rice lake

[superfish2]

I have been out to rice lake in shakopee twice this year during the week for quick morning hunts. Both times it has been typical of rice lake. Lots of birds, lots of hunters, always one group on the lake that ruins things for everyone else. Rice lake is what it is. It is almost unhuntable on weekends and early season weekdays are crowded and can get frustrating and almost silly.

But I noticed a sign that says next year rice lake will go to hunting by permit only. Has anyone else heard about this? I'm not sure how I feel about that. If there was ever a place that needed a controlled number this is it. But on the other hand I only live 5 minutes away and if just want to slip out for a couple hours before or after work it's not a bad place.

[Abrams]

That would be awesome I live 2 minutes from there, if it were more regulated if could be good. That place can really only hold 5-8 parties max.

[buzzsaw]

I also live close to here and was planning on getting out soon. If either of you guys has interest, feel free to shhot me an e-mail. mikelentz at frontiernet dot net I usually frequent area's east of the cities, but would like to get out on Rice lake.

[Abrams]

I drove down to the access last night and there were 13 rigs there! On a Tuesday night! I did see the sign that stated Rice Lake will be a Control hunting lake by permit only next year. Maybe it will help with crowding, skybusting etc.

[buzzsaw]

Hopefully that post discourages others from going down there.

[tealitup]

I was out there and talked to a CO. He said that they are doing it for a number of reasons - but mostly 4 swans have been shot there so far this year.

He said mostly it was a specific "group" doing it that does not care or does not know.

[buzzsaw]

Well those people are mindless if they've done it four times! I'm guessing anybody that accidentily shot a Swan once wouldn't even think of raising their gun at anything white ever again. I'm going to drive down there at 5;30 tonight and see whats happening.

[tealitup]

No, I think you took "group" the wrong way. I was trying to be politically correct. The group is the minority immigrant from the east

[buzzsaw]

I totally misunderstood you... With that being said, I think I saw the same guy with fourty Bass down on the shores of lake Mtka...

[hanson]

Intentional or not, anyone that shoots a swan needs to be put away for a long, long time!

Trumpeters are making a great comeback now and we see them all the time where we duck hunt and they always fly by in the morning while deer hunting as well.

Every day we've been out duck hunting this fall, we've had the same 5-6 Trumpeters cruising the lake. The sure like to come look at our decoys and we almost ended up with an adult and an immature landing in them the other day.

But the sad part of this story is we found a dead one on the lake we are hunting as well. We spotted a white floating object way across the lake and weren't sure what it was. Given that the water is low, it could have been a rock sticking out. Well, 1 week later, the white thing was still in the same spot and we cruised over to take a look. Sure enough, it was a dead swan and it was stuck on a mat of weeds. Hard to say if any fowl play was involved, it was pretty decomposed and picked at when we found it.

[buzzsaw]

I went down to Rice Lake a few hours ago and talked to a guy there to kinda get the lowdown and while I was there counted 19 cars!!! He said what was said earlier, that this small lake is way overcrowded, but also said ducks are flying.