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California Duck Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 01-12-2010 13:11
– – –
FRIDAY…grrrrreat day! Pins, mallards, widges. Birds worked to the finish line!

SATURDAY…decent! Crummy fog…came in after 4:00am so most birds sensed it and headed back to their safety zones well before LST.

SUNDAY…one tough day! Super crummy fog less than 200 yds tall. Only hunters successful that I knew of were those w/ large(500+) snow goose spreads near their water blinds that were near safety zones holding lots of snows/specs and ducks.

We need this weather pattern change taking place Tues-Wed. It will hopefully break the nightime feeding pattern somewhat and relocate the birds away from their too customary safe zones. If Thursday clears and is sunny we may get a tall fog for Wed-Sun. There’s a tremendous # of birds in the north valley.

QUESTION: how’s your season going….rate it! I’m happy as heck but there seems to be alot of hunters complaining it’s the worst they’ve had in years. I’m surprised!!!

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

various 01-08-2010 10:11
– – –
I have never hunted the sac refuge. But I’m sure some of our field editors have and would be more than happy to help you out. They probably just haven’t read here yet or have already sent you a PM. Hope it works out for you and your fellow hunters.

[Edited By sprigkiller55 on 2010-01-08 22:02]

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 01-06-2010 17:02
– – –
WEDNESDAY 1/6/09…..great day! Birds flew consistent LST to 1:00pm. Mallards, pins, widges and big balls of teal. There is an azzload of birds in the north valley. With the low ceiling, day long fog-in/fog-out conditions and some precip Fri-Sat should be a good stretch all the way thru Sunday.

Posted By:
iamp
Web Member

los banos. kern, mendota 01-06-2010 10:13
– – 45-50 Degrees
I going to take a trip up tp sac refuge on 1-9-10. trying to get some info on what areas may be productive. it’s going to be the first trip up that way, there will be four or five of us and two dogs. any tip would really help hopefully it’s going to be a great trip.

thanks Ernesto

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 01-04-2010 12:00
– – –
Hey guys, we need some weather. It’s early January and way too soon to be having a California winter.

SAT…lots of birds in the air LST to noon but only a few would finish. Only patience and hunting most of the day produced a limit. Frustrating when flock after flock circles around 2-4 times but won’t commit below 50 yds. Zero wind and motionless dekes ain’t gonna cut it.

SUN…more of the same except between 8:30-9:30 when the fog broke and it was game on. Mallards, pins, widgeon and specs.

Gonna be touch n go this week w/ the weather forecast. Warm afternoons could spell a building fog if the winds remain calm. Let’s hope so!

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

NORTH SACTO VALLEY 12-30-2009 12:54
– – –
SUNDAY 12/27….grrrreat day! Limited out early on pins and mallards. Lots of widgeon and teal in the air.

MONDAY 12/28….el sucko! Completely dead AM and PM.

Unsettled weather Wed-thru this weekend. However, we need some wind which we haven’t had all week.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-21-2009 11:46
– – –
SATURDAY….lots of birds in the air but hanging just out of reach on the edge of the fog. Hunters who were both patient and persistant in putting in a full day did manage to scrape a limit. SUNDAY….different story! Lots of birds and working birds. Loads of widgeon! Many hunters bagged their limit by mid-morning or sooner.

THIS WEEK….cool, sunny and dry! Watch for the possibility of fog forming after sunset and potentially strong NW winds to 20-25 mph on Tues-Wed.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-18-2009 11:16
– – –
FOG!!! If it holds for 2-3 days there’s gonna be some good hunting. If we can get that mile high fog to lock the birds in their nightime feeding fields should be some great gunning. Can’t remember the last time we had the once traditional 7-10 day Xmas fog. Go getcha some!

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-15-2009 13:22
– – –
Outstanding hunting past 4 days…Fri-Mon. Hardly a lull in the action w/ the exception of Mon PM when there wasn’t a wisp of breeze. Nice birds too….fat mallards, pins, widge, gaddys. Loads of GWT and the specs are still here in force. Observed some of the biggest snow grinds I’ve seen the past few years.

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

12-10-2009 22:29
– – –
good good good in the gasslands,, i hunted sat,sun mon wed 24 ducks and 3 geese,, its about to break open.. gonna hit it tomorow solo at the club and then be at mendota sat and sun..

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California Duck Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

12-08-2009 08:43
– – –
JC, I THINK YOU MAY BE RIGHT ABOUT THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS NOWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT OF WATER SHOWING ON THE WEST SIDE AS 2 YEARS AGO AND AS A RESULT THE NUMBER OF BIRDS APPEARS TO HAVE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. I ALSO THINK THE FEDS HAVE DRASTICALLY CUT OFF WATER FROM SHASTA WHEREAS THE STATE HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT MORE LIBERAL WITH ITS RELEASES FROM OROVILLE. JUST LOOK AT THE WATER SHOWING ON THE EAST SIDE AROUND RICHVALE. GUESS MIKE JR AND I WILL BE LOOKING AT A CHANGE NEXT YEAR! ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS?PLEASE PM ME IF YOU DO. LET ‘EM WORK!

[Edited By EMRDUCK on 2009-12-08 08:46]

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-07-2009 12:44
– – –
I did not hunt this past weekend but my guys said Sat was fair on mallards and teal…lots of teal showed up. Then when the north wind started ripp’in on Sat PM it was game on for specs and snows.

This week from Thurs on into the middle of next week should be good. The Klamath Basin is froze solid w/ plenty of snow and the warmer Pacific storms are a come’in!

EMR….for what it’s worth, myself and plenty of other guys believe the hunting on the east side of the river is far better than the west side. The east side holds alot more birds.

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

12-07-2009 10:57
– – –
just when one almost gives up all hope—a miracle happens. dwwilly3 is still alive and dumb as usual. how could you run out of shells man?? only rookies do that tumbleweedboy. you are giving brush okies a bad name. we thought you were a really good hunter you sloppy manzinita loser. your brush update really sucks this time. you have let us all–well i will speak for myself down my brotha. you look good though–3 parts in your brushy hair ( try parting your hair from front to back–instead of sideways)and 2 in your whiskers (or at least what’s left of them after trying to light the stogie stubs you’ve been collecting)–lol–i crack myself up sometimes!! well keep trying and some day you just might make it. i would tell you to keep your day job but welfare pays around the clock eh?? there i go –cracking my self up again. so please keep those brush updates coming–even if you still have bad news.

[Edited By sprigkiller55 on 2009-12-07 15:06]

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

12-07-2009 08:08
– – –
HEY JC; HOW HAVE YOU AND YOUR BOYS BEEN DOING SINCE YOU REPORTED 12/2 THAT THE DUCKS HAVE ARRIVED “EN MASS”? WE HAVEN’T SEEN ANY OF THEM! ARE YOU KEEPING THEM TO YOURSELF OR WAS THAT A “DREAM” AND WISHFUL THINKING?

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 12-07-2009 08:01
– – –
ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND OF WATERFOWLING! WENT OUT TO THE BLIND FRIDAY PM, SATURDAY MORNING & SUNDAY MORNING. TOTAL RESULTS 2 WIDGEON ON SAT AND 1 SPEC SUNDAY. PONDS HAD PROBABLY 3/8″ ICE SUNDAY AND NOT A DUCK TO BE SEEN. LOT OF SPRIG ON ONE POND THAT WAS NOT FROZE BUT THEY WERE GONE BY 6 AM. LOT OF GEESE (SNOWS) COMING FROM THE NORTH BUT VERY HIGH. FORECAST FOR MON/TUES IS SNOW IN THE N. SAC VALLEY IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT!

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Buzzard Cliff Flats 12-06-2009 13:23
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
Super Morning.
Limited on Specks
Plus 21 Snows.
Ducks are still slow.
Ran out of shells… or would have had more.

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

12-03-2009 21:41
– – –
if grasshoper was not therer with his master speck calling abilities, they would of had nada.. as for the so called grind of 200 speacks. that was about the 5th group that did that all morning and they just circled at 45.. you cant kill em from looking up at em.. pull the trigger and we woulda had 12 easy..

Posted By:
cwadu
Web Member

12-03-2009 19:58
– – –
noas for my report.. hunted near marysville friday with a friend and his wife who couldnt hit her a.s.s with both hands, had 8 specks,, shoulda had limits for the 3..

Hey mallard man. According to the girl who couldn’t hit her ass with both hands. You should not take a shot at a single speck landing in the decoys when the grind is coming in with it. She says if you would have actually hit that speck that drove the grind off, you would have had 9. She says she hopes you now understand why she doesn’t like lots of full body decoys. The grind land and you shoot what is called the “Off the Swing”. Oh ya only shoot away from the grind (the big live decoys that landed behind you) Be patient grasshopper and good things will come. Penny said she new it was your first time in the rice, but she asks next time let the birds land or wait for the group of 10 to set in the decoys so she can shoot with you and help you drop the bird this time. billy says stick the the grasslands grasshopper.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

12-03-2009 11:00
– – –
WEATHER for 10 days starting this Sunday, December 6th. Keep an eye on the weather! Computer models strongly indicate a series of strong Pacific storms that will pour into the north and central valleys starting right after this weekends weaker storm. These storms are predicted to begin around Tues-Wed next week and continue for a week or more w/ strong winds and lots of precipitation. They’ll be more of the Pineapple Express version rather than Alaskan.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-02-2009 11:07
– – –
Just got a call from my group and the ducks have arrived in mass! Limits this AM. Lots of widgeon, teal, pins. Weather clear, no wind but the birds are working.

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California Duck Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

12-01-2009 22:27
– – –
now 314–don’t falsely accuse. personally i never said anything about the amount of birds they got. so please re-read and take notes ok?? lol. and we don’t call them spoonies like the average joe–no offense. we give some –not much — proper respect in that we call them
“northerns” eh!! OH YEAH

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

12-01-2009 00:00
– – –
well, ya i guess i am, since i was sent pictures for 2 days of all the mallards and sprig they shot, plus they were in a 30 mph north wind, next to sac refuge,, not that hard to believe, plus i just got back and we saw 3 times the birds poor into the rice after shoottime each day.. just keep shooting spoonies at mendota ns leave duck hunting up to us sport

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

11-30-2009 22:48
– – –
mn314–are you standing up for that guy and his buds who counted 5000 birds and saw who knows how many feeding two nights in a row?? how sweet is that??? you are a good friend indeed!!

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

11-30-2009 19:09
– – –
hey sprigkiller55/ dont be a jealous prick cause you arent on ducks,, they got a crap load of ducks last friday up there…..

as for my report.. hunted near marysville friday with a friend and his wife who couldnt hit her a.s.s with both hands, had 8 specks,, shoulda had limits for the 3.. not many ducks…. hunted little dry creek sunday with a guy who had # 1 ressi.. most ducks ive seen in a long time.. mallards, sprig and wig plus a snow… the ducks would poor into my friends rice club after shoot time by the thousands.. could here em all nite every time i walked outside to take a leak..

cooninham.. i think the coptor at howard slough was there to try to pull sprigkiller55 out of his blind. as it turned out, the blind was very small

[Edited By mallardman314 on 2009-11-30 19:09]

[Edited By mallardman314 on 2009-11-30 19:11]

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 11-30-2009 12:14
– – –
Great day Saturday! The strong NW wind really got the geese moving. 4 of us limited on geese, half specs/half snows, in the AM. Very few ducks though! Sunday was a bit slower but we did manage goose half limits and the ducks were non-existant.

Refuges are packed w/ birds for the most part. Need a major weather change to relocate the birds from their safety zones to our hunting zones. The current high pressure ridge is forecasted to hold until the weekend. Sure could use a howling Pacific storm to shake em up.

NOTE: anybody know what went on at Howard Slough refuge on Saturday AM? Saw a life flight helicopter and fire engines at the hdqts on ZZ Road.

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 11-28-2009 20:05
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
SATURDAY ON THE WEST SIDE WINDS OUT OF THE NORTH 25 WITH GUSTS TO 35 OR SO. FAIR AMOUNT OF DUCKS RIGHT OVER THE BLIND RIGHT UP TO SHOOTING TIME AND THEN DEAD AS A DOORNAIL. NO GOOSE FLIGHT WHATSOEVER AND ONLY SAW TWO FLOCKS RIDING THE WIND SOUTH UP TO 10 AM. CALLED IT A DAY WITH ZIP. SAW A COUPLE HUNTERS ON #162 WITH A COUPLE SNOWS. SUSPECT SOME GOOSE FLIGHT ON THE EAST SIDE BUT NOTHING ON THE WEST SIDE.

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY 11-28-2009 10:59
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – –
SURPRISED? 2 HUNTERS 2 DUCKS.NOT MANY BIRDS FLYING AND STICKING AT THE REFUGES

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

11-27-2009 17:56
– – –
SPRIGKILLER, THAT GUY ALWAYS DOES WELL WHEN NO ONE ELSE DOES. WHAT MY PROBLEM IS THE 5000 DUCKS HE SAW–HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN WHEN NO ONE ELSE SEES ANY DUCKS FLYING ANYWHERE, HI, LOW OR OTHERWISE? GO FIGURE!

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY NORTH 11-27-2009 11:09
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
A LITTLE BETTER THIS MORNING,4 MALLARDS 3 WIGEON AND TWO TEAL, TWO HUNTERS.NO WIND AT ALL SOME LIGHT SHOWERS,FLIGHT WAS OVER WITH AT 7:45 AM THOUGH

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

mendota 11-26-2009 23:34
– – –
hey j.c.–maybe you should with that guy who hunted east of sac. according to him they counted 5,000–not 5,001 or 4,999 ducks but 5,000. hey—he said it not me. and according to what he says in his report—him or him and his buddies even watched some waterfowl feed thurs and fri night. go figure!! or did i misinterpret his report??? if so i apologize profusely!! no really i do.

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California Duck Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

11-25-2009 07:45
– – –
GOOD luck everybody,now that the front is petering out for Friday and only a breeze from the wind Gods is forecasted.Llano seco has a ton of birds though feeding rice at night and resting daytime

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 11-23-2009 18:14
– – –
Big disappointment Friday in spite of the weather. Not much of a storm.

Saturday was fair for most hunters. I finally started hunting Sunday and got the edge off w/ a spec, greenie, 2 bulls. No duck flight to speak of but the snows and specs flew all morning at their “just out of reach” safety altitude. The duck kill was pretty thin. Appears most refuges are loaded…one in particular just north of the Sink has more birds than anyone can remember, especially mallards. Mild temps are in the forecast w/ lite winds and then there might be a change starting Friday. We’ll see!

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

San Francisco Bay 11-23-2009 17:00
– – –
I have been seeing a lot of White Winged and Surf Scoters off Alameda to Bay Farm but have not seen any duck hunters. Where (how far south)do you have to go before you can legally hunt them. I know that one can’t discharge a firearm in city limits which is split right down the bay but have heard of people hunting in South Bay. Have hunted seas ducks for years in maine and would really like to get out for the scoters next season. Any info would be much appreciated!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY NORTH 11-22-2009 15:22
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
2 SPECKS A ROSS 3 TEAL 20 MINUTES THEN FLAT……..

Posted By:
Matt-Greene
Field Editor

Sac 11-22-2009 13:58
– – –
Hunted east of Sac on Friday and we killed 22 birds by noon. Pretty slow until about 9:30 then all hell broke lose. The wind never really picked up above 10mph.

Birds worked in very well. I was surprised to hear all the poor reports on Friday. There are a ton of birds in Sac refuge. We watched 5,000 ducks come in 30 minutes after shoot time. It was pretty jaw dropping. They fed hard Thursday and Friday night.

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 11-22-2009 09:28
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 40-45 Degrees
WENT OUT YESTERDAY IN SPITE OF HOW SLOW IT’S BEEN. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FOGGY AFTER THE RAIN AND IT WAS. THERE WERE A POT FULL OF BOTH DUCKS AND GEESE ON THE PROPERTY AND AS USUAL THEY LEFT THO THEY WAITED TIL THE FIRST EARLY BIRDS NORTH SHOT. IT WAS A 10 MINUTE SHOOT AND THEN DEAD AS THE FOG LIFTED. THE WIND DIDN’T BLOW HARD ENOUGH TO GET THE GEESE DOWN AND THERE WAS NO DUCK FLITE AT ALL. LEFT WITH TWO SPRIG AND TWO SPECS. VERY PLEASED!

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY 11-20-2009 20:23
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
LEFT THE BLIND WITH ONE GREEN HEAD,BUDDY GOT A ROSS AND A TWO TEAL,WERE TALKIN FROM 9:30 AM TO 3:00PM-WOW WHAT A SURPRISE.WELL WE USUALLY GET STOMPED AND START SHOOTIN QUANTITY AROUND AFTER THANKS GIVING.

[Edited By NORTHERNFLITE on 2009-11-20 20:24]

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 11-20-2009 19:05
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
WENT OUT EXPECTING A GOOD SHOOT AND SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER. SHOT AT A HIGH FLOCK OF SNOWS EARLY ON AND WE GOT TWO OF THEM, THEN A LONELY SPOON AND THAT WAS IT. SAW 6 DUCKS THE ENTIRE MORNING OTHER THAN 1 LARGE FLOCK FLYING SOUTH VERY HIGH. LOT OF HUNTERS OUT THO EVERYWHERE BUT THE PICKERS DIDN’T SHOW MUCH EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS!

LET ‘EM WORK!

[Edited By EMRDUCK on 2009-11-20 19:11]

Posted By:
cwadu
Web Member

North of Sacto Airport 11-20-2009 17:46
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Perfect weather but no birds. Hunted till 10am on Friday 11-20.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

11-19-2009 11:48
– – –
Tomorrow Friday is shake’em up day! 30mph winds w/ gusts to 40 in the Valley. Reports indicate fair # of birds in the safety zones and plenty of specs. Go getcha some!!!

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Arizona Hunting Report Archive

  By

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

11-17-2010 10:58
– – –
sorry for the lack of posting this season so far. I’m in the process of moving to South Carolina. I have already sold my buss an should be in the Carolina’s Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Looking foward to the move and hope to hunting by around Christmas….

Be safe and great hunting
Gerald

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

01-15-2010 11:24
– – –
1/15/2010
Haven’t been out at all. Talked to a few friends and the birds are still in the marsh heavy,but mainly Pin tails and Wigeons. Across the state the birds have seem to disappeared with all the hunters and sky busting. This seems to have pushed them out.

May go out one more time before the seasons ends, but with all the birds in freezer it’s mainly all about deer hunting.

Curdawg

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2010-01-15 11:27]

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Pintail 01-04-2010 10:09
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Last Hunting trip was on 12/23/09. The wind were Making a dust storm even before we had put out deks. Before legal shooting time we had bird after bird dropping in on deks. With the wind blowing out of north had no choice but to put the reeds at out back and the sun in our face. Started out really nice with a fat green-head 1st shot. then a few widgeon’s and pintails. At about 830am the geese got up and they were right on the range of shotgun distance. We have a few lower flocks that were lower and managed to get 3 of them. so we ended the day 1 bird short of limit. 1 green, 4 pintails 3 teal and 5 widgeon and 3 snows.

I’ve never had this many birds in the freezer, so I have to call it this year. There’s noway will I ever get to eat all these. It been a great year one that I want ever forget. I made alot of new hunting friends. Got 4 new call 2 echo and just ordered 2 Hobo. can’t wait to get those.

Gerald

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Pintail 12-21-2009 12:49
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted both days this weekend…12/19/09 It was a once in a life time hunt. Hunted with just me and the dog. Going in early we jumped alot of Greenheads off the water (ALOT). So after setting up I told myself nothing but greenheads today and by 9am I had 6 already and was waiting for the last one that showed up around 10am. I had all kind of birds in the deks today Widgen, Pintail, Cans, gadwall, teal, spoonies…It was GREAT….The 1st time ever in the desert with a limit of 7 greenheads.

So I had to try it again on Sun 12/20/09.. What a different a day makes. Took 3 other guys with me this morning and one was a 1st timer he only 15. It was the wrong day to take him, no wind, dead calm and the birds were flying HIGH. I never shot just called and watched them shoot. He got his 1st bird a spoony, but he was pround of it…..Glad to take a kid out anytime to hunt or fish. We ended the day with 2 greenhead and 4 teal and 2 spoonies. Just to nice of a day was out by 10am.

No geese on saturday but sunday they were here flock after flock of snows. No dark geese at all. Had 3 swans buzz the deks but can’t shoot them here in AZ. Had a group shoot at two of them last weekend and the Game and Fish Warden was hot to find out who shot.

Curdawg

Curdawg

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2009-12-21 12:50]

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2009-12-21 12:51]

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Pintail 12-14-2009 10:39
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
12/13/09
Another great hunt…..3 guy and limits again. we got in and set up right at sunrise, one of the guys wanted to sleep in a little later. We set out 3 dozen deks. Just got a new dz of the FA’s(WOW) and three mojo’s mixed in. The wind must have changed on us so many times it wasn’t funny. Ended the day with 8 greenheads, 4 ringnecks, 3 green wing teal, 4 widgens, 2 spoonies…

Friends of mine hunting up toward Phx. did well with limit both days. Trying to find out now what they shot and saw. Did say “Alot of new birds down”.

We also got alot of new birds down ahead of this last front, ring necks, teal, and mallards are up, but geese are low didn’t see many at all maybe one or two floks of snows and 1 flock of dark geese

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Pintail 12-07-2009 09:24
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Laid off the birds the last few weeks knowing that everyone and their sister would be out hunting.

Went out yesterday 10/6/09,after receiving a call from some friends hunting on an area between Havasu and Phx. That they have 2 large waves of mallards come over heading south. I have only seen this twice, once was wood ducks and the other time mallards. Talked to Az F&G yesterday and the report is there’s an influx of birds, but mallards counts are down. I don’t see it, we have taken more green heads this year at this point in the season than I can remember.

As for the hunt today, the birds did what they were suppose to do, but the winds didn’t show up till after getting home. we were suppose to have 15 to 25 mph wind from the SSW so the area we set up I had put the deks right around the boat and having the bird coming right in with a head on shot, but we couldn’t hit the back side of a barn. It took us till almost 10am and 2 boxes of shells each to get limit (14). Several time we had nice flocks of mallards working and were only able to 1 each time. I have lately seen a few mallards mixed in widgeon’s so we were able to take a few out of those groups of birds. Ended the day with 6 mallards, 4 widgeon’s and 3 Mexicans ducks.

G.Curry

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2009-12-07 09:27]

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2009-12-07 09:28]

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Pintail 11-21-2009 13:25
– – 60-65 Degrees
11/21/09
This is the 3rd weekend in a row with limits and out before 10am. The 1st was 3 of us and 21 birds out by 830. these were mostly widgen, gadwall and mallards.

Last weekend just two of us and the winds were howling. Birds were Pintail, widgen and gadwalls.

Today wasn’t that great, started out slow had a large flock of birds sit down in a cove over and they pulled everything down. The limit today was really mixed, 1 gadwall, 1 pintail, 1 widgen, 1 redhead and 3 greenheads.

Also seeing more and more geese….mostly dark not many snows at all.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Pintail 12-08-2008 10:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
12/6/08

What started out fast turned slow as the morning went by. Had a nice group of mallards drop in right at daylight. Unloaded dropped one, falling into the reeds behind boat (no luck with finding it). Had two widgen come in dropped both, got 1 and chased the the cripple and the dog over the marsh, single teal dropped like a rock, single mallard down, and then three widgen my 1st triple of the season. This was at 10:30am, waited and waited for one more at about 12:30 had five snows come over high looking like they were fighting the wind, but dead calm on the ground. Then about 15 mins later wham 15 to 20 mps winds. By this time mojo’s were running out of power an the ducks were back up moving again. Birds were coming by to look but flaring off on the mojo’s, went out picked them up and before I had the boat tied back off flock of gadwalls, one shot pick up deks and heading home.

Thinking the birds were hammered over Thanksgiving week, alot have pushed out. But giving time its still easy to get limit.

Seeing a few snows starting to move in and thinking things should be ready to get good.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Pintail 12-01-2008 10:54
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 50-60 Degrees
28 Nov 08

We had rain for the past two days and thought it might have pushed some of the birds out. Because of the rain the marsh was foggy till almost 9am, once it lifted is was steady action till 1pm. Had a friend in Phx. and we sat up about 300 yards apart. This was the wrong thing to do. should have bunched up all the deks and mojos. I don’t think I pulled the trigger till 10 or later, while he was blasting away and couldn’t hit the ducks if they were on the water, (had to running out of shells-lmao). I ended the day with 1 mallard, 1 gadwall, 1 widgen and Ryan had 3 widgen.

Did get to see a few dark geese (2)but no snows yet. Seems for now the mallards (locals birds), gadwall, widgen and spoonies are about it…the widgen are thick…

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

topock 11-25-2008 09:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Another great hunt this past weekend. Got limit and out by 10:30 and was at the golf course by 12:30. 2 mallards, 1 pintail, 4 widgen.

Seems we had a influx of birds over the last few weeks, lots in the air all morning and still while packing out. Widgen are still thick, and the spoonies are getting thicker. To me it seems you can can be more selective on what you want to shoot, working call well coming in low and close to check out deks.(so for you guys raining me with pellets sat morning put out some deks and learn to call, lol). but even with the sky busting still having a great time.

Curdawg

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Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

pintail 11-08-2008 19:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Had a really good hunt today 11-8, had mallards and Widgens in the deks before day break. Was waiting for a little better light to take 1st shot. someone else beat me to it and the birds got off without a shot. Just couldn’t tell them apart. Then within 20 min it was great. Had 5 widgen in the boat within an hour and just let them keep coming wanting to shot a mallard, red head or pintail. They would work but not commit to the deks. I not sure why I repainted all the deks friday. They looked like I just got them out the box. Got my last two birds Gadwalls and went home.

On the way out talked to G&F and no one other than me had limit. Three groups of guys on the ponds at pitail got 9 total and the guys hunting the marsh with me only 1 to 2 birds.

The fly over count for last week was only 1000 birds and 600 snows, I never saw any geese this weekend. So don’t know where that count came from.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

marsh, needles 10-24-2008 13:37
– – –
Had a house fire, sorry had had time to post report, but last weekend opening in AZ for the desert areas. Had friends for phx. come up to shot the marsh. They hunted friday saw alot but wasn’t sure where to put out deks. Saturday morning got in early was cool temps in the upper 50’s, lite winds. We sat up about 400 yards apart and didn’t really see that many birds. Full moon could have kept them down or went out to the fields early, wasn’t alot of pressure on friday to sent them packing. We did end the morning around 11am as temps went up in the 90’s with two spec-belly, two reds, one widgon and one mallard and a spoonie. So not bad at all.

Pintail had 5 guys on it sat morning and they took home 15 birds total, mixed bag, and one they also got spec-belly.

Not able to hunt this weekend have a bass tourment, but will be back at in teo weeks.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

10-13-2008 11:14
– – –
Out on the lake again this past weekend, We set some record lows from the front that pushed down. Lately its just been mallards, but saw large numbers of gads and teal and what may have been one really nice flock of pins. Temps are to clime back into the upper 90’s by the weekend, no rain so maybe they will stay.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

10-05-2008 09:33
– – –
The season is drawing close, have spent alot of time the last few weeks fishng on Lake Havasu. Have seen alot of Mallards and driver for this early in the fall. not sure if its local birds that were hatched here. so the 1st part of the warm season maybe pretty good. Just havn’t had time yet to get in the marsh an scout. Got the boat already and cleaned the decoys…..can’t wait.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

01-28-2008 10:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
1/26/08

Well the season has come and gone. It wasn’t really that bad of a seson, killed more mallards than any other season. The last month was what made it not so great. All and all I’ll rate it 6 out of 10.

For the last saturday went to the north dike and they had dropped the water so low that if you didn’t have a one man boat you were not getting in. I had to go to the south dike and the water was beyond the end of the ramp their and what a time getting in. It was already breaking daylight. I was going to an old spot, but someone else was already their and had to set up across the marsh to deeper waters. It’s a back water pocket I was thinking the birds may us it to get away from the pressure. It had limited site to the marsh.

Only had time to put a dozen deks and one mojo out, but there was limited cover for the boat. With the deeper water is was a different type of reed other the the normal cattails. Got to shoot at one teal buzzing by at about 80 knots, and I took out the Mojo, blow the wings right off, lol. So thats how my season ended.

Have a great summer!!!!!!!!!!!

Gerald (CURDAWG)

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

01-14-2008 16:10
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
1/12/08

What a waste…..Got in early couldn’t sleep was expecting to see alot of new birds after the stroms this past week. Well after setting deks still dark. I could hear and see the out line of birds dropping into decoys, as it got light all the birds were spoonies. Just letting swim had two mature Pintails come in and got one. After that it was all spoonies again. Had a teal come and got it. Then two cans circled the deks twice and left. I was so board that i shot three spoonies and left at 10:45. Alot of new birds but nothing worth shooting at. It’s mostly all widgon and gadwall this time time of year, but none to be found.

I know I’m done with the marsh. For the last two weekends of the season I’m going to hunt the river in Havasu. Atleast maybe I’ll get to shoot some local birds.

Curdawg

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2008-01-14 16:11]

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

01-10-2008 09:03
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
1/9/08

Didn’t Hunt today but, went out bass fishing with a few friends on the the lake (Lake Havasu). It was after work and I couldn’t believe the number for duck. Every cove we went in were medium size flocks of red heads, mallards, widgon, teal and ring necks. So I don’t know if I should try the lake this weekend or not, never tried hunting it because if the winds p/up the lake can have 5 to 6 foot swells. Thats a little to big for the duck boat.

It appears that the storms over the last week have pushed new birds down south for the last few weeks of the season….HOPE

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

01-02-2008 09:15
– – –
12/29 & 12/31/07

Wasn’t such great hunts over the new year. Only 5 birds over the last 2 hunts. It seems everyone and there brother was out over the holidays and the hunting pressure was too much for the ducks. Hunted the 29th all day from sun up to sun down for two birds.

So maybe the has put the fire out for the hoilday hunters.

Curdawg

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2008-01-02 09:16]

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

12-26-2007 10:21
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
12/24/07

So, this morning was the 1st in the marsh and after Saturdays hunts I had a lot of birds coming from the south working their way north. This made me want to set up across from where I normally would. The wind was behind me and the sun in my face. As I got set up with only a dozen deks out and 2 mojos and cutting reeds to camo the boat I hear people talking and deks hitting the water. It was calm and quite and i thought nothing of it, just echos.

With the winds calm and the full moon out the birds really never flew. Between 10 to 1 pm a few birds got up and moved around but I bet I didn’t see 50 birds.

Around noon have two nice flocks of dark geese come over and a few mins later two Hugh flocks of mallards going south. So maybe with the cold and snow going on up north we may get a new birds and good hunting for the last moth of the season.

Ended today with 1 pin and 1 gad. As I was leaving the deks and guys I heard talking sat up just on the other side of the reeds maybe 20 yards. Never heard them fire a shot or blowing a call.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

12-26-2007 10:01
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
12/22/07

Set up in the same. The report called for 10 to 15 mph winds, but ended up more like 25 to 30. In the same area I hunted this morning two young guys were just ahead and they went south as I went east. As the morning day light was rising the two guys were blasting up a storm. I was maybe 300 +/- yards to their east. They were shooting at any and everything that came over.

Several times I would have birds working the deks and they would just unload on birds well out of range. So with the winds blowing as they were I decided to stick it out. I finished the day with 3-teal, 2-cans, and 1-gad. It got to a point to where it was out of control and I couldn’t wait on the last bird.

As I was leaving I had to go back by their blind and noticed that they didn’t even have a single decoy out. I have to say I respect the younger generation getting out to hunt instead of sitting indoors and play video games, but if want to learn to hunt ducks do it the right way. It really a disrespect to the guys that put in their time, money and discipline in doing the RIGHT.

Curdawg

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2007-12-26 10:07]

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Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

CIBOLA LAND SALE 12-20-2007 11:08
– – –
I our local paper here in Lake Havasu City reported on December 16, 2007,the sale of of 1500 +/- acres. It one of the prime goose hunting areas in southern Arizona (cibola)The farmers sold the water rights to land arranged through the BLM and sold to Arizona Game and Fish. The land is going to be restored back to original habitat for migratory birds, deer, ect. They are alredy in the process of planting trees.

I don’t know how the restoring of habitat back to original desert land will keep migratory brids other then dove. What going to keep the waterfowl? I know there are other fields in the surrounding area but, they are indian reservation. Maybe it will keep the brids and again it maynot only time is going to tell. But it going to make a devastating change in the flyway for us here in southern Arizona, I feel.

If I wrong would someone please advise me other wise..

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

12-17-2007 10:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
12/15/07

I was thinking that first thing Saturday that I should have stayed in bed. Had a few small flocks of mallards over the deks before sunrise, nothing wanting to sit. Then it was war world III, Pintail went wild, I mean shooting for an hour or more, non stop. As for me I had two floks of mallards come in and let the 1st couple sit in the deks and picked out nice greenheads and missed all three shots, both times. How I don’t know, maybe looking at the next one to shoot. Soon after the second miss had a teal buzz the deks and shot shot two feet behind him which really helped with the leading. After that I went 7 for 10 and picked up the deks and went home. Could of used a couple of more guns in the boat. I think we could of had 2 or 3 guys limits. Ended the day with 2 greenheads, 1 widong, 1 teal, 1 gadwall and 2 spoons.

Didn’t see the amount of Pintails or other birds as last weekend or wednesday. I think the hunting pressure is starting to maybe push the birds out. but I was out by 10am.

With all the shooting in pintail the warden was telling me that no one had left the ponds yet by 10am and the other person in hunting the north end with me got nothing.

Curdawg

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2007-12-17 10:55]

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

12-13-2007 10:01
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
12/12

Got to hunt the last hour or so this afternoon. Going in got alot of Birds up off the water and set up in this area. only put out a few deks and as setting up the mojo and I just dropped in the water, lost one of the wings. Only the second time I used this one. But anyway back to the birds. It didn’t take long for the birds to want to come back and sit in this as area. Within a min of coving the boat had 2 mallarda drop in and smoked the drake. Soon after that had a nice flock of Pintails working for felt like 20 mins. Just working out of range. I knew I was going to get a mature pintails out this flock. But they never sat or come into a nice safe range. Also had three greenheads and a hen working the deks and calling. I felt like they were on there last pass to sit in the deks. Then the cell phone rings. Man can’t get away from work long enough to enjoy an afternoon hunt, LOL…so just before sunset had a small flock of greenwing about take my head off and drop straight into the deks only got one, should of had three. So ended with 1 greenwing and a greenhead. While picking up the deks had two guys in a canoe (rubberheads) padding around the marsh and I guess they were tring to jump shot had no deks and no calls in the boat. So I think this is why the pintails didn’t want to sit down.

Looking foward to the weekend….

Curdawg

[Edited By GCurdawg on 2007-12-13 10:04]

Posted By:
canada1
Guest

12-10-2007 22:41
– – –
curdawg,were you hunting topock gorge?

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

12-10-2007 15:13
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
12/8/07

What a different a week can make. Hunted the north end for the 1st time. A little lite wind, clouds and ducks. It stared out with a few small flocks of mallards over before day light. As it got lighter the 1st shot this morning was a green head and the last shot of the day was a very mature Pintail. It was birds every 5 to 10 mins, for the rest of the day. Maybe not in shooting range but still seeing them. They didn’t work well to calling. The Pintails worked the deks great as long as you were quite. So I’m not sure if these birds were local or new ones. This is the most Mallards I’ve seen in years for this areas. Ended the day with Mallards and Pintails. A great bag of meat.

The snows are down by the thousands, flocks on flocks got up and out by 8:30.

In Pintail the guys did really great. I think the the warden said 60+ birds for the 10 hunter that checked in on the way out.

The report from the fields in the valley was that they were doing good as well on geese and mallards. So things seem to picking up in our area.

Curdawg

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

12-03-2007 10:21
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
12/1

It was the 1st hunt of the season an man was not what I expectd. Saw very little birds most were Mallards. They seem to have been shot at few times, flying high and headed stright out. Did have very few circle the deks once or twic but never comitted. Ended the day with one redhead and a spoonie

The large front this past weekend came from the SW instead of North to South so no new brids. The wind were to be 25 to 30 mps but that never happened until getting home.

We hunted the south end of the masrh so didn’t hear or see any geese and very little shooting at all over the entire marsh.

Curdawg

Ryan got your message will call when the birds are down…

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

11-26-2007 10:32
– – –
Never got to hunt this weekend….Went to go out scouting wednesday afternoon late and the fuel pump went out. Think it would have been great friday and saturday. Winds were well over 20 to 30 mph. and temps have finally dropped to 40’s at night and 60’s for highs. Hope it stays this way for a while, so sick of the 90 degree temps. The pump shold be in tomorrow 11/27/07 and man do I have the fever to get out.

Ryan if you gaet a chance send email or call and we’ll set up a date to get out…..

Curdawg

Posted By:
GOOSE SLAYER22
Web Member

03-20-2007 14:35
– – –
If anybody is looking for a place to go in manitoba canada, t waterfowl hunt i no a real good place to go up there, If you would like more information just pm me thank you ,

Posted By:
skeeterbait
Guest

02-10-2007 16:23
– – –
Hey buflhead,

Most of the hunting we do is on the west end of the state along the colorado river. From phx area you can look up around flagstaff area or down south towards Tucson. I have never hunted those area but I have heard of people having some luck there. You can also try Alamo lake it is a coulpe of hours west of Phoenix. I have had some pretty good hunts out there but there is not enough hunters to keep the birds working out there. If you go on the arizona game and fish website there are some other small lakes on the outskirts of phx. The duck hunting is not the greatest but its good to just get out there.

Posted By:
buflhead
Guest

NE Wyoming 02-09-2007 10:05
– – –
Hello down there, I am from NE Wyoming. I may need to spend significant time in AZ-Sun City, taking care of my aging parents. I am an avid waterfowler and upland hunter-any hope for me down there. I see from posts, you do shoot a few. Where do you go-Colorado or?

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Posted By:
skeeterbait
Guest

catfish 02-03-2007 07:48
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted sunday set up with my 13 yr old. 2 doz and 4 motion feeders. Had plenty of birds coming in before shoot time. Few birds working out of range. My son shot 4 shovelers and I got nada. We had plenty of chances but we just kept blowing them. I glad my son got to finish up with some good action he was pumped with 4 birds. He is really looking forward to next year.

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

pintail 01-24-2007 16:26
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Got out saturday morning, was a little late gettin in be still made it before sunrise. Put out less than 2 dozen and no mojo this time. Had birds dumping in before i had the guns out of the case. Had birds working most of the morning but i couldn’t hit a bird if was sitting on the water. The snows have finally made it down. Two largh waves got up about 8 to 830 am, was a site to see. I stayed still 10 or so and ended the day with two green wing. No big floks of ducks just ones and twos. For the last weekend I just got a new in today (MOJO) so I’m going to try both of them and see if two work better than one, with small flok of dekes.

Made the last weekend a good one.

Curdawg

PS. If anyone knows of a good kennel for ready to hunt dogs please email me gcurdawg@aol.com. My lab is 8, and almost ready to retire……

Posted By:
skeeterbait
Guest

stumptock 01-21-2007 16:29
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees

Hunted out of catfish. Wanted to put in at northdike but a rollover had the road closed till after sunrise. Tried to hunt the east bank never hunted there before, kicked up alot of birds off the point going in. They never came back. Did not fire a shot saw about 10 birds total. Heard some shots north of me and a couple past the south dike. Might try to finish out the season out on the river. Does anybody know when crit closes. Antbodt killin any on the river?

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

topock 01-15-2007 12:27
– – –
Things are looking poor in the colorda river area in Havasu. Very few birds. Never pulled the trigger. The only birds I’m seeing are spoonies. Hope….. this front will push some birds for the last two weeks.

If anyone else is doing better please let me know…….

Curdawg

Posted By:
sgtavina
Web Member

Topock 12-28-2006 11:05
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted out of 5 Mile Landing. The water was very shallow. I was unable to get to the area I planned on hunting. I made the best of the situation and hunted were I was at. I shot 3 birds (mallard/gaddy/redhead). I had to leave while the shooting was just getting good, around noon the 20 mph wind was making the birds really work. I sheared my prop on the drive in. The low water is a real pain in ARSE. I saw lots of gaddys,pinnies and a few mallards.

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

12-20-2006 09:27
– – –
we made to South Carolina monday afternoon, on the drive over going thru the central flyway, I never seen so many fields and flocks of geese. It all stared just east of albuequer till arkanas. what a great site to see. only saw one field the had hunter on it, they were setting out dekes.

Posted By:
AZduckcmder
Guest

12-19-2006 11:51
– – –
Curdog-
Sounds great!!! I will give you a shout after the 1st. I still have your cell #.
I’m going to hunt the lake east of you. Water level there has changed again so maybee the spots I shot three years ago will shoot again.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

pintail 12-19-2006 10:16
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
ryan,
good to see your still keeping up with the site. anytime you guys would like to come down, after the 1st would be great…

As for hunting saturday, saw tons of birds from widgon to spoonies. Big flocks of mallards, pintails. The 25 to 35 mphs wind didn’t start till after 12pm. I mean it was dead calm till then. but, by then we were on our way to the east coast for the hoildays.

Only had one small group of widgen come in on us (Derek)and I, we dropped 3. had very few come to look because of a few guy or ladies thinking it possible to drop brids from the clouds. Only minimal brids killed in the slough to the north. only one when we checked as we were leaving. Geese seem to have left or moving at night, small flocks here and there.

Have a safe holiday,
Curdawg

Posted By:
AZduckcmder
Guest

12-14-2006 14:08
– – –
Curdog!!!! Glad to see your back. I knew the waterfowl bug would not keep you gone long.
Lets get together a fold some birds. Shoot me an email. ryanhenderson@cox.net

Posted By:
GCurdawg
Field Editor

Topock 12-14-2006 11:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Got to hunt for the first time in about two years last weekend. Set up out of the north dike. Put out 3 doz. decoys and a mojo. Saw lots of birds, but was more of a scout than really hunting. Did finish two hunts sat morning and sunday pm with 1 of each.(all Drakes) Green wing, Red Head, Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail. So, I don’t think it was all that bad. Didn’t set up were i’m going to shot this saturday, wanted to save it. Saw only limited snows and few honkers, Full moon I guess.

Just glad to back in the blind.
Good luck,
CUrdawg