Waterfowl report 9/24

[GullGuide]

With less than a week to go before the opener, here's what I have seen the last few days in case some of you are still undecided about where to go.

Minnesota River-
Tons and I mean TONS of geese. We took a catfish trip last weekend and they were all over. Had over a hundred sitting on the sandbar just down from our camp. There were also plenty of Woodies and teal along the river as well.

Brainerd Area-
If any of you are still trying to make up your mind on where to go, your choice has been made. I spent the weekend fishing on Gull Lake near Brainerd and literally every rice bed I fished near was loaded with ducks. Flocks of 10-20 birds would erupt from the rice every 100 yards or so as I worked the edges for bass. Margaret Lake had the most, as did Wilson Bay, Steamboat Bay just north of Birch Island, and the whole chain including Upper Gull all the way to Nisswa. Yes, there are a ton of cabins and houses on the lake, but there are spots where you can still hunt. I would also consider hunting the small pot-holes within Pillsbury State Forest. They are right off Gull and once they get kicked off the lake, I would bet they will head for these.
Other lakes in the area to consider-
Whitefish Chain
Upper and Lower Mission
Edwards
Mississippi River upstream from Rice Lake

If I had not already made plans, I would be in one of those two areas this weekend for sure.
Good luck
>"////=<

[Duck-o-holic]

Seems the geese are all over! While out around the Alex area, I saw 8-9 fields holding birds within an 8 mile radius. Came over a hill on a gravel road, and kicked 60 mallards off of a small creek the meandered through a pasture. Birds were sitting maybe 10 yards off the road, and could still see birds sitting in the grass. Also was surprised to see a flock of 7 redheads in one spot, and 3 hen cans in another spot.

Should be an interesting opener!!!

Good Gunning...

Duck-o-holic

[Duck-o-holic]

Bump...

Anyone else out there scouting or seeing any birds out there???

Duck-o-holic

[Guest]

I have been out on the Red River in Fargo/Moorhead and there are a lot of woodies hanging around here. The major movements along the river began a week and half ago, but with the blue bird weather the birds have made a pit stop. I flushed about 20 woodies at once two nights ago. I haven't seen that many woodies hanging together like that.
As far as other numbers around this same area, I haven't seen too much. This opener sounds interesting with possible rain/T-storms in this neck of the woods for Sat. and Sunday. Anything but sunshine and 70 degrees!

[Borch]

Been seeing a lot of woodies, teal and mallards. Boy the geese are every where right now. One thing I was surprised about is how the black birds have flocked up already. Must of been a flock of more than 10,000 on the slough for the youth hunt. Sounded like thunder when they took off. Must be an early fall comming this year. Just a couple more days now. Bought my stamps yesterday.

[Sartell Angler]

Hey everyone, hope everyone had a fun and productive opener. Would enjoy hearing how everyone did this weekend. Our group of about 13 hunters bagged 18 ducks on saturday, and then today (sunday) we got 24 ducks and one canada goose. Grand total of 42 ducks and a goose. Mostly mallards and woodies, but also bagged 2 blue wing teal, a green wing teal, and 2 ringbills (both shot by me).

P.S- got two bands, one off a drake woodie and one off a greenhead!!!!!