open seats today-weds

[Guest]

Hunting SE of metro area.

Seen tons of birds yesterday and had a big flock of mallards in the decoys, and another monster flock over the decoys locked and coming in. Lots of high flocks passing.

Who knows what will happen today, I'm going to find out! I think hanson is going to have nightmares for a while from the swarm of mallards coming in late yesterday!

I have plenty of dekes, the boat floats and the motor runs.

Call me if your interested in going. I will be out starting around 1 today. 612-281-0943

[hanson]

Quote:

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I think hanson is going to have nightmares for a while from the swarm of mallards coming in late yesterday!

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No doubt! It was one of those watch in awe (and forget to shoot!) moments when all of those mallards were dropping in with cupped wings.

What a great waterfowling day. Cold, breaking ice, and lots of birds working. Too bad the shooting, ummm, my shooting, wasn't better!

[buzzsaw]

If your out there on Thursday morning, maybe I'll bump into you... I got a pass for a few hours on Turkey day... nice wife. We've been kicking butt out there all year!

[Guest]

I might make it out thanksgiving in the morning....

but thats too long to wait. I'll be leaving here in about 45 minutes with or without a partner for the day. I'll be at the access by 1 so anyone interested for today better act fast and pick up te phone!

[buzzsaw]

Do you go south or north from the landing?

[Guest]

north

Most everything is locked up with ice pretty good. I was informed there were stumps a ways to the south.. so ice busting/stumps didnt sound like a good mix to me.

Im heading out the door unless my plan gets abruptly changed for the day... ya'll have fun at work or on the couch!

[buzzsaw]

That stumps thing is way exagerated, we go south everytime and have never hit a stump. It does get shallow however and in some area's you will need to get out and pull your boat across the shallow water area's. Earlier in the year the south is better for the Woodies and the Teal with the north generally being better for the divers.... but that doesn't always hold true. Let us know how you did.

[nate larson]

I would love to get out duck hunting one more time this year. Let me know if you end up going on Thursday...I would love to go with. Send me an email at [email protected] if you are looking to fill a seat.

Nate

[Guest]

thanks for the info buzzsaw... I have ended up in stump nightmares on lower pool 2 before.. its no fun when overloaded with decoys coming in.

Not as many birds were flying tonight, but there were some nice flocks flying/decoying in the last 10 minutes of shooting time... Its too bad I decided to call it quits a few minutes early to get a head start because I was by myself picking up the decoys. The birds were coming into the decoys with me in them!

The ice got really thick overnight last night. If anyone is planning to get out, be very careful and keep the life vest handy. 1/2"-3/4"++ ice is rough on the hull. I am sure the warm weather coming up these next few days will rot out the ice. I wouldnt try to get across in a canoe or jon boat right now, I ended up on top of ice a few times in a V hull today.

[Guest]

Nate, if I do end up going thursday morning, your welcome to fill a seat. I will be going as far as I know.

[nate larson]

Sounds good! Please email me so I can get some more info. I live in Rochester so will need to know where we are hunting. [email protected]

Thanks!

Nate

[buzzsaw]

Quote:

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The birds were coming into the decoys with me in them!

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I guarantee everybody who duck hunts will tell you that story happens often, along with the one when you decide to take a leak and have your waders down...

[Guest]

That situation is exceptionaly frustrating when nothing was flying until the very end of shooting time.

Nate, give me a call on the number from my earlier post and I will fill you in were and when to meet me. My email is screwed up, it will recieve but not send.

Buzzsaw... If your heading out thursday, if its still iced up considerably do you want to possibly work together on getting some water open and having a huge decoy spread? Most places we can hunt off the shore. I have about 80 decoys going out and a few goose floaters I can throw out(6).

There was only 1 area of open water yesterday, and it will be difficult to open a large area of water if the ice doesnt decay.

[buzzsaw]

I'm thinking it will melt with these temps rising and breeze blowing (I hope), I'm heading out with a group of four guys to the south end... they are kinda secrative about talking about places, but we'll be there by about 4:45-5:00 at the landing and in a Blue Dodge pickup (large) we could always meet there and make a plan...

[Guest]

We'll see what the ice looks like.. believe me, it was pretty thick. It was obvious others tried to hunt but gave up trying to get out(turned around).

Im not looking for anyones spots, I do know there was way more shooting to the north vs south, and there wasnt much for divers around.

[RonZych]

Anyone going there this Sturday? I need to get out one last time. I've never been down ther before. I always hunt in the north metro and northern Minnesota.

Which access is the best to use?

I will have my boat,dekes and dog.

Question.

What is the minimum distance you need to go for good hunting up or down the river?

The reason I ask is I have an older air cooled outboard that runs good but you never know. Of course I do have the oars.

I will have my i-finder gps to help find my way around.

I can provide a north metro hunt next year if anyone is interested.(Not Carlos Avery)

Ron

[tealitup]

Anyone want company this Saturday? email me

sg60000 @ hotmail (dot) com

[RonZych]

If my son doesnt go I'll get a hold of you.

[buzzsaw]

I'll be down there by 5:00 AM... In my buddies Blue Dodge Pick up... If you guys are down there, say hello! We will be heading south to our little spot. ( ; I assume since it's turkey day that we will only be out til 10:00ish.

[Guest]

There wasnt much flying today(compared to recent days).. and what was flying started to happen around 9. It sounded like a little more shooting from the south end than the north. It was a bit of a change today for me with the majority divers flying around. Missed a great opportunity on 3 drake goldeneyes at 20 yards .. that was the way this day went.

Seen a few mallards, goldeneyes, bluebills, cans, and a couple other diver flocks. Had 3 birds come from the south at a million mph with the wind that came and went too quick, I think they were pintails. The water opened up and hunters were out, not much shooting in any direction. Slow, but I think it was still worth being out there. The cooler weather this weekend might trigger a good last minute dhoot.

Ron, I am up for Saturday if you need more company... I am running an air-cooled motor also... we can race? You dont need to go terribly far. 1/3 mile to 1 mile will get a person into a good selection of spots.

[buzzsaw]

I don't doubt that they were Pins, but our group has never in over ten years seen a Pintail there. That would be a nice turkey day surprise!

[RonZych]

I'll let you know tonight. My son is out on a north metro lake this morning.

Are you guys hunting Gores pool?

Using google earth I see an access off county 18 blvd and 190th st way. Is this a good access point? It goes into sharp muskrat lake/north lake. Lots of big water around there. Looks promising. Or is it better clser to the main channel.

[Guest]

Its usually best wherever the ducks are flying

I went to the north metro this morning after I got an invite and the other guy never called. Lots of birds where I was at, but they were on the water and staying in that area which couldnt be hunted. Not many shots going off this morning. It was chilly and broke ice once again.

I am hoping this change in weather moves the ducks in a hurry... not much season left!

[hanson]

Dave-

On my trip "up north" yesterday morning, I saw absolutely tons of ducks and geese all the way up I-94. The lakes and ponds that were open were stacked with birds, including one really nice bull canvasback sitting on the ice just off the interstate. The Fergus Falls area, as expected, was loaded up with geese still. Lots of birds around still.

[Guest]

The birds were holding so tight today(ducks and geese) that the geese just hopped along the water like coot when I was motoring off the lake... get us and sit back down within 100 feet, the ducks got up and either sat down 100 feet away, or circled once 30 feet off the water(small proximity) and landed in the same place they came from. The birds that werent in my path didnt bother getting off the water.

Have you ever felt like you were hunting in a petting zoo and still couldnt get a shot?