Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 12-04-2006 17:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Tis’ the season to be jolly! Geese, Geese and more white geese are on the move. Last night and again tonight they appeared as the sun set. With Clear skies and moon light, they are moving down coast to jump the bay for Delmarva. Black geese were only flying the early morning. The ducks should not be far behind as the ice gets settle in up north. GWTeal are back in good numbers out Griscom. I haven’t seen more than one or two at a time the last two weeks …this morning I was done gunning in an hour and they were four of the six birds. Next day out is Thursday …it should all come together just nicely. The ice up north should move the birds with clear moon light skies at night. The day will start almost dead low rising the morning and keeping them moving and looking for a meal … feels like Christmas already!

Posted By:
big gooseman
Guest

Phillipsburg 11-17-2006 14:14
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted several cut corn fields Nov. 14,15,16 200/300 geese each day. Fields are 1/2 mile from Deleware River.Big storms hit on Thursday night, rain and wind. Friday’s hunt no birds in fields, river or sky. Good luck South Jersey here they come!

Posted By:
big gooseman
Guest

Finesville area 11-13-2006 16:42
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted alone in cut corn and soy fields.Several hundred geese moved in from river and limited out quickly. Many fields still in standing corn. Could use freezing temps and dry weather.

Posted By:
big gooseman
Guest

Riegelsville NJ 11-11-2006 17:00
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Shot 2 man limit of Canada geese by 10:30.Plenty of geese and mallards on river

[Edited By big gooseman on 2006-11-11 17:03]

[Edited By big gooseman on 2006-11-11 17:12]

Posted By:
duker31
Supporting Member

Mannington Meadows 10-23-2006 11:31
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
saturday October 21, 2006

left the ramp at 430am and had decoys and set up in blind around 615am had ducks all over all morning and got 6 ( 3 mallard drakes 1 mallard hen 1 pintail hen and 1 widgen hen ) had to leave early son had a football game wished i could of stayed longer going back Monday morning

Posted By:
stick61
Guest

Northern NJ Wallkill river refuge 10-22-2006 17:43
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Things are starting to look pretty good. My son and I spent about an hour at the Wallkill River Refuge Impoundment on the NY/NJ border just before dusk. We saw literally hundreds of mallards, woodies and teal as well as geese. They were coming in in large groups.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 10-20-2006 21:31
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down jersey! Last week the BWTeal had piled up thick but with the heavy frost Thursday, Friday and Saturday the only memory is the posted picture.http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20061002griscom001lj6.jpg

Sprig and some GWTeal have been moving in and out of Swan Pond but not in any great numbers. http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20061020spgwtealswnpdsn8.jpg

Blacks and Mallards have been moving steady on Middle and South river out to Great Egg … but I don’t give the harbor Mallards much thought until their strong hold drainage ditches freeze up.

Some high flying black and white geese moving with a nice tail wind tonight … should make the Delmarva by midnight.

We will see if more birds come in with the front tonight in the am … safe hunting.

Posted By:
stick61
Guest

Northern Sussex County, Wallkill River Refuge 10-20-2006 20:20
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
Went out this morning got 1 woodie drake shot at a few teal. Still not many mallards flying. Going to try it again tomorrow morning. Hopefully the Cooler weather will start bringing in the mallards.

Posted By:
Marshmudd
Guest

10-20-2006 15:09
– – –
Hopefully, with the South Zone opener tomorrow, we’ll start to see more posts.

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

10-20-2006 12:02
–

[Edited By Richard-Foxx on 2006-10-20 12:03]

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

10-20-2006 11:30
– – –
Ray, you do a good job.

I’ll be out for the opener tomorrow.

Seeing lots of ducks and a good vareity in the south zone.

Scouting we have seen Gadwalls, Pintails, Greenwings, a few Bluewings, Mallards and Blacks.

Let you know how we do.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

2006-2007 Waterfowl Regs 08-23-2006 21:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Greeting from the flat lands down Jersey,

The final regs are now posted on the DEP website http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artmigratory06.htm

September season is just around the corner … don’t forget to get both stamps and that HIP number before you go!

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2006-08-23 21:58]

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

New Jersey 08-20-2006 18:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands down Jersey,

The following information is a press release from the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife. Please be sure to visit their website(http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/index.htm) for any changes that may occur governing migratory waterfowl hunting before going a field.

The 2006 NJ Duck Stamp Program information is also availible on line http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/prod_stamps.htm

The NJDGW HIP information release:

Following is information regarding changes in the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). The information can also be found at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/hipprog.htm .

All licensed migratory bird hunters (those hunting ducks, geese, brant, coot, woodcock, rails, snipe or gallinules) must purchase a Harvest Information Program (HIP certificate. The web site and toll-free number previously used for HIP certification in New Jersey are no longer available. With the implementation of the new Integrated Electronic Licensing System (IELS), all HIP registrations are now handled through the online system administered by the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s contractor, Automated Licensing Systems (ALS).
Migratory bird hunters can get their HIP certification three different ways, all of which allow hunting immediately:

* Online by visiting our license sales web site, www.wildlifelicense.com/nj/
* By calling the toll-free NJ telephone sales line at 888-277-2015, or
* At any agent using the new IELS system. A list of license agents that are currently equipped with the IELS system can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/agentlst.htm. (See NOTE below.)

Hunters must have proof of HIP certification while hunting migratory birds, be it a HIP certification printed on the new durable green license stock (DO NOT LAMINATE), a HIP certification printed on a home-computer, or a transaction number obtained over the phone. This proof of certification should be carried in the hunter’s license holder.

Waterfowl Research Project staff use HIP Certifications to draw a sample of hunters for harvest surveys. The Parts Collection Survey uses wings to derive the species, age and sex of the birds in the waterfowl harvest.

There is a $2.00 fee for HIP certification. This fee is merely to cover the cost of administering this federally mandated program, which is only partially paid for by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Those obtaining their HIP certification at an agent will receive a HIP certificate on the durable green license stock (DO NOT LAMINATE) now being used and can go hunting immediately. Hunters can print their certification on a home printer and go hunting immediately. Hunters will be able to return at a later date and get a free reprint if the original gets damaged or lost.

HIP certification obtained by calling the toll-free NJ telephone sales line will cost $5.13 ($2.00 + $3.13 ALS shipping/handling fee). The HIP certification will be printed by ALS on the new durable green license stock and mailed. Hunters will be issued a temporary certification number that allows hunting immediately and can expect to receive their permanent certification document in 7-10 days.

The HIP certification being issued now is valid from Sept. 1, 2006 to March 10, 2007. For migratory bird hunting regulations see the information linked from the Regulations page.

All information collected through the program is kept confidential and is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct migratory bird harvest surveys. As it has done previously, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will also mail harvest surveys to a small, random group of HIP registrants.

NOTE: A small number of IELS agents may not be able to issue HIP certificates so it is advisable to call ahead.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

National Duck Hunter Survey Results 02-10-2006 21:47
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
The following is the National Duck Hunter Survey news release from the Wildlife Management Institute and National Flyway Council. New Jersey waterfowl biologists will participate in a full review and discussion of this survey and its implications at the Joint Flyway meeting beginning Feb 19.

Las Vegas, NV-The National Flyway Council(NFC) and the Wildlife Management Institute released the results of the National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 today at a news conference held in conjunction with the SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas.

“This survey is the first to ask a representative sample of duck hunters in every state their opinions on ducks, duck hunting and waterfowl management,” said Don Childress, NFC chair. Over 10,000 duck hunters responded to the survey.

Some of the national findings include:

* Seventy-two percent of respondents said duck hunting was one of their most important(58 percent) or most important (14 percent) recreational activities.

* Fifty-nine percent said that the duck season length (number of days in the season) in the state they hunted most over the last 5 years was “about right,” although one-third (35 percent) said the season was “too short,” and 3 percent, “too long.”

* Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of duck hunters said that the total daily bag limit in the state they hunted most over the last 5 years was “about right.” Thirteen percent said it was “too low,” and 8 percent, “too high.”

* Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of duck hunters said they spend over $250 each year on duck hunting and one-fifth (20 percent)said they spend over $1,000 each year.

* Six percent of duck hunters now age 45-64 indicated that they began duck hunting in the relatively recent past (1997-2004).

* Twenty percent of duck hunters said they “frequently” access the internet for duck hunting information; 49 percent said “once in a while,” and 31 percent, “not at all.”

Survey results are reported nationally, by the four flyways, and by upper, middle, and lower groupings of states in each flyway. This allows for comparisons among regions of the country. For example, 30 percent of duck hunters in the upper portion of the Central Flyway (North Dakota, South Dakota, and eastern Montana) said that the overall quality of duck hunting over the last five years had “gotten much better” (10 percent)or “gotten a little better” (20 percent), while 29 percent said it had “gotten alittle worse” (23 percent) or “much worse” (6 percent). By contrast, 5 percent of the duck hunters in the lower portion of the Mississippi Flyway (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) said that the overall quality of duck hunting over the last five years had “gotten much better” (1 percent) or “gotten a little better” (4 percent), while 82 percent said it had “gotten a little worse” (31 percent or “much worse” (51 percent).

Fifteen states chose to increase the number of hunters surveyed in their states to allow for statistically meaningful state-level results (South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Maryland, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). These state results will be released on February 16.

The mailing addresses for the survey were randomly drawn from the Harvest Information Program (HIP) database and included hunters who reported having harvested at least one duck during the 2003-04 duck hunting season. Only resident hunters were surveyed.

“This survey just wouldn’t have been possible without the HIP program,” said Childress. “This collaborative HIP effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state fish and wildlife agencies is critical to waterfowl management.”

The survey report includes over one hundred pages of responses to 32 questions from hunters in 49 states. “These results are just the beginning,” said Steve Williams, President of the Wildlife Management Institute. “The purpose of the survey was to provide objective information about hunter attitudes and now it is time to put the results to use.”

The next step is for duck hunters, Flyway Councils, state fish and wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, conservation organizations, duck clubs, and the outdoor media to begin reviewing and discussing what the results mean and how the results might be used to inform future decisions regarding waterfowl hunting and management.

“These results will be invaluable in our deliberations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will do everything we can to communicate these results to those who can use them to improve our hunting regulations and hunter satisfaction in the future,” said Paul Schmidt, Assistant Director for Migratory Birds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Funding for the National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 was provided by state fish and wildlife agencies through the four Flyway Councils,the NFC and the Wildlife Management Institute. A committee composed of Flyway technical representatives and human dimensions specialists was formed by the NFC and guided conduct of the survey. The NFC hired D.J. Case & Associates to coordinate development, implementation and analysis of the survey.

The National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 is the first of several communications strategies under the banner of “A Systematic and Sustained Conversation with Waterfowl Hunters.” A “Strategy Team” formed by the NFC and Wildlife Management Institute in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is guiding the effort.

Additional information on the National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 and a downloadable copy of this news release is available at www.ducksurvey.com.

Contact: Don Childress, National Flyway Council, 406-444-2612, don.childress@ducksurvey.com

Contact: Steve Williams, Wildlife Management Institute, 202-371-1808, steve.williams@ducksurvey.com

Contact: Dave Case, D.J. Case & Associates, 574-258-0100, dave.case@ducksurvey.com

Website: www.ducksurvey.com

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

coastal 01-21-2006 17:40
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Went out friday. To warm. Nothing flying and nothing saw. Tough way to end my season but it just has been to warm. Minor cold front coming in Sunday so Monday could be a good day.

Posted By:
duker31
Supporting Member

Mannington Meadows 12-27-2005 13:06
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
wind out of the NW and had some birds working almost all day up until around 10:30 .. shot 6 mallards 2drakes 4hens .. came in picture perfect just like there supposed to .. didn’t see many geese .. going back thursday hope for some weather

wacken ducks – Rob Big Earl and Bob

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

Sea Isle 12-23-2005 13:43
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
On Wednesday we gunned New Jersey near Sea Isle. Saw hundreds of Brant, A very good number of Bluebills, Buffleheads and Blacks. Did not see as many Mallards as we had expected.

Most of the fresh water ponds were frozen which probably explained the absence of puddle ducks.

The flight started early and continued very well until about 10:30 then it was sporadic till about noon when the tide went slack and the flight pretty much stopped.

We ended the day with 8 Brant, 6 Bluebills and 3 Buffleheads.

Good flights of Brant and Bluebills all day. When we killed birds and were out retrievein the ducks with the dogs it seemed that’s when the Bluebills would buzz us.

Posted By:
stick61
Guest

Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge, Wantage Twp. 12-18-2005 10:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Went out at daybreak on 12/17/05. The area we hunt is the only area of open water on an otherwise ice covered Wallkill River. Got one American Merganser, missed on three others. The ones we saw were the only ducks in the air. They were looking for any open water to land in. Didn’t even see any Canadian Geese flying. Real bad morning, but still better than work!!! Gonna give it another try next week.

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

Navisink 12-17-2005 07:58
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
After some rain in the morning the sun came out and the winds picked up from the west.Had one black early in the decoys and now he will be dinner. Hit a greenhead full but he kept going to sea bright even though wounded. Usually brant,buffies,megies. No bluebills that I saw. Very windy and tough going in the canoe. Lost 5 or 6 carry light red heads and blubills due to the wind and full moon high tide. Was trying to set out my gang line, having set up the singles when I got the canoe turned into the wind my singles decieded to head head out. Some to Red Bank some to Sea Bright. Did not have the guts to chase them in the open water with that wind so if any comes across them I would not mind a PM. Thank you.The highest full moon tides I have ever seen in the river yeasturday. With the wind and tide agains each other in the morning it was rough out their yesturday.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

12-13-2005 06:34
– – –
Christmas greeting from the flat lands down Jersey. Had hoped he weather would have moved more ducks down our way but it is not the case. A typical season … nothing to buy extra shells for. The ponds have been freezing up but most of the creeks are moving and there is no pressure on the birds to cooperate. Red leggers have shown up in the meadows off North Wildwood but only traveling in singles and pairs. Have only spied three broad bills in Great Bay and they didn’t give us a look. Griscom Swamp is holding the usual Sprig and black numbers. Seems to be quite a few more greenheads in the meadows this year. Unlike the blacks that have been traveling in singles or maybe a trio they are traveling in flocks of seven or more. One decides to bail out last minute and every one else follows. Had on flock of nine come by wide five times. This one hen would just turn a 90 at 65 yards. Get back o the call and she would call right back and turn around. Mixed it up each time from chuckles to single quacks but just couldn’t get her to commit the flock. Then a flock of +20 GWTeal buzzed in and that ended that. Surprised to see a flock of that size so late in the season, and to have not nicked a feather.

Last night quite a few snows and some canadas were making the jump across the bay. They were taking advantae of the calm, moon light and clear skies. They started around 6pm and at 9pm I could make out not less than 5 flocks of snow and a flock of canadas going over head.

Here’s to frozen creeks and the best in the New Year.

Posted By:
rberkey
Guest

12/10 DOD Pennsville 12-11-2005 12:18
– – –
Saw one mallard and one flock of divers. Should have gone to the D. Bay

Posted By:
n2o2doc
Guest

Raccooon Creek 12-06-2005 09:48
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Thought we would see more ducks with the recent cold weather and a front coming in yesterday, but we only saw a few distant flocks that wanted to land on the mud flats. Did see some decent flocks of snows on the way home thru the Mullica Hill area. Hopefully this weekend will be better.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 11-23-2005 17:18
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey. With the warn weather Saturday had Woodies still buzzing about. Was a good day Two drake woodies, two green heads, a drake sprig, a GWteal and a pair of Canadas.

Tonight snows, snows and more snows flying just above the trees at sundown … still flying; added a dozen snow floaters to the rig or tomorrow.

Have a good thanksgiving … just love the ice, even if its only skim ice

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2005-11-23 17:19]

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

lake assunpink 11-18-2005 19:22
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
not much out there at all. only saw a hanful of ducks all morning. very few geese flying around the area and only had one single work the decoys before someone down the shoreline tried to sky bust it, which blew our only opportunity of the day. can only hope tommorrow is better(couldnt be worse!)

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

11-17-2005 07:52
– – –
hadnt had time til now to post a report. we did fairly well for the first week of coastal…
11/5 manahawkin bay- 8 brant
11/7 ” “- 10 brant(2 banded)
11/8 brigintine- 10 brant(1 banded)
11/10 barnegat- 6ringneck,4mallards,lBl.dck
11/11 l.b.i.- 6 brant,1 broadbill, 1 buffy
11/12 ” ” – broadbill, mallard, buffy.
the beginning of the week was very slow for ducks, but once that front pushed in on wed. we were watching alot of ducks move into the area. all the gunners ive talked to had a pretty good week too. seems to be a good amount of brant on all the bays.
scouted the mullica river yesterday and saw absolutly NOTHING!! went from green bank to lower bank and everywhere in between an put up no ducks, that place used to hold so many birds. some colder weather coming so it will fell like duck season soon… good luck out there!

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

Great bay 11-11-2005 15:29
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Jump hunted the area today looking for Blacks. Kicked up plenty and missed a 20 yard shot at one. Ducks were very wary today and even a belly crawl could not get me close to most. How do they know I am there when they can’t possible see me. A few Brant flocks. Anyway good to be out hunting, thanks veterns for your service. After 6 hours of in and out of Tuckerton mud I am beat and my left thigh is killing me.
Checked out the federal land. No divers a few balcks

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Manahawkin Bay 11-08-2005 19:59
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey. Went north to Manahawkin Bay for the Coastal opener. Some brant moving and few ducks. It was a nice 70 degrees. I should have brought a fishing pole, we had snappers jumping in the stools and an occasional 2’ swirl. Was good to get out in a new location … TU VK for the invite. Was a typical brant-black-bufflehead day. Quite a few flocks of Canadas traveling the river lately out Griscom Swamp. They have been roosting the meadows by the old sunshine park and traveling up river an hour after light. Few GWteal and local big ducks … need some weather up north. At this rate it looks like it will be Christmas before gunning is worth hauling the rig.

Posted By:
KennyW
Guest

11-04-2005 07:09
– – –
hello, my name is kenny ward from PA. i am heading to atlantic city in a few weeks and would like to hunt some divers, brant, or snows. i am looking for a quality guiding service within 20-30 miles of atlantic city. any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance.

Posted By:
rberkey
Guest

Stow creek evening 10/26 10-28-2005 19:30
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – –
Several black ducks seen, nothing spectacular. I couldn’t go far into the marsh, high wind, and canoe. Missed 2 decoying ducks (poor shooting), missed a big greenhead (safety didn’t pass all the way). Saw about 2 dozen sporatic teal after shooting light.

Posted By:
rberkey
Guest

S. Jersey 10/22 10-23-2005 08:48
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – –
Hunted DoD Firday night, nothing till we were pulling the dekes, returned for Sat. morning, huge flight of birds, but they were heading somewhere else, had a couple lookers, and took a ring neck. Sat. afternoon Union Lake. Many woodies in the area, took one, heard of a widgen taken at the dock.

Posted By:
K-5
Web Member

South Jersey 10-22-2005 14:17
– – –
I find it fascinating that a reprisentitive from Ontario (or anywhere from Canada for that matter) would have any input into our seasons and bag limits. The bag limits are so liberal in Canada as compared to the United States. Example: Anticosta Island offers Black Duck hunts along with the deer hunts. I called and the bag limit is 5 blacks. I once wrote a letter to the editor of Wildfowl magizine in reference to an article that quoted “they reached their bag limit of 6 each”. The editor responded that the Black Duck was doing quite well in Canada. B S. They just don’t have the courage to limit their own.

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

Bad News for the Atlantic FLyway 10-20-2005 09:01
– – –
As most of you know, I was Sea Duck Hunting with a few members of this site the last 2 days.

As hunting goes, during lulls in the action conversation starts. We talked about a variety of topics one of which was the direction and the recommendations of the Atlantic Flyway Council.

Some of the recommendations that they wanted to implement this year was “Hunter’s Choice”. I can guarantee you that this will be a hot topic again next year.

Hunter’s Choice would be this. We will have a 4 bird limit. This could be all “4 limit birds” like Mallards.However, there would be no restrictions on hen Mallards so theoretically you could shoot 4 Hen Mallards. Teal, Gadwall’s, Wigeon and Shoveler’s would also fit into this category.

A bird with a 2 bird limit like Bluebills, Wood Ducks and Red Heads would effect you like this. You shoot 2 Bluebills. No more 2 bird limit specie’s. No Red Heads. No Wood Ducks. Now you can only shoot 2 Mallards, both of which could be Hens. You could also finish off this limit with the other 4 bird specie’s, Wigeon, Gadwall’s etc. Or, Merganser’s.

Your 1 bird limit specie’s, Canvasback’s, Black Duck’s and Pintails. Shoot a Can, no Pintail. Shoot a Pintail, no Can. Shoot a Black, no Pinatail or Can. You now have three birds left to fill you bag.

One of the disturbing things to happen this year is that Merganser’s now count against your daily bag limit.

The Flyway Council Rep from Ontario wants to increase and ease restrictions on Snow Geese as they are destroying their breeding habitat, farmers crops and marsh’s. For some reason, there is tremendous opposition to this from this Council. Why?

We have only a few strong voices for the hunters, one of whom is Paul Castelli the Head Biologist from New Jersey who is their Flyway Council Representative.

There are a few other hunters on the Flyway Council but none who speaks with the knowledge of the resource and conviction to work with hunters like Paul.

We need to fight this trend to restrict our hunting rights. If this is implemented next year it will decidely impact your hunt and make up of your bag.

This type of Daily Bag Limit will severly restrict yours and my hunting rights and opportunities.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Snows are coming down for their winter vaction … 10-16-2005 21:04
Cloudy, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Greeting from the flatlands down Jersey! Snows, snows and more snows on the move today. They woke me up this morning at 0630 … thought the dogs in the neighborhood had gone crazy … but it was a bark of anther sort. They flew until about 9am. I think the tropical force gale we had blowing kept them down. For when it stopped, they started moving again. I can hear them barking going over the house as I write this report at 2200. No short stoppers in Griscom. They were making the jump to Delaware. Did chance to see one flock of black geese up in the altitudes that were going to make the bay jump south.

Southern opener was a good hunt. To buddies stopped down to try their talents on teal. Had maybe 6 flocks of 15-20 birds come in the first half hour. 5 minutes into the opener and they were decoy shy. By the shells on the ground that we had to pick up you would have thought we were going to jail but we only managed (2) blacks, (1) BWTeal and a half Dozen GWTeal. Not bad but not limit.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Lakes Bay 10-10-2005 22:26
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 60-65 Degrees
Spied the first Brant and Buffleheads today … will not be long before the snows and the rest of the ducks get here … can not wait!

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 10-08-2005 22:56
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Greeting from the flatlands down Jersey! A week away from the Southern opener! Be sure to have your license, fed and state stamp signed and that most important HIP number … the rest is useless without it. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/hipprog.htm
GWTeal numbers have been improving again and some cotton tops were mixed in with the sprig on Friday Scouting, scouting and more scouting is what we always hear but also pay attention to the obvious. I will be gunning with Canada floaters opening not my normal routine of swans. Why, when the season isn’t open for Canadas? The obvious confidence decoy answer you say? Yes as confidence decoys. The reason is that the largest majority of ducks I have been seeing are hanging with the Canadas and not the swans as in years past. Look for the details … it always pays. Eye spy with the new binoc-cam, http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2334/tuck100605clogrd5tf.jpg

Some teal that wouldn’t sit to have their picture taken http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/364/100305gwteal3b2tw.jpg

Special Impoundment Goose Hunting Information (Proposed)
BRIGANTINE DIVISION IMPOUNDMENT AREA 2005 OCTOBER SNOW GOOSE HUNT RULES
A Snow goose hunt will be held in the impoundment area of the Brigantine Division on the following Wednesdays depending on amount of Snow goose present: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe/waterfowl2003.html#Special

Date
October 12
October 19
October 26
November 2

For information concerning hunting at the Barnegat Division contact Refuge Manager at:
EDWIN B. FORSYTHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
BARNEGAT DIVISION
PO Box 544, 70 Collinstown Road
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(609) 698-1387

Always out there …

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 09-30-2005 23:12
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Greeting from the flatlands down Jersey! Still have not spied any BWteal. The GWTeal that were hold up in Tuckahoe have been fewer and fewer each day. Maybe only +100 in there now but Sprig have shown up and mixed in with them. A hole I have been checking up the head of the river had two or three pairs of Woodies dropping in each night. Last night about three DOZEN piled in just after legal. I am not sure if they are migrants or the locals are just starting to flock up. Early Canada season was a bust. With the salt line up so far on the river, most of the birds moved to parts unknown inland. The count down to season opener is growing short … seems like I just put the stools in the rafters.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 09-18-2005 23:05
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Greeting from the flatlands down Jersey! Teal, teal and more teal, just like someone threw a switch and they were here. I couldn’t find a BWTeal in the bunch. They were all GWTeal. Tuckahoe impoundments were holding +400 and +200 in the Corbin impoundments, about 50 birds back in beaver swamp and +100 up the head of the river. Hopefully we will get some real weather to move the migration along. I haven’t spied any Woodies and there are not many big puddle ducks in the meadows out Griscom. The retention basins all over God’s green acres are holding more greenheads this year than I have seen before. If there is water, there is at least a pair if not a dozen birds. It’s a long time off before they get frozen out. I still have not been able to get a water pattern plotted on the Geese. Today there come in at noon the next day they not in till a half an hour past sunset. Then the following day they don’t show at all. Typical …

Posted By:
modmanjoe
Guest

Delaware river 09-14-2005 07:49
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted the river on Saturday. Saw one small flock of geese. Hunted just South of Milford, pa. Did anybody hunt the lower delaware around the Delaware water gap ?

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Down Jersey 09-05-2005 19:44
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from Down Jersey. The season change is upon us … large flocks of grackles have been moving through the woods and the swamp maples are starting to turn yellow. Spied the first BWTeal. Nothing to buy extra shells for but they are here. The resident Canada Geese are up to their usual tricks of the trade. Have to scout and be where they are going to b successful. A new first to their adaptability, they are now grazing the grass in the Verizon parking lot in Marmora.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is offering four waterfowl hunting days for young hunters this fall. Youth days will be held in each of the state’s three waterfowl zones – September 24 in the north zone; November 11 and 12 in the south zone; and October 29 in the coastal zone; http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2005/ythwaterfowl05.htm

Mid-continent breeding populations and habitat conditions in some survey areas were not as good as recent years, but the status of waterfowl and their habitats are sufficient overall to justify a liberal duck hunting season framework; http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artmigratory04.htm

Beginning on September 1, hunters will be required to use shotgun shells loaded with nontoxic shot at all times while hunting rails, snipe, and moorhens in New Jersey. Nontoxic shotshell types legal for waterfowl will also be legal for rails, snipe, and moorhens; http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2005/nontoxicshot.htm

May actually get to go gunning Wednesday …
will let you know

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Down Jersey 08-02-2005 19:34
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey. Goslings, goslings and more goslings … so what else is new? Tis’ the season to make ready, time to paint the canoe, touching up the goose stools and get the honey-do list done because September season is just around the corner. All indications are that the season limits will remain the same this year at (8) per day but there is no official word documenting this yet. Duck stamps are in at our local USPS office but the state …is the state. Don’t forget that all important HIP number on line at http://www.wetland.net/HIP/State_WelcomePage?AppId=0709 or by calling 1-800-WETLAND.

In talking to a friend at work, he brought up all the geese he had been seeing … here, there and everywhere. I reminded him that all the locations were drainage basins for the malls and not much promise of a day out gunning. We reminisced about the farms we gunned locally; all but one has turn into houses, playgrounds, storage units or the like. That’s the chore, to find a place to gun. This year’s plan is to go back some 20 years when we couldn’t get permission to gun the fields and find a place they are coming in to water and roost for the afternoon. Hopefully they are going out to the meadows and not to the retention basins. If they are in the retention basins then its on to plan B … which has yet to be concocted or realized.

Rumor has it that the Fed’s have added more jewelry to the geese this year when banding. Now there is two numbers to report … but it will help fill another lanyard faster. Report band numbers on line at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/.

Always out there …

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

East of the Parkway 01-23-2005 19:19
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Greetings from down Jersey. Geese, Geese and more geese moving down the coast today over the bay. Not the usual residents, but migrates looking for the open water and forage. Saw five flocks that were mixed Canadas and Snows with both black and white geese the same size as each other. Hope to take advantage of their predicament Wednesday with a Winter Season bag limit of (5) … should be nice.

Posted By:
glitterperegrine
Supporting Member

01-23-2005 00:18
– – –
Help a little girl out everyone

Mackenzie Maier needs a postcard from you! Mac is a 4 year old with very serious cancer. Her goal is to collect a postcard from every state in the US. Please help her reach her goal by mailing her one today!

Her address is:

Mackenzie Maier
23037 Magnolia Glen Drive
Valencia, CA 91354

They have a website with a guestbook and pictures of her with Santa at:

www2.caringbridge.org/ca/mackenziemaier

Posted By:
Kyle-Scott
Guest

Oil Spill Area 01-18-2005 17:49
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
The area is said to be open … check out http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/news/2004/spill_update04.htm or http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/spill_advisory04-2.htm for all the details.

Posted By:
Kyle-Scott
Guest

Oil Spill Area 01-18-2005 17:49
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
The area is said to be open … check out http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/news/2004/spill_update04.htm or http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/spill_advisory04-2.htm for all the details.

Posted By:
rberkey
Guest

Del bay side 01-18-2005 14:55
– – –
I haven’t hunted up there since the spill. What’s the situation…. everything back to normal, or do they still want people to stay clear of the river? Thanks

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp & Cranbury 01-16-2005 21:56
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Greeting from the flatlands down Jersey! I finished out South Zone gunning the last three days in Griscom. I took 14 ducks and three geese for the days out and about. Had set out a half dozen Canada stools for confidence decoys and just incase. Four birds did come up off the river. At the 60 yard line they changed their mind and started to swing wide. Dropped the first stone dead, broke both of number two’s wings. Got on a come back call and number three did an about face flying straight at me calling his head off … wrong move. Saturday gunned Cranbury. We saw geese most of the day but they know the game all to well. They would come in on a sting, then elevate for a high pass at 100 yds and bank out. Didn’t give a come back call a notice. Only nine birds from two flocks and a pair for the five of us … not so good. Maybe some snow or cold weather will get the best of their caution to make the late season work better. Was counting the broadies I would bag while I pulled the rig and getting set for late season back in November. No ice and all the birds sitting up in the Raritan … well I was told about 55K in there right now. It may have been a lot of work for nothing. We’ll see what the next two weeks brings.

Posted By:
n2o2doc
Guest

North Wildwood 12-30-2004 18:58
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the coastal zone for 2 hours in the am. Saw lot of brant and some blacks and mallard, but not much movement with the nice weather. One black duck and one hooded merg in the bag. We got buzzed by a flock of greenwing teal still hanging around, but not close enough for a shot.

Posted By:
Mean Joe Greenhead
Guest

Hunterdon County 12-29-2004 08:27
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Solo hunted an open water area with some ice-up just on the shore edges. Decided to only bring duck decoys out today, big mistake, but, managed one greenhead in a short one hour end of day hunt. Thousands of Canada geese in the fields and plenty resting on the water as well. A field goose shoot is on the agenda soon. The flights of mallards coming in varied in size from flocks of 6-8 to 12-20. Must have seen 200+ birds…as usual with the evening hunt, they come in after shooting time. What a sight it is to have so many birds coming in and be right in the middle of it.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 12-23-2004 21:16
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Tis the season to be jolly … greeting from down Jersey. A thaw after a quick freeze, south wind and a rising tide … I couldn’t have wished a better scenario. Yesterday I figured the thaw had started. I planned and extra hour to walk a hole in the ice to gun but it took over two and a half hours to axe out a hole. I wasn’t ready dressed for splitting a cord of wood and steam rose off me for 10 minutes after I settled in. Ducks moving the first 45 minutes and here I was breaking ice and dropping the stools as fast as I could. It wasn’t the normal drop the stools, relax a bit, maybe adjust the rig over a cup of coffee before the flight. Rising tide and the south wind change to the rescue! Ended up with two Canadas, drake sprig, black and two greenheads. Quite a few birds on the move and traveling in flocks of +25 birds. Today, life was easier. Ice was already broken from yesterday and the temp climbed enough to open a nice hole. Sprigs, Sprigs and more sprigs. Had at least five flocks of 50-70 birds just drop right in before 8am. Was nice for some photos but not for the bag with only one bird. The blacks were traveling in +15 bird flocks but they all circled and landed out +70 yards. Not good. Had two flocks of +20 mallards do the same. Hooded mergs all morning in and out of the rig so I took a nice drake … maybe get a standing mount. A lone drake GWTeal made the mistake of not circling. He ended up in the freezer for the taxidermy man too. He was full color with that yellow almost all the way around his green eye patch. Not usually impressed with teal but this one wasnice. High tide and the +25mph wind moved the birds again around 9am and I finally picked up a black and three Greenheads. Also saw two flocks of +15 common mergs. Must have a bit of ice up north. Had the sprig and greenheads I shot yesterday on the BBQ for lunch … have to find a better marinade for these late season birds. South wind to change to NW tomorrow so we are of to the NW gunning hole … hopefully the birds know to change too.

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-12-23 21:18]

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 12-20-2004 20:20
Arctic Blast – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Christmas Greetings from down Jersey! The cold has snows and Canada’s moving towards Delaware tonight. When the wind stopped they started moving high and direct – probably two hours by now. Last weeks high water and Nor’easter moved quite a few ducks into Griscom Swamp from the salt meadows. The cold may move them out. Out and About glassing Middle River into Great Egg towards Mayslanding today, saw plenty of Hoodies (if you need a mount). Spied two flocks of (+25) sprig moving off Swan pond up Great Egg, and three flocks of (+30) mallard blacks in the river above Corbin City. Hard to tell what the chill will bring . . . will be out there Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the thaw. 2005 is coming up quick . . . don’t forget the new license and to transfer the HIP number. Will be out there . . . Merry Christmas

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

DEP Reopens Salem River WMA 12-17-2004 16:42
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
DEP Reopens Salem River WMA to Waterfowl Hunting and Rescinds Waterfowl Advisory

The Department of Environmental Protection(DEP) announced today that the closure of the Salem River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to all waterfowl hunting has been lifted. The Salem River WMA had been closed to waterfowl hunting to reduce the potential for birds to be exposed to oil contamination in the Delaware River. However, based upon observations of limited surface oil during a recent aerial survey by DEP biologists, it was determined that the area should once again be opened for public access.

In addition to reopening Salem River WMA, DEP also rescinded the waterfowl advisory that was in effect for the area from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge east on Route 74 to the junction with the New Jersey Turnpike. South on the NJ Turnpike to the junction with Route 322. East on Route 322 to Route 45. South on Route 45 to Route 581. South on Route 581 to Route 49. East on Route 49 to Route 654. Route 654 west to Route 651. Route 651 to Route 623. Left on Route 623 to Route 658. Right on Route 658 straight onto Alloway Creek Neck Road to the Salem Nuclear Power Plant.

DEP will continue to work with the United States Coast Guard and other federal and state agencies to contain and clean-up a spill that occurred on November 26 when an oil tanker, the ATHOS I, released an undetermined amount of crude oil into the Delaware River while attempting to dock at the Citgo Petroleum Corporation terminal in West Deptford Township. The spill has now impacted more than 120 miles of shoreline.

To view the web version of this information, click on the following link:

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2004/spill_update04.htm

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Deleware River 12-02-2004 15:33
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
NJDEP Oil spill advisory: “The purpose of this advisory is to prevent the transport of oil by anglers, hunters and boaters to uncontaminated areas and to preclude waterfowl from inadvertently being flushed from inland roosting and resting areas out into portions of the Delaware River that may be impacted by the oil spill from the Athos 1. This will also provide refuges for waterfowl in unoiled areas where they will they will hopefully remain if undisturbed.”

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/spill_advisory04.htm

Posted By:
NC Spinning Wing
Guest

Absecon/AC 12-01-2004 12:42
– – –
Hunted the bay Friday and Saturday, with some sucess.
Brant were everywhere and limited both days. Managed to scatch out 1 snow and some blacks, buffies and some r-b mergs.

Saw some sprig and teal, but not much after that. The full moon killed our hunting.

I think we will try January out for some more action, hopefully the birds will have arrived by then.

PA is slow, very slow so don’t feel discourged down in the flats!!!

The only problem we had with the hunt was trying to get licences, what a MAJOR headache! I just don’t see why out of state hunters have to fill out paperwork regarding chid support in NJ, heck I’m not a resident!!!!

Have fun on the gun!

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 11-29-2004 21:12
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
A belated Gobble, Gobble from down Jersey. The tradition of breaking skim ice on turkey day to set out the rig was replaced with a chorus of Tree Frogs. How warm was it for late November! Managed a black, woody, and two GWTeal. That was all I saw and had come into the stools. Out and about scouting the same day, I ran into two other duck hunters with the same idea to find out where the ducks were hiding. One gunned Middle river (he saw ten ducks for the day and had shot a black) the other gunned South river (he saw five for the day without a shot). We all had the same ideas about the slow season; the weather had not moved birds in; the high water gave them too many options; it was a combination of both. Gunned Friday thinking the cold front would change things for the better. Did have more ducks moving. Three flocks of mallards checked out the rig. They may have been new comers to the area but not to the game. First flock made three high passes and landed out 60 yards – no shots. Second flock played the same game but one went home on the second fly by. Third flock, I knocked down two the first pass. I wasn’t thrilled at taking +45 yard shots – too easy to loose them in the meadows without a dog. Had two flocks of Sprig come right into the rig. First flock was a high flyer that maple-leafed right into the spread. The second flock came straight in 5’ off the deck from the meadows. I didn’t know what they were at first – just bullets with wings. I will not expect that to happen when they come back into season. Three greenheads and a black was it for the day. Didn’t see a teal and at most 10 blacks for the day in four flocks. Did hear woodies up in the timber before light, but never saw them. Saturday traveled 100 miles NW on the report from Dave that the goose numbers had doubled in Gooseville and he had the field with permission. Well the numbers doubled or maybe even tripled. We easily saw +20K in a three hour flight spectacular in the morning. One problem, a farm not ½ mile off in the flight path was cutting a soy field … not good. We managed five for the five of us out of five birds that came in. Brought an eight dozen white rig to add to the Canada flock, and the snows did come and hang 90 yards up before heading to the soy field. I’m going Christmas shopping the next to weeks … check out the ducks in the retention basins … should be weather that makes a difference by then … hopefully for the better. I’m glad Teddy set the seasons late this year.

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-11-29 21:17]

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Mercer County 11-21-2004 20:50
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
Greeting from down Jersey. Out and about… Chopping at the bit for the Canada season opener Saturday but the birds are just not here in any numbers. They are as unreliable as during September season. So I traveled two hours north for the opener in central Jersey on reports of THOUSANDS covering the fields. Sure enough Dave wasn’t lying. The five of us took turns shooting one bird at a time (only singles no flocks … to keep them uneducated). We were done by 8am with rig stowed and (15) on the ground. All the birds were migrants, not a resident in the bunch. Taking turns shooting, I even had time for some photos out of the blind. One is posted up on my editor’s page. A jag of +2K snows out of Allentown swirled the field and landed out some 300 yards from us. No shots just high fly looks see of our rig. We will be adding some white stools for the next outing. Seems everything is open for Thanksgiving … it going to be hard to choose what to do and where to go. So we will be scouting all the spots to make the best of the trip out … you should too. Gobble, gobble …

Posted By:
firstshot
Guest

fortescue 11-20-2004 21:06
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Came in from IN. on Saturday 13th hunted up to Friday the 19th Saw a lot of birds, migration of snow geese were moving each day.Total for the week: 26 teal, limit of blacks each day, 3 bluebills, 2 shovelers, 4 mallards, 2 brant. This was the first time hunting this area, we will be back next year. Weather was to warm to hunt. Indiana Choppers

Posted By:
brantman
WFC Sponsor

southern zone 11-16-2004 17:11
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
hunted the DOD monday nite didnt see anything

Posted By:
n2o2doc
Guest

Stow Creek 11-16-2004 11:47
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted the last 2 hours of Saturday from my buddies new boat blind- not a shot at anything! Only ducks moving were some blackies right before end of shooting time and they didn’t give the dekes a second look. We didn’t even jump up any ducks on the way out. Hope some new weather will push some new ducks in.

Posted By:
NC Spinning Wing
Guest

Brigantine 11-16-2004 10:42
– – –
Hello Fellas,

Just asking if anyone has reports from around the refuge down south.

Have a hunt scheduled for next Friday and Saturday.

PA is bone dry of ducks like usual.

Thanks in Advance

JC

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Riggs Creek , CMC 11-12-2004 15:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands down Jersey! Mid-week opener For Coastal didn’t pan out as most Costal openers gunning the other side of the Parkway in the Southern Zone. Blacks were on the move with the boys out the salt meadows pounding away but the harbor mallards didn’t join the flight. The first hour into the day had +300 blacks come right into the stools and splashed down. There had to be a greenhead in all of them … but not wing bars or white tail or belly in the bunch. It was a one duck limit day. Took a canoe ride up every ditch I could think of to jump shoot something else … up into the timber until I ran out of water. Two and a half hours of canoeing and all to no avail. Jumped more blacks but that was it. Not a teal, gray, white tail or woody to be found. The shoulders are reminding me today that I haven’t paddled that long for some time. I will have to make a better plan for the next trip out. Trying to get out there…

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 11-09-2004 21:40
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands down Jersey! Snows on the move tonight heading down to jump the bay for Delaware. Flight started maybe an hour after sun down and hasn’t stopped yet. Only wish it was season so I could catch the late comers rising off the meadows out Griscom Swamp in the AM. Gunning last Saturday, I was fortunate to have twiddle dumb and twiddle dumber set 80 yards down wind from me at sun rise. Hard to figure if they shot worse than they called or called worse than they shot. Needless to say any of the big puddlers that swung wide to come in were spooked off. GWTeal saved the day with their normal low to the water and right into the spread maneuvers. Six GWTeal makes limit but seeing a limit of greenheads get shot at and spooked out from under you … just doesn’t make it. Of course the only big ducks to make the turn short and drop right in were Sprig … they knew their season was out. There were a fair number of ducks moving on the meadows but not an exceptional number. Quite a few Hooded Merg’s have shown up and were moving about. A buddy of mine that guns the upper Egg Harbor tells me that Monday he thinks he saw a Woody. Today he could have shot one for every shell he had right over the stools and he carries three boxes. Well the best we can do this week is Thursday … hope the boys gunning opening day of Coastal ZOne are moving them on the salt meadows … to me in the brackish South zone. Not sure how a mid-week opener for Coastal will pan out nor if the Woodies will still be around with the freeze. Trying to get out there …

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-11-09 21:42]

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-11-09 21:45]

Posted By:
Marshmudd
Guest

Heislerville/Denniscreek 11-08-2004 19:24
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Still seems like mostly local birds around. Saw a couple of flocks of GWT, some Blacks and Mallards. Missed an easy shot on a Drake Widgeon. Hopefully some decent numbers of northern birds will arrive soon. Plenty of Canada’s around, could have had a limit if they were in season.

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

Dennis Creek 11-01-2004 18:56
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
Well almost Nobember and we had skeeters biting us till the wind picked up.

Not a stellar hunt.

We didn’t see many birds, didn’t hear many shots and wound up with 2 blacks and a GWT.

We saw quite a few blacks, pair of pintails, about 150 GWT and 10-15 mallards.

We need some weather.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 10-27-2004 22:09
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Greeting from the flatlands down Jersey. With sun up so late in the day I though 430am would do just fine to gun Saturday … Wrong. Two guys were setting up in “the spot.” They must have seen the +40 teal sitting there too. So on to plan B. The wind was hawk’en at legal and the reeds were whistling! Managed a drake sprig, Suzy, black and (3) teal. Birds passing right to left died with a bang. Birds passing left to right flew off laughing after bang, bang, bang and a comment. Have to work on that! It was five missed GWTeal. Suzy and the sprig were gifts. After shooting the black, I was just watching my buddies off in “the spot” miss flock after flock. Four in bang, bang, bang four out. Three in bang, bang, bang three out … I have to get up 2am to be there next weekend.. Birds were not breaking my way just getting out of Dodge. Then something made me look up and there was a pair of sprig right to left – bang. It was a young drake that was still eclipse and had no tail. Then had four different groups of blacks came right over and into the spread – but had the limit. Each group didn’t sit long. Then a trio banked and pitched right in to land. Nice picture so I grabbed the camera and just before I took the shot I realized the trailing bird had wing bars! Bloop went the camera and bang went the gun. A Suzy! So glad I invested in a water proof camera! All of the birds less one of the GWTeal were juveniles. The Suzy still had a greenish bill and two of the teal were half as big as the mature one. Was a good day. Overall a fair number of ducks were moving on the meadows and shots were heard until I left at 845am. Wouldn’t go buy extra shells … well maybe if they are going to fly left to right. So what happened to the Snow migration this year? Haven’t heard a one. Always out there…

Posted By:
muckdoc
Guest

Fortescue 10-26-2004 20:23
– – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted Sat AM. Very few teal. The usual local blackies. Not much else.

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

Matt\’s Landing 10-23-2004 18:15
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted Heislerville WMA this morning. We didn’t see a ton of birds, maybe 100 GWT and 100 plus black ducks and also what we thought was a gadwall.

The birds worked good early, we knocked down 5 GWT and 2 Blacks. It was me, my son Woodie and gunning partner Tomatoe Steak.

If we had our sheet together we probably would have a few extra birds. We tried to get Woodie the first few shots and he finally kncoked down a nice drake black.

Heard a few Snows though we never saw them and saw the about 500 Chain Gang Canadians. Heard sporadic shooting from the sound of Dividing Creek, Thompson’s Beach and Moore’s Beach.

Ray Sands, I read your posts and thanks for the good work and dedication.

Posted By:
NC Spinning Wing
Guest

10-22-2004 11:47
– – –
Thanks for the report on the snows, we are forgoing this weekends trip, and will be down for ducks and geese in late Nov.

Posted By:
Marshmudd
Guest

Cumberland/Salem Counties 10-18-2004 19:22
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Saw a few flocks of snow off in the distance, looked like they were over the Bay, but were heading in-land.

Posted By:
NC Spinning Wing
Guest

AC 10-18-2004 12:23
– – –
Hey All,
Does anyone know if there are snows in South Jersey?
I am scheduled to hunt them Saturday?

Thanks

JC

Posted By:
Brian-Rogers
Guest

DE BAY AREA 10-17-2004 13:14
– – –
Just wanted to know if anyone had been out in the DE bay after seaducks or has seen any seaducks up and down the DE bay area? I was thinking bout giving them a try but have not been able to get out and take a look around, any infor would be great,

Posted By:
Brian-Noll
Guest

10-12-2004 19:57
– – –
bayhunter,

Tried, they are only open from 6:00am till 10:00pm. We are just going to go on Friday eveing and get a hotel room. I should be OK then.

Thanks,
Brian

Posted By:
bayhunter66
Guest

10-12-2004 15:10
– – –
Brian – Try Walmart, 2219 2nd. St. Millville
Store Phone # (856)825-4200.

Posted By:
Brian-Noll
Guest

License Center 10-12-2004 10:54
– – –
Anybody know a license seller who is open 24 hours near Vineland/Millville NJ?

Posted By:
modmanjoe
Guest

PIKE -MONROE COUNTY 10-12-2004 08:39
– – –
HAS ANYBODY HUNTED THE DELAWATRE RIVER NORTH OF THE DELAWARE WATER GAP ?

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape-Atlantic 10-10-2004 12:03
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Greetings from the Flatlands down Jersey. Out and about … not much to talk about in Griscom Swamp. GWTeal have arrived but are few and far between. Traveling the usual hot spots the break of light this morning. Well I’m not buying any extra shells. A drive through the Mac Namara impoundments had (6) BWTeal in the dog training impoundment, (6) mallards/blacks in the first impoundment off the school at Corbin City and maybe (+30) GWTeal in the middle impoundment in Tuckahoe. First Brant spied in Lakes Bay on Wednesday last. There was (+200) in one flock and a flock of (+150) over in Scull Bay. Always out there…

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Forsythe NWR 09-20-2004 20:01
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Greetings from the Flat lands Down Jersey. Out and About today so we stopped by the refuge to see what has arrived with the weather? GWTeal and Sprig all over the west impoundment. A guess? 8-10K GWTeal, 4-5K Sprig, maybe +200 Blacks and Greenheads. Not a BWTeal in the bunch spied through the spotting scope. Maybe +150 Canadas in the impoundment spread on the Northern side. Nothing in the East impoundment, less the no-neckers. A ride by the Tuckahoe-Corbin impoundments had +20 Mutes and a pair of Greenheads – not looking good there. State has the word out, Mid-continent breeding populations and habitat conditions in some survey areas were not as good as recent years…read more at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artmigratory04.htm. See you at the Tuckerton Decoy show this weekend … always out there

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Salem COunty 09-19-2004 20:09
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Posted up the labor day bag on the editors page. Always out there…

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape – Atlantic 09-19-2004 19:45
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands down Jersey. The weather couldn’t be better for getting motivated and out scouting. I plan a visit to Forsythe for snow goose info and to see what has shown up this week with the cooler temperatures. This coming weekend is the show above and beyond all waterfowler shows … the Ocean County Decoy and gunning Show. The event is September 25th & 26th. It operates from 7am to 5pm on both days – Rain or Shine! The show is large and is located throughout Tuckerton. The best (from my point of view) is at the “Tip” Seaman County Park on Lakeside Drive & Route 9. Boats and boat builders, decoys, skeet shooting from a sneakbox, team waterfowling competition, Kid’s Working Decoy contest, retriever contests – puppy, novice, and advanced, Barnegat Bay Working Decoy Rig contest, equipment, decoy head whittling contest, NJ State Duck and Goose Calling Championships, and did I say decoys, all can be found there. The remainder of the show can be visited at the Pinelands High School, Middle School, and the Tuckerton Seaport. Admission is FREE – Parking is FREE – and there are FREE shuttles between all locations. The event is sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders. This two-day event draws exhibitors and visitors from the entire eastern seaboard and beyond and has been named as one of the top 100 events in North America. For more information and directions please visit http://www.ocean.nj.us/parks/decoyshow2004.htm. Always out there … Well not this weekend I’ll be at the decoy show both days. Just hope the wallet holds out!

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape – Atlantic Region 09-13-2004 20:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
How’s are you at ID’ing birds?
The USGS, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, has a page to check out… http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/tools/duckplum/duckplum.htm#contents
always out there…

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape-Atlantic Region 09-12-2004 12:17
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey! With large flocks of grackles moving through the woods and the laughing gulls sporting their winter plumage – you know gun season is upon us! 2004 Summer Canada season started with a bust – no shots fired. I never made it into the field. First opener I missed in thirty years! Made it up for it on Labor Day, it took the better part of Monday for the five of us to make limit. Early morning had all the birds coming out of roost at one time. We backed off from shooting at the big flock. We even let the smaller groups (that dropped out into the spread) land and leave again to cauth up to the mob without a shot fired. The smaller flocks that came by on their own didn’t have the same chance. The morning had (8) in the bag and (32) to go! The boys on the river were moving them for us from their watering spots. In the afternoon, we caught them in smaller flocks as they came back from a drink and a nap. We were picked up and were gone with the sun still in the sky. Saturday we tried the same thing all over again. Let the big flock go by, and pick up on the lone smaller flocks.(10) down in the morning but no shots on the river? Had they all gone bow hunting? Well, the geese will be back by 3pm or so after a drink and a nap. 3pm, 4pm, 5pm … what time is sundown? 6pm, 7pm and we didn’t fire a shot. I was glad I didn’t take my headlamp out of my day pack. (10) dozen Big Foot decoys, (5) finisher blinds, silhouettes, and the rest of the assortment can take time to pack out. Quite a bit of head scratching when on during pick up and no one has head lice. Time for plan B … whatever that is. OUT AND ABOUT: A quick tour of the Mac Namara WMA impoundments had BWTeal and some local mallards (with their almost full sized ducklings) and maybe (25-30) Canadas. Not many BWTeal to brag about, but they are here. Seems the Mute swans did well – two ugly ducklings for every adult bird. That puts their number around (200) now. Always out there …