looking for duck/goose hunting company near Rochester

[Tyler Holm]

I'm fairly new to the Rochester area and Minnesota. I'm interested in getting out on a couple duck and goose hunts. I'm willing to drive and we can take my duck boat. I've got 1 roboduk. The only think I lack is a place to hunt and somebody to hunt with. I'm willing to go out and scout and line up permission. I lack the local knowledge of where I might find some good hunting in the area. If you could use another gun, please let me know. If your in the same boat as me, lets hook-up and figure something out.

[mwktrapper]

Tyler, I've got a buddy down there who is a custom call maker. He's a super guy and always looking for somebody to share a blind with.

[FOOT]

Tyler, unfortunately there are not many places close to Rochester for duck hunting. Goose hunting is much better. With goose hunting it just takes time to stop by and get permmission from local farmers. But good luck, most of the land is already reserved by the guide services or private parties.

As far as ducks go you can either go West to Mankato are or a little South and West to Albert Lea. East is the Mighty Mississippi. There the Corp of Engineers had "improved" the area so much it's just about driven all of the ducks out of the area. There is still good hunting around Winona, LeCresent, Brownsville and Reno. They are all on the river and Reno is probably the biggest but it can be very hit or miss. If you're there on the right day it's gang busters but if you're not it's awfully slow.

Word to the wise. There are 2 areas on the river where the main channel of the Miss. is NOT the boundry with Wisc. One area is out of Wild Cat Landing in Brownsville. There the regs state that the boundry is the "old raft channel" which puts an island on the Minn. side of the main channel actually under Wisc. control and not Minn. Therefore to hunt this island legally you MUST have a Wisc. license and not a Minn. license. You'll need to check the maps to determine where the island is located, its difficult to describe.

Also don't forget the many small rivers and streams in Se Minn. They have saved my bacon several times, especially when the bigger bodies of water freeze up. You'll find the ducks using the trout streams in serious numbers. Case in point was the Halloween storm of, I believe, 1991. I went out pheasant hunting with a friend and discovered a trout stream filled with big northern mallards and pintails. What a treat.

I've been going up North to my brothers land for several years now so I haven't hunted close to Rochester recently. Hope this info helps and sorry I can't be more specific.

[chefjim]

tyler,

I moved here last year as well and have yet to find a spot close to rochester. If your up for trip to do some scouting over near the river maybe an evening hunt I have a boat and a bunch decoys.