Posted By:
Taiga
Guest
Minto 09-07-2004 14:19
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Well, just back from my hunt in Minto..not to bad but ding dang cold. The water is extremely low and the birds are not congragated at all. Not much in the way of Geese or Cranes to be had..must be at creamers..don’t start me on that one!!! All of the main lakes are weeded up from heck and the Chatanika is very shallow..jet boats help until they reach the weeds. Also the grass is extremely shory and the birds are warry of blinds (imagine that)..I need to start doing situps so I can shoot from my backside!!
IP
Glad your enjoying that neck of the woods. My dad plays in SD every fall…retirement must be wonderful!!
Posted By:
Ric-Seward
Guest
09-06-2004 17:08
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IronDog I totally feel for you man, the hunting up here is way down. I have been hearing through the grapevine that this subsitence hunting is coming to an end next year for Delta. I surely hope it does becuase we have strong contingent of folks up here who have zero disregard for any animal whether it has antlers or feathers they will poach them. Sorry to hear about you’re problems at clearwater thats new to me.
The opener is never really good down here, mostly local birds and lots of pressure the best is yet to come.
Once again sorry to hear about your trip, the hunting will pick up. It better anyway I am off for 2 weeks starting wed morning.
Posted By:
Irondog
Guest
DELTA 09-06-2004 14:36
Arctic Blast – –
RIC, NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU. SORRY WE DID NOT GET HOOKED UP. LEFT LAST SUNDAY AND JUST GOT BACK. WE DID NOT GET INTO THE CREEK OR LAKE. WHILE SCOUTING THE LOCATION, WE GOT A LOT OF NEG FEED BACK FROM HOME OWNERS ON THE LAKE. WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? DID NOT PLAN TO SHOOT AROUND THE HOMES! I HUNTED 4 DAYS OUT IN THE PROJECTS, AND I ENDED UP WITH SIX CRANES AND SIX GEESE, TWO CANADIANS AND FOUR SPECKS. WE HUNTED TWO DAYS IN SMOKE AND TEMPS IN MORNING WERE AS LOW AS 23DEG. IT ALSO RAINED TWO DAYS. IMO THE HUNTING WAS POOR. WE SPENT TWO DAYS SCOUTING 0UR LOCATIONS AND IT TOOK A GOOD DAY FOR OUR SET UP. WE SET OUT 15 DOZEN DECOYS, AND THE BIRDS THAT CAME IN TO OUR FIELD WORKED THE DECOYS FAIRLY GOOD. OUR CALLING WORKED GOOD FOR THE CRANES AND GEESE. A LOT OF THE CRANES HOOVERED OVER THE CRANE DECOYS [OUT OF GUN RANGE] AND THEY SEEMED TO BE CALLING THE DECOYS TO JOIN THEM IN FLIGHT. THE BIRD COUNT SEEMS TO BE DOWN. I DID SOME CHECKING WITH GUIDES, SPORTING GOODS STORES, AND MEAT PROCESSING COMPANIES AND GOT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ANSWER FROM ALL OF THEM WAS “SUBSISTENCE HUNTING” ALL SUMMER LONG! IF I HAVE THE TIME, I MAY WRITE AN ARTICLE ON “THERE KILLING THE BABIES “.
I HAVE GATHERED SOME FACTS BUT NEED MORE TIME PLUS, IT’S TIME TO HUNT! GOOD HUNTING. I MAY COME BACK UP FOR ANOTHER WEEK IF THE HUNTING PICKS UP. IRONDOG
Posted By:
dukmanjack
Gold Sponsor
Jim Lake area 09-06-2004 00:09
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Skybust/Meeks00
Skybust…I might be running around that area on Monday. Have my brother and a friend up so may take them out there for a ride and stop to hunt a little. Sounds like maybe things picking up a bit. Hunted off Knik in some sloughs Friday/Saturday..figured guys at Palmer duck flats would push something there. Found a little slough area looked like flooded timber. Mallards flew up on way in and we sat both days…got 3 each day. Ducks running river but couldn’t shoot them due to current so just tried for the ones that came into the little creek. Pretty slow but had some fun doing it. Be looking elsewhere next week…Wednesday maybe out by the cabin nr swan.
Meeks00…Swan Lake area is like another world from the Mud Lake/Gull Lake area. I should email you a arial photo of the lakes…they are close looking from plane but you wouldn’t know it just running around.
I first hunted at Mud/Gull but like out by Swan better. Now however, it seems there’s better luck at Mud/Gull area..you should venture out that way and take a look….just for the scenery if nothing else…great place both areas…hope they don’t shut that down in future..it would be big loss.
Dale
Posted By:
Ric-Seward
Guest
09-05-2004 12:34
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No he hasn’t emailed me, I got your email but my internet was acting wierd yesterday so I couldn’t email you back. I am at work through wed morning send me a email so I can put it in my addy book here.
Posted By:
lporcello
Guest
09-05-2004 11:25
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Ric,
Has the Chief e-mailed you? You need to head north where I told you. It would be worth the drive. You mise well get them instead of your brother the pig hunter up there. ha ha ha Is it still smokey? Sent you and e-mail. Let me know if you got it!
Leo
PS
North Dakota ROCKS!!!!!!
Posted By:
Ric-Seward
Guest
Delta Area 09-05-2004 00:05
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Hey sounds like you boys down south are having the same problem we are up here, more hunters then birds. Our local ISP went out of business so ACS picked it up and haven’t been able to post since the first.
Just been getting a spattering of geese and cranes, just a couple a day. Alot of pressure few birds. Most of the boys at clearwater weren’t real pleased with the amount of ducks. Not sure about the ducks since I haven’t hunted any but I know the geese and cranes are more than likely local none of them have much fat on them and I know there are alot of birds up north. Creamers closed off the rear ponds and fields to hunting till the 16th so I don’t think will see alot of fresh birds down till then.
Yesterday the wind was blowing about 30 mph on the T-river and the only two flocks that came in to my blind short stopped me on either side, lots of hunting pressure on the first and second.
I would of liked to got out today with the wind and rain that came in I think some new birds might have blown in but Bomber shut off the alarm clock I guess because I can’t remember it going off so I slept in till 6.
Had a little altercation with some moose hunters on the opener so remember we are sharing the woods with other sportsmen, and for those two I use that term loosely.
Well hope it picks up for everybody and remember to be safe.
Posted By:
meeks00
WFC Sponsor
mud lake 09-04-2004 22:19
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted on Mud Lake on Friday. Killed 5. Not great, but had birds moving most of the morning. Sounded like we were shooting more than the guys on Gull lake. We had to leave early (0930)…probably would have got a few more if we could have stayed. This is only my second year up here in AK…is Swan Lake usually the place to be?
Posted By:
skybust
Supporting Member
09-04-2004 19:45
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Duckmanjack I hunted the opening to I agree went today and me my partner got seven but had to work for them sounds like they are doing well on gull lake Ill try on Monday see.
Posted By:
dukmanjack
Gold Sponsor
Jim Creek near Palmer 09-03-2004 01:29
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Pretty disappointing opener at Jim Creek area. Hunted back near the mountains east of Swan Lake. There were plenty of people out but birds didn’t fly much. Around noon took a circuit around Swan Lake and didn’t see the usual flocks coming up. Did see some in the high grass and thin water areas east of Swan. I think the guys back a Gull and Mud Lake did better although it seemed pretty grim.
Talked to a guy who works at Prudhoe (sp?)and he said the geese were still there.
Was going to stay to the weekend but packed up Thursday…going to look for something new I gess.
