Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape-Atlantic Area 09-05-2004 13:57
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey. Hard getting permission to gun? Buggers are too close to homes? Someone else beat you to the farmer? Remember geese are creatures of habit. If you can find where they are going to water and rest in the afternoon, a water set will work just fine – maybe better. No one said the only place you can kill them is in a field. And as creatures of habit and living the life of ambush, fields are something to be cautious about. Gunning friends limited out opening day on the Rancocas over a water set when they had no options in the field. Slept in late and did’nt set up until 10am. Report in for the week overall was … poor. Seems most of the birds are not in the fields with the dry conditions. But where are they? Time to change the oil and get out and about scouting. Always out there….

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-09-05 13:58]

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Jersey Flatlands 08-29-2004 21:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey! The memories of September Canada season are brought back by the sounds and fragrances of the season. They are all around us, the song of the cicadae and cricket, the buzz of the mosquito, the mixing of sweat and bug spray, the disked corn ripening in the +80 degree heat, yes past days a field come to mind real quick especially on the eve of the opener. My God, if I wasn’t such a diehard would I even venture out and put myself through this torture? With a teasing eight goose bag limit … you are darn straight I’ll be out there!

The stools have been pulled, washed and bagged. License, stamps, HIP number and shells have been secured and stowed. But most of all, time in scouting. You have to be where they are already going or the mosquito bits are for naught. If you haven’t found the time to find them, then I would suggest using Wednesday to do that and gun them Saturday or your next day off. You will have a better hunt.

Out and about, some BWTeal have shown up in the Tuckahoe impoundments. No real numbers, but they have started to arrive. Seeing Canada’s breeding in every mud hole this spring, I would have expected to see many more moving into the cut sweat corn fields. On the contrary, I have seen fewer geese this year than in past memory.

Well if you have found them, have fun stacking them. New truck this year but the same decals…always out there…

Posted By:
tsiwarski
Guest

08-23-2004 12:45
– – –
BE A PART OF A WATERFOWL STUDY

My name is Tom Siwarski and I am currently a graduate student at LSU working on my masters degree in waterfowl biology. I also live and die for waterfowl hunting. I am looking for some help from hunters on my project. My project is basically looking at determining age by differences in tail molt. I am looking at mallards, pintails, gadwalls, lesser scaup, redheads, and ring-necks. I have been absolutely thrilled with the help that I have received by hunters so far. It is awesome to see how many guys are willing to help out in order to contribute to science that will enable us to keep healthy populations of ducks into the future. I don’t know how many guys told me “anything to help the ducks.” Last year hunters saved me approximately 1000 carcasses!!! This kind of willingness to contribute made me proud to say I was a waterfowl hunter. I basically need to look at a lot of duck carcasses that are killed through out the hunting season. I would need intact birds except for the breast meat, they can still be breasted. I just need the internal organs and feathers still intact. I would need the ducks frozen until I have them shipped to me (my budget covers this) or until I can stop by and pick them up. If you are interested in being a part of this project or just want to talk about details of the project or duck hunting drop me an email. It is best if you email me instead of placing a post due to the fact that it takes a considerable amount of time to check the post for each state.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Tom Siwarski

tsiwarski@hotmail.com

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape – Atlantic Region 08-17-2004 15:25
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands down Jersey. Time is almost upon us.

NJ 2004-05 Migratory Bird Regulations

The 2004-05 New Jersey migratory bird hunting season dates are available in PDF format. Although these regulation selections are expected to be approved by the Service, they will not be formally finalized through the Federal Register process until the conclusion of the public comment period in September. The 2004-05 Migratory Bird Regulations will be available at Division offices, license agents and sporting goods stores throughout the state in September. And Keep in mind a valid Fedral Migratory Bird Stamp, NJ Waterfowl Stamp and HIP number are required to hunt waterfowl in the state over the age of 16 years.

Proposed 2004-05 NJ Migratory Bird Regulations (pdf, 9kb)
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2004/04-05migregs_summary.pdf

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-08-17 15:26]

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape Atlantic Region 08-06-2004 21:00
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
21st ANNUAL NJ WATERFOWL STAMP & PRINT —
SECOND IN A NEW RETRIEVER PUPPY SERIES

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP’s)
Division of Fish and Wildlife proudly presents the 21st Edition
Retriever Puppy Series; the second collectible series of state duck
stamp prints depicting waterfowl and various breeds of retriever
puppies. Painted by artist Phillip Crowe, the artwork features a
yellow
lab puppy with a hooded-merganser carved by New Jersey carver John
Potts.

To find out more, click on the following link:

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2004/stamp04.htm

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape – Atlantic Region 08-06-2004 20:41
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
This past season, Ducks Unlimited Television came to New Jersey for a
Meadowlands duck hunt with NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife Director,
Marty McHugh. The program will be aired on the Outdoor Life Network on
the following dates and times:

8/16/2004 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
8/17/2004 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM
8/18/2004 2:30 AM – 3:00 AM
8/22/2004 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Tune in for a look at the surprising waterfowl hunting opportunities
this urban oasis has to offer.

Posted By:
tsiwarski
Guest

08-03-2004 14:49
– – –
BE A PART OF A WATERFOWL STUDY

My name is Tom Siwarski and I am currently a graduate student at LSU working on my masters degree in waterfowl biology. I also live and die for waterfowl hunting. I am looking for some help from hunters on my project. My project is basically looking at determining age by differences in tail molt. I am looking at mallards, pintails, gadwalls, lesser scaup, redheads, and ring-necks. I have been absolutely thrilled with the help that I have received by hunters so far. It is awesome to see how many guys are willing to help out in order to contribute to science that will enable us to keep healthy populations of ducks into the future. I don’t know how many guys told me “anything to help the ducks.” Last year hunters saved me approximately 1000 carcasses!!! This kind of willingness to contribute made me proud to say I was a waterfowl hunter. I basically need to look at a lot of duck carcasses that are killed through out the hunting season. I would need intact birds except for the breast meat, they can still be breasted. I just need the internal organs and feathers still intact. I would need the ducks frozen until I have them shipped to me (my budget covers this) or until I can stop by and pick them up. If you are interested in being a part of this project or just want to talk about details of the project or duck hunting drop me an email. It is best if you email me instead of placing a post due to the fact that it takes a considerable amount of time to check the post for each state.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Tom Siwarski

tsiwarski@hotmail.com

Posted By:
Montana Sniper
WFC Sponsor

08-03-2004 11:27
– – –
I am coming out from Indiana to hunt the Jersey side of Delaware Bay (near Fortescue). I will be coming the 2nd week of November and have never shot a Brant. Can someone tell me if the Brant come in the Bay or are they only out on the ocean side. Would you suggest hunting the marshes or out in the bay? If no Brant are in there what types of duck get shot around that time.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

South Jersey 07-18-2004 07:19
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Our dollars at work…some reading material
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/status04/duck_trend_report_bw_map_04.pdf
Almost time to paint the boat and bag up the Canada stools….

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-07-18 07:19]

Posted By:
Larry-Vankirk
Guest

All Around 06-28-2004 20:18
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – Over 70 Degrees
Well its getting time to get out your rigs ,dust ’em off ,check your leads ,and oh yeah see if your water pump impeller needs replacing (especially if you gun saltwater ).Welcome to countdown to waterfowl season, for some of us we will be out swatting mosquitos and smacking greenheads until we hear the first honks of autumn echo over the land.Lots of new geese around ,Boy do they grow fast!!
Once again ,if anyone has any questions about gunnin’ Jersey ,don’t be afraid to ask .I’ll give the best advice or answer that I can
Larry

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape – Atlantic County 05-30-2004 21:30
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Gosling, goslings and more goslings…..Greeting from the flat lands down Jersey. Yes, they are every place you look again this year. From mud holes off the GSPW ramps to the Parks and drainage holes, family groups are fertilizing the state. This week I have seen them the size of your fist to almost ready to fly. So the dilemma persists, how to get the buggers with all the development and safe zones? Scouting? Seems to be the only answer, but with all the safe havens and old timers that know the game and the gun, their numbers never seem to go down – only up. There is already talk, that they have now become so much of a nuisance to people of influence (not the hunting population) that the state will have a hand in “culling” the population. If you hear of it ….drop me a line from who and in what area of the state … please. Well time to get some flatfish for the pan, seems the stripers have moved on. Always out there…

Posted By:
tsiwarski
Guest

04-20-2004 13:18
– – –
BE A PART OF A WATERFOWL STUDY

My name is Tom Siwarski and I am currently a graduate student at LSU working on my masters degree in waterfowl biology. I also live and die for waterfowl hunting. I am looking for some help from hunters on my project. My project is basically looking at determining age by differences in tail molt. I am looking at mallards, pintails, gadwalls, lesser scaup, redheads, and ring-necks. I have been absolutely thrilled with the help that I have received by hunters so far. It is awesome to see how many guys are willing to help out in order to contribute to science that will enable us to keep healthy populations of ducks into the future. I don’t know how many guys told me “anything to help the ducks.” Last year hunters saved me approximately 1000 carcasses!!! This kind of willingness to contribute made me proud to say I was a waterfowl hunter. I basically need to look at a lot of duck carcasses that are killed through out the hunting season. I would need intact birds except for the breast meat, they can still be breasted. I just need the internal organs and feathers still intact. I would need the ducks frozen until I have them shipped to me (my budget covers this) or until I can stop by and pick them up. If you are interested in being a part of this project or just want to talk about details of the project or duck hunting drop me an email.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Tom Siwarski

tsiwarski@hotmail.com

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

McNamara\\\’s WMA 03-13-2004 13:59
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands down Jersey. Out and about, spring migration back north has started. A drive through McNamara’s WMA in Tuckahoe with the camera and telephoto was a great trip. Over 1K birds in the middle impoundment. Sprig, GWing teal, BWing teal (you can actually see drakes with their dark heads and white crescent), Mallards, Blacks and Grays. Have to go on the early side before they get spooked out by the tourists. Canadas are already sitting a nest on the far side of the west impoundment.

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-03-13 14:00]

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Southern Winter Canada Zone 02-15-2004 20:55
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Greetings from down Jersey! Hard to believe season is at end. The changing weather and goose feeding patterns had me holding the bag for a place to gun last day. Chores took me out of the normal routine Thursday and I happened to go by a field that never holds geese. Never a cover crop, only disked sand from September to April. Well the thaw had created an acre pond in a low spot and the geese had piled in to the tune of 2K. Permission to gun was no problem for the farmer and he himself commented that he couldn’t remember when geese used his fields. So Saturday there we were 5am and set by 6am. 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 and not a honk let alone a goose. My gunning partners made several comments inquiring if I had drank my breakfast or had been on some type of heavy medication Thursday or that maybe since there had never been geese in the field ever before that maybe I should had taken a hint. Well 8:00 they all were coming in at once! Pic up on editor’s page. Well by 8:30 it was over and the three of us had 15 geese on the ground with +50 empty hulls – talk about flock shooting and not hitting anything. Glad it was last day because we educated them and humbled ourselves. Now to chase the white geese or find turkey – the turkey may win out – more predictable.

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

02-12-2004 03:00
– – –
Bobby PM me.

Jon

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Southern Winter Canada Zone 02-07-2004 20:01
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey! Well the mud was only ankle deep today and still frozen underneath. Limited by 8am – didn’t want to haul all the white stools through the mud and set the (40) dozen rig – that was a mistake. Snows were on the move with the thaw. We had two dozen white shells just up wind from the Canada rig. That was enough for the snows to stall at 90 yards and look but not to set in. We saw many large flocks of black geese high and moving north. With food and open water available, next week will be a completely different scenario to figure out before season ends! Never easy with these resident geese changing with the late season weather patterns.

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-02-07 20:02]

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Southern Winter Canada Zone 02-06-2004 19:03
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Greetings from the flatlands down Jersey. Finally a break at work and a break in the weather. A gunning buddy had spied birds up in Plainfield so a scouting we went. They were roosting off Iona, Franklinville and Silver Lake. We couldn’t get permission to gun the field they wanted into (about 3K birds) but were able to secure permission in their flight path. We limited by 800am on both Wednesday and Thursday. The larger flocks made a bee line to the field they were using but we were able to suck in a couple of (15) or less groups both days. The birds we downed were an equal mix of residents and birds down from Ungava. The big flocks were +350 birds and you could see the tattered and torn wings of late season on a large number of them. Wise to the tricks the were, with the larger locals keeping them on course and not deviating from their destination. On Thursday two jags of +1K snows showed up but didn’t give our Canada rig a look. We’ll be back out in the muck (the frozen field was nice) hoping to make limit again Saturday. Finally out there to close the season.

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2004-02-06 19:08]

Posted By:
Mike-Bard
Guest

Tuckerton, NJ Sportsman Show? 02-05-2004 14:40
– – –
Is there a large Sportsman or waterfowler’s show in Tuckerton, NJ? If so and you have some info on it, could you please PM me. Thanks!

Posted By:
Diver-Down
Guest

Twin Rivers 01-13-2004 19:12
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Hunted the Shrewsbury River today with friend Bob. We had a tough time getting the boat in the water with the ice and low tide. Also had to break through some thick ice to get to open water. Although we did not see the amount of birds I expected to see we were able to pick away at them and ended up with a good varity of ducks including: blackduck, mallard, hoodie, buffie, broadie, brant, and gadwall. This next cold snap is really going to make it tough to finish out the season.

Diver-Down

Posted By:
clambo
Guest

Tuckerton 01-11-2004 20:27
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 0-10 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted Little Egg Harbor. Bay relatively flat for 20mph winds. Very cold. -10 with wind chill.

Saw several huge flights of mallard and black trying to land in our decoys while we were setting up. Alas, no loaded gun. Bucketloads of Brant. Some Scaup flights working the center of the channel. And a couple of pintails that kept annoying us by being out of season.

Took 2 limits of Brant. We stuck around till the end of the day to try and get a black, but they were too wary in the bright sun of the afternoon. After getting our limit of Brant we could not keep them out of the decoys. Fun to watch.

Posted By:
n2o2doc
Guest

Del bay 01-10-2004 12:02
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Two of us got out to the dividing creek area off Del bay for a last day out. We got 2 blacks and a mallard/black cross with large green cheek patches and curly tail feathers. Had a beautiful drake pintail hover 25 yards out over the dekes- of course the season is over in south zone for them now. Lot of ducks rafted up far out on the bay. Needed this cold weather to push em from up north a month ago. Hopefully a better season next year.

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

Barnegat bay 01-09-2004 10:11
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Hunted on the big bay yesturday. Some ice around one flow manage to make off with 4 of my dekes heading out to surf city. Lots of Brants,Buffies as usually around. They are rafting up in huge flockes. Into the flocks are comeing other divers. Saw C-backs,red heads,bluebills and other’s I could not I.D. . Needed some boat traffick to get these flocks moving and since there were none nothing moved. Good luck.

Posted By:
MIKE1301
Guest

North/South 01-09-2004 07:43
– – –
Well, my waterfowling season is over for the 2003/04 season. Just wondering how others rate the season. For me, it was disappointing season. Did not have the number of birds in the spread as in years past. But even more disappointing was the number of inconsiderate “hunters” encountered out in the field. I must be getting old because I feel the amount of thoughtless behavior has increased. Must be a generation thing.

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

Briganitne, New Jersey 01-03-2004 13:34
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Put out in Briganine. It was my son Woody, Susky and friend Brian.
We shot 12 brant, 1 Black, 1 Hen Bluebill and 5 buffleheads.
Brian shot a banded Brant, first trip to Jersey and firs band.
Birds were super wary, lack of fresh birds very evident. Saw no where near the amount of ducks this time as compared to last rip to Jersey.
We need some weather and a big push of new birds.

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

barnegat bay 12-31-2003 18:32
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Went with my 2 boys to the Federal land on Barnegat bay. It was their first time hunting with daddy and with the few birds around I was surprised they lasted an hour and half. I was kind of bored myself. Nothing flying but mabey some Brant far away. Some blacks in the back bay,but was fun to hunt with my two small sons.Checked out Manahawkin WMA. No ducks but 20 or so white goose. I think they were white goose,all white with a black tail.Mabey if it gets cold some new ducks will move in.Happy New Year to all.

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

12-30-2003 15:53
– – –
12/20- went north to the sawmill(meadowlands area) and it was real bad! 3 mallards a black duck a buffie and a hoodie. all birds which we can take much closer to home. didnt even see many ducks up there, just ALOT of other rigs, all shooting at nothing.
12/23- hunted the coastal side of the raritan river and once again, real bad! wound up with two mallards. no birds to speek of in the whole area.
12/24-gotta say it again, real bad! hunted noth west point island and shot 1 hooded merganzer. no birds on that side of barnegat bay so far, other than some pockets of buffies and r.b. mergs.
12/27- well i didnt do much of anything, but at least i was seeing birds. shot a brant and a merganzer at cedar creek island. but was seeing a fair share of divers on the bay, all flying the middle highway. i was hearing different groups from good luck point to forked river getting some shots. but the birds all acting like theyve been getting banged at pretty hard.
i hope we get some real winter weather soon! it seems were shooting at all the same birds with no new ones moving in from the north. why should they move with 40,50 and almost 60 degree temps.

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

flat island/barnegat refuge 12-19-2003 16:53
– – –
went to flat island on wednesday and we took 2 mallards a black duck and 2 brant. some puddlers working the area, but there real schetchy, like there being banged at hard there. took a ride into the bay, theres alot of brant and buffies, but only saw 2 small groups of broadies.
barnegat refuge yesterday was ok but real slow. wound up with a pintail a black duck and a canada. not much moving and not much shooting from the 4 other rigs out, other than the dozen or so shots that came from b-1 probably shooting at buffies. took a ride out on the bay and saw only bufflehead.
heading up north tomorrow.

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

Barnegat,Great Bay. 12-19-2003 13:57
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Went to both Barnegat and Great Bay this morning. Lots of Brant and Buffies on the Barnegat bay,and jump shooting Great Bay saw Blacks,Greenheads,Buffies and Brants. I know I hit a Black 3 times but the sucker kept on going. Good luck. Not much moving on the big water.

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

beach haven/barnegat 12-14-2003 17:59
– – –
took a group out wednesday to beach haven and had a good shoot. 9 brant and 4 mallards. didnt see all that many birds, but there around. just no wind in the morning, everything sat tight.
friday i went to barnegat and did very well. 4 wigeon,1 black duck,1 pintail and a hoodie. the pintail had a bracelet too.

Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest

Brigantine 12-14-2003 16:08
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted in Brigantine on Saturday. Did pretty well. Saw a good vareity of birds. Three of us shot 5 Brant, 2 Mallards, 5 buffies, 1 Black and 2 Megeneezers.

A lot of hunters but it seems most did well.

Posted By:
clambo
Guest

Ocean County 12-09-2003 09:52
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Didn’t make it from PA on Saturday. Hunted Monday on the bay. Had a couple small flocks of pintails, buffies, brant and blacks come right into the decoys. Scored 3 brant, 1 black and a bufflehead. One of the brant was banded and I called in the number. Banded in the summer of 2001 in the Northwest territory.

All in all a very good day. Lots to see. Like watching the Tundra swans on the bay. Looks like the migration has finally picked up. Plus we have some moderate temps for the rest of the week to keep the ice away. Spent a fair amount of time banging ice off the decoys. There was skim ice in the channel.

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

ocean county 12-07-2003 18:55
Arctic Blast – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
let it snow,let it snow,let it snow! hunted on friday and had a great hunt. 4 mallards a black duck and a teal.mostly rain w/some sleet made plenty of birds move around. seen quite a few divers on the bay too. mostly garbage ducks but also some good ones. the day was well worth getting beat up by the bay and soaking wet. went to scout island beach in the afternoon. did see some blacks, brant, buffies and canadas(the usual), but didnt see too many moving around.
hunted saturday and it fantastic in that snow storm!!! 8 mallards 2 black duck and 2 teal. ya gotta love those white out conditions!! we picked and chose what we wanted and were done by 8:30.
time for some divers!

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape May County 12-02-2003 21:34
Arctic Blast – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Greetings from down Jersey. Black and white geese on the move this evening. Was at a buddies house in the Villas and geese were jumping the bay about every 15 minutes. Pond behind his house went from zero ducks two days ago to +40 mallards and +20 blacks. Should be fun in the ice tomorrow. Always out there…

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

raritan/barnegat 12-02-2003 19:41
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
hunted the raritan in the a.m. and took 3 gadwall. the few birds that came in to us handled well, but not many birds around the area at all. this time last season the place was loaded! but this season hasent been as cold yet, even though the conditions today were just about the same as last season on this date when we really got in em.
went back out this afternoon on barnegat bay and wound up with 3 mallards and 2 canadas. once again, very little in the way of birds, but i had a group of 3 mallards handle picture perfect, only to be out done by a group of 4 canadas that were touching up in the blocks 15 yards away. lots of migratory geese over the water today too.

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

good luck point 12-01-2003 06:02
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
hunted the open bay on saturday and wound up taking 1 brant,l black duck,1 mallard and two bufflehead. not much going on out there. didnt see all that many birds but the wind probably was the reason. i did see two small knots of 15-20 birds fly the middle of the bay which could have been bills. but they could have just as well been mergansers, they were just two far out to tell.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Marmora Wetlands WMA Tract 11-30-2003 20:08
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Greeting from down Jersey. Put the wind and blow out tide to good use. Jump shot walking the ditches into the wind Saturday. In two hours put up +80 black ducks but only 10 greenheads. Took the dog for the retrieves but she got to interested in jumping birds herself – like 80 yards ahead of me. Disheartening to see the white tails and have no shot! Put up probably as many Hoodys as blacks. Could have whacked a bunch of brant but we leave them for the out of town boys to brag about. A black and a greenhead for the day. Photot on editor’s page. Monday morning should be another good day to jump shoot the ditches at low tide. Always out there…

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2003-11-30 20:16]

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

11-28-2003 18:17
– – –
hunted on a pond in the north zone on tuesday and wound up with a mallard and a black duck. lots of birds in the area, but only for the first 45 minutes.
yesterday we only wound up with a hoodie and a teal on the coastal zone re-opener. lots of puddle ducks roosting on the marsh, but it was way to nice out yesterday. the birds just didnt move for us.
did even crapier today. just a hooded merg. good weather and all but the birds just werent working the area i was in. time to try further south…

Posted By:
IMUDD
Guest

NEW JERSEY 11-25-2003 17:18
– – –
Hey, just heard that the ANTI hunters out there are trying to pass legislation to force a felony background check on EVERYONE that buys a hunting or fishing license. Is this true? I was not aware that if a felon buys a license, it was against the law? Only if a felon possesses a firearm is it illegal. You guys have to stand up, together and shut em down. Who will end up paying for this? We will, everyone who buys a license. Your prices will go up. So will ours eventually, because once this passes in one state, it will sweep the nation.
Just my two cents.

Posted By:
IMUDD
Guest

NEW JERSEY 11-25-2003 17:16
– – –
Hey, just heard that the ANTI hunters out there are trying to pass legislation to force a felony background check on EVERYONE that buys a hunting or fishing license. Is this true? I was not aware that if a felon buys a license, it was against the law? Only if a felon possesses a firearm is it illegal. You guys have to stand up, together and shut em down. Who will end up paying for this? We will, everyone who buys a license. Your prices will go up. So will ours eventually, because once this passes in one state, it will sweep the nation.
Just my two cents.

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

jackson 11-17-2003 17:20
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
sat on a field for the re-opening day of the north zone. we shot our 4 geese and were done by 8. lots of birds in the area working all different fields. saw a few migratory dark geese on the move also.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp – Great Egg Harbor RIver 11-15-2003 17:30
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Greeting from the flat lands down Jersey. The historical second wave of snows usually co-insides with the opening of small game, the birds just slip the noose with the split season. Well they were on the move today and in season. Snows, snows, and more snows with an occasional flock of black geese were on the move to make the jump south across the bay. Quite a few birds spent the night on Griscom swamp and moved up and out with the light. Still wondering what ever happen to the first wave, they were MIA this year? Photo on editor’s page.

What a different year. The early rig I put out is teal, some black jacks, some woodies with the token mallard drakes and a pair of blacks. Of course the early rig changes depending on where I am gunning. Now into November, I change over to the late season rig. It is made up of predominantly blacks with a couple of teal, a token drake sprig and some drake mallards for color. So what do I shoot today over a late season rig, a pair of drake woodies, two GWTeal and two juvenile blackjacks – go figure?

I heard snows moving last night at midnight, so I added a dozen floaters to the rig – but they were enough to entice any of the birds moving today. Probably would have needed a rig of at least twenty dozen to get lucky.

T’is the season … all the fair weather hunters are out looking for the pen raised “game birds” … Always out there…

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2003-11-15 17:43]

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

ocean/atlantic county 11-12-2003 17:40
– – –
between work, hunting and scouting i havent been able to report in awhile, but this is what we did the first half of coastal…
11/4- one black scoter in barnegat bay. i had a pair come in and knocked down the one, but i really wasent expecting scoters to show up in my decoys. only saw a few brant and a black duck or two but wanted nothing to do with me.
11/6- 2 mallard and a teal in reedy creek. once again very slow but i had some chances and was unable to get the shot.
11/8- 6 brant,3 black duck, a teal and a wood duck in brigintine. kinda steady shooting but really didnt have that many brant or ducks in the area, but some birds seamed to stumble acrossed us. had my brother mike in from alaska and of all places he was able to take his first drake wood duck. lots of guys catching some nice bass!
11/11- 18 brant, 4 mallards and a black duck. we took a party out to the islands and had a good morning with the brant. did see a bunch more puddle ducks in the area. lots of buffies around too. saw only one other rig out. i thought for sure there be a bunch of guys out on a holiday, but i forgot pheasants open.
all in all theres been alot more birds that moved into the the area since the summer like season opener. even heard reports of some bills on the big bay. hope we have another cold winter to get them here in numbers again this season!!!

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

Great bay wma 11-10-2003 19:48
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Got out for the first time this year. Had a Black decoy in on my spread early in the day. I missed clean a 40 foot up and a 40 foot to the left shot. Hit them clean last year mabey a shotgun gets out of wack over the Summer. Had some other blacks come near but nothing decoyed in. Did some jump shooting and had blacks pop up but they would have been impossible to retrieve. Large flocks of Brants in the Bay,but Striper fisherman had the best spots.Striper season will be over in a few weeks no point getting into a competition with someone who was there first. Plus I like to Striper fish as much as the next guy.Did some scouting for a place to take my young sons,need a place they can walk without waders. Took a look in Staford Forge,no ducks,and Manahaken,no ducks. Don’t know if by December there will be ducks but at least those are palces I can take them and kep their feet dry.

Posted By:
clambo
Guest

Tuckerton 11-09-2003 22:04
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted Tuckerton last Friday. Good numbers of Brant. Had two decoy and shot one.

Had another flock of 10-12 fly just 20-25 yards behind my blind. Didn’t take the shot in hopes they would decoy, but it was not to be.

Saw a few small flocks of black, but Brant ruled the day, as did the fishermen. One set up 100 yards away, which was not too bad, but I would have appreciated another 50-100 yards. Another fisherman cruised extremely slowly within 30 yards of me. It made me want to stand up and yell “WHAT!” Doesn’t he know what decoys are?

Planned to head back on Monday, but the boat trailer is in bad shape.

Posted By:
Larry-Vankirk
Guest

Manahawkin Bay 11-08-2003 14:14
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Due to the recent cold snap a decent influx of birds were seen today.I was out gunning this morning in the salt marsh,lots of birds in the air until @9:00.Lots of brant and mallards ,with occasional black duck mixed in. I sighted two large flocks of teal heading south(250),also the bufflehead are starting to show up in little bunches.My morning hunt was good in all ways ,limited on brant,and was close to limiting out on ducks .I got some great pictures of brant decoying, will post later on.
Goose season is now one week away,fields are getting packed and a few snows are showing up every once in awhile.
Good luck and safe hunting

[Edited By Larry-Vankirk on 2003-11-08 14:15]

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

Sandy hook 11-08-2003 13:58
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Striper fishing on the Hook this morning.Good news- good groups of Black ducks,Brants and Buffle heads around. Bad news- No Bluebills. Used to see alot of Bluebills but none around. Not good news for them. More bad news- No Stripers eather.

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

NAVISINK RIVER 11-05-2003 18:06
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Went by the Navisink for a look see today. Nothing on the water but a few Canadians.Hope the cold front this weekend pushes some birds. Hoping to get out in Barnegat bay Monday.Let you know how it goes.

Posted By:
muckdoc
Guest

Del Bay, Cumberland County 11-03-2003 21:57
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted bayfront marsh. Dead. No teal. Saw 4-5 big ducks. Forgot the mosquito repellent, won’t do that again.

Posted By:
Diver-Down
Guest

Corson\’s Inlet 11-03-2003 17:38
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted Scoters out of Corson’s Inlet on Friday. Had a pretty decent morning flight of birds heading South. Most were offshore a ways so I got on a lump about 2 mi out that comes up to 35′. Despite some large flocks passing by, the scoters were not acting like scoters and were not committing to the spread. So we had to pick away at them and by 10am they were done coming through and we only had 5 birds. The highlight was the drake White Wing that my buddy got for the wall, that along with the Black and Surf he he got last weekend will keep his taxidermist busy. No Longtails seen, still a bit early for them.

Diver-Down

Posted By:
clambo
Guest

Barnegat Bay 11-02-2003 22:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Coastal Zone opener was a huge bust. Great day for jet ski’s, water skiing, sun bathing, you get the idea.

Saw 6 coots, one black duck (flying very very high), a few dozen Canadians (a dozen of which flew 15 yards directly overhead), and hundreds of Greater Commorants headed south. Big migration day for them.

Saw a crippled Canadian Goose on Stooling point. Someone needs to read the regs.

Between the beginning of legal shooting time and when I packed it in at 11am I heard a grand total of about 20 shots in the entire bay.

Talked to another hunter at the boat landing and he and his partner bagged a single mallard.

Afterwards I thought about how I’d at least seen a few dozen blacks in Ray’s neck of the woods the previous weekend and how I should have gone there instead.

BTW, is Ray the ONLY person in NJ who can type? People, this has to be THE most lackluster state forum. I’m from PA and I’ve already posted more than two of the VFE’s for NJ have this season.

Ray, love your posts, keep ’em coming

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Great Cedar Swamp 11-01-2003 18:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I love the opener for Coastal Zone – I hunt the Southern Zone!! I go about 2 miles west of the parkway and catch them as they are looking for a safe heaven off the salt meadows. Everyone and their brother are banging away at specks out the salt meadows and those specks cross the parkway and just come on into the spread. They don’t even circle. Easily had 70 Blacks ducks on the water in the stools at one time. They covered about (80) yards – which hurt me when the harbor Mallards started to show up and land outside the IC choke range. If I had (250) Blacks come in today (gunned until noon), I’m low balling it. Only saw (8) Mallards for the day and no GWTeal. All those Blacks coming in, put on a great air show. Speaking of air shows, I had some horses butt come down the creek 8’ off the water in an ultra light and right over the spread – he almost went to ultra light heaven! Picture up on my field editors page. The day ended with a Black, a nice drake Woody, two Greenheads and two Suzies. I used (4) of the H2O Quiver Mags in my 15 stool rig today. I ran them 18” off the back of the stools. They gave enough motion and ripple to make the rig look like they were swimming on this no wind day. I didn’t hear too much in the way of shots this morning coming from the coast. The Black I shot wasn’t the biggest ever but was a red legger – not a local. Always out there …

Posted By:
Larry-Vankirk
Guest

Central Jersey 10-30-2003 19:41
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Its two days away from the coastal opener ,I have heard some half way decent reports about bird numbers.Mallards and blacks are always a favorite,but a few wigeon and sprig can add some color to the bag.From some reports all are showing up in small numbers.
November 15 is the goose opener in the north zone, and it looks real good with thousands of birds filling the air at 7:00 every morning.
Snow geese are few and far between ,we do have some small flocks (10-20) that loaf around with the canadas,which always keeps us on guard when we have several flocks working us.
Other than that I would like to wish you good luck to those going out Saturday.
Good luck and safe hunting

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

ocean county 10-29-2003 15:55
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 50-60 Degrees
went out to a north zone spot this morning and really didnt expect to much with such a heavy rain, but we didnt do too bad. we wound up with a woody, mallard and two ringneck. actually, i say we didnt do too bad, when really it was our own fault we didnt do better. we had a bunch of other chances but we just blew’em.
LOTS of birds on brigintine refuge. there also seems to be a good number of birds in the area in general. good luck to all on opening day of coastal. reports so far show a bluebird day, so i hope we’re all out there in force to bounce the birds around.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 10-25-2003 20:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Greetings from down Jersey. OUT AND ABOUT – Wednesday had GWTeal in every direction for the first half hour. Held off with four to shoot some big puddle ducks in the limit but none were seen. Instead of limiting out, I ended up settling for a fifth teal late in the hunt. Thursday saw the same, GWTeal the first half hour and no larger puddle ducks moving at all. I made limit with a pair of GWTeal that came in just as I was getting ready to pull the stools. To change the opportunities for Saturday’s hunt, I shifted back to the tree line to pick up on some Woodies. With a 31 degree start to Saturday, I thought that more of the larger puddlers would have also shown up. Managed to bring home limit with four GWTeal, a drake woody and a juvenile Black. No “real” ducks moving at all. Some high flying Canadas and small flocks of Snows moving late morning on their way to Delaware and south.– the migration must be stalled up in NY or Canada with the weather. Strange to see so many GWTeal flying but nothing else – not even harbor mallards. I was told by Vic that it was the same scenario over on Delaware Bay. Always out there… Ray Bear

Posted By:
Brian-Lafay
Supporting Member

ocean,monmouth,middlesex county 10-23-2003 18:48
– – –
oct. 23 and we had a couple little snow flurries in ocean county today. i rather it be a couple little flocks of snow geese. but ill take the cold weather, it should give us a good number of birds for the opening day of coastal… hunted a few times in the north zone and had some action taking wood duck, mallards and teal. hunted the south zone once and only took one teal. ive been seeing alot more than ive been shooting though. i was scouting barnegat bay this morning and saw two bunches of buffies. also heard theres a few up in spuce run.

Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest

navisink river 10-23-2003 18:14
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Good sign for the upcoming costal season. Flocks of Brants on the lower Navasink.Very few other waterfowl around.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Griscom Swamp 10-19-2003 18:34
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Greeting from the flat lands down Jersey. OUT AND ABOUT – Brant, Brant and more Brant – Yes they are finally here. Numbers have steadily increased and the bulk of the migrants have arrived on Great Egg, Lakes Bay and Scull Bay. Should be hearing the sound of Snows in the air soon! The first Buffleheads were spied right off the Tennessee Ave. ramp in Ocean City. No BWTeal in the air. GWTeal seem to be everywhere you look first hour of light. OPENING DAY – What happened to the rain? I had four GWTeal down in the first five minutes. Put the gun down and took out the camera. I killed a roll of film shooting the drive bombers as they came into the spread. At 8am, back to the gun and picked up a Suzy, then a Greenhead. The Day was done. A few single Sprig in the air but they were as spooky as they come. Circled 70 yards out and landed 90 yards out. Report bird bands 1-800-327-BAND or on line at http://www.bbl-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/bblretrv/webrec.cfm . Always out there… Ray Bear

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Cape May – Atlantic County 10-16-2003 19:04
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Greetings from Down Jersey. Not enough snows around yet to make it worth while dragging out the wagon load of stools – so out and about scouting this morning. GWTeal are down in good numbers out in Griscom and are the number one duck. This morning they seemed to be the Corbin side of Middle river to Mayslanding – probably pushed up 1K in total. Mallards were next and we pushed maybe +80 birds. Blacks, Sprig and Cottontops were all about the same – few and far in between. Didn’t jump many birds from Tuckahoe out to Great Egg. Heard quite a few Woodies early but did not see them after the sun came up. Only saw (6) BWTeal the entire trip out.

Jumped quite a few GWTeal off Dennis Creek in the afternoon. Jumping all the teal made me feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Came home pulled the rig from the rafters and bagged it up, cleaned the gun changed the chock to IC and cased it. Then packed everything to go for Saturday except for lunch. The wait for Saturday will seem like it is taking forever to get here! All ways out there…

Posted By:
Donovan
Web Member

South Zone 10-15-2003 20:52
– – –
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m so excited about opening day I could pop. I have got my 18′ Outlaw in tip top shape and added a depth finder, installed new decoy lines, went to the new Cabela’s and picked up some new waders, and scouted all over south Jersey. I haven’t been this giddy about duck hunting since I started over 25 years ago. Is this crazy? I have even had a hard time sleeping at night.

I moved to NJ last year from Michigan. Finding decent spots in a new state is tough but I found a couple last year and was happy. This year, while I was working on my boat, a fellow Outlaw owner – Chuck B. – introduced himself and he took me to the area he and his friends have hunted for years to show me the ramps. My wife can’t understand how I could go out on a boat with someone I had met in the driveway. This is why duck hunting is so great! Not only do you weave yourself into the intricate web of the marsh, soak in some awesome sunrises – things most people will never know – but you meet some pretty good guys, like Chuck B., who will share his favorite spots with the new kid on the block.

Thanks for the good guys out there and I hope we all have some great shoots this season.

Now, get some sleep.

Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor

Forsythe NWR 10-14-2003 20:26
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands. I have had several e-mails making inquiry about the snows at Forsythe. As of today they totaled 200 birds per Audubon – I only saw maybe 60. A couple of A1 blues in the crowd. Still very few Brant down. Snows always seem to make it down a day or two after them. Ducks galore – Sprig, GWTeal, Blacks and Mallards in the west impoundment – probably +5K ducks. Not as many down Griscom swamp – GWTeal, Blacks and Mallards but in the +500 range. Will be keeping an eye out for you opening of Southern this Saturday – Always out there

[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2003-10-14 20:26]