Waterfowl Reports

[Stringerless!]

Field in Scandia. Nothin flying. Saw one small flock of divers flying at sunrise. 3 Trumpeters went right over my spread. Drove by lake and there were 100 geese standing on ice. No open water left there. Geese never got up. Wrapped it at 9:30. Too cold for napping in a field this morning.

[dan z]

Made it out, 1 bill for the effort. I worked way to hard for it. Boat was froze in. So that was a chore and on the way in not much water spitting so shut er down in hopes for non blown head. Not much flying but did see some birds

[HugoBox]

Too bad Bald Eagle is off limits. LOTS of Goldeneyes out there.

[Ufatz]

All done around the cabin here in Tumuli Country. What isn't already frozen is on the way to being solid. Time to lay away the .12 guage and break out the augers n' stuff.

Unless you want to shoot some tough- as -a -tire old goose or two.

[morefishplease]

Lakes are frozen here, the mallards and geese have a hole opened up still on the refuge. New mallards pushed in last night. A good 2-3k mallards going out to feed. Guys that are able to scout and get permish are shooting limits. Days are very limited now, especially if the ducks and geese can not keep those couple holes opened up on the refuge. Was out scouting and asked a couple farmers for permish but denied both times. Its never easy getting them in the fields, first you have to find the mallards, then get permish, then hope those birds want to use that same field which lately in this area off the refuge they have not been.

[booger]

went to the river, saw about 30 swans, a few in range but I like my gun, truck, boat

After shooting time saw quite a few ducks and geese. All the other lakes I drove by on the way were frozen over or close to it.

[123fish]

Shot two greenies and a couple of honkers Friday including one of those four pound cacklers. I'd put up a picture but can't get if off of Photobucket anymore. Everything was froze up this morning.

[Todd Caswell]

Our season is done up here north of 210 but while on my deer stand this morning I heard 9 different flocks of goldeneyes fly over, time to start hunting them with the Cannon, almost as pretty as in the Spring... These were shot south of 210 on Wed.

And a crash landing...

[MN Mike]

GREAT shots Todd!

I like that last one, looks like the drake is bracing for some trouble.

Mike

[norwall]

anyone familar with the belle plaine area, Im new to the area, and was interested in hearing fr someone who hunts around here

[fishersofmen]

GREAT shots Todd!

I like that last one, looks like the drake is bracing for some trouble.

Mike

That last one is pretty sweet. I know I've looked at my wife like that a few times...

[Sifty]

anyone familar with the belle plaine area, Im new to the area, and was interested in hearing fr someone who hunts around here

I hunted thursday morning and thursday night with no luck in the BP area the two lakes I scouted where both locked up.

Sifty

[Stringerless!]

Season did not end with a bang for me. Never shouldered the gun. Saw quite a few birds. A trio of eagles were working the lake and kicked up about a hundred mallards.None came near me. No mojo.No calling. Got burned by a pair of bills that I never saw because they were below the trees the whole time.Flock of about 20 got flushed up by a helicopter. Had some chances to shoot but passed cause they were not decoying. Used to measure the success of my seasons by the number of ducks taken. Not anymore. All in all a good year. Quite a few memorable hunts without ever firing a shot.Never shot a duck all of November. Last taken were a pair of mallards on Halloween. Did manage to reach my goal of 40 hunts for the season. All of them less than 5 hours most less than 3 after work. Might get after the geese but have a hunch ppl will be on the ice before the weekend. I will be one of em!

[norwall]

thanks for the feedback sifty, could ya give me some more info or point me in the right direction perhaps. Any info is appreciated. what 2 lakes ? i drive to chaska along the river daily at 7am and 4pm and dont see hardly much. Like I said we just moved here so im green to the area ,but would like to try it. I know guys do the river thing, but aside fr that.I was just wondering what else is productive in BP.Ive seen some public land too i guess

[Bryce]

There's place right below Flying Cloud you should really check out

[HugoBox]

This capped of my season when I was hauling the boat around the house for storage.

[morefishplease]

hey in my area don't try Upper, its bone dry. Geneva is iffy, low waters and the ducks stay in the middle. Plenty of ducks around coming off the refuge to the south but you will have a hard time obtaining permish. Now that is an honest reply.

[tj417]

There are some nice duck hunting opportunities down in the MN river bottom lakes and backwaters around BP and Jordan in the early season for woodies and late in the season for mallards. If I were looking for lakes, the Montgomery area is littered with decent lakes for getting out for a morning hunt on a Weekend morning or week night. Also keep in mind the waterfowl feeding and resting lakes all around that area...no motors allowed, but good hunting at times you have the boat to paddle out there. You can get info on these lakes thru the MN DNR HSOforum and doing a search for water fowl feeding and resting lakes. Good luck to you!

[norwall]

i seen this small lake/pond in this small township near clear lake in le center but never see anyone on it. Looks decent ,lots of weeds etc

[Lunker]

Hunted morning and evening today with a couple of buddies on Pool 7. Probably saw a few thousand birds but 90% of them were Cans hanging around the refuge. Ended up with 3 Cans and 2 Mallards for the day for the three of us.

[dan z]

Found the mother load! More decoys in the am should do the trick. Can't wait!

[Gordie]

Found the mother load! More decoys in the am should do the trick. Can't wait!

WHAT NO MORE GUNS

[Lunker]

Backwaters and lakes are freezing up down here on the river. Went out this evening, plenty of birds moving, didn't have much action decoying them though. Got one Gad and missed a couple of other chances.

[dan z]

Gordie, only the die hards are at it this time of year. Some buddies have skirts!

[dan z]

Was a bust...

couldn't get decoys right.

Mojo no mojo.

Learned something.

Frustrated as we couldn't get them to finish.

So there still there but how to get them to do the dance is another thing.