reports

[FoolNFish]

Surprisingly, the shooting didn't really start until shortly after 9 where we were(fed. land all around). But then the fed C.O. officer lives close by it. Lots of "amatuers" out there skybusting and I mean shots that were well over 150 yds. I still feel I should'a went over and confronted them but figured "Oh Well, let'em waste their shells". Besides, they were chasing the ducks across to us.

As for decoys left out on public water...yup, they become public property and are up for grabs...at least that's my opinion!

[Mark Christianson]

Worst opener ever as far as duck harvest.

Hunted east of Fergus Falls.

I shot at 2 ducks in 3 days. It was the only 2 ducks our group of 4 shot at all weekend!

We spent a LOT of time in the blinds discussing what is going on with the ducks.

Going from the shootfests of years gone by, to this is just saddening. With the trend, I am already not too hopeful for next years success.

[gethanet]

Hey feetdown I see you know me buy another name . As for that woody right now he is at about 300 deg. and smelling good. I would have mounted him but I already got one and I need to save room for my pintail and can that are getting done. It was a good way to start the season. I'm betting my cousin that it was banded by theif lake. Looked like a brand new band and I heard they banded some up there.

[Flick]

Shae1986-This is Matt, I hunted with you on Sunday, I was the one who took the pics. That was a sweet hunt, we'll have to do it again. Funny to see you on here. later

[Roosterslayer05]

I hunted with 3 other buddies saturday through monday morning. Saturday was slow and we only got 1 bwt and missed a couple shots. Sunday was a little better we shot 9 ducks and a goose, 1 mallard, 2 woodies, 1 gwt, and 5 bwt. This morning we only got a couple shots and lost the only 2 birds of the weekend. What a dissapointing opener, with all the ducks i saw early goose where i hunt i thought we would all limit out but 3/4ths of the ducks in the area moved out. We got real lucky sunday because we found a little slough with a few stupid ducks that had not been shot at sat.

[set the drag]

a good weekend ducks all around. call me dumb but i was the one the openned up the lake at 10 to 9 ended up with 5 on sat and 3 geese with a mally on sunday.

[Note from admin: It has come to my attention that TIP has been informed and we will cooperate fully with them to see that you are brought to justice. Also, please read forum policy before posting again.]

[bigdog]

Three of us had a good Saturday, 11 birds and quit at 2. Sunday was very slow, 5 birds but there was shooting for the other groups on the lake. Monday was dead, one woodie. Very few ducks in the air, walked a number of potholes with nothing and saw few birds from the truck. Stayed in today based on the few birds yesterday and the forecast for rain and high wind.

Was hunting near Brandon.

[Ufatz]

Wait a minute! Run that by me again. You ADMIT you shot early on opening day?

Did that have any effect on other hunters around you?

Just curious.

[Duffman]

Chesterbutt bringing in a hen mallard on Sunday. Saturday was slow, only fired 6 shells and got one mallard. Sunday we ended up with a couple more mallards and a blue wing teal.

We had some champion skybusters on the other end of the sleugh, but the two groups right by us on both days were great sportsmen. We all passed on marginal shots, knowing that the ducks wanted down, it worked out pretty well between us strangers. On Sunday, one of our ducks sailed over by the other hunters, and these two young fellers chased down and retrieved our duck, they were so nice that they were going to bring it all the way to us. I yelled that we would stop by and pick it up later, and when we did, we also thanked these two young guys for not skybusting. It was refreshing to see that attitude from todays youth. We could have thrown a lot more steel in the air, we even passed on some geese, cause our buddies were in line for a better shot, they almost let us down.

[fishhawk1750]

Hunted west of buffalo. i have never seen as many wood ducks as i did last weekend. with all the rain, our ponds flooded the oak trees and the ducks are thick!! Almost as thick as the mesquitos!! the best part is that when we set up they returned as singles and doubles so we didn't spook the whole group.

[shae1986]

Flick, when u get those pics developed you should post them here for everyone too see bc i bet the pictures look sweet, hope to see you again some weekend

Andrew

[IceHawk]

Opening weekend has come and gone but it was great to be back out in the duck blind again. The weather wasn't ideal but the special moments shared in the duck blind with family and friends is why we hunt anyway.

I thought the numbers of birds seen was fair. Our group of 4 limited by noon on Sat with a few more being taken on Sunday. The numbers of wood ducks were amazeing!! mallards were average and their seemed to be enough little rocket teal to make things interesting. I am once again happy that duck season is here and I am looking forward to the good days ahead.

[Wayne Sieber]

Set the Drag - Seriously, I am with Ufatz on this issue. You shot early. That is illegal. Do you think nothing is wrong with doing that or are you somehow bragging about it? What's the deal man??

[jbell1981]

Also, set the drag, you say you had 5 ducks and 3 geese on Saturday? You know the limit is 4 right???? And you can only have 1 or 2 geese depending on which part of the state you are in.

Some people just amaze me.

[lawdog]

I agree with the last couple posters, YOU GOT SOME 'SPLAINING TO DO!!!!

[leechlake]

Hunted 8 miles NW of Walker, shot a limit on Saturday and two ducks on Sunday. It was the best opener in 5 years, not because I got some ducks but because of the numbers I saw. There are always a lot of woodies but their were a good number of mallards and some ringbills. Nothing like 10-15 years ago but a pleasant surprise. I've hunted grouse for 8 hours or so and have not seen or flushed one bird, that's with two experienced dogs too, very disappointing.

[roosterslayer]

Maybe it's just me but I personally think that set the drag should be suspended from this site for at least a month for his actions. he has openly admitted to shooting before legal time and having too many birds in poss. just the same as poaching. This guy makes me sick! Just think if he has admitted to this kind of dump while waterfowling, just amagine what he has done for other seasons, big game ect...

[Guest]

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a good weekend ducks all around. call me dumb but i was the one the openned up the lake at 10 to 9 ended up with 5 on sat and 3 geese with a mally on sunday.

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Can anyone say, poor hunting ethics? I assume the number of birds is dictated by more than one hunter in the boat... there is no excuse for knowingly shooting 10 minutes early.

As for the REPORTS (back on subject)...

Hunted a metro slough on Monday and ended up with a mallard and a woodie... would have had a couple geese if it wasnt for the 2 guys in white T shirts that came out at the last minute and hid about 50 yards off the end of my decoys... they took some 100 yard shots at a flock coming in on us(birds were 60 yards from me and coming strait in when they started shooting).

That episode got me fired up and I started screaming at them... another 2 seconds and they would have been shooting directly at us... The ethics of the other hunters quickly improved after the screaming bout(may have been intimidated when they seen I had a 260 lb african american friend in boat).. the careless shooting stopped, but unfortunately the white T shirts never got covered and we watched birds steer clear all morning... all was well.. we didnt get shot.

[jblabsnduck]

OK, I will call you DUMB ( you did ask us to).

Wonder what the boys over at TIP will have to say about this.

Good thing I know the ED over there.

Un-called for and then to brag about it.

you are right, that is dumb.

[set the drag]

[Note from admin: It has come to my attention that TIP has been informed and we will cooperate fully with them to see that you are brought to justice. Also, please read forum policy before posting again.]

[set the drag]

i wasn't bragging just telling the truth.

[Note from admin: It has come to my attention that TIP has been informed and we will cooperate fully with them to see that you are brought to justice. Also, please read forum policy before posting again.]

[roosterslayer]

I meant no disrespect but what you did was still illegal, and a man with the balls you claim to have should have had no problem holding off for 10 minutes.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

So Set the Drag, Not only are you hunting unethically, you have two other " buddies" that are just as illegal. You may have big balls but you certinally don't have any brains.

[set the drag]

I admit i was wrong, never sad i was perfect. sorry for spilling my beans. so i strecthed the clock sorry.

[Note from admin: It has come to my attention that TIP has been informed and we will cooperate fully with them to see that you are brought to justice. Also, please read forum policy before posting again.]

[Guest]

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their were three of us in the boat. if i would not of started somebody else would've. soory for even saying it but I guess I have bigger balls than some other people on this site. you cant tell me you all are perfect all the time. i have been on this site a while and usually don't have any problems with anything i say.

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I am not attacking you as a person.. probably a great guy.. but doing something just because somebody else would have likely done it if you didnt.. that is just NONSENSE.

The lake I was hunting on people were shooting 5 minutes early. I had opportunities to shoot after people started... I PASSED on early shooting and waited until 9 A.M.

Just because someone pulls the trigger DOES NOT mean hunting has started.. It means someone was shooting early. If I am to shoot just because someone else did.. makes me just as foolish as the 1st person to pull the trigger.

So the law does not matter because you have a big ego and dont agree with the 9 A.M. shooting time on opening day.

Nobody said anyone was perfect in here... but I know myself.. I follow the laws that apply weather I agree with them or not.. the same laws everyone else must follow.

I am going to stop there.. all I can say is, your hunting ethics stink.. I hope the others in your boat know better, or have more respect for the laws than you do. It is POOR SPORTSMANSHIP to have complete disregard for the laws.

You blasting 10 minutes early scattered many birds away from the lake that other people would have had a chance at shooting at legal hunting time... instead, your greed got you a bird, and flushed many other birds off the water taking birds out of other peoples harvest... It doesnt matter, YOU GOT YOUR BIRD and you dont care.

You are not welcome in my boat. If I ever encounter you shooting early on a lake and a CO is there that day, I will be happy to point him to your blind and tell him exactly what time you shot.

If you cant abide by the same laws everyone else follows.. DONT HUNT.