snow and birds

[09ultra]

Have a trip planned for this weekend and they are talking serious snow,what is your reaction and would you still go.I'm heading towards morris area,just courious?

[Meat-Run]

Heck ya!!! Were Minnesotan's we live for snow storms and blizzards. Never stopped us before, right!? The birds should be easier to get with the high winds and trackable snow.

Good luck,

mr

[gonefishin11]

Snow is the best thing that can happen to pheasant hunters. In my experience, the birds seem to covey-up more and head for the cattails, tree rows and other heavier cover. Also, if you don't see any tracks in an area in fresh snow... might as find a new spot. Last year, my group shot about 60% of our birds (over 100 in Nodak) in December, in the snow. I hunt a lab and she hunts harder and hunts longer when its 20 degrees and there is snow than she does when its clear and 40.

[Eric Wettschreck]

If you're hunting over a dog, and it gets "Birdy" be ready. There's a good chance, with snow, there will be more than one flying away.

[09ultra]

I hunt with a lab.Just courious if the scent is any better with the snow or without?

[Rooster Chaser]

Any time there is moisture it is easier for the dogs, in my opinion it is better with snow.

If you can get out the morning right after a snowstorm, you can get the birds before they have even emerged from cover. A lot of times the dog will have to get right in there with them, and it is super cool watching a rooster bust out of fresh snow. The best spots that I have found are on the edge of heavy cover in the meadow grass. This stuff lays over cover like cattails, and the birds can burrow into it.

[LovenLifeGuy]

Snow is great for scent and helps with birds holding in the cover. I was out today with two other guys and we got four birds. It is great that the water is frozen but the birds are running like mad and getting up out of range. I cant wait for the snow. I found many hunters out today which is odd for this time of year and during the week. We did see a lot of birds but not many in range.

[brittman]

Snow is great until in becomes coated with freezing rain or thaws and then refreezes. CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

I will take the first 5 inches of snow. Let's hope that is it. Eight to twelve, gets a little drifty and tough. At least for my Britts.

I'd be out there but will be "stuck" in a hockey arean in 218 this weekend.

[123fish]

If the area you are hunting has red willows be absolutely sure to check them out. Snow, red willows, and roosters go together like bacon, eggs, and coffee. Especially if it's stormy out.

[Matt Breuer]

There are two reasons I live in MN....

1. You can't ice fish in Florida...

2. To watch MN gamebirds bust out of the snow!

[Shu]

Quote:

---

To watch MN gamebirds bust out of the snow!

---

Heck ya! Bustin' one that comes out loud is even better.

[Ray Esboldt]

Went this morning on the front edge of the snow. We moved lots of birds in our 2 hours. I don't think I had any of them flush more than 10 feet from me.

[grab the net]

Made it out this morning also, my favorite day of the year, first snow with safe ice in the sloughs . Birds held tight,most flushes within stepping distance. You would think with all those "easy shots" we would have been done quickly. We didn't connect until roosters 7 & 8 were put in the air. I dropped my son and friend off and went solo to one of favorite WMA's and scored one more. That bird burst out from underneath the cats and snow with Duey right on his tail feathers. One shot and down he went. Why those first six birds were so fortunate I do not know. I do know we were eating humble pie for lunch. Great day in the field. Duey was able to follow scent today much better than yesterday. Very dusty and dry before this snow.

[Jarrod32]

Yeah...the birds that had been flushing wild...a couple hundered yards ahead of you...will now hold a lot tighter. And they will flock up a lot more. We were out yesterday...hit six spots. Like was mentioned earlier, we were looking for tree cover or cattails.

First three spots...nothing. Next spot, we kicked up a few. Some of them were holding so tight that one wouldn't even flush when the dog was right on it...the dog (a lab) just grabbed it.

Fifth spot, nothing. Sixth spot...the motherload. We finished up our limit quickly there.

It is a lot easier hunting now - with the snow - than it was just a few days ago.

[123fish]

Took my own advice and got one in the red willows and one more in a small shelterbelt bordering some red willows yesterday in the storm. Could have done without the ice covering that came late in the storm. Going to make for tough and noisy walking until it melts.