Here it comes!

[eyepatrol]

The wind just shifted over to the west here in southcentral MN. Blowing a good 25 - 30mph. Looking at the forecast for the next few days, expect there to be some good movement in waterfowl numbers. Highs are being forecasted in the upper 30's to 40 with lows in the low 20's to maybe even the upper teens in this area.

This is the kind of weather we waterfowl hunters should be extremely excited about! Cold temps, clear skies, one week shy of the full moon. These are the kinds of winds that waterfowl will take advantage of and I'd expect good movement both throuhgout the day and through the night. I don't know about everyone else, but I've got to work tomorrow. The next two mornings though I just might have to call in blind to the office....just can't see myself coming in to work!

Whatever decoys you have, be sure to take the motherload out. My guess is this will be the beginning of the final push for ducks to head south. This certainly won't be the big final push, but I think it will be the first of a few more that will take place. Just yesterday I saw a pair of swans flying over the lake I hunt, so that's an indication in itself.

[Fishky06]

I hear ya basscatcher I can't wait hopefully I can make it out some time during the week. This is what I dream about!

[lawdog]

Of course they'll come now, its the week of the deer opener!

[Ray Esboldt]

I saw quite a few swans in western MN over the weekend. And, I saw other signs of The Beginning (which unfortunately is followed by the end). I witnessed 3 flocks of specs, several groups of snows, and a fair amount of goldeneyes. This week might be the week.

[Guest]

Ive seen a few hundred swans the last few days.. finally got here.

Very few ducks yet, but I did get a drake pintail and drake gwt today in the bag... those werent local birds. I assume its the start of what will be filtering through soon!

I saw a few migrant flocks today... nothing worth writing home about. I'll guess next week will pick up considerably.

[ChuckN]

Yeah, it's blowing like mad now. But this front really doesn't have my attention as much as I hoped. My buddy would tell me I have a "bad attitude" if I told him that. I guess I do.

The long range temps are not cold enough. Lows around 18-27 for the next week with highs in the 30's-40's in the extended forecast.

I looked at Canada temps and far in Canada I don't see the extreme temps they usually have this time of year...usually below zero-single digits and it's not happening from the forecasts I saw.

That's ok. I hope to have a longer season and hunt 4 days on big water over my Thanksgiving break like I usually hope to do.

I'll never forget the cold fall we had a few years ago and the duck season was over on Friday before deer opener. BigLakeBa$$ and I hunted that morning and the lake froze solid as we stood there....freezing. The next day in my deer stand it was -18!!!!

[Mark Christianson]

Chuck

I need to dig the pics out of your boat busting the ice going back to the launch. No ducks shot, but definitely one of the great duck hunting memories!

[eyepatrol]

Definitely Chuck. There will certainly be some birds moving, but it'll take some stiff cold weather to really force the birds out. Need the big bodies of water to freeze up, then it'll happen.

I really like the way this year has gone thus far though. A good number of northwest wind days, cooler than normal temps, more ducks around than what I've seen in 7 years or better. As long as mother nature cooperates and brings the real cold before the season ends, it should be a great year!

I can just hear those big, fluffy, plump, colorful northern mallards hailing away and cackling in flight!!!!! I just love it when ya get those big drake malltones that have their crop chuck full of corn! Sweet!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Ray, how'd ya do hunting????

I say bring em on!!!! This is hands down the best year for shooting ducks I've had in 10 years and I'm not thinking a real migration has made it my way yet.

I can't wait!!!!!

I'm shooting deer this weekend and yous guys know I'll be out for ducks after that!!!!

[buzzsaw]

I think I know of a good little spot for you to go to....

[ChuckN]

You have pictures of that day?? Dig them up!!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Dude, actually the other side of the slough is where we just pounded em.

I'm tellin ya it's been a long time since I've passed on teal and other ducks so I can shoot 4 mallards. What a rush. This years awesome!!!!

[Sartell Angler]

I'll be out Wed. and Thur. morn, then again Sat/Sun.

Can't even wait!

[WALLEYENUTZ]

Just a little FYI, Northern Manitoba and Sask. still have no snow and plenty of open water. This will not be the final push. this front will push birds, but will not push the birds in said area. Front did not come from northern Canada. That beening said, I will be hunting Friday morning before I leave for deer camp!!

[eyepatrol]

Good note there Walleyenutz. It'll be a little while yet before the big push comes, but weather like this sure does get my blood boiling!

I took about 10 minutes to look out over the lake I hunt before coming to work this morning. One flock of about 75 geese, one flock of about 10 mallards and then a small flock of divers (about 4 or 5). There were a few birds moving that I saw in the short time this morning, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning and Thursday morning to head out.

[Ray Esboldt]

WN,

Who told you that northern Manitoba and Sask. have plenty of open water? That probably is true, but who is the source of that information? My guess is they won't have too much open water by the end of the week.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

went out this morning N. of Bemidji, shot 2 redheads,2ringnecks, hooded merganser, and a hen canvasback. between my buddy and I. It was pretty fun, saw alot of redheads, and a few ringnecks. Not as many birds flying as expected though. No mallards...

[outdoor ran]

I'll be out Thur-sun. But to be honest I'm not really sold on the big push thing. Maybe its just location of where I hunt. We seem to get a week in late Oct. where theres more birds then normal and then it trickles with butterballs, fishducks and goldeneyes till frezze up. Just don't seem to get bunch of days in Nov. where theres a million ducks flying around.

I sure do look forward to the cold and wind this week. I just hope my spots don't frezze up when this wind dies down.

Good Luck and be safe