Devils Lake Duck hunting

[Ufatz]

This is a general sort of question. An old guy with some artificial parts has a new young Lab. He's like to find a place to put out a few decoys and maybe get a shot or two. There are no ducks left around his home (MN) area. Is it possible to do that around Devils Lake in Oct. on public land? Maybe use a nearby campground for his trailer and hunt a few days. No long hikes etc. the guy is pushing 70 but would like at least ONE hunt for his new Lab, who is a hunting fool at one year of age. Any suggestions?

Last time in ND we ended up running for home after being shouted at and ridiculed for being non-residents! Yikes!

[gorrilla]

If your just looking for ducks, I'd recommend the Jamestown area. It has tons of potholes of various size and I've never had the animosity that you find around Devils Lake. If your looking to do a little fishing too though, its hard to beat Devils Lake.

[big drift]

Why go to Devils Lake at all?

What does he want to hunt...

Divers I would recommend Lake of the Woods go up and scout out one of the islands and set up there.

Geese are anywhere and if cold is an issue hit the early Sept. season.

Mallards try the Miss.river or head west to Fergus Falls or the areas east of Grand Forks.

Locally if you don't hunt much get into touch with your local CO for suggestions or the local DU, Delta, MWA or sportsmans groups. The birds are here just not in the traditional areas.

Also Winnie is good for fall flights as is Leech. Devils lake has been bought up or leased so bad unless your going with a guide not worthwhile IMO.

Good luck

[Quackaddict9]

Well I dont know much about duck hunting around North Dakota but have heard it gets pretty good around the Jamestown areas, Devils Lake area and few others. You can find plenty of areas around Minnesota for some good goose hunting action.

[gorrilla]

I've waterfowl hunted most of the spots mentioned in MN and all I can say is they are pretty good by MN standards, but can't hold a candle to the pothole country of ND. The Dakotas are the perfect spot to introduce a new pup to the sport. You can find a very small hard bottomed wetland you can drive you elderly friend up to and he can have it all to himself with no distractions or competition. Unless it is posted he can do this without having to track down the landowner to ask even(we usually do anyway). One great tactic out there is to find a huge marsh holding lots of duck and rather than hunt the large water, find a small protected bay or nearby pothole to hunt in the big winds very common out there. Since your hunter has limited mobility maybe a field hunt would be where its at. All a guy needs is a couple dozen goose dekes for a great morning on mallards/honkers.

[eyehead]

If it's ducks your after Devil's lake is an awsome place to be. We hunt around leed's (40 miles from Devil's Lake) plenty of little potholes for ya to shoot some ducks. Definetly a place to go at least once