Hunting in high winds

[eyepatrol]

Just out of curiosity, I was wondering if anyone has had a problem getting birds to decoy on extremely windy days. Days where the northwest wind is blowing 30mph or better.

We hunt a point with a small bay along side it which we set our decoys out in on these types of days, and I've noticed in the past that the ducks seem to have a problem making the "final committment" and coming in that last 50-75 yards to get a decent shot. Many times they flare up and away and are gone.

Anyone else notice or have this problem?

[WALLEYENUTZ]

I've found that in high winds if you don't leave a large enough hole for them to land they won't. Make sure there landing zone is BIG.

[doser]

How did you do opener Basscatcher? Did you check the new place I told you about?

[Borch]

I've had very good luck on late season very windy days. Like someone mentioned leave them a place to land and they are usually very willing.

[Rick]

fixed

[eyepatrol]

???

What happened to my post? Was there something wrong with it; something I shouldn't have posted?

[Tyler Holm]

basscatcher,

Most likely there was nothing wrong with your post. Sorry it was blank. We were having problems with the server at the time you posted. Sorry for the mishap. Feel free to keep posting!

[eyepatrol]

Tyler,

Good to hear! I was gettin' worried I said something I shouldn't have.

Thanks for letting me know. I'll re-post.

[eyepatrol]

Doser

Opening weekend was as I had expected. Slow. Saturday we saw all of probably 10 ducks and that was it. Had a couple spoonies take us by surprise and we shot them. Dad took them home...yuck! Sunday we did a little bit better. Got 6 woodies between the 3 of us. Saw a few more ducks and a few geese, but nearly all the ducks were woodies.

Went out hunting this morning. Got a drake bluebill, 2 BIG drake woodies, a young drake mallard and one goose. Should have had two geese as a flock of 4 swang over my goose decoys, but I was shooting right into the sun through some cattails. Should have gotten 2, but it was nice to get one at least.

Saw a few more birds today. Mostly saw mallards. Some were flying south. More geese in the area right now. Saw a couple flocks of cacklers flying south too. Wanted to go yesterday with the big NW wind, but had a meeting last all morning long. Could have probably got my second goose this morning had I stayed out, but, nonetheless, I had to come in and be an engineer for a while.

I haven't gone to that place yet. Was going to last weekend, but things came up. Will check it out this weekend though and will keep a close eye on it now that the season is in full swing.

[riverrat56]

Basscatcher, Are you hunting around Gaylord? Sounds like you have been doing okay whereever you are. Would I ever like to get a big drake Bill this year, keepin my fingers crossed....

[eyepatrol]

riverrat56

Yep, hunting on Titloe which is right here at Gaylord. Hunting has been okay, but nothing more than okay. 10 years ago the skies would be full of ducks, but, we've all heard that story.

Those greater's are hard to come by. We've only gotten a handful in the 21 years I've been hunting. The one I got today was a young one (lesser scaup), but was fun to get. Later in the season around the end of October and early November we get some 'bills to come through. It's fun getting the drakes. They are a lot more pretty than just the black and white you see from a distance. Their heads really have color when you look at them in the sunlight. We've been seeing more ringbills move through these past few years than bluebills. Used to be vice-versa. They're nearly the same duck, so I have no complaints. Starting to see some goldeneyes come through here the past couple years too. Never seen them come through here in the past. Pretty good number of Cans move through too.

I love diver duck hunting, but it can be real tough to identify them at times on cloudy days or early in the morning. Cans aren't so hard to identify, but bluebills and ringbills are, for me at least.

Can't wait for the flight to come down! Got all my diver decoys ready and waiting!

[ikeslayer]

here is my theory about high wind

they get tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long to look at your decoys. They can hang and a distance (safe distance) and still get too good of a look at your decoys to find out if it is safe or not. I will compare it to us scouting on the interstate or a country road. On the interstate the quote goes "i couldn't tell if those were ducks or someones decoys" however on the country road you take the time to look. there i said prolly to much ike

[Sartell Angler]

interesting theory ikeslayer...I have always thought that birds decoy better when there is a good wind because they want to get to calm water and relax, but I can understand where you're coming from. I'll take a steady breeze over a calm or wicked-blustery day.

SA/wdw