or two.

[Jordyn Kaufer]

went out this morning and still saw quite a few geese..

im hunting tomorrow night and tuesday evening and then LATE GOOSE! pumped because my cousin is probably getting access to a golf course for the late goose hunt

[Gordie]

becareful they still might be golfing with this weather

[Superduty]

Thanks for a fun hunt elwood. I had a good time even though the ducks were mostly absent. I like to shoot birds as much as anybody, but getting outdoors with good people is another reason I enjoy duck hunting.

[fishgutz77]

Never fired a shot today on the river. Two guys upstream where skybusting and calling like crazy.

I'll be out tomorrow for the end, maybe we'll be alone.

We passed on two iffy shots. I just hate taking bad shot and longer than 40 yard shots, especially on the river where it's easy for birds to get away fast even with a good dog.

We need some weather in the teens. Lots of birds in flooded cropland out west is the reports I'm getting from devils lake to watertown SD.

Next year I'm doing a late season in ND if I can swing it.

Bring on the GEESE!

[Lonedrake]

Had a good hunt on Sat. A few geese short....but not a bad way to end the season.

[tylor]

I don't know where you were hunting Lonedrake, but you definitely found the birds we were looking for. A buddy and I spent two days/nights camping and hunting on Onamia Fri/Sat. Broke about 3/4" ice getting to open water and opening some up near cover on Fri. I think total we saw about 10 ducks (of which half were bluebills just sitting on the lake and never really flying), a couple of larger flocks of geese on Fri, and a couple of big flocks of snows on Sat. Luckily managed to kill a pair of honkers that landed in the spread at 6:30 Sat morning and hung around until we scared them up and shot them around 7:15 or so. We were really hoping that we would at least see some action (hopeully late goose turns out better). Next year can't come soon enough.

[chub]

Did well today.

[chub]

Nope, you were right. Took your advice and drove to Northern Sask. Even shot a banded one. Computer said it was banded North of Yellowknife last week!

Gotta go. Heading back up and it's a long drive!

[Gordie]

[lindy rig]

Hunted north of Winnie this past weekend. Our usual spot was frozen. Tried to take the river one morning into Round lake, made it close, but then got stopped by ice. Went to another access on Round and finally got out. No ice on the main part of Round. We did not see a duck. Also scouted some on the north side of Winnie, Pigeon access and 3rd River. Did not see any ducks there either.

Oh wait - we are still waiting for the main migration I forget

[strait-meat]

Sweet pic Lonedrake!!! what a way to end it is right.

I am going out to west central MN tomorrow for the day then heading out to ND from there---if I can't find them out in ND I will be happy that I at least tried. I am hoping for some good hunting but the expectations are low, but that is why they call it hunting.

Any suggestions on where the birds have been seen in ND--just looking for mallards.

[CANOPY SAM]

By the way LoneDrake, it would've been fun to participate in that last of the season hunt. Great pic!

[Will]

Agreed 100% !!! Canopy Sam

[lindy rig]

I also agree with Canopy Sam! Well put!

[magnum mike]

Lindy, were you in a red pickup?

[lindy rig]

Mike, no white pickup

[hart0670]

is anyone hunting around the metro who knows whether the ponds are starting to freeze over and stay frozen?

[Tannor396]

Broke almost a 1/2" of ice this morning (St Michael Area) to put the decoys out. I would say the ice is not leaving.