Waterfowl Reports

[Gordie]

HAVE NOTICED THAT ALSO STRAIT it get the blood pumping

[RuddyDuck]

Been seeing some geese in the St. Michael area moving around in the mornings and evenings. Only two weeks to go!

[Maxxed Out]

If you plan on heading out to western mn for duck opener be prepared for extremely high water. We were out scouting a month ago on Marsh and the north end of LQP and the water was higher than I've ever seen it that time of year. I do know it has went up since then as well.

If you are not in a boat and have a spot out there that you normally hunt from the cattails and throw some decoys out you probably want to get out and check it out before opening morning. It's deep and it could be dangerous if you're not ready for it.

[rbs]

Yeah I was was a little harsh. The river is seriously full of Honkers right now...I have not been able to scout to see where they are going but a river hunt might be a fun one the week of opener!

[carpshooterdeluxe]

If you plan on heading out to western mn for duck opener be prepared for extremely high water. We were out scouting a month ago on Marsh and the north end of LQP and the water was higher than I've ever seen it that time of year. I do know it has went up since then as well.

If you are not in a boat and have a spot out there that you normally hunt from the cattails and throw some decoys out you probably want to get out and check it out before opening morning. It's deep and it could be dangerous if you're not ready for it.

The boat ramp at twin bridges on hwy 119 is still very flooded out. water isn't going down anytime soon. Still flooding way up to Browns Valley and all that water has to get through bigstone and marsh yet.

[Brocster]

Not sure if I am seeing more because I am excited the season is right around the corner or not, but down here in the Scott County area I am seeing a lot more duck movement in the late evening. Not sure if the local ducks are just moving more with the subtle changes in the seasons happening or not, or, if the teal are starting to make their southern trek.

Been seeing ducks on most of the areas I have scouted, and tons of woodies hanging out. Geese are starting to move into the newly cut fields and have noticed some flocks cruising around more.

Probably just me!

[BrdHunter01]

Saw a cpl nice flocks of mallards flying around near sunset this evening.... Nice to see em starting to flock up! Can't wait for the season! I'm really liking the new regs. I think they did a great job trying to accommodate everyone...

Wish they would have stuck to 1 hen mallard but I like the 3 woodies and the layout of the season!

[Gordie]

I have been noticeing a lot of woodies flying around the Zimmerman area in the evenings seen a few teal but not the numbers that I would expect to see yet. seeing more and more geese around also.

[strait-meat]

I have seen the same thing Elwood but not as many teal. I am going down South to Louisiana in 2 weeks for there early season teal and hunt there for 5 days. I let you know how it goes--first time for early teal season--been hunting big duck down here for the last 5-6 years after our season is over b/c I didn't want to stop hunting. One of these days during the season, we should go on a hunt together Elwood--I'm in zimmtown too.

A few days ago I saw a lot of geese feeding early in the morning along 101 in rogers/otsego in the cut wheat feild.

[Gordie]

Sounds good strait-meat I hope to be out quite a few mornngs as I work second shift so if you can go let me know..

[icecold]

I have been down on the minnesota river scouting for ducks for the youth opener and i have to say that I am seeing alot more wood ducks than I have seen the past couple seasons. I have seen a few teal but not to many, If the woodducks continue to hang out through youth season and the opener, should be in for some good shootin

[TylerS]

Here's my Nodak report for you guys: there's ducks here

No, seriously, should be a good year for numbers. However (and this is a biggie) all the water could make pinpointing birds difficult. In fact, you may not experience "more birds" when hunting simply for the fact that they will be so spread out.

I predict many people running traffic this year. Find yourself a juicy looking slough, set up some dekes, and spend the day out there scratching birds. If you play the weather and chose your days (and put in some decent time scouting) you ought to have a grand time.

Mark my words: this could be the end of an era. I know lots of you don't like the "doom and gloom" outlook of habitat, but I will testify that there is a lot less CRP than in the past. Non-farmed marginal land is what ducks, geese, upland birds and deer NEED to survive and thrive. So get out there and enjoy the bounty while you can. If we don't see a reversal of attitude toward the "farm every square inch of land" mentality, and if we don't see the state and federal government putting more incentive to farmers to stop farming those lands, the "good-ol-days of hunting" may already be behind us...

Food for thought...

[strait-meat]

seen a bunch of geese off 610&169 by the sweet corn--be nice to have a metro hunt there

[H0LE HOPPER]

Seeing lots of geese up by bemidji feilds are full just hard getting permission... Then was down in buffalo a week ago seen a couple hundred only like 40 in my feild but whatever duck and goose numbers look better this year since awhile.

[Gordie]

Just got back from the foley area and the fields that had wheat in them are starting to fill up with geese and sandhills one of the fields has about 250 geese in it and 20 sandhills in it.

[coombia21]

Went out tonight, only managed to get one honker, we had one flock come in and just had poor shooting, and had a few lookers, but other than that it was a pretty slow day. I am hoping more birds will be heading south soon.

[creepworm]

Huh. I don't believe there is a state in the U.S. that goose hunting is open in right now.

[Gordie]

Huh. I don't believe there is a state in the U.S. that goose hunting is open in right now.

Nebraska South Dakota, North Dakota all have early goose seasons that start in August

[creepworm]

But ended August 29 and reopen September 3

[Gordie]

I couldn't find that in the Nodak laws but this is what the season reads

Open Area: Statewide

Opens: August 13 Closes: September 15 (Except in Missouri River Zone)

Daily Limit: 8

Possession Limit: 16

Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

Missouri River Canada Goose Zone

Open Area: See map below

Opens: August 13 Closes: September 7

Daily Limit: 8

Possession Limit: 16

Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

[creepworm]

Good call, I was looking in my SD rulebook thinking it was ND and assumed both were the same. Too many rulebooks for too many states.

[Finlander]

Coombia, the season here in Minnesota is not open now! Or are you hunting in another state?

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Wisconsin opened yesterday.

[DAD-N-EYE]

Im with carpshooter. I bet he went to wisconsin. I also went out on friday, only managed to get 4. Woulda been a pretty special hunt if we coulda hunted thursday though. Two groups didnt ask the landowner went out and both shot limits, which put the birds a lil on edge.

[Gordie]

Seen alot of woodies and teal in the Minnesota river valley yerturday not many geese flying we never pulled the trigger but enjoyed the teal landing in our goose decoys