Posted By:
akduse
Guest
11-13-2003 21:40
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I thought that you took off Ric???
I went down to Skilak last weekend and was to early like a week.
With the temps being what they are I don’t think that we will have a chance for anything.
I did go to ND and had a great time but it sound’s like you and Leo had quite a few good hunts.
will talk later
Posted By:
Ric-Seward
Guest
11-13-2003 15:30
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Well did you boys down south have anyluck before the snow came in?
Were probably delayed up here until the temps come up from -40 to 0. Maybe the end is near.
Posted By:
hnt4fun
Guest
Idaho 11-10-2003 13:44
– – 35-40 Degrees
I am surfing from Idaho and saw [mergy]
I was tought that merganser weren’t edible
it sounds like that may be incorrect. What do they taste like.
Will you guys hurry up and get done playing with those northerns and send some our way.
Good Luck, stay safe.
S.W
Posted By:
lporcello
Guest
Delta 11-08-2003 22:57
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Hunted Delta Clearwater River on Thurs. Launched at the lake. More boat issues but I was fine once I figured it out. My choke is working backwords. When it is in the motor dies and when it is out it runs fine????????? Anyway got on the river. Saw plenty of ducks. Mallards, goldeneyes, buffle heads, and most importantly my beloved mergy! Did not mind going alone as my aunt lost her battle with lung cancer the day before. Smoking does not pay!!!! But it would have been nice to have some out there helping to move birds. I had 3 single hens and a pair of hens (5 total) mallards come to the decoys and I let them live. Decided to go on a scouting mission. While picking up the decoys Bella perked up and I looked and sure enough a greenhead was coming in. It flared off and my gun was 20yds away anyway. The scouting mission found more birds. When past the state campground to about mile 14. Was getting low on gas so I turned around. Started seening mallards about 12.5 to 13 so I think if I went farter up I would have found even more. Saw tons (the most I have ever seen) mergys up there. Some would not fly. Some flew along the side of the boat. Could have netted them. Not sure where and where not you can shoot up there so I just kept driving. Saw more birds in the air then I did taking off so they may be spooky. No signs of other waterfowlers. Just can not get over that. Anyway will hit it again tomorrow. ALONE again but I have a plan that should work. Temps got up to 43 here today and are about 36 right now. Suppose to get 6 inches of snow but don’t see it happening anytime soon but who knows. I did shot and miss at one huge mergy. It looked like a foot ball with wings. He was fat!!! Tomorrow may be the last day as the temps are suppose to drop to the negative teens. But that has not stopped me in the past. Wish me luck and if your in the FBKS NP or Delta area get out there. Waterfowling is what its all about!!!! Leo
Posted By:
dukmanjack
Gold Sponsor
Jim Creek 11-07-2003 21:08
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Launched at Mud Lake Thursday, Nov 6. No problem with ice at launch and trailer, but shallow. Have to find hole to get trailer wheels down. Broken ice out to where you catch creek heading south (1/2 inch or less an melting). Shallow water more of a problem than ice. Creek is clear all the way back to Swan Lake area. Also clear down to ponds near mountains but had to walk in due to low water last 100 yards to first pond. Seemed like little more activity with birds then last Saturday. Without people moving them around mallards bunched up and saw flock of 30 or so. Still doesn’t look like a lot of new birds in from north. Morning activity light and slower from then on out. Spent the day there and ended up with 5 mallards, missed several pairs that came by but pass type shots. Sounded like one guy running around Swan Lake. I could hear the ice breaking as he went. I didn’t check out Swan or Leaf. Water south of Leaf along mountain is open. I’ll put a picture on “Landscapes” here showing Mud Lake at launch. You may get idea of ice on water.
dmj
Posted By:
lporcello
Guest
11-05-2003 00:09
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I would not be totally discouraged. There are still ducks in the FBKS area (chena river and pile driver slough) and definetly plenty of birds in Delta. Not saying those birds will hit your exact areas but I am sure they are bound to head that way. Ric, myself and 1 other (lurker) will be heading out on Thursday. We may split up to attempt to keep the birds moving as I think most others have called it quits. Doesn’t Skilak Lake hold birds? How about Homer and Soldotna areas?? Good luck and keep pounding them!
Posted By:
DuckDuckShoot
Guest
Anchorage 11-04-2003 19:30
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Unless you know of another area it looks as though the season is close to over around here. I’ve been looking for a few years for a late season location to hunt but have yet to find one. I may try Jim Creek again this weekend. I’ll have to see how heavy the ice is. I havent seen to many ducks winging on the south end of town. It’s been my experience that the majority of the birds leave when the water first starts to freeze. Even if it warms back up the birds have pretty much abandoned there previous haunts.
Posted By:
dukmanjack
Gold Sponsor
Jim Creek 11-02-2003 13:27
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Launched Mud Lake and broke about 3/4 inch ice out to where you pick up creek heading toward Swan Lake. Smooth sailing out to Swan Lake. Little patch of ice here and there but no problem. Water lower. Beautiful morning not really cold. Got to place on creek just east of Swan. 4 sets of hunters on creek and back to Leaf. Went further south and set up just before opening out into wide grass area. Some ducks moving around. Not as many as I thot. Seemed to be going into Leaf by creek entrance. Guy between us and there had some shots. Dog scooting around on ice fun to watch. Picked up 2 mallards. Missed one bunch over head we didn’t see. Others came by too high or far out for shot. Slow though.
I’ll put a pix on Landscapes here for yesterday Nov 1 or 2 if it uses the entry date and you can see what I was looking at from 9 to 2pm.
Went out to Leaf to see where the ducks were going. Lake was covered in ice but some little open areas. I cut a big arch heading in deeper water out around toward creek entrance. Water low and cover on shore way back up there so not too good to hide the 16′ boat. Looked like 2 inch thick chunks bobbing up behind the mud motor. Figured I’d pushed my luck enough and caught the back trail out. Went to Mud Lake. Kicked up some nice mallards just before getting there and where moving water hits the open lake and is open area.
I think I would hunt there if I was out today, Sunday. Maybe more birds will come in? Probably easier access from Knik side. Jon boat with merc o/b shuttled out passenger while near Mud Lake launch area. Seemed like it took him 30 minutes to get from creek open back to launch point. Think he was hoping we had plowed path as he asked us where we launched from when I passed him up by Swan. We had stopped short and he had some time making it to launch. He came back though. They are out there Sunday, today I’m sure.
Launch place a little muddy in afternoon. Lite rain started. Great scenery..love it.
dmj
[Edited By dukmanjack on 2003-11-02 16:23]
[Edited By dukmanjack on 2003-11-02 16:27]
Posted By:
DuckDuckShoot
Guest
Anchorage 10-31-2003 20:03
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Anybody hunt Jim Creek or Rabbit Slough this week? How did you do and what were the water conditions? I will try this Saturday and Sunday.
Posted By:
lporcello
Guest
10-31-2003 12:45
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Ric sorry for getting testy with you on the phone last night but this is the second week you have interrupted me while I was watching WWE Smackdown. I get all pumped up when it comes on. To calm me down the wife made me some more of the Popcorn Mergy. Basically she cuts the mergy in little bits, soaks them in buttermilk for 30 minutes, rolls in flour with mixed spices and fries them up. Kind of like KFC’s Popcorn Chicken but much much better. What a treat while watching wrestling or football. After I ate that it was like you never called. Yes my girls are still going as little mergies. They are so cute. I even retuned an old mallard call so instead of saying trick or treat they will just blow it. I will still take the feathers as the wife is almost done with those pillows. The weather is crap here in FBKS area. Freezing rain. Will make the drive to Delta tomorrow morning. Hopefully you all saved some mergies. If not I know where those mallards are hanging out. Forgot to tell you that one of those greenheads from last Sat was a 4 curler. Maybe some of the other HARDCORE WATERFOWLERs will be out as there was plenty of ducks last week for everyone. Just need them to be moving around!
