field reports

[Guest]

Glad to hear everyone is getting some action.

Have seen another increase in goose numbers around Austin over the last few days. I think the migraters are finally making it here. Rochester goose numbers are going up daily as well.

Hope to hunt the Blue Earth area all weekend. Since you guys think they are on there way.

[This message has been edited by Walleye Pimp (edited 10-25-2002).]

[Flipnripem]

WalleyePimp, how was your hunt? Did you make it out west? The geese were crazy today around town. Tomarrow morning should be very good. Back at ya tomarrow. Flip

[Guest]

Hunted Watkins Lake near Waseca. We seen numbers of Mallards and a handful of divers. Did'nt see any flocks that appeared to be migraters. Bird flew the best between 8:30 and 9:30. Only shot a mallard and a blue wing. Let a few hen mallards fly by.

There were quite a few people up in Moonan Marsh and they all did better than us.

Won't be able to hit the honkers for a few days. The corn doesn't get picked by me out duck huntin!

[Ozzy169]

Mallard numbers are really jumping around. Wends night 3500 ducks, Friday night 500, Sat night 1500. What would make them fly south? Hunting pressure is minamum, food source excellent and have open water. Theory ia that locals flew south and northerns coming in.? Hunting so. metro

[Fisher Dave]

The mallards dissapearing may be mother natures way of telling us what the weather is going to be like pretty quick... just a theory. The swans are coming in full force now which is also usually a signal that Jack Frost is knocking.

Hope they're moving tomorrow. I'm going to try a spot west of the metro.

Small potholes not too far north of us are freezing at a pretty good pace and the water temps are dropping here fast. I have gotten lots of mallards in the past crashing ice... but it never seemed there were that many in the air when doing this, but what is flying isnt hard to convince to decoy.

Just a theory .. but all in all I dont think wer're going to have any open water by the end of the season. I'll crash ice as long as I can.... and then I'll pretend I'm Robin Hood and try to stick an arrow in a deer or two. Any luck that will keep me busy until ice fishing.

[I Like Worms]

Just back from three days of hunting near lowery, 3 days of breaking ice. And given the forecast, the last weekend hunting there. Didn't see many birds at all Friday and Saturday, but started to see more on Sunday. Saw a lot of ringbills on Sunday. Saw many swans too, even had 1 loner circle 3 times and land in our decoys. What a site. I don't like to get into kill counts, but we did well all three days, Sunday morning limiting out in 1/2 hour. Unless we get warm temps again, this will be the end of the season. The lake will freeze up tight.
See ya next year!

[This message has been edited by I Like Worms (edited 10-28-2002).]

[Guest]

Was field hunting Mallards in So. Metro, lots of beautiful northern birds! Got the biggest drake of my life, 4 full curls with magnificent color. Should've been a mounter but messed up its head on the shot. Saw literally thousands of birds every morning and night. Also noticed a weird trend, we aren't seeing any Canadian geese, but tons of snow geese. We hunt this field every year once the northern birds are coming down and I've rarely seen snows. We actually took one blue phase snow this weekend, first of our lives. Has anyone else seen this or know whats up with all the snow geese coming through the South Metro this year? Think it has to do with the abnormally cold weather?

[Fisher Dave]

Hunted the west metro today and managed to bag a bird for every shot taken ... too bad we didnt have anything to shoot at. We only saw about 15 birds in view all morning. The south metro seems to be the most steady that I have seen, but most the birds are using fields and not the lakes.

Things could change in a hurry when the flooded fields freeze up .. but with the weather the shallow sloughs wont be far behind.

Keep alert for swans ... they are coming in full force in the south metro. Geese seem to move in force when they do but nothing regular.

[fishfearme]

Man are there ducks on Mille Lacs! By the 10's of thousands. Yesterday morning there was a giant black cloud of ducks over the middle of the lake. They were in the air for 3 hours before they settled back down or migrated. Mostly bill and buffle heads, and a few golden eye. The mallards pushed through the area on monday. The bills decoyed well in the morning, but wouldn't come within a 1/4 mile or shore in the afternoon. No ducks anywhere else in the area. They are all rafted on Mille Lacs. I got 3 bills and a bufflehead yesterday.

[fishermann222]

I was in Missouri for the opener down there all weekend. Shot lots of ducks. we limited out sat and sun. the ducks must be migrating fast as we shot ringnecks, bills, and some REALLY nice mallards. definately northern canadian mallards with puffy heads and lots of curls, 4 was the most. I hope to hunt the west metro tomorrow and see what happens. anyone been out on some of the lakes in the west metro???

[Fisher Dave]

The west metro has been a bit spotty at best. Some locations are consistant but most arent. The Minnesota river Valley is pulling lots of mallards near town ... lots of ducks on the river also but im not sure if your allowed to hunt it because its Wildlife refuge on both sides.

Best hunting times have definately been late morning into mid day .. and then at dusk. North of the metro has been picking up. Many of the lakes seem to be * skimming * overnight .. going to be breaking ice everywhere soon.