controlled hunting at LQP

[icecold]

never been to lqp before , what side of refuge is usally the best side to sit on north or south side, pit blinds or above ground blinds, can u bring own decoys? Thanks for update, going to go in about 3 weeks

[Maxxed Out]

Just responded to you in another thread. Once we hit about 40k geese it really doesn't matter what side your on. When we have that many geese they traditionally pour out in every direction. I know you've been on one of our websites if not both. Give me a call or shoot me an email and I'll be happy to give you some tips. I'm not angling to get you to hunt with us I simply want you to enjoy your trip to Lac so you come back.

[steve1111111]

Do they still have some crazy shell restriction if you use a state blind?

[icecold]

I think u can carry 12 shells with u, but if u draw for a second blind during the day im not sure if u can have another 12 ???

[steve1111111]

I think u can carry 12 shells with u, but if u draw for a second blind during the day im not sure if u can have another 12 ???

Thanks. I may call them and ask. I cant hunt until Monday but i fear all water will be locked up so I am trying to figure out something to do for a hunt.

[icecold]

Anybody been to lqp lately? just wondering how the cold weather is affecting geese as in flying out or in times, early morning,mid or late afternoons??? Everyone have a good thanksgiving Thurs.

[steve1111111]

Anybody been to lqp lately? just wondering how the cold weather is affecting geese as in flying out or in times, early morning,mid or late afternoons??? Everyone have a good thanksgiving Thurs.

Anyone, anyone?

[Maxxed Out]

Plenty of birds. The only way we are typically effected by cold is the flight times. There really hasn't been much of a morning flight for 2 weeks, with the exception of a few days. With the snow in the forecast this would be a great time to be out mid week if you can make it.

[steve1111111]

Plenty of birds. The only way we are typically effected by cold is the flight times. There really hasn't been much of a morning flight for 2 weeks, with the exception of a few days. With the snow in the forecast this would be a great time to be out mid week if you can make it.

I would love to go tomorrow or the next day but they are talking crazy weather in that area with huge winds and snow(then crazy cold). Being I would have to drive back to the cities in the weather I probably will have to pass. Then is gets super cold and that is never fun to hunt in. What is the offical bird count?

[Maxxed Out]

That's when the hunting is best Steve! Our guides fun hunted today and said it was ridiculous.

We actually have had the majority of the weather miss the area so far.

They hadn't done an official count for a while. I'd guess somwhere near 80,000

[BrdHunter01]

I would love to go tomorrow or the next day but they are talking crazy weather in that area with huge winds and snow(then crazy cold). Being I would have to drive back to the cities in the weather I probably will have to pass. Then is gets super cold and that is never fun to hunt in. What is the offical bird count?

Steve I thought everything has been south for a month now?! Once all the prairie potholes freeze they're gone... remember?

Most people I've talked to have had the best mallard and goose hunting of the season within the past 2 weeks?

[steve1111111]

[

Steve I thought everything has been south for a month now?! Once all the prairie potholes freeze they're gone... remember?

Most people I've talked to have had the best mallard and goose hunting of the season within the past 2 weeks?

[BrdHunter01]

If I recall the converstaion was on ducks and not geese. Almost all of the ducks are SOUTH.There are always going to be some mallards that stick around and provide some hunting at the end. I never argued that geese dont stay later bud.

I'd hate to disagree but in the last 2 days my brother and I have seen a MAJOR migration of mallards through the state! Flock after flock flying south! My brother drove from Rochester to the cities and said he saw a flock of mallards that was literally a MILE long!

These arn't the ducks just "sticking around."

Also DU reported 840k mallards in south dakota on the missouri river.

Where did all these ducks come from? You insist they were all south?

[brittman]

These arn't the ducks just "sticking around."

Yes they are. There are lots and lots of mallards that will stay in the metro areas (including a few spots down Hwy 52 towards Rochester) as long as corn is available and some open water. There are cornfields in West, NW, and SE metro that easily hold 1000s of birds this time a year.

[BrdHunter01]

HUH? Whats your definition of sticking around? I live within blocks of the Mississippi and I have not seen these birds until a few days ago. My brother drives to and from Rochester 5 days a week for work and he has not seen these birds until a few days ago?

Now that all there food is covered these are "migrating" mallards. I see it happen every year. Hate to burst your bubble.

[chub]

The few birds you see getting froze out, kicked out, or for whatever reason, hardly constitutes any migration. Unless you happen to be in the eye of the needle, it aint nothing. You've been on here for years whining that the season closes too soon.

99.999999999999999999999999999999999999 % of the ducks were gone out of this state, and from any migration corridor above us, around the first freeze up. With a sixty day frame work to use, once again, it worked out more or less perfect.

That's not to say there isn't very isolated pockets of a few huntable birds. There would be all year long if you look in the right places. In the grand scheme of things, what you see and call a big late "push" is nothing. More your imagination than anything.

[brittman]

As the metro ponds and small lakes freeze the mallard and geese move (migrate) to the larger lakes and rivers. They will relocate along the river as the freeze deepens. Areas below dams along the MS River may hold no ducks until ice fishing is in full force.

There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of mallards that roost below St Anthony Falls in Mpls. They fly out every evening to feed along the grain elevators and bird feeders. Dams NW and SE of this spot also hold plenty of hardy waterfowl which feed in corn fields til they are covered.

I am sure there are some Northern birds that get pulled into the mix.

There are some that argue these mallards are a "separate" population. If you could prove this via banding studies you could possibly get extra days or a special season ... not unlike early Canada goose season or the high plains late duck season.

[brittman]

Flock after flock flying south! My brother drove from Rochester to the cities and said he saw a flock of mallards that was literally a MILE long!

Not migrating ... going out to feed.

[Markula]

The few birds you see getting froze out, kicked out, or for whatever reason, hardly constitutes any migration. Unless you happen to be in the eye of the needle, it aint nothing. You've been on here for years whining that the season closes too soon.

99.999999999999999999999999999999999999 % of the ducks were gone out of this state, and from any migration corridor above us, around the first freeze up. With a sixty day frame work to use, once again, it worked out more or less perfect.

That's not to say there isn't very isolated pockets of a few huntable birds. There would be all year long if you look in the right places. In the grand scheme of things, what you see and call a big late "push" is nothing. More your imagination than anything.

Here I thought all the ducks Ar, La, Ok have been killing the last couple weeks were just locals.

Average MN hunters are clueless regarding migration dynamics, and ducks in general. According to most, ducks don't migrate anymore.

[brittman]

There is new data that shows many ducks and geese are taking more time to get down the flyway than 20 years ago.

Some duck species (especially mallards) will home in on certain wintering grounds. Good read on the high plains mallards and how they were identified as a separate "flock" and thus hunting pressure extended.

http://central.flyways.us/executive-summary

A little open water and ample corn and many will remain. There are some that believe the Twin Cities metro has a similar thing happening. If proven correct, you could justify a separate late mallard season.

[Markula]

No doubt about it...there is a certain population of Mallards that winter as far north as conditions will allow. But, it is a very small percentage of the over all fall flight of ducks, and not really a significant amount of the mallard population. Not to mention, these ducks are difficult to kill, as I believe it is mostly an adult population of ducks.

Sure, we all see more ducks once the season closes. You can also see more ducks at any refuge at any given time. As a hunted species, they do what they can to remain hidden when hunting pressure is on. They know when and where they are safe, and there's really nothing we can do about it.

[Markula]

Also, the first segment of the Arkansas season was a excellent. The best i've seen in many years. Weather was timed just right. Hunted south central Ar. Everybody around on good ground killed a lot of ducks.

[brittman]

Everybody around on good ground killed a lot of ducks.

Usually the case. Too many in MN hunt water that is available to them and not necessarily good habitat.

Gulf Coast kills plenty of ducks early season too.

[BrdHunter01]

Not migrating ... going out to feed.