Roosters

[LuciandTim]

Well, tomorrow I embark on a three day journey to end the season. I was planning on heading to the Marshall area but luck has been low in the area. It is better than the local spots I hunt but it is not up to par compared with the areas my buddies have been hunting. In search of a rooster I will be. I think I may try the worthington area. Anyone have any opinions of the area? Only 4 days to go...........

[Eric Wettschreck]

The big slough area right south of Slayton by the concrete plant has done quite well for me.

[grab the net]

I hunted west of the Marshall area, around Ivanhoe, Late sunday afternoon and all day Monday. Lots of birds, with plenty of Roosters. But so skittish. Friend who is a mail carrier says, they have been hunted so hard the last month that even a vehicle slowing down will put them up in the air flying for safe havens.

Tried to hunt a large WMA by myself on Sunday afternoon. Saw at least 50 birds, with 8 different roosters mixed in. The hens would sit tight and distract Duey and the roosters would get up way out front. One young rooster was close to being in range, but was flying towards a building site and I passed on the shot.

Was fortunate to get on a small piece of private property this morning. Saw birds right away, hens sitting tight, Duey, my pointing lab, locking up, tail wagging slowly back and forth.

Walked the biggest portion of the slough, saw a few hens glide down into a small depression. Walked over and there is another littel 2 acre cattail section. Walked in, hen pops up, Duey doesn't even pay any attention, his nose is on the ground, tail is going a mile a minute. He keeps plowing into the bent over cattails, ripping his head up, cattail fuzz flying all over. He finally dives in and out the other side comes the rooster, had to wait for the bird to get off Duey's nose and dumped him. Duey makes the retrieve, and off we go to the other corner, few more hens get up and Duey goes into the thick stuff. Can't see him but I can see the cattails shaking in a zig zag that can only mean one thing. Just like that, big old longtail busts straight up, once he cleared the top, pop! second bird in the bag. Thought I was in ND/SD Left the truck at 09:20 back in the truck at 10:00 pouring a cup of coffee.

Picked up a friend and hunted the rest of the day, nothing but hens, and the ocassional flighty rooster, a hundred yards in front of us. Walked are butts off, deer in every slough we walked, no horns, big fat sassy does and fawns.

If a person could put a large group together to make bigger drives with posters on the large WMA's I think you could have some fun, easy walking on the ice, following the deer trails, letting Duey do the heavy stuff.

Hope to get out once or twice more, but will look for smaller more private pieces, knock on some doors, and take my chances. Big stuff holds impressive numbers of birds but just to tuff for one guy and one dog at this time of the year. Their all smart now.

[LuciandTim]

Grab The Net: whats your e-mail address, or send me an e-mail, [email protected]. I have some info for you.