Migration Report

[Mike Walerak]

I am starting this topic for people to post waterfowl sitings. The cold weather is supposed to freeze up Canada and send some birds down. So it will only be a matter of time before they trickle into the state.

Just since this last little cold snap I have noticed a push of Gadwall, along with a few Mallards into the Lake Thompson area. No Large numbers of ducks yet and it will probably be couple weeks yet until we start seeing the migration taking hold.

Please post up if you notice a jump in birds in your area. This will help everyone prepare for the birds that are on their way.

It's gonna be a fun season!

[This message has been edited by Mike Walerak (edited 10-15-2004).]

[Mike Walerak]

I noticed a few divers start to trickle in over the weenend. No large numbers, but there is definatly more than what was here last week. There are also a few more geese showing up.

mw

[Flipnripem]

Mike, I didn`t see the numbers either. I`m still hunting a few miles off the lake and they may not be coming my way. I checked a few lakes in the area and didn`t find much. A couple of weeks yet we should be smoking. Flip

[Mike Walerak]

Well, it took some time but the birds are starting to show up.

Yesterday I was out fishing in the morning and started to see buffleheads and Canvasbacks. Went back out in the evening to a different area and saw hordes of Mallards and Canada geese. Did see one small flock of Specklebellies and heard some snows. It should really get crankin here in the next week or so.

mw

[ifishsd]

I hope to get out tomorrow morning hunting if it is not foggy and rainy. I will let you know what I see. Also Heading to Lake Ponisett area Friday afternoon to hunt the weekend up there.

[Thunderchicken]

I was in the Watertown area this last week during the rain, wind and fog hunting waterfowl and saw a lot of northern birds down. Had good luck on the Gadwals, Mallards, and Widgeons. With a nice Pintail thrown in, I would have thought that these fair weather fans would have been long gone by now!

Chuck

[Mike Walerak]

Had a fair weekend. Shot some mallards and started to see more of the high flying flocks of light geese.

I just want to say that working as a bar tender I have the chance to talk to may folks from all over especially during hunting season. Last night I spoke with a older couple from Winnepeg, Canada. They said they have more Canada's there than ever. I asked about the light gese and they said they are still farther north. Temps. up there are still in the 30' and 40's during the day!

I would still have to say a couple more weeks until SD hits its' peak. until then the more miles a guy puts on scouting the better he/she will do.

[Reel Inn]

Saw some snow geese today west of Bristol SD in a beanfield, not to many, maybe 200-300.

[Mike Walerak]

Reel Inn,

Just curios who this is? A-town is not that big, so chances are I know you too! Do you ever stop in to Schmidty's? I work there 4 night a week.

Tonight, I did see a few flocks of geese flying after shooting hours but nothing flew until it was nearly dark in the area I was in. (Lake Poinsett)

mw

[ifishsd]

not much for waterfowl around the lake Ponisett area. A few mallards and some Canada geese.

[PERCHJR]

Went duck hunting this morning and got our 36 in about a hour and a half. Only 21 greenheads is all!!HEHE!! And got some pass shooting at about 10,000 snows and blues, but other than that it was a pretty boring day!! We were about 35 miles soutwest of Aberdeen, SD, and there's still plenty there YEHA!!!