The Late Season Rocks Again

[fishgutz77]

Watched a thousand mallards do the whoopie around the field today then fifty trumpies moved in and then finally the geese came. Monday 3 of us shot 9 and turned them into jerky and today we should have had 6 but only tagged 4.

Took some kids out the black friday before duck ended and had a hoot as 200+ mallards worked us and as they peeled off we would wack'em. We ended up with two bands out of one bunch which was kind of fun. Then the Saturday before the closing we worked the same field in the fog and shot a two man limit. I'll post some pics as soon as I get my picture host reset and squared away. I would love to see some snow again as the birds really decoyed during the snow showers on Monday. I'll keep posting till she closes now.

[kc0myy]

everyone complains about not shooting wood ducks or teal because they leave too early. screw teal and wood ducks I wanna shoot big plump blue bill and mallards and other late season ducks. I love hunting the late season it by far the best time to hunt birds!!!good job on the geese! and take them kids hunting.

[strait-meat]

I love the late season too but it is always fast and no one knows when it will start or how long it will last. Who knows maybe next year with the early open we might not have such a mild fall and things will freeze up around the first week of Nov and then everyone will be happy.

[HNTNBUX]

Congrats on your late season hunts.

By the way I like teal and there are deer to be shot in November.

[fishgutz77]

Every year is different, like right now we will start losing birds as all the lakes will freeze up and push to the river and then the nuke plant is down and the river is icing up fast. It's still really good, and we have about 3000 geese and 1500 mallards in the area I only wish the duck season went into december as well.

[castmaster]

Dont know about you fellas but I am kind of getting sick and tired of hunting all fall and seeing very few ducks. Then the season closes and within days/ weeks we have piles of big, fat northern nob heads coming through town. Neat seeing the birds, but sure would be nice to actually get to do some shooting instead of bird watching. If I wanted to be a bird watcher I'd join the Audubon Society and stop buying a license.

Will the fine folks at MN DNR ever realize we need a split zone/split season framework in a state like MN. The boys in Fergus Falls dont need, or probably want, the same season framework as what us "southern" boys along the Mississippi River want/need.

[strait-meat]

Sorta hard for the DNR to predict the winter/freeze up--just have to go for the averages. It would be nice if we could have a 90 day season for ducks or at least the same amount of time that we get to hunt geese for.

[fishgutz77]

Wish there was a way to post a short video on this forum. I had 2000 mallards. yes 2000 mallards crawling in the honker decoys today. We passed on shooting birds twice becasue we were worried about collateral damage to mallards when the geese came in. They were all over us and I started looking for jewelry on all of them but never saw a band.

I took about half a doz short vids on my I phone from the blind it was crazy./ We did end up with a two man limit. watching a couple hundred swans and the mallard tornado would have been great with out shooting geese, but we got the kicker too. I got to get some still shots to photobucket and get'em up. good hunting.

[Scott M]

Try HSOshow. You should be able to upload a little vid.

Were you close to the river by Monti by chance? Been seeing a lot of mallards where there is still open water, at this point mostly rivers.

Cool to see though!

[fishgutz77]

you got her, with no snow the birds are hanging around longer than ever.

I'll try the vid thing.

[fishgutz77]

here's some shots of the last week or so..

this was ronnie and myself for the afternoon hunt.

This was the one day we got snow and it made the difference

[fishgutz77]

This was a great duck hunt on Black friday. Kids, dogs, us, everybody had fun.

[Gordie]

Fishgutz that is a sweet blind and I think I know where your located also I think we were close to each other on Black Friday as I think I know that spot as well.. great photos and congrats on the bands..

Hope to meet up with you someday in or out of the blind thanks for posting those great pics

[fishgutz77]

Next late season we will hook up elwood.

Zim city is just a shot a way.

Wacky weather this year made things interesting to say the least./

[Gordie]

I used to live in Big Lake and thats only a stones throw away

[dan z]

seen a flock of greenheaded gansers the other day out ice fishin. cant waite till next year

[Gordie]

cant waite till next year

It won't come soon enough

[fishgutz77]

Some of us may have to go south, or wait till the dirty birds move north in the spring.

[TylerS]

You Minnesota boys have all the luck with bands! Nice work!!!

[strait-meat]

Going south again to hunt in SW Louisiana on some rice fields. Should be fun as usually. A lot of ducks. Teal season this year was a blast!

[fishgutz77]

Go get em, wish I was headed south to hunt as well. Can't wait for the snowies to turn around.