Anyone hunting up here?

[Hemlock]

Just feeling things out for who's coming up to hunt?

[Shorelunch]

I'm planning to hunt bluebills, or mallards if we have to, in mid-to-late October around Morson. Seems the blues haven't come through as much as they used to or it's been very late. Of course we'll be looking for some big late fall walleyes too

[Hemlock]

Shorelunch, you've got it pretty good. Must only be about a three hour trek from Bemidji, eh? I love fall duck hunt/walleye days. Tough to beat.

[buzzsaw]

Too bad the Bluebills are WAY down up in that neck of the woods.

[snowgoose]

I will be coming up a couple of times. I am going to Saskatchewan the end of next week for 10 days. Then I will be in Manitoba for 4 days around Canadian Thanksgiving.

You just can't beat hunting in Canada.

I can't wait.

[Shorelunch]

Hemlock, I've got no complaints - except, of course, getting the time (or the OK . . .) to do all these fun things. It's an easy three hours from here to up there.

[Wild Thing]

Hemlock,

We were up for opening of duck on Sept 10 and did well, lucky to get off the water before the 40 mph winds hit. Got teal and mallards near our place in Morson.

I'm all about ducks, so back up for several more trips, including 9 days at the end of october. Ringbills look good and the bluebills will start coming in any day. Fishing rods are just about stored now unless we limit out on bills early and its nice out! Will try for some partridge too but it seems their numbers are way down again this year.

see ya

[Shorelunch]

I didn't know there are any partridge around there. Are they Huns? The only upland birds I thought there were are grouse and possibly woodcock. Learn something new every day.

I've never seen blues come through this early. Usually it's been mid-to late October, but I've heard there haven't been many coming through the past couple of years. I'm hoping to go up next weekend for mallards and walleyes.

Wild Thing, do you have a PALS card? I did the course a couple of years ago.

[Hemlock]

I think Wild Thing was referring to grouse when he said partridge. He's talking Canadian

Locals call ruffed grouse, partridge up here for some reason.

I have only duck hunted once since I moved up here almost two years ago, but in Astron Bay last September, all that was around were sawbills (mergansers) and mallards. We didn't see any diving ducks, I chalked it up to being too early. Last September was above norm. temps. I would hazard a guess that the bills are later in October.

[Wild Thing]

Hemlock/Shorelunch

Yes, ruffs are partridge! My dad always called them patty birds. There are also a few sharpies in the open country south of Morson but very few. Apparenlty they once darkened the sky.

Bluebills are down in number across the continent and no doubt we're seeing that on LOW too. BUT they do come to LOW earlier than most people think. I won't go into details here, but there will be some on the lake within the week (they fly by the calendar almost to the day) and their numbers build all through October. They fatten up on little shrimpies.... and they can be had in even September. It's a matter of getting near the rafts and in their flight plan. God only knows why they get up to fly, but they do.

Aim true!

See ya.

[Shorelunch]

We found quite a few mallards and ringbills this weekend and it was fun to shoot ducks again. We only saw a handful of bluebills and also saw woodies and teal, too.

Also saw a nice covey of "partridge" on the way home too just south of Pier North in the ditch.

[Hemlock]

Shorelunch, is it strictly decoy hunting? How did the birds react to your spread?

[Shorelunch]

We threw decoys in two areas: 1) in a weedy, curvey channel that is surrounded by two bays - I could have thrown rocks at the mallards. Most would fly right in and others circled once. Decoys wouldn't have been necessary but I love watching them come in. 2) We set up in a flyway by a point and two small islands looking for bills. A few flew in at first sight, most flew in for a closer look and got withn range and of course some flew by in a wink of an eye. Decoys I think made a difference here.

It was good hunting but I was hoping to see a few blues - but it was just a "tad" too nice for them to come down. Looks like it may be soon though.

[YourBobbersUnder]

What is the procedure to buy ammo in Canada. What does a US citizen need to have with him to purchase rifle ammo in Ontario, other than $$ ?

[snowgoose]

Bring your ammo with you to Canada. You are allowed to bring 200 rounds with you before you have to pay duty on the rest of it. If you bring more than 200 rounds you pay the GST tax on the value of the ammo.

I believe that you have to have a PAL card to buy ammo in Canada if you are a non resident. I am not positive though. I always bring enough ammo with when I go. Shot gun shells are twice as expensive up there and hard to find at times.

Good Luck

Todd

[Hemlock]

That's some sound advice.

[YourBobbersUnder]

Well, I admit it, I don't know what a PAL card is. What is it and where, how do I get it? Thanks.

[Shorelunch]

Possesion and Aquisition Liscence. You need to complete a PALs gun safety course, background chack and paper work. Cabelas and Gander Mountains have these classes every once in a while. When completed you register your gun(s) and then when you cross the border, present your card to the customs agent. It speeds up the process and has much less paperwork whrn you cross.

[YourBobbersUnder]

Thanks for the info.