Early season success?

[Gordie]

I didn't do as well as basscatcher but my son and myself got 1 and my son had a blast he hit the first goose that he shot at and it didn't come down and I was busy missing the one I was aiming at so I couln't help him. We didn't have the clouds and got out a little late,as I was dragging the boat into the weeds the gesse were already coming to the decoys and no guns ready well thats hunting . The main thing was to see my son enjoy himself and he did.

[tearin' lips]

Nice Honkers Basscatcher!

[Flick]

Early season has been real good for us. It'd be even better if half the geese ever came back to the field!

[Wiskers]

We have had minimal luck so far. Not very consistant birds as of yet. One day we will see many birds and the next day very few. For the most part we are only seeing small flocks and they are very jumpy alredy.

Biggest trouble we are having up by us is the dry ground conditions. The farmers were in the fields early and dug them deep so camo is tough. Hard to find dirt camo.. Even the blinds are sticking out like sore thumbs. But the birds we are getting are all adults and big birds.

[eyepatrol]

The one thing I found really exciting about my outing was being out there before the sun came up, sipping on my favorite brand of coffee, listening to everything on the lake, in the field behind me, the annoying rooster (not pheasant) crowing constantly about 1/2 mile away at a farmplace and then as it started to just get light out, a few ducks here and there buzzing right along the shoreline in front or over me and scaring the begeebees out of me!

[shae1986]

We got 17 on saterday. They fianlly decoyed very nice and we did some decent shooting for once to knock down some birds. It was a fun and exciting hunt that didn't take too long. Cant wait for this weekend.

A Shae

[USPENAMC]

i live in Eden Prairie any one would give me some hints ideas in the last week i have driven to hastings wma, rapids lake unit but since the only place the geese are at that place on that hidden lake i cant hunt them, drove to faribault wma but by the time found it it was late night so as you can see i have been putting in my time i guess not SMART enough but i have been trying anyone want to give me just a hint all i want is one bird before the early season ends ill see what i can find on the compass for this morning and today. see where today takes me email me penasoccer at yahoo

[Fish&Fowl]

Had our limit of 15 honkers, along with 5 mallards and a wigeon by 7:30 a.m. Roughly half the geese were giants, and ended up shooting 2 with some jewelry on them. Haven't had a shoot like that in a looong time and it was a blast. Trying to figure out how to get the pics on here, but no luck. Any info appreciated.

[shae1986]

Umm...... Mallards, a wigeon, Fish&Fowl, im pretty sure that duck hunting hasn't opened yet here in minnesota, if i am correct it opens the last weekend in September. I hope you were hunting somewhere else.

[Wiskers]

For pics go to dropshots.com That works pretty good.

My son and his first birds this year.

[huntnfish]

That was the same thing that I was thinking, Shae. I went and looked at the Reg's and youth season doesn't open until the 16th, so I don't think there was an open season for ducks last weekend, but I could be wrong.

[ironman]

He is from international falls...maybe he was hunting in Canada, I believe the season starts earlier up there.

[Fish&Fowl]

That is correct ironman. Sorry if I got you guys worried, the canadian season opened the 10th. Another great thing about livin up north, just sucks that it's such a pain to do everything required to hunt over there. But if it adds a couple weekends to the season, it's worth it in my opinion.

[huntnfish]

I didn't mean to jump to conclusions. I think it was just a little jealousy, but I don't think you have to come on here and gloat. Nice work up there. I have heard a few tales about the hassels of going up there. Are the Mallards getting any color to them yet? The ones that I saw on opener in ND were starting to get a little color and it wasn't too hard to pick out the drakes. Just a couple more weeks down here.

[shae1986]

Im sorry too, i never thought of Canada, even though i know that they opened before anyplace else around here. I wish i could shoot ducks now. But anyway sorry for the confusion and good luck to all this year.

[eyepatrol]

Wiskers....

That bottom goose looks like a dandy! Gotta be proud of that!

[Fish&Fowl]

Not a problem guys, I just assume everyone is thinking about the Canadian season, but why would you if you're not planning on hunting it?

As far as mallards go, the drakes were pretty colorless. I was picking them out by the dark chest and light belly, not by the head. Going home again this weekend to hunt some wild rice. Saw lots of goldeneyes and blue-winged teal while scouting so hopefully they'll still be around. I'll post results. Hang in there, only a couple weeks til we can start banging away in MN!

[Fish&Fowl]

[image]http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=180449&cdate=20060910&ctime=105736[/image]

Here's the pic from last weekend on a Canada hunt. Limit of 15 honkers plus 6 ducks before 7:30 a.m.

Went out this weekend and got 11 Sat. evening and 5 this morning.

[Fish&Fowl]

web page

Be patient with me I'm new to this stuff!

[tearin' lips]

Boy I don't know G-man. Thats a rough looking crew!

Those are some nice honkers though. Is that your dad on your left? I can't tell with the face paint. I am working on my dad to go out with me when I come home, if he does this will be his first time duck hunting in over twenty years! Those were all field birds right?

Take care bud and shoot straight!!

[Fish&Fowl]

Ya that's the old man on the left. We got permission to hunt some grain fields northwest of Stratton, ON. Took 2 years but we finally got the farmer to agree, hopefully we can get back there every year at least once.

I didn't realize your dad didnt really duck hunt. Get him out there and show him what he's missing!

[tearin' lips]

Well he used to be pretty hardcore into it, but then us kids cam along and he just fazed out of it. I know that if I get him out there he will be buying stamps and licences next year again!

Take Care and Good Huntin'

[HonkerHammer]

Was out three times over the early season and managed four birds. Never saw more than about 150 birds on any given day. Had great fun, got totally soaked a couple times and had my kids along on two of the trips. Happy that we never got skunked. I hunt up around Duluth and would really like to hook up with some fellow goose hunters.

[Mike Patenaude]

Hey HH, I live in Duluth and am planning on hunting the Carlton County this weekend. My Brother and I have gone to Rochester the last three years and were hooked up with a guide service there (Top Gun Guide Service) Great Guys!! and we have had a lot of great hunts with them. This year however we thought we would try it on our own, so we bought a bunch of decoys, laydowns, calls etc. I started exploring rural Carlton County looking for corn/bean fields, as that is the agricultural strip here in Northern Mn (obviously we are planning on land hunting, not water)I have a few options for fields, and the corn has been coming down the last few days. Last night we saw about 200 Geese in different flocks including about 60-70 in the field that we are hunting Saturday. Tonight I layed up in the woods at the edge of that same field. About 5:30 a flock of 50-60 came in to feed right in front of me. They landed about 15 yards in front of me. It was pretty cool when they came in I could hear their wings beating right above my head. Saturday's looking real Good !! Although I can't figure out why you can't shoot the first morning until 9:00am? I hope they don't show early!