Could this be it?? Goldeneyes on Lake Bemidji

[swedishpimple]

Finally....I have about 12 goldeneyes on the lake as we speak. Lake Bemidji is a great gauge for ducks in the area. It is a refuge and holds good numbers of late season divers. It has been void of ducks for a week or two...other than coots. Today there are some goldeneyes out there.

[LABS4ME]

My buddy is in Saskatchewan and says there is an unbelievable amount of birds up there.... we have a lot of birds to get moved through before the end... I think the next 2 weeks bodes well for duck hunters!

Good Luck!

Ken

[tearin' lips]

I agree with labs. I don't think we're seeing the tip of the iceberg yet. We still have time, sure a few early migrators are down, but most of the duck are still north waiting for some cold weather to push them down. If it continues to stay like this that won't be for awhile.

[jimbo80]

What you guys fail to realize is that quite a few birds have moved through already. Some southern refuges are stacking up while you guys are waiting for the "big push" Thousands of birds come and go before most people even realize it. Keep waiting guys.

[Nova]

Really, I have been up every single weekend and most Fridays, my Dad is there and hunting every day and we haven't seen any kind of push at all. A slight influx in ringbills, but no real migration as of yet. Believe me, I am not waiting, I am hunting every minute I can.

[ChuckN]

I watch Canada's weather more closely than MN's weather. Saskatchewan is in the 40's all week with lows in the upper 20's for the most part. When I see below zero up there, I get ready.

I hope I can get through my week of deer hunting and get back into duck mode quickly. And I certainly hope Canada freezes good before November 27.

[LABS4ME]

Jimbo, I have verified reports of many birds still stacked up in Canada... further north than we even think. I have a buddy up there right now. There are definitley birds moving through on every little front and wind switch that happens, but it is only a trickle... I just got back from a hunt in SoDak and have had friends out there the past 3 weeks. Very little bird movement to speak of. Lots of Blue Wings still shot up to 2 weeks ago. Most birds are still locals with a smattering of migrants... NoDak is fairly dead right now as the locals are shot out and not a lot of new ducks moving in. How fast they come through when it happens remains to be seen, but they're coming!

Good Luck!

Ken

[1runhotshot]

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/sk-40_metric_e.html

Saskatoon weather, so far not close to cold enough. A friend just got back, said that the locals have never seen it this late up there (Freeze up)

[tearin' lips]

Jimbo,

Again I agree with labs and the rest. There have been some early migrators through, but for the most part we are devoid of any serious migrators. I have been all over the state. Osakis area, Fergus Falls, Theif River, LOW, North shore and of course back up home as well as everywhere in between. It just hasn't happened yet. I agree with chuckN, I have the same approach. As labs said get ready, there'll be more birds down!

[winniewalleye777]

I can't believe the lack of geese around the Marshall area. Last year this time, there were thousands around. Now maybe a few small flocks. Saw 2 flocks of snows come through sunday morning. We haven't seen the beginning yet

[Sartell Angler]

goose numbers were strong west of Alex this past weekend...they should start to build around Sartell / St. Cloud soon but there are a decent number I would say. Usually mid-November is when it starts to get interesting in this area though. This is the first weekend I'm not headed on a trip at least an hour away...planning to hunt locally for ducks/geese (should be slow), then hunt the evening with the bow hoping a few deer are getting pushed around.

On the goldeneye note we did see a few small groups out west on Sunday which I found unusual since they are usually the last birds we see.

Bring on the migration! I'm ready for some northern malls!

[swedishpimple]

Just spotted large flocks of Mergansers and Goldeneyes on the Lake...Smaller stuff locked up with the 20 degree low.