2009 Waterfowl Reports

[BoxMN]

Just back from 4 hunting days in NE NoDak. For 4 guys, we shot about 50 ducks. Mostly gadwall, but lots of redheads, and most of the mallards were young drakes, still looking like suzy

I bet better days are coming though, as we started seeing what we think are northern ducks and the first flocks of snows coming down.

About 8-10 of them were smilin' mallards and rudy ducks, so we didn't get all good uns! But it was fun. Once again, the North Dakota folks were great and we had a blast with our farmer friends. They showed the newcomer to the group true NoDak hospitality. He will never forget the words, "Hey, is that a coyote in the ditch?..." and "Honey, get the gun!" while he was in the backseat of the pickup heading home about 3:30 am! hahaha!

Good times!

[airdriver]

Out today, saw a LOT of movement. Had two drake woodies in the deeks, mallards, teal, divers. Walked away with one Bufflehead. Most groups were decoys shy, but got some shooting in. The last four days have seen more ducks than I have in YEARS. They are out the you just have to find them. I have been very lucky this year.

[nate larson]

Airdiver, what part of the state were you hunting?

[Moonie]

Got out for the last hour or so of shooting last night and managed two greenheads. Saw lots of ducks and tons of big canadas. Hope they stick around

[Gordie]

Was on mille lacs this morning and saw a few birds flock of buffies and couple high flyin flocks of greenheads missed a buffie and as usall pushed out to pick up decoys and a flock of ringies buzzed the decoys. it was good to get out on the big water again.

[airdriver]

Nate,

You wouldn't happen to be Nate who worked out on the east coast a while back (2000-2004ish)?? I won't give to many details, but I'll give you the metro five county area. Sorry, I am usually the first guy to help out, but my last two years out have been so bad I'm surprised I haven't quit. Last two years a group of four of us got ZERO. But, a lot of birds in the metro.

[dan z]

was out the morning and

seen a few migrating flocks of mallards up high, first flock of swans migrating also. ended up with 1 redhead, 1 bill and a honker.

[norwall]

Just back from Thief.Hunting poor,very few hunters as well. Seen some high flying dark geese but no ducks 2 speak of. ended with some ringos,bluebills,gadwall,can.Most of the birds on the lake were flying in singles,pairs or very small flocks. I have definetly seen better days on Thief.

[nate larson]

Thanks for the info Airdriver. Just knowing that you were hunting the metro area is very helpfull. These reports are much more usefull when you have at least a general idea what part of the state they are coming from.

P.S. No, I have never worked on the East Coast.

[airdriver]

Nate,

The ducks we have been seeing are from the last weak front we had last week. They have been hanging around all week. I have been hunting the metro for the last seven days in a row, and the ducks just are hanging around the area. A biologist buddy of mine put it best, ducks are lazy and won't move until the weather forces them to. This next very weak weather pattern won't move them very much, still a lot of ducks in Canada waiting to move down. Talked to some friends in the arrowhead area and they still are seeing woodies and teal. Very weird season so far. Hope this helps people out.

[Scott M]

Haven't had a lot of sightings in south central MN. In fact, many birds moved out compared to last week. I too saw my first swan on Monday. Tons of coots took off. I don't have high expectations for Saturday but I'll be out there.

[Duckslaya]

Was up in the crow wing area last week wed-sun. Did decent on sat shot 13 for 3 of us mostly ringers, few greenheads and one blue winger. Hunted this morning in east central mn still a decent about of birds but very decoy and call shy. Managed 2 gadwall and 2 honkers. Hunted 2o miles west earlier this week and seen a total of 2o ducks. Definitely hit or miss.

[luckycrank]

spent some time scouting this evening glassed a few south central lakes, never seen a bird a few coots is all wil check again tommorow a.m and evening but I am confident there confident there are a few woodies around as I seen a some larger flocks last weekend I to will likley be out and solo

both my hunting buddies are working and I have a new rig w/a freshly made blind I am dying to try out

[sheepheadslayer]

Burch, Shoot me an email. [email protected]

[Lunker]

Hunted yesterday evening in central WI. Not a lot happening. Saw some large flocks of divers(up to about 100 birds), but sticking way up high or onto big open water.

[Stringerless!]

Hunted Carlos Avery Friday morning. Saw a small flock 5-8 birds get out of rice 10 minutes before legal. Saw 1 loner goose and a pair of ringies after legal. Of course I see a goose the only day I don't put the flag together ! That was it ! Never shouldered the gun. Keep in mind I hunt out on the edge where I stand a better chance of decoying birds. Only heard 3 shots from the refuge road.

[RumRiverRat]

Bull Can and 2 Bluebills this morning.

[nate larson]

RRR,

Did you see many new birds moving around? Congrats on the bull can. I haven't shot one yet this year...

[hart0670]

I'm heading down to hunt outside Rochester tomorrow morning and then over to the Mississippi by Winona Sunday morning. Anyone have any reports for that area?

I'll report back Sunday night as to how we do

[jparrucci]

hart- I read elsewhere that the Cans are starting to really stack up throughout the Mississippi river.

[RumRiverRat]

RRR,

Did you see many new birds moving around? Congrats on the bull can. I haven't shot one yet this year...

A good sized raft of Divers in the middle of the bay I was hunting.

I have shot 6 Cans this year, 3 I consider Bull Cans, 1 Hen and 2 immature drakes.

I should have had my limit of 6, but I missed a lot this morning.

[jparrucci]

I only had once chance at a Can before, right at legal shooting time a long time ago, not sure what it was and didn't shoot. That what you get for not being up on your waterfowl ID. By the time I figure out what it was, it was already over the cattails and I didn't want to chance shooting and losing it. Lets just say I brused up on my waterfowl ID since then. Canvansback and Pintail are 2 species I've never even pulled the trigger on..and the are 2 of the mounts I want the most.

[mudslinger]

Me and a buddy shot two bull Cans yesterday along with some drake mallards, and ringers. It was my slowest morning in a while (still smiling though). I felt sick when I heard there were two guys at the landing taking pics with 4 cans! Also not impressed with other hunters' attitudes or landing procedures. "Ca mon guys. Havent you heard of OTHER PEOPLE"

Why is everyone at the landing such a sourpuss???

[Lunker]

Hunted Central WI solo this morning. We got some new birds around here.(As well as a lot more hunters this morning). Should have had a limit. Ended up with 4. 2 drake redheads, mallard, and bluebill. Missed some "easy" shots at bluebills and had a "dead" mallard get up and fly away.

There were a few mallards and gadwall, some bluebills, and a lot of redheads around. Had a flock of 50 or so redheads decoy, so that was fun to watch. After I got my two, I watched quite a few other flocks work.

[sheepheadslayer]

Went to a local lake this a.m. and seen maybe 25 ducks and 4 geese. Had one shot at a woodie and thats it. Very very slow. No ducks high or nothing.