Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

07-18-2012 20:57
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Greetings from Happy Camp in Northern Ontario! We have been real busy working and trying to get our camp in order while getting some people for fishing. Finally, after weeks of rain and warm temperatures, we have some cooler weather.
I will be starting out bird hunting here in September, then shuffling to North Dakota in late October. I have heard that the crops are coming along nicely out west.
If there is anyone looking to come and have an adventure, shoot me a message and come on up for some bird hunting, we have grouse and ducks in the area.
Additionally, I have a small place for ethical hunters to use in North Dakota. Once again, if interested, shoot me a message and I hope to hear from you.

Check us out at www.happycampontario.com

Take care and it is ALMOST TIME!!!

Posted By:
Bill Puncher
Field Editor

03-24-2012 17:26
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First time on the ND page in a long time.Sorry to hear pluck. I dont know you or your friend and still gets to me.I have lost a few friends some not even my own but still close to me as a brother or sister.I know you wont forget but always remember the look these best friends give us when we miss.Take care during the off season.Make the next one for shadow.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

03-16-2012 12:30
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Truer words never spoken about how we feel when it’s one last time.

Posted By:
outdoorsman1985
Guest

03-15-2012 19:48
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Sorry to hear of your loss. Our prayers will be with you.

Posted By:
perro
Web Member

03-14-2012 20:36
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Sorry man. It’s never easy to do the right thing. We can only hope someone will do the same for us some day.

Posted By:
DU870
Web Member

03-14-2012 10:41
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Pluckaduck- Very well said and I am truly sorry for your loss. The pain is unmeasureable but the memories last forever.

Posted By:
Drake Slayer
Web Member

03-14-2012 07:40
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Haven’t been to the ND page in a while….Sure didn’t need to read that this morning, already??!! Very sorry for your loss, Pluckaduck. Very moved by your words, however.

It’s coming for me, sooner then I want….

Take care this offseason….time heals, pal….

Steve

Posted By:
davehunter03
Web Member

01-30-2012 11:44
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very well put..bone cutting when these dogs have to make their final retrieve.I just put my Yellow, “Reload” down last season.

Sr.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 01-21-2012 22:28
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One Last Time
To Shadow PluckaDuck , 8/30/1999–12/24/2011

One month ago today, I carried you for the last time.
One Last time I stroked your fur
One Last time you layed your head on my lap
One Last time I fed you
One last time I watched you sleep
One last time I held you
One last time we went for a walk in your woods
One last time I watched your feet run in a dream
One last time I heard you pant
One last time for a ride to town
One last time for a bite of sausage and cheese
One last time I watched you and Magoo spend time together
One last time I picked you up
One last slow ride to the vet
One last dilly bar before we went in
One last time I layed you on the table

One last time our eyes met and you said, Dad, best friend, buddy, its ok, I am in pain but now it is time to go. I’ll be ok but will you? I don’t know Shadow, I truly don’t know.
One last time I said, yes it is time, but this time the ride is to the marsh in the sky my boy, take care and thank you for everything!

One last breathe then an eternal dream, the last full breathe then a full deep sigh and asleep he went never to open his eyes again.
The pain is gone, past and now Shadow runs in the marsh in the sky.
Until we meet again my friend, be well, have fun and keep feathers in your mouth!

To those of you who know the feeling, may you rejoice in the pleasure, joy, struggle, fun, excitement of our pawed friends!!
To those of you who have not yet felt that feeling, I hope one day you are blessed with such greatness as I have been blessed with!

Posted By:
Art-Marshall
Field Editor

Nebraska 01-07-2012 22:58
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John Donelon, or anyone else,,,,, tell us the truth. We have been told the geese are still up there. Very few geese here in nebraska. OUR SEASON HAS BEEN WORSE THAN EVER,,,,, Are they still in N.D. ???

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

n dakota 01-06-2012 14:50
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pluck-a-duck
I am 75 years old and still chasing the birds.I am on my fourth lab,she just turned eight this May,I can see this season where she is is beginning to show her age.Due to my age,she will be my last,.Holly is my greatest love and I too don’t forward to the day when she will be leaving me. Still remember the good times with all four of my dogs,it never gets easy,but as the saying goes,this was your last great love to an animal that was a big part of your life. I feel your loss.

Posted By:
Drake Slayer
Web Member

01-03-2012 14:48
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I’m dreading the day……

Very sorry for your loss….

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

01-02-2012 17:32
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Pluck-a duck,

Like many, I know your pain first hand.
Went throught the exact same situation you just described(almost step by step) two years ago.
It hurts, it hurts a lot.

No other dog will take his place, but there will be others, and that will help the loss.

When it comes to loosing our best hunting buddy, we are all family here.

My prayers are with you right now.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

01-01-2012 22:16
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Happy New year everyone. As I traveled back today, I saw good numbers of ducks and geese around the Fargo area in fields and scattered around. While we have about 4 inches of snow on the ground, most of the southern part of the state has littel snow and open water to keep birds around. Temps are suppose to reach 40 later this week so it will not change for the near future.

On another note, I had to lay to rest my companion of over 12 years on Christmas Eve. Shadow was truly a special friend, my best friend for it seemed like an eternity. But diabetes and old age caught up to him and on Christmas eve, we decided to not let him suffer anymore. The ride to the vet was horrible, carrying him in was horrible, the hardest thing I have ever had to do. The only satisfaction I have is that holding him and watching him go to sleep, no more panting, seizures or pain made me relax a bit as he relaxed and went to sleep one last time.

For those of you who have the opportunity to live the life Shadow and I had, you know the feeling, a special bond that can not be put into words, it is just lived! I grieve and cry everyday and probably will for a long time. To me, that bond is inseperable for life and while the Magoo my pup will be here, Shadow can not be replaced nor is expected to. Truly a special buddy I have had, thank you Shadow for all you gave me!

Take care all, hug those hounds and keep in touch

Posted By:
ABest
Web Member

scotts bluff Nebraska 12-22-2011 21:44
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Just returned from Nebraska plenty of birds there.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-22-2011 14:40
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Pluck: I keep hearing rumors that there a still vast amounts of mallards on the river/lake chain of the Mo. in your state. Heard anything on that? Thanks. Howard

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-24-2011 10:02
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While traveling, I noticed good numbers of dark geese east of Devils Lake. They are using the main lake and heading to the corn. I suspect Mallards too but did not see any.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Posted By:
HonkerHotline
Web Member

None 11-22-2011 19:45
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Pluck,

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. Thanks for your timely and detailed updates throughout this waterfowl season. I really enjoyed hearing them.

Take Care.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

11-22-2011 10:03
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Sadly, that is going to destroy what made ND famous and the people who can do something about it don’t care enough to do anything. It seems our society is becoming very short sighted and all about “whats in it for me” instead of remembering that we are all in this together and we need to work and play together.
Many people think that all the birds belong to them and that is a sad state of affairs. The great tradition of waterfowling is becoming scarce and sadly in my lifetime I will see it diminished maybe to nothing because of many things, but this being the greatest factor.

Anyone having ideas of how to reverse this and jump start a new, positive diection, please bring it to the forefront. Have a fantastic Thanksgiving everyone!

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Williston Area 11-20-2011 17:36
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I’m sure NR hunters lost out on a bunch of rental opportunities in the Williston area this year. I saw 3brm homes listed for $4000 a month in the Williston area on Craig’s List.

Crazy.

[Edited By webmaster on 2011-11-20 17:36]

Posted By:
HonkerHotline
Web Member

ND/ SD Boarder 11-20-2011 15:17
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Hi Pluck,

Similar report in our area. Sad what has become of things in this once great state. as recent as 5 years ago farmers would nearly drive us off the road to get you to come hunt the geese and ducks off their fields, so they wouldn’t eat all the waste grain for their cattle, etc.

Today is a totally different story. Their is a huge negative vibe towards NR’s and Waterfowl hunters. Additionally, more and more people think they are on the Outdoor Channel for Archery Deer hunting, therefore more land is posted…. “their deer”. I am fine with landowners doing as they wish with their property…. just wish everyone could share the waterfowl resource more.

I have talked to many NR’s who will not be returning to North Dakota next year (at least 10 different groups) due to a variety of frustrations like the above.

I may get out a couple more times next weekend and will post up my results.

Happy Hunting!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-20-2011 12:09
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I have no idea what the government wants to do with the oil people. One thing is for sure, they certainly are bending for them. I have not seen first hand, but have read and heard that western ND is getting destroyed as the waste water from this type of drilling is awful. That couple with the area not having enough infrastructure for the people in housing, septic and water make for a sad state of affairs. Finally, the companies dont care about the environment, they have been issued fines for dumping waste water but dont care because they get their oil

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

none 11-20-2011 08:01
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Pluck: is it true that the govt wants to make the oil drilling areas all NO TRESPASSING? That came up on a TV show that described all what is going on up your way. Really must be a mess.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND/SD border 11-20-2011 07:48
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Hunted near south border yesterday. Almost all water froze but from about 1:30 until dark birds were in the air constantly trading from corn to water. Snow/Canada and Mallards.

Sickening the amount of posted land. Got into aguement with game warden over legally posting land, sure is interesting how arrogant some people get when they pin a badge on them.

Anyway, plenty of birds but opportunities slim as 99% of the land is now posted down there.

Posted By:
HonkerHotline
Web Member

ND/ SD Boarder 11-17-2011 19:58
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 0-10 Degrees – Ice
Hi Pluck,

Hunted the ND/SD boarder yesterday and this morning. I don’t know for sure, but am affraid the honkers you talked about flew by about 10pm last night and kept on trucking.

Yesterday, we hit it perfect. 15 BIG BIG Fat Greenheads and 3 drake Pins. Also got 2 bonus specs and 10 snow geese. Thousands of ducks worked our spread from 8am (Shooting was 7am and we didn’t have a bird work us for the first hour…. depressing and thought they were all gone). I imagine it was because of the cold (12 degrees when we headed out). After 8 we had flocks of 50-100 mallards working us every 5-10 minutes.

Today, we headed out to a balmy 1 degree temp. Again, nothing flew until about 8:15am. Afterward, we saw a good amount of snows, but very few mallards.

I am going to be out here for another 5 days, but am fearing the show is over. Guess we’ll try the pheasants.

Today 5 greenheads and 1 snow.

As we drove back to our hunting shack, very few ducks were visable and every piece of water was froze. A select few geese were sitting on the ice, but I can say I was visually satisfied viewing the awe of the North American Migration. I saw millions of birds yesterday and today was measured in the thousands.

Southern boys be ready… they are coming!!!!!!!!

Thank-you to everyone for your great reports this year. I had a great season, am extremely tired, and am very satisfied.

Best of luck to all of you!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-17-2011 10:25
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Temps were below zero this morning. The storm is suppose to track south and miss us. If I find time, I suspect Devils Lake to still have open water and birds, otherwise will need to head west. There was a steady stream of canadas heading south the last two days, who knows where they will stop.

Anyone interested, I have purchased a small fishing/hunting camp in northern Ontario and will be looking to put sportsmen up there starting this summer. If anyone is interested, shoot me a message here or at getthenetnd@hotmail.com

Good luck everyone, and unless something changes, this will be my last report for a while. Take care and hug those hounds!

Posted By:
mallarddux
Web Member

illinois 11-17-2011 10:24
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hey pluck – great job in all your posts! they help us out alot, when we are up north, and back home here. have a great holiday season and look forward to your 2012 reports. take care my friend!

Posted By:
Trial Lawyer
Web Member

11-17-2011 09:39
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Pluckaduck,

I really enjoy reading your posts and share your enthusiasm for waterfowl hunting. You certainly have been of help to me in my recent trip to North Dakota and I know you have been a help to others. I hope you will continue to share your experiences for years to come.

Thank you for taking the time and the effort in keeping all of us posted on the current waterfowl conditions. Have a safe winter and hug Magoo.

Posted By:
Larry-Olson
Field Editor

Nebraska 11-16-2011 22:55
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Yah, thanks for the reports. It gives us an idea of what is to come for us. LO

Posted By:
callmaster64
Web Member

N.D. 11-16-2011 19:11
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Pluckaduck thank you from all the way down here in Indiana. Hopefully your season isnt over so dont be a stranger.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-15-2011 21:31
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Todays weather pretty much ended season in the north. Snow and temps that didnt reach 25 here sent most if not all birds packing. Forecast is for cold and major snow this weekend. Depending on where storm hits, I will head south or west in search of birds. Daily reports will end and limited weekend reports will be as I can.

Thanks to those who I met this year through WFC, and others online. I hope I was a help and we got something going and it will continue for years to come. Take care and hug those hounds hunters!!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-13-2011 18:07
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Did well again today, same field setup. Did stop short as I found some bluebills. Set up on them tonight and got a couple. Good number of Goldeneye and water opened up more today.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-12-2011 20:11
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Did well today, mallard decoyed well. Hard to see green but plenty of birds. Cold by midweek might send them south.

Posted By:
ABest
Web Member

lake Michigan 11-11-2011 22:43
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Pluckaduck Sounds like you are starting to wind down. I am sure you will find some nice fat greenheads yet. As for me we are seeing a push here in Wis.. Was out Thurs. 1st time since N.D. and plenty of Mals here. Went on the big pond today (lake Michigan) and shot 3 Buff’s 2big blue bill’s, 1 nice red head. Was done in 1 1/2hr. lots of bills. So take care an watch out for thin ice.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-11-2011 20:01
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Large groups of Mallards using big water then heading out to feed near dusk. Also got two calls of large number of snow geese in central part of state along with more mallards. One call stated they had 6 hunters and limited on Mallards in less than an hour. He did say the field was balck again this afternoon.

Here in the north, some dark geese remain here but the Mallard numbers that I found today are incredible. Should hold here a few days as the weather should stay above freezing thorugh the next week. Small scattered flocks of divers but Mallards by far outnumber them!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-10-2011 21:16
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Put on a lot of miles today. Almost all water from border to hwy 2 was hard, some harder than others. Did find one lake with good number of divers in middle but tough to pound boat landing clear.
South of hwy 2 there is open water and birds, good numbers of divers and snow geese as well as some dark geese. I would suspect the central and southern part of the state has good numbers of birds. Interesting, I did see quite a few NR license plates pulling duck boats, guess they are heading to Devils lake. We ran out of time and found concentrations of mallards for a.m. hunt, so we will head west and check that out. I do think the DL basin is the best bet in this part of the state
Weather is suppose to warm to 50’s next couple of days, may open water but don’t think there is anything north to come down and stop for dinner!

Posted By:
outdoorsman1985
Guest

11-10-2011 19:14
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EDIT: some dark geese also

Posted By:
outdoorsman1985
Guest

11-10-2011 19:13
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pluck

Started seeing your ducks in eastern iowa Monday. Has been golden ever since. hope it lasts…… heavy skim ice this morning but Mallards and GW teal along with massive numbers of divers continue to pour in. Some divers also.
Best of luck.

K Miller

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-09-2011 21:26
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Temps in low teens and winds around 20 from nw sent everything south. Hope to get some stragglers tomorrow but think south quite a ways

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-09-2011 09:58
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Went to doctor early this morning, then looked at big sloughs but they are all locked up tight. Maybe some open water south on bigger lakes, but looks really slim here.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-08-2011 19:11
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Not looking good at all. Most water froze or partially froze. Did not check lakes but very few ducks around. I traveled about 25 square miles and saw maybe 200 swan, 200 dark geese and about 50 ducks, mostly mallard. How far south they went is anyone’s guess. The DL basin will still have ducks as it has tons of water but north of HWY 2 it might be slim pickings. Heavy snow forecast north may show us by weeks end what is up there if anything!

FYI: Take care when eating birds. Marinated breast and grilled them,s econd bite was met with a stell pellet. Damn, anyone remember when lead was still legal!!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-08-2011 09:34
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Coldest morning of the year, temps around 12 this morning. Will get out after school to see what has departed, stayed and maybe arrived. No significant snow forecasted, temps in the 30’s and 40’s all week. Big water time I think!!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-06-2011 19:00
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Weather has changed, we got rain then snow, winds still blowing from the west about 25. Temps are suppose to drop to teens tonight and winds to the north, might send birds packing south. Today, many swans have shown up, most white geese have left but mixture of ducks still here. Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Mallards and other puddlers with divers.

Snow geese were seen in the highway 2 area and many ducks in the devils lake area.

We got a dusting not much more. Weather calls for highs in the 30’s then 20’s by weeks end. Got nice bunch of birds today.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-05-2011 21:01
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Migration definitely is under way. Snow geese in immediae area have shifted south a ways. I traveled to Grand Forks today and the Lake Basin has lots of ducks. With the water everywhere so were the ducks and posted signs. I swear “No Trespassing” should be the state flag here. Certainly owners rights, but one needs to rememeber that the resource is everyones to enjoy!
Sometimes we as hunters wonder if we are absolutely crazy. Busting our butts and see nothing, driving all over the place, see a few here and a few there. Then we throw our hands up in disgust and head towards home. Magoo wimpers as she wants to play and it has been a long day. So I pull into a stubble field and let her out. She goes into the ditch and releives herself, then comes running up to me. It was windy today and magoo looks to the sky. I saw a small string of Mallards heading north. I looked to the south and it was unbelieveable. For the next 20 minutes, a steady stream of ducks headed north. This by far was the biggest bunch I have seen this year. Sadly, no hunters saw it or will partake in the mornings activities. If rain/snow come in, then that field is off limits, but another plan to go after snow geese right off the pavement.

Weather should cool, and highs in the 30’s next week.

Posted By:
Mike-Loecker
Guest

11-05-2011 08:48
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We most certainly would have, but we only had Zone 1 to hunt in and was very limited to what we could hunt. I did talk to several land owners and they said the vast majority of the posted land was for pheasants an deer tho. Just some info for the guys going up yet.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-04-2011 21:53
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Went fishing tonight as weatherman was wrong. Walked out of school at 345 and it was 55 sunny and little wind. So I hooked up the boat and went fishing. There are new birds everywhere and lots of swans north too! With deer hunting upon us, water hunting will take place for Magoo and I at least tomorrow!

MIKE, maybe you should look other areas. I agree that the biggest concern for NR hunters should be addressing the constant harrassment of hunters and loss of hunting areas. Sadly I see it getting worse and worse but there still are areas that one is treated as a human not an immediate nasty meanie face just

Posted By:
Mike-Loecker
Guest

Jamestown and North 11-04-2011 18:46
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted a week in this area, very few birds and what is around is really decoy shy. Very poor results this year. Allot of land is posted to no hunting and not real sure I will return.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-03-2011 20:18
– – –
Out again tonight north of Rugby. Plenty of small groups of Mallards working the fields. Interesting, there seems to be some Canadas that have moved in, lessers grouped up with greaters! Could be an interesting weekend if deer hunting doesnt get too crazy!

Posted By:
HonkerHotline
Web Member

ND 11-03-2011 19:08
– – 45-50 Degrees
Hey guys.

There were two hunts in that post. Tuesday was the day of the geese not Wednesday.

Believe me I wish it would have been 🙂

PLUCK- PM coming your way.

Posted By:
Drake Slayer
Web Member

Pluckaduck 11-03-2011 11:31
– – –
LOL!!! Ain’t that a kick in the balls??!!! 😉

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-03-2011 09:35
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Honker, you can hunt geese all day on Wed/Sat which was yesterday!

Posted By:
HonkerHotline
Web Member

ND 11-03-2011 00:05
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Ended up getting into town late Monday night, therefore we used the morning for scouting purposes. Found a good feed in a pea field and obtained permission to hunt that evening.

Hit the field and proceeded to setup 4 dozen Canadian Full Bodies, 2 dozen Ducks, and a couple of other gadgets.

All I can say is… MAN I LOVE PEA’s!!!

Not huge tornado’s coming in, but good flocks of 5 – 15 ducks. We setup with a cross wind spread and when the ducks were on the deck they didn’t even flair when we opened the layouts.

Ended with 8 drake mallards and 4 drake pins. A great hunt.

Only downfall was 150 Honkers coasted into our spread at 20+ yards, however since it was afternoon – we just enjoyed the beautiful sight.

By the time we picked up the spread and got back to the house it was late. Having not scouted we slept in and did the same plan today.

Hit a stubble field with a similar setup and completed another two man limit of Mallards and Pins. The highlight was 5 drakes that came in at once and none left :).

Not very many snows in my opinion for this time of year, but perhaps we weren’t by big enough water.

Heading out in the morning again and will post the results.

November November…

P.S. As Pluck said – the Deer Hunters are rolling in. Be safe out there.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-02-2011 20:12
– – –
Not much has changed except I saw many more fields tilled under tonight. While the birds are still using them, its tough to cover up in that. Ice this morning but most melted. Swan numbers building and many cranes around but season closed

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 11-02-2011 10:31
– – –
Forecast has changed, rain/snow mix this weekend and highs in the 30’s and 40’s. With deer hunters out in force, be careful if hunting fields or small sloughs. Today it is around 50 and strong winds from the south

Posted By:
Doug-Miller
Field Editor

South Central 11-01-2011 06:22
– – 35-40 Degrees
Just returned from a ten day stay in N.D. This is my ninth season hunting the fields of North Dakota and was the best trip we have ever had. Birds showed up in good numbers the 22nd and increased as the week went on. Saw a good number of Snows and small Canada geese also. Some sloughs had large numbers of Swans, and the amount of water is record breaking with lots of roads unpassable. Crop harvest is wrapping up and most farmers are discing.
With the last couple winters pheasant numbers are way down in 9 days I only saw one pheasant. Other hunters in my Motel reported the same thing.
I have said this in the past and this year really showed it. If you want consistant hunts in the pot hole area learn to field hunt. With the amount of water the birds have unlimited places to go. And unless you bust a roost pond(BIG NO NO) your hunts are spotty.
Thanks to the farmers, and the great people of North Dakota.

Its all about Ducks, Dogs, and Kids

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-31-2011 20:43
– – –
Got out a little tonight, not much has changed but should by the end of the week. I shot my first swan and they are really big, saw plenty of ducks in that slough. With deer season coming Friday, more posted signs are showing up.
The weekend could be interesting, maybe up to 5 inches of snow coming, hope it pushes north and sends those birds packing south!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-30-2011 23:35
– – –
Migration seems to be happening. South divers have appeared, I found good numbers of mallards this morning. They are starting to set a pattern, hope it continues and dont get pushed out by deer hunters later in the week.

Recker, I saw a pm from you, but lost it, please resend.

Posted By:
callmaster64
Web Member

Migration 10-30-2011 02:20
– – –
Pluckaduck i hope everything is well this migration has to start now or us down here in indiana are done. We havent seen a good one to my knowledge in 10-15 years. This year is suppose to be 2nd to most recorded i’ve heard on ducks. Why dont you send some our way. Dont be stingy. I hope you wak em the next couple weeks.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-29-2011 22:17
– – –
Traveled to devils lake today. Plenty of birds in the lake region along with people and posted signs. Good luck to those hunting that area. Light rain at dark

Posted By:
Mike-Loecker
Guest

10-28-2011 07:30
– – –
Jess- I think they are wayyyy up North yet in the big C. Weather has been way too nice for migration to start. There will be no trickle migration this year I’m afraid. It is getting too late in the game. We are expecting a major weather pattern change here in the 10 day with a front dipping well into Nebraska/Kansas which will bring cold temp and moisture. I am hoping the moisture comes in form of snow for Canada. We hold local birds here and hunting pressure has them scattered all over the place. You really have to scout and look hard to find em now and decoying is getting real tough.

Posted By:
jesslab
Web Member

North Central Iowa 10-28-2011 06:52
– – –
Been seeing some GWT and mallards that last few weekends. If the wind is right the mallards wanted to finish and do it right. Very few gadwall and widgeon. Curious as to where the bulk of the birds are at this time. SD, ND, NE, Canada? Any thoughts or information would be appreciated.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-27-2011 20:26
– – –
Once again, up and down we go. Tonight, lots of birds and hope they do not get pounded and will be here for a few days, temps are suppose to average for this time of year

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-26-2011 21:09
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Thanks Trial Lawyer, was glad to have you stay here and hope we can do it again sometime. Yes when you teach and make pitiful money I have to do my best to put meat on the table(hah)

Out again tonight, birds seem to have vamoosed again. Eagles are migrating, ducks usually are close to them. Did get a nice Mallard. Temps should stay moderate for the time being, no measurable snow hit here, and fields should be dry to drive in a day or two. Hope to have better news by the weekend, but there are birds, just got to walk and find them

Posted By:
Trial Lawyer
Web Member

NW ND 10-26-2011 10:46
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Pluckaduck, thank you for all of your postings on this website and your help and hospitality 2 weeks ago. You are a great service to all of us who hunt waterfowl in North Dakota. A darn good shot as well! My best to you and Magoo.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-25-2011 18:30
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Stayed in for first night in a long, long time. Temps around 40, light rain and snow coming will make for a couple of wet days. Weekend should be back into 50’s, so don’t look for too much of a migration yet!!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

10-25-2011 10:51
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Yes I will do it different, have many times, just figured they will come back. Weather should be cooler today and tomorrow but back into the 50’s by the weekend and maybe 55 for Halloween! Too late for a trickle migration, will be a mad dash south as per the case the last few years. Anyone hunting the timber down by DL, if so, how is that going?

Posted By:
Mike-Loecker
Guest

ND 10-25-2011 07:29
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Pluck me a duck- would you have done that over differently? Knowing what you know now?? LOL- Been there, done that. Things are pretty slow down here in NE SD— the hunting pressure has things all messed up now and what birds are left are very well conditioned. S O S…. as you call it. We are leaving Sunday and heading North to Jamestown. Probably better stock the cooler by the looks of things, eh. Like adult beverages I mean. LOL….Nice temps and limited wind…. ugh!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-24-2011 20:28
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Got a report of good Mallard numbers so after school I headed west. I went to a slough near where the report was, and yes there was maybe 250 ducks in there. So I grabbed some decoys, Magoo and threw on the hip boots, gun and headed after them. Sure they flushed as they always do but I decided not to shoot even though many were within 25 yards. I quickly threw out the blocks, and jumped int he brush with Magoo.

For the next hour we saw nothing within 100 yards, ducks here and there and cranes, cranes and cranes.

So plenty of ducks but SOS with evening hunts and decoys! Hope you all know what SOS is?

Posted By:
DU870
Web Member

10-24-2011 11:58
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I figured I should give a total tally and sum up my old mans hunt. They hunted NW ND for 6 days. Shot a total of 30 some ducks and had about 25 roosters. Hunted hard most days, took a few light days to enjoy the surroundings. On their drive back they did start to see huge flocks of snows and blues and more and more honkers.

From the sounds of it, this could be one of the last good years for roosters and ducks in ND. Locals are saying a million plus acres of CRP is coming out and going back into production- crop land.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-23-2011 21:07
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Morning hunt was poor. Few ducks flying, had one small group decoy field and shot mallard. Went perch fishing this afternoon, they certainly are putting the feed bag on, filled the cooler quickly!
Temps are suppose to cool by mid-week, rain mixed with snow. As ABest wrote, seems like lots of WI hunters out here. I met a couple of good guys when going fishing, they had slow hunt. Hope they got into some birds where I sent them, if not maybe the DL spot will pan out

While painting this evening, I did see some snows flying south really high as well as some cranes migrating from the north. Most crops are off and are starting to get tilled under.

Posted By:
ABest
Web Member

N.D. 10-22-2011 22:17
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Spent the last week out in N.D.. Seems that there are plenty of birds around. How ever there is also plenty of water. They have many choices. We had 2 days of really good,1 dayof so so, and 1 day not so good and 1 day of being out all day to get the limit. Have been going out to N.D. for 30+ years and saw water where I have never seen water B-4. I got a good tan as weather was sunny and mild every day. Had a little skim ice on 2 mournings. All and all a very good hunt. Also seems that every truck out scouting was from Wis.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-22-2011 20:17
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Traveled to Minot then north on 83 and east on 5 back home. There definitely are more birds in certain areas. Shot bluewing, redheads and mallards today. Wind seems to have shifted at dark to maybe a NW and suppose to blow for a day or so.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-21-2011 21:15
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Went SE to Rollette and beyond in search of swans nor many ducks. I came back north and found ducks to hunt in morning. Sadly, the Rolette area was very quiet with birds, many hunters filled the area, they seem to all be chasing the few birds in that area. There are plenty of birds, go west and you will find them!

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-20-2011 20:12
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Found lots of birds this afternoon. Every slough had birds of all kinds of variety. Enough snow geese to warrant hunting as well. Cranes were slim but all the other birds should make for a good weekend of hunting.

Upon returning, I looked at field I hunted this morning, and it had birds again in it so I will be there.

Posted By:
DU870
Web Member

NW North Dakota 10-20-2011 15:16
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My dad and his buddies have found some birds. Not a lot but enough to hunt. He said the birds in the area are pretty shy and will jump if a truck stops any where near them. He said this morning they were covered up, he thought they might be new birds.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-20-2011 09:56
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Woke up to temps of 19. Set up in field with small spread for Magoo and I. First light passed with nothing in the air. Within 15 minutes we were covered up with Mallards. Now there were not hundreds, but probably 60 or so landing in the decoys. We shot 5 Mallards by 8:30, picked up and left. Groups of birds were working the area as we left.
Many small sloughs were ice covered. Temps should warm to around 50, so the ice should melt. Weather is suppose to be fair until Tuesday with a chance of our first snow. heading west today to check on a crane report.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

ND 10-19-2011 20:49
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Scout hunted tonight and found good bunch to hunt in morning. Also found some swans that I hope to get sometime tomorrow. Weather was cold, lows in the 20’s and will be tomorrow.

I did run into some guys from Indiana that were having a terrible hunt. Unfortunately they are leaving in the morning or they could have tagged along. Seemed like good guys and I feel bad for them as I do everything I can to help good ethical people.

On another note, I saw a group on NR,s(won’t name the state) that had a vehicle parked on state land with a trailer and freezer strapped to their vehicle. the had taken off their atv and made a trail through state land. I would also guess that they were camping as there was garbage strewn around.

Sadly hunters, this gives ALL OF US a bad name and will ruin what we have in ND which is freelance hunting like no place on earth. If WE as hunters don’t respect it and take care of it, it will disappear.

Posted By:
kjktks
Guest

Harvey 10-19-2011 16:56
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Oops! Almost forgot anyone looking for sandhills check out the area just north and east of Esmond. Saw great numbers of birds in that area

Posted By:
kjktks
Guest

Harvey area 10-19-2011 16:51
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Just headed home from our annual trip. Good numbers of Ducks from Harvey north to Rugby. Snows and Blues started showing up in good numbers yesterday north of hwy 19. We saw groups that numbered in the 500 and above range. We hunted from 10/15 to 10/18 and limited out on Ducks each day. There are still good numbers of pintails around.Most pintails i have seen in years as a matter of fact. Good luck to all those still hunting. You should have greater numbers showing up soon.

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

10-19-2011 16:50
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pluck, on your roadshooting comment. I went to SD last 5 years. Not this year because of that. Was the “sport” fron Mn?