Hunting in snow?

[Guest]

Up here in Moorhead it is snowing hard and there is a couple inches of snow on the ground. I have been thinking of heading to the lake to duck hunt. Is it worth it in the heavy snow and high winds? I have hunted light snow (fantastic!) but not a huge cold front like this.

Is it worth heading out in today for an afternoon/evening hunt? I think I will go anyways just to experiment.

[Sartell Angler]

Personally, as long as the conditions weren't overly extreme (blizzards, sub zero temps), i would say go for it. I'd imagine a lot of birds will be looking for a place to land and rest. Good luck.

[Guest]

Cd, Some of my best hunting has come in heavy snow. It will really put the birds on the move. Hope you can get out. Have fun and be safe!

Paul
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[Guest]

Thanks guys. I am leaving work now to battle the elements. Hope it pays off! I'll post my results and see if this heavy snow and 35mph NW winds will move some birds to me. It is sure nasty up here, they say 3-5" of snow today...just the way I like it, but never get the chance to hunt something like this on weekends.

[EW6]

So did anyone get out there and hunt in that stuff? I can't blieve it came this early....did anyone experience some of that fantastic pre-front hunting? I hope to make it out during the weekend, hopefully the birds are still around.
E.W.

[Guest]

Well guys, I made it out. When I left town I thought it would be primo. 20 mph NW winds, snow, and cold. Well, I got to the lakes with 40-50mph gusts and only got worse hour after hour...soon to be a full scale blizzard. White caps and rolling waves on all the lakes that would only sink me. I found a lake that had a somewhat protected launch and I couldn't get the boat off the shore for over 1/2 hour because the wind would push me right back. Finally got onto the lake and my motor was not pumping water. Great. Took waves over the bow and enough was enough. Birds flying all over and I tried and tried, but did not want to fry my motor.

Went to a WPA and set out some deks with my waders and got one beautiful drake ringbill. The northern birds have definitely trickled into my area. My truck and boat was a muddy, ice covered disaster as the slush and mud from the rural roads caked everything and froze. I think I have learned my lesson on this one.

"Anything for a duck"

[EW6]

Last year while hunting big water over Thanksgiving our motor stopped pumping water and I thought that I was going to not be able to make it back to shore, but it wasn't as serious as I thought. Actually only the outside rubber tube had frozen shut, not the entire cooling system. You can try taking that off and blowing through it until it un-clogs. Just might come in handy sometime.

On the same subject of hunting extreme conditions, also last year, on the last day of the season I downed a bluebill and when I went to retrieve it, the thing started to get its head up. Well I got my gun out and swatted it....don't do that if you are standing in water up to your waist, the air in you waders will tip you right over. I learned the hard way. Lucky we had an extra set of clothes along or I might have stayed out there. Although changing in -5 degree temps is none too fun.

Get out there are hunt some of this weather, it can be lots of fun.
E.W.

[Guest]

EW6-
Trust me, the first thing I did when I got home was haul that 150lb motor to my shop in my basement and work on it. If that thing needed parts or repairs it needed to be ASAP so I don't miss out on any hunting.

It turned out to be a bunch of weeds, dirt, sand and stuff stuck in the entire cooling system, but I am sure it froze when I was on the water yesterday. All the gunk got in it from battling the enormous waves and mud. I tore all the hoses out and flushed it and after an hour of trial and error, it is back to new again. Glad I didn't blow a water pump or any other critical parts. Duck hunting is definitely the worst experience you can give a motor!

[EW6]

You are right on that one CD,
Our little ten horse has been throught it all, running through muck, weeds, stumps, chopping vegitation, the occasional decoy line, everything...and I am not too proud of it but I not once, but twice ran it aground at almost top speed. She keeps on truckin' and will start on a pull or two no matter how cold, that motor has been the most reliable piece of equipment I own. Even my gun doesn't work, (semi-auto) near the end of the season, yet that little 9.9 Evinrude keeps bringing me back. Someday if I ever dig myself out of the hole I am going in for college, I want to look at a go-devil type but that is a long way off. So I'll make due with what I have for now....only about 36 hours till I get to try my hand at some of those new migrants!
E.W.

[Bryce]

Hope all came back in safe today. Never ceases to amaze me all the small craft out on big water in this wind. CD: At 150 pounds you must be at about 40 hp which will handle big wind. EW6: Stay on shore with the 10. It will not push any type of boat with the control you need in this type of wind. Have seen it too many times with parties putting in at a protected access and then getting into trouble when they hit the wind. Another pet peeve: get a light on those boats. Even a flashlight and leave it on.
Enough preaching. Be hunting out of the New London area this weekend. I will probably try Norway one day and Johanna the other. Look for a charcoal GMC crew cab and stop by and say hey.

[EW6]

The only really big water I hunt is 3000 acres but it has lots of windbreaks, the intelligent hunter won't get into too much trouble out there....
I trust my boat and abilities more than anything....that being said, if I don't post anymore after this weekend...I went swimmin' for good....you pay homage to me by hunting my spot, it's on second island....but if I'm not gone you better stay off...hah.
E.W.

Course I would always consider a little joint hunt.