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Vermont Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
DUCKMENVT
Guest

11-30-2002 20:26
– – –
Mark, I typically use about 15-25 whistler decoys and 15-20 mallard/black decoys when hunting from shore blinds. On the big lake we use as many as 200 including bluebill, whistler, mallard, blacks, mergs, brant, geese, scoter and oldsquaw decoys. Some are handmade sleds(silloutte type decoys).

Posted By:
markchap
WFC Sponsor

Addison 11-28-2002 17:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
The wistlers were flying up and down the middle of the lake was able to bag A couple of mallards and a few wistlers . those huning L Champlain was currious how many deks you are using I have been using about 10-15 deks ?

Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest

Southeast Colorado 11-25-2002 15:17
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Come on out. Bring lots of shells, though.

The third duck split is 14 DEC-late JAN, thru end of FEB for canada’s. White goose season is in March: no limit, no limit on possession, artificial calling is OK. The snows, rosses, blues and specks are all full of “rice ‘n beans” from the gulf coast wintering grounds.

We’re finishing up the last week of the second duck split – ends FRI after Thanksgiving. This weekend we all shot 5 decoying drake whistler apiece. we let all the hens go by.

PS: My son Ben (still in VT) shot a 170 lb 6 pointer in Groton on SAT. Had a 19 inch spread.

W.P. “Bill” Sullivan
State Merchandise Chairman
Colorado Ducks Unlimited

Posted By:
DUCKMENVT
Guest

11-22-2002 21:10
– – –
Hey Sully when do we get invited out there sounds like you need some help controlling the populations!!!!!!

Posted By:
DUCKMENVT
Guest

NY 11-22-2002 21:05
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
In 2 days of hunting the big lake up near B-town 2 of us shot 15 whistlers, 3 blacks, 1 mallard a gadwall and a bunch of mergs for the dog!

clkbasil wich blind did you hunt closest to the creek or furthest?

Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest

SE Colo. – Arkansas River Valley 11-20-2002 15:12
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Howdy, DuckMenVT! Have some Tabasco on those eggs when you eat out at the Bridge!

I’ve been really having fun hunting out here in Colorado. Each day we hunt we limit-out early morning w/o trying to shoot hens. (We are pretty good about it too!

Greenheads, widgeon, gadwall, whistlers, buffie’s, shovelers, pintails (now closed). Geese just opened and we bagged two snows passing over.

Hardly any woodies – no “woods” in the high plains! – and no blacks.

I’ve taken 5 banded birds so far this season: 3 greenheads, a drake shoveler, and a drake pintail.

It hasn’t rained here in a year, but it has snowed on and off. The biggest reservoir in the eastern plain is down 79 FEET!

Don’t forget to lead ’em!

W.P. “Bill” Sullivan
State Merchandise Chairman
Colorado Ducks Unlimited

Posted By:
CPKBasil
Guest

Near mouth of Otter Creek 11-18-2002 11:07
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Report for Sunday, November 17th

Add to that weather description a mix of rain and snow (light). There was slush along the shore in the AM.

Despite the weather, it was a great day to be in a blind, and if my shooting had been better it would have been a bad day to be a duck. Bird activity was fairly steady until about 9:30 am. We saw a fair number of divers. Bluebills seemed to predominate, but there were a few buffleheads and scoters around. Quite a few blacks showed but we couldn’t connect.

There were numerous flocks of ducks flying south down the main lake using the tailwind to their advantage. Also noticed a few geese in the early am.

We only bagged two bluebills.

Posted By:
DUCKMENVT
Guest

Addison 11-17-2002 20:39
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Still a few mallards around. Chapman I saw a pretty good flock right by your blind! I did get a black and a teal today. We got a mallard and 2 other teal in the blind. Still teal with 2 inches of slush on the water!

You might want to check out refugeforums.com
Good sight.

Posted By:
DUCKMENVT
Guest

Lake Champlain, Addison Cty. 11-14-2002 19:38
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Hunting is still spotty but we are seeing a lot more whistlers. Shot 5 in the blind wed. Many black ducks and a few mallards around.

Hi to Sully in Colorado!!! From one of your past students. We have had breakfast with you and Ross many times at the bridge. JIM M.,small world this internet thing! Hi to Chapman as well.

Posted By:
fshrdan
Guest

Alburg / North Hero 11-13-2002 21:42
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted Sunday. Had a pair of divers land in the decoys while setting up. Took one black and saw a ton of divers. The day was just too nice. The wind picked up around 10:30 and the lake became “interesting”. Whose ideas was the 24 hr day I need more daylight time!!

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Vermont Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
mspradlin
Guest

East Creek, Orwell 11-12-2002 11:34
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted the mouth to East Creek. Shot Greenwings and Mallards. Saw Black ducks but did not shoot any. We also saw some Canada’s but no luck on them. Did not see as many flocks as I thought we would. Overall a good hunt but nothing to write home about. Did see two flocks of divers but they were to far to identify, they looked black and white just skimming over the top of the water.

Posted By:

Sand Bar 11-12-2002 11:26
– – –
There’s a decent amount of divers, with Mallards an blacks around also. Hopefully, the weather will turn cold again to freeze things up.

Hey Mspradlin- How did you do hunting around Orwell when you were up here? I used to spend alot o time in that area and it could be hot.

Posted By:
markchap
WFC Sponsor

addison 11-10-2002 15:00
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
hunting potash bay sarting to see some whistlers on the lake and some bluebills haveseen more blacks than I have seen in a long while the pounds and potholes have opend up but still seeing greenheads just enough to keep u intresead look for the white patch and pop em!!!

Posted By:
markchap
WFC Sponsor

addison 11-10-2002 14:58
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
hunting potash bay sarting to see some whistlers on the lake and some bluebills haveseen more blacks than I have seen in a long while the pounds and potholes have opend up but still seeing greenheads just enough to keep u intresead look for the white patch and pop em!!!

Posted By:
Zeke The Zen Puppy
Guest

COLORADO 11-08-2002 15:40
– – –
I miss hunting Lake Champlain in the West Addison area (and breakfast at the Halfway House and Bridge Restaurant!) but I can’t complain about the hunting in the Lower Arkansas Valley of Colorado.

We hunt ducks thru January and geese thru March 30th. (From FEB-MAR there is no limit on white geese: snows, rosses, blues.)

We have a three-way split for ducks and its stretches it out nicely. The second opener just started and I’ve limited every day w/in an hour: 5 greenheads and a drake whistler. No bluebills yet, and I have resisted the urge to take sandhill cranes.

The best part is hunting divers in DEC, something I longed to do on Champlain!

Support Vermont Ducks Unlimited!

W.P. “Bill” Sullivan
State Merchandise Chairman
Colorado Ducks Unlimited

Posted By:
DUCKMENVT
Guest

Addison County 11-05-2002 22:42
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Starting to see the divers on the lake, whistlers, oldsquaw, and scoters. The days are still hit or miss with no fast and furious action yet. The marshes are starting to freeze up on the cold days. The snow geese are on there last leg with about 2500 on the reserve.

Posted By:
JDSURESHOT
Guest

Clarendon and Champlain 10-31-2002 15:50
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 35-40 Degrees
Spent the last weekend in October up in Vermont chasin’ waterfowl. What a great way to spend this time of year. Champlain had plenty of ducks to offer but not as many geese as the early season. The change in weather has got them finally off the roost and on to the feeding frenzy. With opening day of the split Honker season we set out in Clarendon and there were geese everywhere. Not to many ducks but still got a mallard and a couple woodies. Dress warm and hope for bad weather and keep those waterfowl comin’!!

Posted By:
mspradlin
Guest

Going to hunt near Orwell, East Creek and Lake Champlain 10-31-2002 08:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Wanted to know the the report of ducks and geese in the area. We are planning to hunt there from November 8th to the 11th.

Posted By:
fshrdan
Guest

Alburg – Dillenbeck 10-28-2002 09:00
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 35-40 Degrees
We hunted the bluffs and saw a few flocks of skittish mallards early, then nothing. There were a few good flocks of high flying geese heading south. About 9:30 -10 three huge flock of ducks came up from the sand bar and went in to the refuge. Not much flying. We scouted down the Alburg Pass and saw a few mallard loafing around but not much. One of these days one of those big flocks is going to dump into my decoys.

Posted By:
gddduck
WFC Sponsor

lake champlaine 10-21-2002 16:23
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
went out first day with son got a few shots got 1 green wing teal and 1 blue wing see more tealthis year than last but weather is much wormer

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Vermont Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
fshrdan
Guest

Addison – off lake 10-14-2002 11:25
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
The 9th – looked good early with lots of Mallards and Wood Ducks, though once the sun came up things slowed down. Hunted to about noon. We took two woodies; wow am I a bad shot. No teal, lots of geese! Heard the northern part of the lake was hot.

Posted By:
fshrdan
Guest

Connecticut River – Bellows Falls 10-08-2002 08:19
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted first light to about 9:30 or so, on Saturday the 5th . We took two woodies and one mallard. There were a fair number of birds around, mostly wood ducks and teal, but lots of pressure. Once the sun came up things settled down and not much was flying. Lots of high flying geese heading south. Tomorrow is the big day on the lake!

Posted By:
JDSURESHOT
Guest

Addison County 09-23-2002 09:05
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 60-65 Degrees
Spent a week in Vermont tracking down the ever elusive Canada Goose. What did I find, plenty of geese. The skies were full along Champlain and the nearby East and Dead creeks. They would not respond very well to decoys or calling so strategic placement along flight patterns was needed. This means the locals are weary and it’s too hot for the migrating geese I think. So get out there, find a good place and happy hunting!!

Posted By:
JDSURESHOT
Guest

Clarendon VT 09-10-2002 19:00
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Early goose season and where’s the geese? Maybe to hot for the buggers yet. Would like to hear some new VT reports. Is there no one else out there hunting. Put your swimming trunks away and get out there! Just kidding,but I’ll be out there and hopefully will have some good news for you all soon. Good luck to all this season and keep your eyes to the sky!!

Posted By:
Stephen-Pratt
WFC Sponsor

None yet 08-26-2002 21:52
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Well another season appraoches, The early Goose season looks very promising. I was at an area on Dead Creek and watched a few hundred Canadian Geese sitting in the Creek. The Waterfowl Season for the coming year is about to be posted, I know that it Starts on Oct. 9th and ends on the 13th for the first part…..I will update it later. Well enough for now….Happy Scouting…

Posted By:
another hunter
Guest

Enter Data Here 03-05-2002 08:54
– – –
If you are unhappy about the new wma rules, e-mail your elected officials. The link to your state sen. and reps is:http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/main/government/legislative.html
Who will monitior the validity of the computer draw? the TWRA? Every sportsman license will apply, why not? At least put and additional fee on it to try to keep the number of applications reasonable. A fee would hopefully keep the applicants to duck hunters only. Our current chances of getting drawn have been reduced drastically.
I thought they wanted to stop the blind buying? This hasn’t changed that at all. Let your sen. and reps know that if we need tax reform, cut the TWRA’s budget since they are inept..

Posted By:
Duckhawg
Guest

Lake Champlain 12-15-2001 16:33
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
We hunted late Oct. and came up with only a handfull of dukcs. The mallards seemed to be smaller than usual. Not a lot of blacks, but quite a few pintails. This warm weather put a hurt’n on the Atlantic Flyway. The ducks that did come down were hiding in the back swamps.It wasn’t cold enough to freeze the swamps and bring them to the lakeshores.It’s Dec. and i’m now starting to see quite a few birds. Let’s hope for better duck hunting weather next year !!!!!

Posted By:
nelacres
WFC Sponsor

Enter Data Here 12-08-2001 18:54
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Well folks the season came to a close here in the Interior Zone of Vermont with no ice. The mild temperarures have kept the migration to a trickle and with nothing frozen the ducks are scattered everywhere.
The Lk Champlain zone could see some action this week with the approaching cold front. Also, I hold a P.Q. license and I will hunt ducks north of the border.
Good luck………

Posted By:
Stephen-Pratt
WFC Sponsor

Lamoille River, Sandbar area 11-25-2001 21:47
Cloudy, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Well it was another day of nice warm weather…yuck…need some cold weather to make these Ducks move. There were several larger flocks in the area. But they were staying in flocks and weren’t moving all that well. The Mallards and Blacks were landing about 20 yards of the newly formed sand delta just out side the Lamoille River. Some hunters have found the river a little tough to get through with out beaching it.

Keep the Ducks flying
Steve

Posted By:
Stephen-Pratt
WFC Sponsor

Lake Champlain 11-23-2001 12:10
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Well, this is a little late, but Hunting on the Lamoille River, can be a little on the fun side. Both the mouths of the River left and right are a bit on the shallow side so caution should be taken.

As far as the ducks, we watched a group of Bluebills playing around, lifting up and setting down. But they were not moving at all. The weather obviously is not good for good hunting too nice. There are also several groups of Blacks and Mallards in the area these birds are from the North we were there when they came in.

There are alot of Blacks mixed in with the Mallards so be careful when groups of ducks come into your dekes. I have only seen a couple groups of Whistlers, I am checking with a few other hunters to see if they have anything to report. Happy hunting.

Steve

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Virginia Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 01-05-2013 18:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
we hunted friday evening. we got a lot of birds up when we went to our blind. blacks, bufflehead, and merganzers. so we thought the shooting would be pretty good. we didn’t get a shot and we didn’t hear any shots that evening. we did see a fair amount of birds, but nothing was interested. acted like they’ve had a lot of presure put on them. didn’t see a goose, dark or light. a lot of brant rafting up.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 01-05-2013 18:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
we hunted friday evening. we got a lot of birds up when we went to our blind. blacks, bufflehead, and merganzers. so we thought the shooting would be pretty good. we didn’t get a shot and we didn’t hear any shots that evening. we did see a fair amount of birds, but nothing was interested. acted like they’ve had a lot of presure put on them. didn’t see a goose, dark or light. a lot of brant rafting up.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 01-05-2013 18:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
we hunted friday evening. we got a lot of birds up when we went to our blind. blacks, bufflehead, and merganzers. so we thought the shooting would be pretty good. we didn’t get a shot and we didn’t hear any shots that evening. we did see a fair amount of birds, but nothing was interested. acted like they’ve had a lot of presure put on them. didn’t see a goose, dark or light. a lot of brant rafting up.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 12-08-2012 16:25
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 50-60 Degrees
we couldn’t see if there was a lot of birds or not because of the fog. we could here the snow geese but couldn’t see them. there was a fair amount of shooting going on. most of the birds we saw were buzzing our decoys. we shot fairly well, but missed a few easy shots. we ended up killing six hen bufflehaed, one drake bufflehead, two hen merganzers, and three brant. it seams like each week we see a little bit more brant. the federal game wardens checked us out. they were ptrtty cool, but professional

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 12-02-2012 03:52
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 40-45 Degrees
hunted friday evening. when going out to our blind, there was a lot of ducks in front of it. there was a fair amount of ducks flying. we saw blacks, bufflehead, a gadwall, merganzer, and very few geese. we did havea flock of bufflehead buzz our decoys and we just dropped one hen. saturday morning we had a hen mallard quacking away in the decoys, but she left before leagal shooting time. had a nice flock of green wing teal buzz us out side the decoys. we saw a couple of canadian and heard snows way up high. there is a fair amount of black duck and bufflehead. there seams to be more brant down. early we did hear a fair amount of shooting, but it seamed to die off pretty quick. we did have a hen common merganzer decoy and we killed her. this was my puppies secound hunt and she got two retrieves.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 11-17-2012 19:11
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
we hunted the marsh this morning. we took two wounded warriors out with us this morning.there was a fair amount of shooting this morning.there was a fair amount of birds, but you can see a lot are still up north. what we saw was some canadian geese, a small flock of green wing teal, some brant,a fair amount of black duck, and buffle head. what we killed was two black duck, and seven hen buffle head. we dropped every bird that decoyed, but only one buffle head got out. today was my seven month old chesapeakes first hunt. she was a little confused at first, but we kept killing birds, she was getting better and putting this together. but she has a long way to go, but as far as hunting goes today was her starting point.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 11-10-2012 20:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
i was brushing my blind yesterday afternoon. i saw nice flocks of mallards and black duck flying about. saw a flock of teal. fair amount of canadian geese and about forty brant. feel pretty good about next saturday.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 01-29-2012 08:17
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
we hunted friday evening.not many birds at all. we got shots at group of bufflehead and killed one hen. this is the first time in over thirty years that i have not seen brant. they must still be in jersy. not mnay black duck at all.

[Edited By Craig-Emory on 2012-01-29 08:24]

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 01-14-2012 20:26
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
hunted friday evening. starting to see more canadian geese and a whole lot more snow geese. still no brant. a lot more black duck are down. fair amount of bufflehead and merganzers moving around. killed one bufflehead and two common merganzers. all hens. checked out by federal game wardens on the way in. no problems.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 01-02-2012 19:09
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
a lot of birds were moving early this morning. there is a fair amount black ducks, but they either flew high or held tight. the ducks that were moving were bufflehead and merganzers. we shot a drake hooded merganzer, four hen merganzers and two hen buffleheads. we didn’t see many canadians, no snows, and no brant. we didn’t hear many shots this morning. on the way home we saw some mallards and some canadian geese. maybe with the cold weather on the way we will see more birds.

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Virginia Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

accomack county 01-02-2012 19:09
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
a lot of birds were moving early this morning. there is a fair amount black ducks, but they either flew high or held tight. the ducks that were moving were bufflehead and merganzers. we shot a drake hooded merganzer, four hen merganzers and two hen buffleheads. we didn’t see many canadians, no snows, and no brant. we didn’t hear many shots this morning. on the way home we saw some mallards and some canadian geese. maybe with the cold weather on the way we will see more birds.

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

12-12-2011 14:20
–

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Chincoteague 12-12-2011 14:18
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the Queen Sound area on Saturday but scouted from Tom’s Cove to Bogue’s Bay and up north to the MD line. Significant numbers of Brant are down, as are Buffleheads, shovelers, and bluebills. Birds are still coming down, for example we saw fewer geese than this time last year, but the numbers are definitely worth the drive at this point. Winds were brisk, not calm, but there isn’t a selection for that.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

12-11-2011 04:39
–

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

12-11-2011 04:39
–

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

eastern shore, va. 12-11-2011 04:39
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
seeing a fair amount of ducks. blacks, merganzers, bufflehead, and a few teal. goose numbers fair both light and dark. heard some shooting early, but not much at at all. from about 10:30 till sunset didn’t hear another shot. birds flew here and there all day long, but we never got a look or a shot.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

11-20-2011 13:42
– – –
hunted virginia’s opener. my father killed a drake hooded merganzer. had shots at two other ducks and had one land outside our decoys. saw a fair amount ducks fling in 6’s and 8’s on the move no looks. saw a couple small flocks of canadians and that was it. but had a good time.

Posted By:
Craig-Emory
Field Editor

eastern shore va. 11-12-2011 16:06
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
was on the shore friday afternoon. a lot of ducks coming to the shore. saw a lot of black duck,tons of teal, pintail, shovelers,some mallard, and a fair amount of canadians. will be hunting on va. eastern shore for the opener. it does look promising.

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Tributary off Potomac River – NVA 02-10-2011 22:00
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Went out today saw about 150 or so geese, one big flock of about 40 birds and the rest were groups of four, six, ten. All of the groups except the big one were VERY quiet! So go light on the calling. We saw the birds heading out to feed and needed to be there in the afternoon. Managed one bird and it had a band!

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

N. VA. 02-08-2011 21:39
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
General Observations on dark geese is that they are workable and guys are having success hunting these little fronts coming through. However the birds (being late season) are a bit trickier to work and are flying a bit later than normal.

Going out Thursday, will update then. Get on em boys we only have till the 15th,

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Virginia Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

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Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Potomac River 01-29-2011 16:16
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Hunted the regular season closer today – 5 shooters and great way to end the season.

The hunt started late about 8:00 am as we wanted some sun light to navigate the ice, plus the birds had been moving later the past few weeks anyhow.

Both puddle ducks and diver were coming in in singles, pairs or in case of the divers small groups of between 3-6. Action was pretty steady the whole time, mostly due to the temps and hunter activity on the river.

Geese moved very little preferring to stay way out on the ice.
So no geese were taken. a 5 man limt of ducks taken including a black duck and Canvasback limit.

Great way to end the season with a toll of cans! Can’t wait till next year. There is still a couple of weeks of late goose season. May try to get out once or twice before it is totally done.

We took a

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Northern VA – Loudoun County 12-13-2010 10:57
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Grain fields bordering the Potomac River are holding large numbers of geese, with the higher winds keeping them huddled up and feeding. Once they hit a field, they are tending to stay.

Four flocks of mallards with 40+ birds were seen just after first light moving from water to feed, and on the drive home I saw a 75+ flock of bluebills sitting on a pond just outside Leesburg. The ducks seem to be moving ahead of the front with the resident geese hunkering down for now.

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Accomac County 12-13-2010 07:05
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
This report is from Saturday, 12/11.

Divers are down in the area in significantly higher numbers than this time last year, no doubt due to the cold snap. Buffleheads, Scaup, Goldeneyes and even some scoters are moving pretty regularly throughout the day. Higher than normal winds are making getting into some of the shallower marshes a bit tricky at low tide, so go in slow.

Mid-day things do tend to slow down, but both the first light and last light shooter were very good.

I did see a fairly large flock of Brant in Tom’s Cove over several days, always on the tide and sitting right over some kelp beds.

Good luck and be safe!

[Edited By Tony-Crescenzo on 2010-12-13 10:53]

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Soybean Fields Adjacent to the Potomac 09-30-2010 14:20
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 60-65 Degrees
Although it was a bit cool and rainy the birds were moving this morning. Not too many migrating geese but the residents were moving just after first light until about 10:30. Not too difficult to call this early in the season and moving in small flocks of 10 to 20 birds.

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Scouting Potomac River – NVA 09-24-2010 22:13
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Went for a boat ride to work dog and get the boy outta the house on the river. Saw good groups of Wooducks at dusk going to roost. Last weekend I saw several groups of teal – one flock of about 20 blue-wingers. So if you like to hunt in 90 degree weather the teal are around and of course the resident geese. I’ll get to them a little later in the season.

Posted By:
jrapp
Guest

09-14-2010 12:40
– – –
Back again in the Woodbridge area of VA. Still looking for areas to hunt. Anyone with any openings/ideas, let me know. Waterfowl 2010 here we go!!

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Getting Ready for the Season – Roll Call 09-10-2010 11:32
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Happy 2010 Waterfowl Season all. Who’s in the VA area and on the site this year? Where do you hunt? What are your plans for this year’s hunts?

Let’s hear from our VA members!

Posted By:
Larry-Gausch
Field Editor

Chincoteague 12-19-2009 11:53
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Tony,
Hunted Thursday and Friday morning. Real good hunting on Thursday,plenty of blacks on the marsh puddles and buffies and brant in the bay.The brant are always fun!We did see one goldeneye,some bluebills and a lone drake can which we flat out missed!Did not see any Old Squaw at all.Friday morning was slow so we cut out by 10 AM to head home.Thanks for the info. Will be back down in January. Larry G.

Posted By:
jrapp
Guest

Northern VA/ Upstate NY 12-17-2009 11:26
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Thanks Tony I’ll shoot you an email soon.

FYI – I was home in upstate NY last weekend and witnessed a big push of birds b//c of freeze up (blacks, mallards, Canada & Snow geese). Most everything locked up except the rivers and even those were pushing slush. I’d expect an increase of birds soon if you haven’t already. Good luck and shoot straight.

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Chincoteague – BRANT REPORT FOR LARRY 12-17-2009 06:58
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Amazingly enough, I’ve seen Brant in the area in good numbers since the 3rd of December. Your best places to hunt them are Tom’s Cove, from a boat blind if you have one. They are pretty easy to decoy, and you can call them without a call. I’ve seen them in flocks of a couple of dozen lated in the afternoon (tide changes) there. Another good spot is the islands and marshes just north of the bridge over Queen Sound. Stay on the western side of the sound where the kelp is thick and you’ll see them from low tide to about 2-3 hours past.

Not too many puddlers were there other than the wary residents. I would expect Black duck numbers to be better in Saxis. Better food supply and almost no hunting pressure.

Good Hunting

[Edited By Tony-Crescenzo on 2009-12-17 07:00]

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Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Chincoteague/Saxis 12-17-2009 06:54
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the Queen Sound area with mixed results. Very few divers in the area compared with this time last year, but Saxis was LOADED with Scoters of all types. They raft approximately 800 yards offshore and can be taken from a boat blind pretty easily. Bufflehead numbers are low, resident mallards are still around but hard to decoy. Hopefully the cold snap will bring more divers to the area.

JRAPP: Did NOT get your PM. Email me at tcrescenzo@achievence.com and I’ll send you details about January’s hunts. I have two trips planned and we can always find room for one more. Its a 3 hour drive from DC and splitting a hotel room is about 40 bucks a nite, otherwise its just $$ for beer and meals. The birds have always made it down by then and tides and moon are good for the days we’re heading down.

Posted By:
jrapp
Guest

Northern VA 12-05-2009 16:08
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Wondering how the hunting has been in the Northern Virginia area? I’ve been in search of areas to hunt without much luck. I have hunted in upstate NY a few times this season and as of last week things have been very slow b/c its been so warm up there. I’m guessing that means its been slow down here too.?

Tony, don’t know if the hunting offer is still on the table or not. If so I’d like to meet up sometime. I sent a PM, not sure if you got it though.

Hunt safe and shoot straight!
Jake

Posted By:
Larry-Gausch
Field Editor

Chincoteague 12-01-2009 18:25
– – –
Hey Tony,

Any decent numbers of brant and/or black ducks in the Chincoteague area yet? Looking to get down that way soon and hoping to gun some brant.Appreciate any intel you can provide to a true southerner(southern Pa. that is!). Tough to scout from up here but I always enjoy gunning down in your neck of the woods. Thanks, Larry Gausch

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Scouting Report 11-20-2009 05:36
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
First diver sighting this year. There are Buffleheads and Scaup on the river. Numbers aren’t huge, but they are definitely moving south. 20-30 scaup and about twice as many divers came and went yesterday.

Local ponds continue to see Mallards and Blacks come and go.

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

NOVA – Scouting only 11-02-2009 10:21
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Pounds continue to see migrating geese and puddle ducks. Here today, gone tomorrow. I haven’t seen any divers yet, but they are usually on the river and I haven’t gotten down to the Potomac yet.

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Northern VA – Scouting only 10-23-2009 15:54
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
Local pounds are filling up with migrating mallards and blacks, who seem to disappear then next day. Seeing geese at first and last light in higher than local numbers.

Posted By:
jrapp
Guest

Upstate NY 10-14-2009 13:39
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Hunted back home in NY this past weekend with mixed results. Good teal and woodie numbers the first two days (limits both days). Some active cold weather seemed to move birds out of the area by the end of the weekend. Guess from the sounds of it they haven’t made it as far as VA yet. I’m sure they’ll be there by Nov. Man awful long time to wait!!

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Chincoteague 10-11-2009 14:10
Cloudy, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted the early opener from the 8th to the 10th on the marshes around Chincoteague. Very few, if any, migrators are down yet. Some local puddlers were open to calling. A smattering of Mergansers are there, but not a single buffie or other diver was seen.

Lowest temp was 55, but the average was over 70, so not a lot of movement except at first and last light.

Plenty of geese are in the area, with the same early morning/last light pattern, moving west in the morning and east in the evening.

Hopefully some cool weather up north will get some real birds moving this way before November…

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Goose creek area 09-23-2009 20:25
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted for a couple of hours this afternoon with mixed results. Not much moving on such a hot day, but got some good movement right at sunset. Birds are still not very wary and decoy easily this early.

Will be spending the early season opener in the Chincoteague/Saxis area and will report the status of divers and puddlers in that area then.

Hunt hard and stay safe

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Goose creek area 09-23-2009 19:13
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted for a couple of hours this afternoon with mixed results. Not much moving on such a hot day, but got some good movement right at sunset. Birds are still not very wary and decoy easily this early.

Will be spending the early season opener in the Chincoteague/Saxis area and will report the status of divers and puddlers in that area then.

Hunt hard and stay safe

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Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

09-23-2009 19:09
– – –
Jake,

PM me when you get a chance. I’m in Northern VA too, but hunt a lot on the Virgina eastern shore and would be happy to have you along on a hunt or two.

Welcome to the site!

Tony

Posted By:
jrapp
Guest

Northern VA/ Upstate NY 09-21-2009 11:09
– – –
My name is Jake and I’m a transplant to VA from upstate NY. Hunting waterfowl is my passion and being new to the Northern Va area I don’t have much to go on yet. Don’t know if anyone would like to trade a hunt in upstate NY for one in VA, or point me in the right direction, or have a tag along in the field. I’d be open for advice!

Shoot straight!
Jake

Posted By:
Tony-Crescenzo
Field Editor

Ponds in Faquier County 09-06-2009 20:48
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Resident season is off to a good start, with birds working regularly at first light and last light. Clearly no migrators in the area yet, but the residents seemed to be working on a clock.

No pressure this early so calling them into the blinds isn’t much of a challenge, but limiting out with a 10 bird ceiling can be quite a challenge.

Will be out next weekend in the same area and will post additional reports as I have them.

Best of luck to all for a great season. Hunt hard and stay safe.

Posted By:
Stumpgunner
Guest

Northern VA 08-28-2009 09:02
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Would anyone be interested in a pre-season meet and greet? Good way to meet fellow members, swap stories, and perhaps arrange a few hunts.

What say you?

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

NoVa 07-16-2009 23:10
– – –
Can’t wait for the season!

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

NVA – Various 12-26-2008 13:10
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Pretty good action through out the land – Only scratched one malllard this a.m on a solo quickee hunt. Still saw birds early come and go before legal. Then had to compete w/live birds. I lost!

Diver hunting for “bills” on the river is good. With one bird limits are easy to take generally.

Heard of some redheads being taken on farm ponds in Nokesville.

Definately a “small” push of new birds but with the holiday and a lot of guys out there, they’ll get wise quick.

Good luck, and be safe out there!!!

Posted By:
Craig-Emory OLD
Guest

chincoteague island 11-23-2008 09:14
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
didn’t hunt the area, but scouted it. only saw a few black ducks. hardly any divers, or canadians, or snows, and no brant. when leaving in the evening i saw saw 2 nice flocks of big ducks

Posted By:
sadie1950
Web Member

Southern VA Lexington Area 10-04-2008 19:29
– – –
Hey guys I am an avid waterfowler who just moved to VA from Iowa. I have hunted geese and ducks for 20 years and I took a job out here in Virginia basically because I had no choice. Needless to say with the fall air moving in I am starting to get duck fever and I was wondering if there was anyone around this area that wouldn’t mind someone tagging along some Sunday. I actually have talked to some of my subcontractors and there is one with a lot of land around Smith Mountain Lake. Later on I am going to go scout this area and see if there are any Canadians I can shoot. Problem is I have all my decoys and gear in Iowa. If anyone is interested in meeting up or if you have an extra spot in the boat or blind please get ahold of me.

Here’s my resume

check it out

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Northern VA 08-27-2008 20:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Starting to see groups of geese congregating and flying around usually in groups of 8-10, just in time for the resident opener.

I also noted good numbers of Doves around the country roads in Prince William, Facquier and Stafford counties.

Good luck in the opener. Also if you are looking for a place to hunt geese and doves in N.V.A. check out a website I designed for a friend. www.remingtonwhistlingwings.com

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

NVA – DYKE MARSH STAKE AT RISK OF BEING LOST 04-05-2008 11:34
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– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
DYKE MARSH MEETING W/NPS
April 22, 2008
6 to 9 p.m., Belle View Elementary School,
6701 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22307
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Please see my thread in the VA discussion forum!!!!

We need support from all VA and MD hunters to help save these stakes.

[Edited By Drew-Hawkins on 2008-04-09 22:07]