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North Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
kobear
Web Member

Central 11-02-2010 11:34
– – –
Wow, 1700 miles in ND.
We had great hunts, hit new areas two out of three days. Just trying to advise hunters that DL ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Better to head off the beaten path.
Your advice is spot on too, be prepared to spend the whole time driving around often on poor quality roads in order to have Lifetime Hunts. We found a couple flocks of several hundred birds or more but no several K plus groups. Dad and I are very happy with a couple hours in the blind and ducks for the dog.
I didn’t want to admit it but the thought “just another day in paradise” crossed my mind several times as the dog brought back a Bull Can, another 20″ walleye hit the net, and the sunset over Stump Lake again.
I could never drive 40 hours over 3 days of scouting bracketed by two days with 5 hours driving each of those days and call it Vacation! 2700 miles, time to change the oil!
We ate ducks and walleye every day and brought back just short of possession limits of each. Why drive more that that?
PS. I,ve got another week left, from MN two weekends are doable, maybe see You next year, on a two track, in the middle of NoWhere!
Kobear

[Edited By kobear on 2010-11-02 11:35]

[Edited By kobear on 2010-11-02 11:39]

Posted By:
scrub
Guest

canada 11-02-2010 09:42
– – –
for everyone wondering where the ducks were instead of ND, I know one for sure that was in Canada because it was banded in ND and I shot it in Canada oct26. Also got another one that was banded in NW Territories. Then the cat 3 hurricane hit and on wed we watched all day the greatest migration I have seen in my 29 yrs of hunting. We wondered why there were relatively no white geese to hunt compared to years past. Our fears were confirmed, they were all north of us and then overflew us. Maybe alot of ND ducks went north in oct because Canada had nice weather and plenty of water and grain and hardly anyone hunting. If anyone wants to know what it takes to move waterfowl out of an area and way south: Cat 3 hurricane 27.38 barometric pressure, 90kph NW winds, 10cm of snow. Anyways it sure was a sight to see and lots of good times to drive in. Especially the 7hrs of black ice driving.

Posted By:
Doug-Miller
Field Editor

South Central 11-02-2010 06:39
– – 35-40 Degrees
Just returned from my yearly trip to the great state of North Dakota. Birds are condensed to several areas but hunting was great. Once the birds went to the corn hunting was up close and fast. Corn harvest is the best that I have seen in many years. With at least 60% complete. Goose number both white and dark increased as last week went along.
The biggest key to having a good hunt in the Dakota’s is scouting. Their are area’s that if they have water will hold birds at some point during the season every year. If one area isn’t holding birds one year due to lack of water or grain. Other’s will. The key to finding these area’s is scouting. If you want to have a great hunt you have to do your homework. I was in N.D for 10 days and drove 2700 miles, that is 1700 miles of scouting. And we had one of are best years. Their are birds lots of birds you just have to look.
Once again thank you North Dakota you are a duck hunters paradise.

Its all about Ducks, Dogs, and Kids

Posted By:
kobear
Web Member

Stump Lake and East 11-01-2010 15:52
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Not as many birds around as hoped for. Very few mallards and other puddlers compared to past years. Dark geese seemed to be building up with a few snows. Bluebills a plenty. Most ice had melted by noon Monday. Even more hunters around than in past years. Drove too close to Hwy 2 and only saw other hunters for almost an hour of driving, no ducks with that kind of pressure. Another rig full of guys every two miles, crazy. Makes sense, these small towns never had lodging in the early-mid 90’s now there are rooms or houses for 18 groups that we know of within 10 miles of where we are based. We estimated beds for over 120 if each slot was full. That’s a little increase over almost Zero in 1993. The walleyes were biting again too, fun to pull them over the side of the duck boat.

Posted By:
Canman OMaddie
Web Member

Jamestown 11-01-2010 09:20
– – –
Hunted Wednesday to Sunday.

Very few birds in the area. I thought maybe the wind would blow some new birds in.

Maybe next year we can hit it right.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

10-31-2010 06:29
– – –
Very good Numbers of geese in the north. There is a pocket of no snow and some water open and holding birds. Ice did not melt yesterday as sun did not show up. Devils Lake has good to very good numbers of divers in certain areas. Mallards still thin. Birds should hold here for a while as weather is suppose to warm into the 50’s by mid week.

Posted By:
Rick-Nelson
Field Editor

Central ND 10-30-2010 22:00
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
I spent the morning scouting areas north of Bismarck that I have hunted for years. More snow north of town than south and roads and trails were very wet and muddy. In many cases I didn’t even attempt to drive on them for fear of not only making a mess but getting stuck in the boonies.

Everything but large lakes was totally ice covered. All the large wetlands I hunt late in the season are locked up as are all the smaller wetlands. The only open water was crowded with hunters and I made no attempt to hunt the lakes that were open.

More puzzling perhaps is the continued lack of birds. I expected the open lakes would have good numbers of ducks and geese but not so. Saw very few geese in fields and the pattern of few or no birds continues. There were snows in the area but not in huge numbers as should be expected this time of year.

I put on lots of miles today and came back with the same results as the rest of the season. The birds just aren’t here and I have no idea why.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

10-30-2010 06:41
– – –
What a difference a few miles make. Snow is still present with ice in this area, but upon a trip last night, pleasant surprise within 30 miles. Very, very huntable numbers of snow geese mixed with Canadas and ducks where snow is minimal. Good news is that they should hold here for a while as warming trend is starting. Trails and fields are a mess, please take caution if driving on them!!

Posted By:
kobear
Web Member

Stump lake 10-29-2010 20:17
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Drove from fargo via valley city. Real lack of ducks in most areas. Still mainly local mallards, one flock of 250 spotted otherwise 4-20 in bunches and very scattered. Some groups of divers a few snows and not many canadians. Most sloughs iced over some lakes too.

Posted By:
Rick-Nelson
Field Editor

Central ND 10-28-2010 23:23
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Wind finally quit here late last night. Temps in the 20s and high today only about 39.

My hunting partner spent the day scouting south of Bismark about 100 miles to north of Bismarck about 50 miles. He reported seeing good numbers of snow geese but not much else. He also said there are many wetlands, large and small that are ice covered and did not find many open wetlands that had much for ducks.

Spoke with a work colleague who was out today and spent the day scouting north of Bismarck about 70 miles. His report was similar. Lots of snows and not much for ducks and plenty of iced up wetlands.

I am heading out Saturday morning to a spot that I am sure will be open if the road in is passable. And by passable I mean that I won’t make a mess driving on it. I never go into an area if the road is so wet that I am going to leave ruts, slide all over or otherwise make a mess.

If I can’t get into that place I have access to private land and a very large wetland that normally holds excellent numbers of geese, ducks and swans. I have permission to drive in via a pasture but will only do so if conditions are right. Otherwise I plan to load up my cart and hike in the mile to the water and hope there are birds.

Haven’t had time to call other friends around the state to get reports but will post updated info tomorrow and over the weekend. Temps are supposed to be in the 50s next week, we’ll see.

North Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

DL Basin 10-28-2010 09:26
– – –
Cold NW winds still persist and winchill was below zero this a.m. Will get a chance to head out tonight and look around, heard they got little or no snow east towards GF maybe there are better reports there! Looks pretty dismal unless the held tight but fear they got in the air and flew right on through. Cold again tonight should lock up lots of small water.

Posted By:
Rick-Nelson
Field Editor

Central ND 10-27-2010 21:20
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Strong north winds continue to blow. Outside shoveling the driveway and walking my dogs this evening I heard an almost steady stream of geese heading south. And although migration is normal for this time of year I can’t help but think that this storm is pushing birds right on through the state.

With the strong winds comes lots of heat loss from water bodies. Given the low temps that are forecast we will likely see quite a number of wetlands iced up. It is supposed to warm over the next few days but I won’t have a chance to hunt until Saturday due to work commitments.

My hunting partner has the next couple days off and will give me a report from areas we traditionally hunt. If he can get out to these places given the snow and potentially impassable roads and trails.

Stay tuned.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

10-27-2010 07:48
– – –
Heavy snow has blanketed much of the region. We have about 7 inches where I live and still coming down. Time will tell what this does to the birds stopping. Temps are suppose to be in low 40’s thru weekend after around 15 tonight!

Posted By:
Dakota Daydream
Web Member

NW of Bismark 10-26-2010 22:26
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
First of all, I am NOT one of the guys that was in the DL area that you gave info to… I come up every year and do great without your help! Second: Glad to know that you think I am a wise ass and that you know so much more than I will ever know about duck hunting. What a joke of a “Field Editor…” I just read the posts to hear what is being said, and then wait until I get here from IN to make my own reports… Been here every year for the last 8 and notice the same stuff posted on here every year. Rick has always been very informative and helpful… Sorry that in your opinion I have to live here and post on a daily basis to know what I am talking about… (which makes you better at this than me???) I’m from Indiana and just want to encourage NR’s to come to this state and enjoy the same success that I DO EVERY YEAR… Early, late, or in the middle of the NR season…. We come up to the same areas every year and never have had a bad year… This year is on pace to be the best year that we have ever had! Sorry that someone who is SO MUCH BETTER than me can’t kill more than 15 ducks over a 200 mile radius… I am with only one other guy who has never been here and thinks this place is awesome. If anyone out there wants some REAL info on where the ducks are and where to go, PM me and I will give you some POSITIVE and reliable info…

P.S. CP if you want to see what I know, I will be in town until Friday and would be more than willing to put you in a field FULL of birds on any given day… You can even hunt with the guy that your are throwing under the bus without any info about how long I have been hunting or what I know. Just give me a message and I will gladly give you my number and take you on a great hunt… Unless your pride gets in the way of wanting to go out and kill birds! Isn’t that what all of us get on this site to discuss?????

Posted By:
Rick-Nelson
Field Editor

Central ND 10-26-2010 21:40
Arctic Blast – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Well folks, last weekend was another chapter in the continuing saga of no ducks. I put on over 400 miles in two days of scouting and hunting and nothing had changed.

Right now we are in the midst of a blizzard warning. The southern part of the state is forecast to receive 2-6 inches of snow with 10+ in northern areas of the state. Winds are 40-55 mph with gusts over 60 mph. The storm will blow through by tomorrow evening and temps are forecast to be seasonal by the weekend and upper 50s by Tuesday.

If, as has been suggested, the ND ducks went into Canada for some unexplained reason, this weather will either bring some down or blow them into Nebraska. I’ll know this weekend as I plan to hit it hard and if I can get time off I am going to try to hunt Thursday and Friday as well.

I know that some of you are finding ducks and having good success. Unfortunately, that is the exception this year not the usual ND rule. I talk to many people during the week from many parts of ND and they are having the same experience that I am having this year. And given the time, miles and different locations I have hunted and scouted I don’t believe birds are just hard to see or concentrated in one area. Reports of some big groups of ducks in a few locations should be reports of many big groups of ducks all over the state.

Wish I had an explanation for this year’s strange phenomenon but I don’t. I talk to lots of waterfowl biologists and they don’t have an explanation either. Falls under the ‘Harvard Rule of Animal Behavior’, which states, “given a highly controlled set of circumstances an organism will do what it darn well pleases.”

And that is apparently what we are experiencing this year. Great water conditions, weather that should not have moved any birds, harvest on schedule or ahead – no ducks. I guess they are “doing what they darn well please” this year.

I don’t have a problem not shooting ducks but I sure would like to see ducks when I am hunting. My dog is getting really good at sitting in the blind but I would like her to be able to see birds, and retrieve some, too. It is nearly the end of October and we could be running out of time if the weather pattern changes and we move into winter.

All this makes for a very interesting and unusual waterfowl season. It is certainly the strangest one I have experienced in over 45 years of waterfowl hunting. I hope it is an anomaly.

If you are coming to ND in the next few weeks be sure to bring winter clothing. I ran into some gentlemen from Kentucky last year and they were not prepared for the kind of cold and wind we have here. It was nice when they arrived but didn’t stay that way and they didn’t have proper gear. Light weight gloves, baseball hats and no insulated coats or boots didn’t work well when temps were in the 20s and wind chills were near 0.

More reports to follow the storm.

Posted By:
rsweers02
Guest

10-26-2010 20:27
– – –
There were definately the fewest ducks I have ever seen in North Dakota but I thought it was worth the money and time. Your both right.

Posted By:
CPAMAN
Guest

10-26-2010 18:44
– – –
Attention Dakota Daydream. Do you think I am lying? I am from Minnesota, own 400 acres in North Dakota and know more about waterfowl hunting than you could ever hope to learn. The guys from Indiana were told to go north to Rollette by me. If they stayed in the DL area, they might have had some success with migration that came in after we left. They told me they had shot four birds the first two days. They may have done better since, and I hope that to be the case.

If you are hunting NW of Bismarck, you are in an entirely different area of the State that requires a different license for nonresidents. Further, how can you talk about scouting when I told you the story in the DL area the week we were there? How can you compare results around Bismarck to an area well over 200 miles away?

I suggest that you leave your side comments to yourself. I post more on the ND forum than any other waterfowler.com member other than Rick Nelson and pluckaduck. I do it to help other hunters. Then, a wise-ass like yourself comes in and thinks your a know-it-all.

Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor

Devils Lake Basin 10-26-2010 18:13
– – –
WEather has closed Hwy. 57 near the casino to Fort Totten. Sleet changing to snow now and winds are bellowing about 40 mph from NW. I advise anyone traveling to the region to call first or at least postpone until the storm passes. This is NOT a storm to be taken likely as the worst is yet to come. Anyone wanting specific info shoot me a message at getthenetnd@hotmail.com and we can keep in communication. Take care

Posted By:
Dakota Daydream
Web Member

NW of Bismark 10-26-2010 17:53
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
I think that if you take your time and scout for birds you will kill your ducks OR geese! We have been in the area since last Friday and have had NO PROBLEM killing our birds on a daily basis. We do our scouting, get permission, and have had great hunts all week… Had a group of friends here the week before us that did really well too. Mallards and Pintails are everywhere, as well as tons of small Canadas and Snows and Blues… Can’t imagine that it is as bad as everyone keeps saying. All the negative reports seem to be a joke to me. Every time that I read them, I wonder what some of these guys true intentions are??? Keep us non-residents out of here??? (“Do not travel to ND if you are from out-of-state this season. It is not worth the investment or frustration.”) I say head on up… We have had a great week and wish I had time to stay longer.

P.S. The guys from southern Indiana in the Devils Lake area that had never been to ND before are some friends of mine and have had more luck than what the earlier post lead on…

Posted By:
Dakota Daydream
Web Member

NW of Bismark 10-26-2010 17:44
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
I think that if you take your time and scout for birds you will kill your ducks OR geese! We have been in the area since last Friday and have had NO PROBLEM killing our birds on a daily basis. We do our scouting, get permission, and have had great hunts all week… Had a group of friends here the week before us that did really well too. Mallards and Pintails are everywhere, as well as tons of small Canadas and Snows and Blues… Can’t imagine that it is as bad as everyone keeps saying. All the negative reports seem to be a joke to me. Every time that I read them, I wonder what some of these guys true intentions are??? Keep us non-residents out of here??? (“Do not travel to ND if you are from out-of-state this season. It is not worth the investment or frustration.”) I say head on up… We have had a great week and wish I had time to stay longer.

P.S. The guys from southern Indiana in the Devils Lake area that had never been to ND before are some friends of mine and have had more luck than what the earlier post lead on…

North Carolina Duck Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Little Red Retriever
Web Member

Pamlico Sound 12-17-2012 10:05
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
12/15/2012: Wind out of east at 5 kts….open water layout shooting….slow…..not much of a flight managed 4 birds between two gunners…..

[Edited By Little Red Retriever on 2012-12-17 10:06]

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Onslow County 12-15-2012 16:10
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water

It looked like I was going to miss another hunting day, but at the last second I was able to go. Not as well prepared as I would have liked, but I threw some decoys in the boat,grabbed the dog and the son and headed out for the big water on the coast. I got to the ramp late, but still managed to get all the decoys out and the blind set up 2 minutes before legal shooting time.

I wanted to set up on a point off of a small bay, but I was suprised to find a blind there. Must have built it last summer. I have hunted that point for 25 years, now there is a blind on it. I decided to move down, even though the blind was empty. Won’t do that again, we watched ducks fly by the point all morning, we didn’t get to pull a trigger. No one showed up at the blind.

We saw tens of thousands of bills, but none came by us. We still had a great morning, my son said it was the second most ducks he had ever seen in one day. We sat in awe, watching flocks that consisted of hundreds of birds, ducks so thick that they looked like clouds of smoke cruising in the sky in ever shifting patterns.

I am excited, can’t wait to get back out there.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Albemarle Sound 11-15-2012 12:52
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Went out to hunt a spot on the Albemarle sound this morning and we saw some ducks, missed some opportunities and only managed to splash a single wood duck with two hunters.

We saw some mallards,gadwall, teal and woodies, we were just unable to capitalize on them. Will set up in a different location next time.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Field Report, Nov 14, 2012 11-15-2012 12:48
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Went out to hunt a spot on the Pamlico River and we had a interesting, but not overly productive day. We arrived at the boat ramp in good time and set off for our spot via GPS. It is a long water run of about 30 minutes which seemed longer thanks to the high winds whipping up 2 foot whitecaps. Made for a wet ride in my 14 foot side console boat.

We got set up and we saw some ducks. We saw some high migrators, some ducks flying out of range and we managed to splash two ruddy ducks and a bufflehead. Not exactly trophy ducks, but the dog got wet and is happy.

On our way out we saw some ducks nearby in a seperate location. Will hit it next week.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Eastern NC 10-22-2012 06:38
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees

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I went out with my son and dogs to do a little scouting on Sat, we saw some migrating flocks and the habitat looked good. However, it appears the trout are in, boats all over the place and on the ride home I saw scores of boats headed to the coastal water.

Doesn’t look good for us.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Nuese River 10-07-2012 08:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
My son and I went out for a hunt off the Nuese River in a spot we call “The Wood Duck Hole” for the final day of the Oct short season. We were going to hunt on the Roanoke, but we found out the stripers were running so that would mean the likelyhood of being wrapped up with striper fishermen at that location.

I hurt my back and blew my knee on Thursday so the wood duck hole was a easy hunt, but a bit of a crap shoot. Can be good, can be devastatingly bad. Also, I just got my boat back after a catastrophic failure on Thurs, I wanted a milk run for the intial shake down. The arm that sync’d the timing and throttle sheared off, spinning around and destroying the timing base plate, cracking the stator and destroying the linkage. In spite of the damage, my guys at Stapleford Marine got me back in the game for Sat, onlying missing one day of the season.

We got out in good time got loaded up and set up in our spot. Boat ran like a champ. But we did not see many ducks. We had a couple slip by us as my son and I talked and joked in the boat, but the numbers were not what we wanted. But we had a good time and as my son put it, ” A good morning of manly male bonding in the forest”.

Doesn’t get better than that.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 10-05-2012 06:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Went out to hunt the second day of the Oct short season and it was not a good day. I scouted this location a week ago, I saw ducks, no large numbers, but enough to scratch out a wood duck limit.

The guy that was supposed to go with me was a no-show. I called his cell phone and got no answer. Finally I had to go without him. Because I am a disabled veteran I am not supposed to go alone(a requirement from my wife), but I had to go alone today. I arrived at the ramp at 5 am, and launched the boat. So far so good.

At legal time a procession of boats began coming up the creek. Seems the stripers were running. I saw woodies, but without the fishing boats in the area there was no flight path, they were scattered. I then heard a unusual noise on such a small creek.

It sounded like a M-1 Abrams tank was coming up the creek. I was so baffled by the noise that I was watching the curve in the creek rather than for ducks and one got by me, totally my fault. Suddenly a massive 28 foot commercial crabbing boat came around the corner. It was huge. I can’t believe they launched that big boy at this unimproved ramp that required that I put my truck in 4 wheel drive just to launch my little boat. It was producing a 4 foot wake, the captain did not see me until it was too late(a testiment to my good camo job and spot) and he waked me. Not his fault, he did not see me until it was too late. He was very nice, he apologized. It did not make me angry, accidents happen. The wake however picked my boat up and set it on top of some cypress knees. It is so hot I did not wear my waders. Took me a hour to get my boat back in the water. While I was doing this, several woodies and a flock of 20 or so mallards went right over me. Got back in the water after pulling my back and blowing out my right knee.

The reed fell out of my Duck Commander wood duck call during the earlier festivities and I lost it. I was seeing some woodies, but was unable to call them. Finally, at 10am I called it a day.

Rode back to the boat ramp, the boat suddenly shut off at the ramp and would not restart. The arm that advances the timing and syncs the throttle sheared off. I was unable to drive my boat on the trailer, it had to be loaded the old fashioned way. In my physical condition after freeing my boat from the cypress knees, this was a daunting task that was complicated by the fact that one of the fishermen had left his truck in the middle of the ramp. Luckily, the captain of the commercial boat came back in right then and he and his buddy helped me load my boat. He was a nice guy.

My boat is at the shop. We found all the necessary parts to get it going, not a easy task for a 40 year old outboard. I am out of the running for the 3rd day of the 4 day season, but I will be back at it for the closer on Sat. I will be sitting at home recovering today anyway. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise, but if it is, it is a very effective disguise becuase I am having trouble seeing it.

The captain of the commercial boat loaded up and left, that was the biggest boat I have ever seen on a trailer that didn’t have a semi-tractor pulling it.

I will hope to turn around this day on Sat.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Pamlico River 10-03-2012 17:29
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
My hunting buddy and I went out for the season opener, a 17 year tradition for us. We went to one of our favorite spots off the Pamlico River, it used to be excellent all season, but with the increase in popularity of winter trout fishing, you have to pick times when the fish are not biting or you will have a dozen trout fishermen trolling through your decoys.

I scouted it last week, I saw ducks and more importantly, almost no fishermen in the area. We got to the ramp at 5am, we were out to the spot and set up with decoys deployed and blind up about 30 minutes before legal time. About 5:45 am, we heard a duck boat heading up the creek(the small motor betraying the stealthy nature of a small skulling type boat on such big water). It went on past us, we sat there in the dark, inconspicuous and quiet.

We didn’t see many ducks, we managed to knock down 3 woodies, not the best opener on record. But it was a day in the field, the dogs got wet, we got some work in on the new pup and Miss Dixie got one duck I was sure was unretrievable. She earned herself a steak bisquit for that. In spite of her advanced age, she put in the work to get the job done on a long retrieve on a cripple that got up on shore and ran into some of the heaviest brush I have ever seen in a salt marsh.

3 ducks, wet dogs, happy hunters. A good day. Tomorrow holds the promise of a good hunt.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Piedmont Gamelands Impoundment 10-03-2012 15:00
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Good hunt today on the short opener with good company. Two co-workers and a 14 year-old managed to find 3 woodrows. A good time was had by all.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Beaufort County 09-04-2012 18:41
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – Over 70 Degrees
Went out for the traditional Labor Day dove hunt, it was interesting. We saw doves, we shot doves, dogs retrieved doves. Good day.

We got out about 30 minutes before legal time, got set up and waited. The doves came in fast and furious, by 9am I had 7. This is where it got interesting. It had been heavily overcast with thunder and lightening. At 9 o’clock I looked up and saw torrential rain coming in the distance. I called out to my son and we broke for the truck as fast as a old cripple and a 15-year-old can get there. I twisted my ankle in the ditch, further complicating things, but we still managed to get in the truck before the main rain hit. We went up the road to a barn on the property to wait out the rain. My hunting buddies were there within moments, one buddy threw out his back falling in the deep ditch.

We spent 2 hours in the barn, eating peanut butter and cheese crackers and trading insults. Logan’s dog got aggravated and began to bark in his kennel. He wanted to hunt, rain or not.

About 11am, the rain slacked up, didn’t stop, but slowed enough to hunt. We all went back out to a different location, closer to the barn(and shelter if necessary) and without the killer ditch. Finished up our limits and were on the road by 12:30.

Like I said, it was interesting.

North Carolina Duck Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Beaufort County 09-01-2012 16:50
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
We went out for a dove hunt on the opener and it was a great day. It has been cool for the last two weeks, rainy and overcast with temps in the 80’s. For the opener it cleared up and got hot, go figure.

Logan, my 15 year old, was hunting his BLM Shadow, both did well today, Shadow retrieved 5 doves and performed well for my son. Last season was less than encouraging for Shadow as he did not do well his first season, but hard work in the off-season had him on his game today. He performed flawlessly, better than I could have hoped for. Logan did his part, made sure Shadow stayed hydrated in the 92 degree heat.

I shot a limit of doves by 10:00am, Dixie did well, though at her age, she labored in the heat. I kept her hydrated and as soon as the limit was acquired, I soaked her with cool water and got her in the shade. I then went over and sat with my son for the last hour we hunted, we picked up and left at 11:00am, just as the heat became oppressive.

Both of my hunting buddies did well, one limited out, the other shot 10, pretty good considering his 870 Express was jamming and was in essence a single shot.

Can’t wait ’till Monday.

[Edited By Scott-Tolar on 2012-09-01 16:51]

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Craven Co. 01-30-2012 06:26
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Went out for the season closer and it went as the last break in the season went, pitifully. We saw ducks, much as we had most of the season and in good numbers. But none would decoy, in fact they seemed downright decoy shy. To make a long story short, we got skunked.

This season is now in the books, it has been one of the worst since I came to live in NC nearly 30 years ago. But this is the normal ebb and flow of nature, they can’t all be good seasons like last year. I expect to see a lot of duck stuff for sale on Craigslist in the next few weeks.

I talked to several other duck hunters on the closer, no one got a duck. There were several theories, but they seemed to all have the crappy weather this season as the culprit.

Time to put the gear away, the guns are cleaned and put up. The decoys and other gear will be stowed within the week. Time to get ready for next season.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Field Report, Jan 26th 01-26-2012 17:23
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Went out to hunt a small creek in the area we hunted for bluebills several times in the last week. We saw puddle ducks coming out of the creek and decided to give it a try. I emptied out the boat, removing 5 dozen bluebill decoys and replaced them with a decoy bag containing 8 mallards, 12 teal and 3 wood duck decoys. I loaded up the robo duck as well.

We got there in good time and set up our spread. We set up on the western side of the creek with our boat and waited. We were buzzed by 2 large ducks right at legal time, but wasn’t able to fire a shot. We were overflown by about 75 to 100 ducks of various species, but very few were low enough to shoot at. I called and called, but none would pay us any attention.

About 8:00am, my buddy took down a drake merganser as both of us emptied our guns into a passing flock that was making Mach II. Dixie made short work of the retrieve and since I missed all 3 shots was able to talk trash to my buddy for killing a fishduck.

We shot at several teal that came by, none were good shots, but they were within range. We decided to take any decent shot that presented itself as we were not getting them to come in over the decoys. At about 9:00am, I took down a ringneck on my third shot.

We sat there until about 9:45 when we called it a day. This has not been a productive season.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Field Report, Jan 24th 01-24-2012 16:28
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
I went hunting with a buddy to the same spot as last Saturday. I relocated to the east side of the creek we were hunting in as all the birds we saw on Sat. were on the east side of the creek. Today they flew on the west side! That is okay. We saw puddle ducks flying in and out of a side creek and I managed to drop a fully plumed shoveler drake. Dixie the wonderdog made short work of the retrieve and we watched teal,gads and mallards moving out of the side creek all morning. I had never hunted this location before last Sat., I had scouted it several times but never duck hunted there. That is going to change next year.

As for the remainder of the season, we intend to put up the bluebill decoys and return to the side creek on Thursday to hunt the puddlers. There are 3 guys that are staying in a house on the creek that are going to hunt every morning and afternoon until the closer. I just hope they don’t find the puddlers before we return on Thursday. We will then figure out based on the results as to how to set up to hunt on the closing Saturday.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Upper Cape Fear River 01-23-2012 10:06
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 45-50 Degrees
Report for Saturday, January 21, 2012: Five of us hunted a slough off the river. Three woodys bagged. What a misreable morning. A mile walk in and it rained as hard as it could until after first light. Woodys flew sporadically as they do this part of the season. All local birds and wise by now. We need some cold weather for a good ending.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Field Report, Jan 21st 01-21-2012 16:31
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 45-50 Degrees
We went out to hunt bluebills this morning on the Pamlico Sound. It was a last minute adjustment to our plans, we had to wait and see what direction the wind was blowing. We have realized we can’t rely on the weather reports, they have consistantly gotten wind speed and/or direction wrong so consitantly that we have almost begun to rely on the method of setting up based on the opposite of the forecast.

We arrived at the small ramp at about 4:45 am. It was pouring down rain and the wind was howling. Suprisingly enough from the predicted direction. We sat out in the darkness and pouring rain to a spot I had located on my GPS several years ago but have yet to hunt. It is a beautiful location, we had only one other boat in the area with us and they set up 500 yds to our south. Very considerate.

We saw tens of thousands of bluebills. They were flying in flocks that ranged from 15 to 20 to huge flocks of hundreds of birds. They came in waves, at times the sky was filled with flying birds. At one point we had at least 5000 birds in the water out in front of us.

We have been trying to hunt the open water for the last several weeks. We have seen huge numbers, but they were very decoy/boat shy. They would come by, 75 yards out, and keep going. Today we set up on the shoreline and we found no remedy to the problem of extremely wary birds. These birds would not come near the shoreline, instead rafting up offshore by the thousands as well as out in the open water of the sound.

I have a theory, I think this warm weather has had the birds rafted up on the Chesapeke and after many weeks of constant pounding, they are highly educated. We normally have to deal with well-educated east coast ducks here, after running the gauntlet that is the Chesapeke Bay, they arrive here well educated. But we normally have some birds that bypass the Bay and come straight down to the sounds. Those are the easy birds to hunt.

I think the weather has been so warm(today was 50 degrees with misquitoes on Jan 21st), that the ducks hit the Bay and set up. I think after a constant pounding for better of a month, they have become so shy that they are very hard to hunt.

We are talking about the merits of layout boat hunting next season.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Field Report, Jan 19th 01-19-2012 10:06
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Went out for a quick hunt this morning near the house.My buddy and I used to refer to this as “The Wood Duck Hole”, but we have not hunted it much in the last few years as roost shooters began to hunt there, blowing out the roost. They would hit it for every day until the ducks disapeared for the year. Hoping things might be different this late in the season, I took a chance. I put my boat in at the unimproved ramp and set out to my spot. I am not supposed to go by myself since I am a cripple, but my buddy had to cancel at the last moment. I got to the spot and put out the decoys(3 woodies and 2 mallard hens). I went to set up the boat and blind when I grounded my boat on a cypress knee. I was unable to free the boat by legal shooting time and after 3 or 4 flocks of woodies got by me I decided to just load the gun and sit in the open. Within moments a flock of 4 came up the creek.

I managed to knock down a woodie hen using all 3 shots. Dixie went to retrieve it and it dove on her. After concentrated hunting on shore and in the water, it suddenly resurfaced in the open about 40 yds from the boat and about 30 yards from Dixie. I hand signaled her in and she chased it down. Excellent work on Dixie’s part.

Another flock came up the creek and I missed all three shots. It was a long shot, but within range(about 40 yards) and it was straight up the creek. I don’t know why I missed.

I had to pull out in order to make my doctor appointments at the VA. I will try this spot again next Tues.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

NC coast 01-17-2012 14:05
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Went to hunt divers on the open water today and did not fire a shot. It is not that we didn’t see ducks, it was quite the opposite. We saw thousands. But the wind did not blow as forecast(at 15 to 20 mph with 30 mph bursts) and the water was as slick as glass. We watched them rafted up on open water, not moving. At all, all day.

This is not my first trip since the 6th, it is my third. But the last two trips before this one were identical to this and I did not bother to write a report. My laziness is no excuse, but I was so disgusted that I just didn’t do my due diligence. I apologize.

We have gone out every day based on weather reports calling for wind that either never arrived, or arrived so late as to be after we were already home! I just unhooked my boat and the wind is blowing gale force. Two hours ago you couldn’t get enough wind to make a ripple on the water.

I hope we have the weather turn cold and the wind come in from the north. There is only two weeks left to the season, It came in like a lion with excellent hunts, but is going out like a wimpy lamb.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Upper Cape Fear River 01-17-2012 08:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
This posting is for Saturday, 1/14/12.

Got my waders patched but they still leaked a little. Looked like I stepped on a beaver stick.

Hunted the same beaver slough next to the river. About 4 other trucks showed up after we arrived to hunt the same swamp; about eight folks in all. We all agreed to space ourselves out and share the hole. There was enough room and everyone was agreeable. We saw about 50 woodys and while many were shot at only several were brought down. No limits this morning. We all walked out the same time and the GW was there to greet us. Everyone was legal.

It was a good morning and I hope to see these guys there again.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Upper Cape Fear River 01-09-2012 12:24
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted a river beaver pond Saturday morning. First time I’ve been out after my surgery in November. Wasn’t quite up for the mile walk in and out but did it anyway. Only saw 5 wood ducks. Saw a pair of mallards take off out of range and someone else shot at them. No ducks and waders leaked after I stepped on a bottle. Pretty sunrise though.

North Carolina Duck Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

NC coast 01-07-2012 17:09
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Went out to hunt divers on at the same location we limited out on Thursday. We arrived at the ramp nearly 2 hours before legal time and were suprised to find one truck and trailer already there. We launched and while we pulled away, two more trucks arrived at the ramp we witnessed numerous boats moving out in open water. I guess the word got out.

We set up near the spot we hunted Thurs. We got out the decoys, set up the blind and waited. We saw some ducks moving in open water, but none that came near us. At about 8:30am, a small group swam up at the edge of range(about 45 yards) and we tried them, knocking down one hen after emptying all 3 guns. We then sat there for 2 more hours without firing a shot.

We had another raft set up in open water, swimming around about 75 yds away. A boat came up the river, we thought the ducks would flush towards us, but instead they flushed out over the boat and into open water. We decided to call it a day at that point.

Beautiful day, but not too productive, duck-wise.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

NC coast 01-05-2012 14:14
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Went down to the coast and finally broke the dry spell, my hunting buddy and I limited out on blue bills. Granted, that is only two ducks each, but it was a great day. We arrived and launched from the boat ramp and headed back to a spot that I used to hunt but have not been back to in at least 4 years. We used to shoot a lot of bills there, but in the last few years they just hadn’t showed up.

At legal time we saw a few flocks flying around and rafting up in open water. The longer we sat there, the more ducks rafted up until they were in the hundreds. By 8:30, we had in excess of a thousand birds in the open water out in front of us. Ducks would swim up, just out of range and then swim away.

My buddy urged patience, and he was right. around 9:00 am one flock made the fatal mistake of swimming too close and we stood up, smacking down a limit in one volley.

We sat there a little longer, but since we were seeing nothing but bills, we decided to head home and save this spot for Sat.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Nuese River 12-28-2011 12:53
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
I have not posted up for close to two weeks, but it is not because I have not been hunting. It is because I have not pulled a trigger since the season opener. I have been hunting 3 times and have not fired at a duck. I can’t find them. In fact, no one I know is finding them.

The word from a friend of mine is that there are no ducks in his favorite beaverswamp. Everyone I am talking to out on the sounds are telling me there are not many divers. This morning is the first time I have even heard a shot in the distance in the last 3 hunts. And then there were less than 10 shots total. This was between a group of 4 duck boats and all but three of the shots were at one flock.

This morning I was on the Nuese near the Pamlico sound. I saw a few ducks, all buffles while riding a scouting trip before loading the boat. And even covering nearly 5 miles, I jumped up only 3 of them.

We need some cold weather. It is nearly the first of the year and it is still t-shirt weather. Not one good freeze all year. In fact the misquitos are still out. Get us some cold weather up north, a little freeze-up and we might be us some new ducks in the area.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

12-17-2011 15:15

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 12-17-2011 15:15
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Went out with my son for a duck hunt this morning and it was an adventure. We went to hunt on the Roanoke, it is one of our favorite spots. It can be a bit of a crap shoot, sometimes you shoot ducks, sometimes not, but it can have quite a variety of different species. Rained on us all the way down there and drizzled on and off all morning. The cold wet air cut through to the bone. On the ride down, we saw a large number of duck boats headed in various directions and we were a little suprised to find no one at the ramp when we arrived at about 5:30am.

We launched and set up at our usual location, putting out a dozen mallard,a dozen teal and a half dozen woodies. I accidently put a single ringneck in the woodie spread in the dark.We set up the Mojo and loaded up to wait for the last 20 minutes til legal shooting time.

At first light, a group of woodies came in, and I smacked down drake, took all 3 shots to put him down. We had a single ringneck blow out of the creek, right over the decoys, but did not see it in time to shoot. Then two mallards buzzed us from behind, again catching us off guard. I called frantically, but to no avail.

About 8:30 am, a single widgeon came in over the decoys and I smacked him at about 40 yards. Didn’t even twitch. Sat there for about another hour when a flock of five ringnecks came in and buzzed the woodies with the single ringneck decoy in the spread. I smacked a hen. Should have put out my ringneck decoys. Had them in the boat, just hadn’t seen a singe ringer all season and decided to take the easy way out.

Called it a day at 9:30 and hit the two steak biscuits for 2.99 at Bojangles and my son opted for a picnic sized dirty rice. Three ducks. Not too bad.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 12-03-2011 18:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Went out to hunt the Roanoke at the same location as last Thursday, the plan was to slightly relocate my position in order to capitalize on the wood ducks seen in the early morning and be in a better spot to attract the migrating puddle ducks seen later in the morning.

The woodies showed up on time, but they went to the spot I was set up in last time. Ironic. The puddle ducks did not show up later and the one flock that came by coencided with the appearance of the Game Warden. Wasn’t his fault, he checked us quickly and courteously and was on his way after only a few moments.

Skunked again. As we go into the last break of the season, I find myself thinking about the season up to this point. The season started out very productively, but really slowed down later. I hope that when the season reopens the divers might have arrived.

Time to get a positive attitude.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 12-02-2011 10:18
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Went out for a hunt and had mixed results. Saw a lot of ducks, only got a single teal.

Went out on the Roanoke River to a spot I never hunted before. I need to adjust my location for my next hunt. I got there and set up with about 20 minutes to spare. At legal time I was buzzed by three seperate groups of wood ducks. All were within range and would have been easy shots if I had seen them in time, but they came out of the shadows and were gone before I could recover.

At about 7:30 am, a single teal came into to the decoys, feet down and wings cupped. I stood up for the shot and the drake did a complete turn-around and applied the afterburners. Black Cloud put him down at about 35 to 40 yards, didn’t even twitch.

I sat there until 9:30 am. I saw large flocks of migrating big ducks as well as good sized flocks of woodies. All were low enough to call, but I couldn’t get any to commit to my spread.

Going back on Sat. to adjust my spot.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 11-25-2011 15:11
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 35-40 Degrees
We went out for a hunt at one of my favorite spots, but we had mixed hopes. The spot I wanted to hunt has been blown out by roost shooters, another good spot is covered up by trout fishermen as the trout are evidently running right now. This spot can do well for us, but the results in the late Nov. season are spotty at best.

We got out and set up with about 20 minutes to spare. Just as we threw out our last decoy, a boat passed us up the creek and passed on out of sight. We got the Mojo duck out and set up the Avery Blind. Right at legal time a woodie blew through, I blazed away three shots at it, my buddy got off one shot. It went down in a fluttering descent and we sent the dog off in pursuit. Just as she arrived at the duck, it took off and flew about 10 feet. It repeated this action until it made it to the shore and took off into the underbrush. The buckbrush was so thick the dog could not penetrate it and I had to recall the dog.

We set back up and a woodie blew into the dekes, feet down and wings cupped. I smacked it and it went down clean, one shot.

We had two ringnecks blow by us,one right after the other, and we did not get off a shot at either one. Then a single mallard hen flew over and we opened up on it. It went down in the buckbrush across the creek and again the dog was unable to penetrate the heavy undergrowth of tangled briars,thorns,sawgrass and scrub brush. We spent about 40 minutes trying to recover the duck, but all attempts were futile.

We called it a day at about 10 am.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Nuese River 11-19-2011 17:30
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
My buddy, my son and I went out for a hunt in one of our favorite spots. We got to the unimproved ramp at about 5:15am and set out to our spot. As we set out, another truck with a boat in tow pulled up. We got our decoys out and the other boat passed us about 10 minutes to shooting time. I guess they had trouble navigating the creek in the heavy fog. They went on out of the creek and around the corner, riding off into the distance.

We set up our blind and loaded up. A single teal blew over the boat at legal time, but came out of the shadows and we did not see it in time.Then a woodie passed over high. Then a flock of teal came into the decoys, feet down and cupped. We splashed three. Dixie was able to recover two of them, but one was a cripple and it escaped. Then a woodie came in low over the decoys and we double-slammed it. Stopped in mid-air as if it flew into a wall.

We sat there for close to two hours. We saw some ducks up high, but none that posed a opportunity. Then a flock of mallards came over and I called them in. They came in over the decoys, but we had a miscommunication in the boat and opened the blind prematurely, flaring the ducks. I managed to knock down a drake in spite of this.

We then sat there for a hour without seeing a duck and called it a day.

Ducks in the boat, wet dog, happy hunters. Good day.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Nuese River 11-18-2011 05:35
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 60-65 Degrees
I went out for a hunt with a good friend of mine to the same spot we went Sat. I really wanted to put him on some mallards and I knew that there would be some in the area. If the guys that shot the roost Sat. did not return to do it again on Monday.

It was a wierd day. It was 70 degrees when we launched. It began to rain and the misquitos were out in force. We got to our spot and set up. We had a woodie get past us at legal time and then a mallard buzzed the boat. There were hundreds of misquitos buzzing around the boat blind. The wind then did a 180 degree turn and the wind began to cool. The misquitos disappeared and it rained on and off. We saw a few ducks, but all were high and none would decoy.By 9:00am the temps had dropped to 55 degrees and we called it a day.

First time to get skunked this year. I knew it was coming.

North Carolina Duck Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 11-16-2011 05:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Went out with a friend of mine to hunt one of my favorite spots today. It is a pretty good drive, so we left town at 3:30am in order to be set up by legal shooting time of 6:15. We were not as early as I would have liked, so we did not put out our entire spread, instead making do with 1 dozen mallard,5 woodies and a half-dozen ringneck blocks. We did not have time to put out the spinner, instead opting to set up the blind and load up with a mere 3 minutes to spare before legal time.

About 15 minutes after legal time we had a group of 3 woodies blow through and my buddy took a nice drake. After a very excellent blind retrieve, Dixie was back at the boat, wet and happy. A teal set wings and cupped over the decoys and I took it at 20 yards. That duck will require no tenderizing. We sat there for about a hour when a flock of mallards passed over the creek, 100 yds to our east.

I hit the call and after some enthusiastic conversation with the flock, I called them in and they cupped into the decoys. We stood up and opened up. I hit a nice drake mallard, but the extractor on my gun broke and I was unable to finish up the easy shot as my gun jammed. My buddy, who is a beginning duck hunter, got so excited that he admitted he was guilty of “flock shooting” and didn’t take one.

I was forced to use my gun as a single shot as a result. A single canvasback came in at Mach II and I took it in a shot that only can be described as impressive(if I must say so myself).

We called it a day at 9:00am so I could go to the gunsmith before having to be at my grandson’s school to pick him up. Can’t wait until Thursday.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Nuese River 11-12-2011 13:25
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
We went out for the Nov. opener and it was a little less than we had hoped for. In the pre-dawn darkness we heard the calls of mallards and woodies and we waited with real anticipation. Then precisely at legal shooting time, we heard hunters open up in the roost and for about 10 minutes it was constant gunfire. We saw mallards heading up the creek, high and fast, but nothing we did would turn them. Then there was silence from the roost, didn’t hear another shot all morning.

We sat there, suprised and dissapointed. Then a single woodie came up the creek and my buddy and I opened up on it, I knocked it down with the third shot from my gun. It went down in front of the boat and we sent my son’s new pup Shadow to get it, which he did. About 20 minutes later a single woodie came through and my buddy knocked it down. Shadow had a major brain fart and we lost it in the grass.

We waited about 30 minutes or so and then a single mallard flew over. I hit the call and it turned and came back. It circled and circled and I finally called it in. My son stood up for the shot but missed.

About 10:00am a pair of mallards came over, I hit the drake and my buddy hit the hen. Again Shadow would not behave and we lost the drake but we were able to recover the hen duck. Dog needs more work.

We called it a day and headed back to the ramp were I high-centered the boat on a submerged piling. Took about 30 minutes to free ourselves and then I hung up the blind on the trailer driving on it. Pretty rough day, all in all.

It was still a day spent hunting, so it goes in the good day category.

[Edited By Scott-Tolar on 2011-11-12 13:26]

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Upper Cape Fear River 10-10-2011 09:29
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Report of October 8, 2011. Hunted a beaver slough and should have been on the river where all the shooting was. Maybe they were just shooting. Anyway saw two mallards out of range. I took one woody decoy and threw it out in the beaver pond. A woody buzzed me, took me by suprise and tried to set down on the decoy! Hit him on the second shot. Good way to start the season.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Nuese River 10-08-2011 15:44
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
I went out for the October closer and it was a successful day. Not so much in numbers taken, but in the fact I located a awesome spot that will pay off in the future.I was hunting a small creek off the Nuese River in a location I found this last summer.

I got to the spot where I had jumped up ducks last week scouting and set up with about a hour to spare. It was a small patch of water, so I put out only 4 decoys, two woodie and two mallard hens. At legal time a group of woodies buzzed me, about 5 feet over the boat blind, but I was caught off guard and did not get off a shot. I tried to call them, but they continued on, didn’t even give my decoy spread a look. I then had a pair of mallards come in low over the grass from the side, again I was suprised and didn’t even get off a shot.

Realizing that all the ducks were going to be coming in like that, I reset and waited. I had a flock of about 7 or 8 mallards come in, when I stood up to shoot, Dixie the wonderdog bumped me, knocking me off balance as I fired. I missed a big, fat greenhead at 30 yards. Cursing my poor luck and bad shooting, I reset and waited. Then a flock of about 10 mallards passed by to the side about 50 yards away, low over the grass. I called them and they turned, coming right at me. I then had two others come in from the other direction and I stood up and took a double at about 30 yards, right over the decoys, wings cupped and feet down. Two retrieves later, Dixie was wet and happy and my day had turned around.

I had to pick up to go early as my grandson had a soccer game. I set out for the ramp and jumped up close to a hundred ducks, in different groups, on the way to the ramp. I am going back to this spot on the November opener.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Pamlico River 10-07-2011 15:38
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Went out to hunt a small creek that I found years ago, but have never had any success hunting. Some of you may remember this spot as the one the bass fisherman pulled his Ranger Bass Boat into my decoy spread at the same moment I had Canada Geese cupped and committed. He succeeded in flaring them without me getting to fire a single shot as I would have had to fire over his head to hit the geese.

Being a small area, I put out a small spread. Three mallards, three woodies and a half-dozen teal. I set up the Mojo and awaited sunrise. I had to hunt alone today, something I don’t like to do.

I took a woodie drake about 7:30am using all three shots to put him down. Dixie made short work of the retrieve. We settled back in to await our next duck.

This was the only duck I took. I had opportunities, but I flubbed every one. It was just one of those days. I missed two I shouldn’t have and had 3 sets get by me before I saw them.

Oh well, there is still tomorrow to redeem myself.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Hyde Co. 10-07-2011 15:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Went out to hunt a creek off the Pamlico River in Hyde County. It is a spot that we like to hunt, however, for the last several years trout fishermen have been fishing the creek heavily and they will fish right in your decoys. I scouted the area last week however and no fishermen were to be seen.

We got to the ramp and set out to our spot. We were surprised to find a couple of duckhunters in the general area we were going to hunt. We normally hear hunters in the distance, see hunters at the ramp, but none of them head to the area we hunt. Turns out they were lost in the dark.We tried to help them with directions, but they were evasive in where they were trying to get to. I guess they were afraid we were going to poach thier spot. We weren’t, but I understand thier thinking. You have to be a little territorial nowadays because the common courtesy of leaving another man’s hunting spot alone is gone. My partner and I still honor it, but we are a dying breed. Without being able to find out where they were trying to get to, we weren’t able to help them much. I think they wound up hunting in the area we found them in as we heard shots in the area and saw them headed up the creek past the mouth of our tributary about 10:00 am.

After our fail attempt to be a Good Samaritan, we went to our spot and set up. We put out ringnecks(for visibility), teal,mallard and wood duck decoys as well as our Mojo gadwall. We set up the Avery and waited legal time.

We had ducks come in at a slow, but steady pace, shooting about every 30 to 45 minutes until we managed to take 4 woodies and a blue wing teal. The ducks were wary, but not overly so, with all the ducks shot directly over the decoys.

Another good day.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 10-05-2011 15:51
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
My hunting buddy and I went out to hunt one of our favorite spots on the Roanoke River. We have somewhat unreliable results here, but some of the hunts been some of the best of my lifetime. This spot is, however, a bit of a two-edged sword. We have also traveled up here only to not see a duck all morning. This was one of the good days.

At legal time we had several groups of woodies come through, but in the heavy shadows of the timber, it was too dark to shoot. About 20 minutes after legal time we had a pair of woodies come through and my buddy and I smacked one, the same one. Then we had two groups of woodies come in, I knocked down one from each group. My buddy forgot to reload his gun on the first group, then hit the mag cutoff by accident on the second group and missed. We then had a group of three teal come in and knocked down one each. We sat there until about 9:30am and I smacked a single woodie and the day was done. We continued to sit there until after 10:00am, but there was no action so we picked up and came home.

Five woodies, two teal. A wet dog. A good day.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Oct. preseason scouting report 10-01-2011 16:30
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
I have gone out and done some scouting, with mixed results. I am either finding plenty of ducks, or a area completely deviod of ducks. I find it a little odd that it is so extreme as far as results.

Two of the areas I checked were completely without ducks. Not a single woodie flier. Three other spots I checked were very good in duck numbers. I have seen woodies and teal at all three locations, gadwall and mallards at two locations along with the teal and woodies.

I am seeing large flocks of woodies. Five to ten ducks in a group(which is pretty large for woodies). I find this to be indicative of migrators in my experience.

I don’t think I have seen this many big ducks so early in the season in many years.

It all boils down now to pressure. If people hunt them light and smart, we should have a good season. If people start hunting areas too hard, sky-busting and hunting too many days too close together in the same spot, we will have a good day or two and then wonder where the ducks went.

We will have to see how it goes.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Dove hunt, Sept 13th, 2011 09-13-2011 09:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I went out for a quick dove hunt this morning, I went to the same spot as last Sat., hoping for another limit. It was not to be, it was much slower, I saw less than 2 dozen birds all morning. This hunt I took my son’s lab Shadow as he needs more experience with doves.

I was set up about 10 minutes before legal time and sat there until 7:45am before my first bird came in. I took it with one shot and I sent Shadow to pick it up. He as a bit hesitant, but picked it up and brought it to hand. After I enthusiastically, rewarded him with attention after bringing it back, he was on fire for the next one. I took number 2 about 20 minutes later as it came in to light on the powerline. He didn’t make it to the wire. Shadow went hard and brought it back. I sat there for close to an hour before taking number 3, low and slow across the field. Retrieve number 3 was in the books and Shadow is a little more confident on doves.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Jones Co. 09-10-2011 10:44
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Went out for a dove hunt this morning near the house. Neither of my hunting buddies could make it and my son has to be in school for the next 5 Saturdays(one hurricane make-up day and five days of Drivers Ed). I took Dixie out today, I will take Logan’s dog out next Tues.

We all know the old addage about the best fishing being next to the boat dock, the same might apply to dove hunting as well. The last two trips I made were 1 1/2 hours to dove hunt for two less than stellar days. Today I went just down the road and I limited out between 7am and 9am. I was hunting a freshly cut corn field that had telephone lines bisecting the field, running north to south. There were large numbers of birds moving both as singles and doubles as well as big flocks. The singles and doubles came on it to the power line and were easy hunting, the big flocks were more wary and tended to flair off before coming in range.

Dixie did excellent work this morning. She did blinds, followed hand signals and marked birds very well. I was very pleased with her performance. She is in the backyard and the doves are breasted and filleted.

It was a good day.

[Edited By Scott-Tolar on 2011-09-10 10:45]

North Carolina Duck Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Lower Roanoke River Dove Area 09-05-2011 17:41
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Went for our draw hunt to the Lower Roanoke River Dove Area.We got there in the pre-dawn darkness and got out to the field. There were very few birds flying and very few opportunities. We got set up in a corner of the field, where the corn and sunflower were next to the trees. At about 30 minutes after shooting time, we had a group come up and set up about 15 yards away. Every bird that even started for our corner was flared away before it ever got in shooting range. In spite of this, 3 of our party managed 2 to 3 birds each before we called it a day at 10:00am. We sat there in the field and watched people shoot at everything from Killdeer to bats.

On a up note, the problem with my son’s new BLM Shadow not wanting to pick up doves has been cured. I called the trainer and he told me to take the doves I saved and freeze them. On Sunday my son and I took the frozen birds to a local pond and we got the dog fired up on the shore and threw the birds in the water. Shadow went nuts to get them. Turns out that on Saturday he just didn’t know what to do with the doves as he had never seen one. Several water retrieves later and he wanted doves just as bad as he wanted ducks. Shadow retrieved a dove(his only opportunity)in a very professional manner. My son and I are very pleased.

As we got ready to leave, we were checked by the Game Wardens(two of them). Very nice and professional. They checked us quickly and told us they had been watching the field all morning from cover. They came out to check us before we left and then were on thier way to nab the Kildeer killers. The had witnessed it from cover and were just waiting to go in for them.

Gonna be a bad day for those dudes.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Hyde Co. 09-04-2011 16:14
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Went out for the dove opener, it was a day frought with disappointments. We got to our field, and there were lots of birds, but few hunters. The doves just sat in the field and ate corn.The second dissapointment was that my son’s new BLM Shadow would not pick up the doves. He just didn’t seem to know that he was supposed to retrieve them. I did not want to force the issue, I have never had this arise before and I didn’t want to over-react and cause a long-term dog problem. I was sure it had a solution and I was going to find out what it was before I proceeded. I froze three doves upon arriving at home last night in case I needed them to correct this.

We shot only a few doves until we moved locations at about 3:30 pm and from 4 to 5:30 pm I shot 11 and my partner shot 8. My son Logan shot one. It was a good long shot, he only fired a few times and didn’t get as many opportunities dealing with his new pup.

On a high note with the pup, I called the trainer and he told me what to do. We took the aforementioned frozen doves to a local pond and threw them in the water for Shadow. He launched for the birds and after several retrieves was bringing them back with abandon. In fact, we was on fire for the dove. I then threw them on dry land retrieves and again, he was flawless in his technique. I think the problem is solved. He has retrieved ducks during training, he just was unsure what to do with a dove.That is my fault, not his.

We have a draw hunt at the Lower Roanoke River Game Area tomorrow on Labor Day, the report will follow.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Dove Opener, pre-season report 09-01-2011 16:09
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
It is now time for another hunting season. The annual ritual that is the dove opener is upon us. I am getting things ready, but I am not well prepared. With the hurricane and subsequent damage and clean-up, the oppressively hot weather and some health issues have kept me from my usual preparedness.

That being said, my son,buddies and I have a draw hunt from the Roanoke Dove Area for Monday. It has always been a excellent hunt there. Our only question mark is for Saturday. My hunting buddy is going to scout our hunting area in Hyde Co. tomorrow, I will scout out a few locations closer to home.

I have pulled the guns out of storage and cased them up. I have prepared gear bags for myself and my son. I have frozen six two-liter soda bottles of water for the dogs and have two unfrozen bottles ready for instant use. Two cases of ammo, one 12 and one 20 ga are ready to be loaded in the truck.

We have been unable to work the dogs for the last 6 or more weeks due to the extreme heat. I took them out today(temps in the 80’s)and they both did well. Dixie is a veteran, at 13 she has a few seasons under her belt. My son’s new pup Shadow, age 1 1/2 is a bit more of a wild card, but he did well today. He remembered his hand signals and ran straight blinds. Both dogs responded well to the whistle. I think we are ready as we can be, dog-wise.

The dove opener is a prelude to the season we all live for. Duck season. The opener is little more than a month away and it is that season that I find my mind wandering to.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Lake Mattemaskeet 01-29-2011 16:41
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
We went hunting for our draw hunt at Lake Mattemaskeet and it was good. On our first day(Friday), the results were less than stellar. 3 guns, one shoveler, one merganser and one coot(shot out of boredom and frozen for dog training this summer. We sat out there until 11:45am before giving up.

On day two (Saturday), it was excellent! Two guns, 11 ducks. We took 5 teal, 2 wigeon, 2 mergansers, 1 ringneck, and a pintail drake. Our season ended on a definite high note.

One Saturday, we were covered up with wigeon prior to legal time, they practically buzzed the blind. Upon legal time arriving, the air went dead. We sat there and took 4 teal singles, all were called in with the whistle and all came into the dekes, feet down and wings cupped. Then a flock of pintails came in, Mach II and buzzing the decoys. They went up and over the blind and I took a drake with one shot as it was flying away. I have been hunting a fully plumed out drake pintail for 25 years, this one is destined for the taxidermist. We had another teal come in and immediately upon getting set up after the dog retrieved it, a flock of wigeon came in and we knocked down a double, one each.

Then the wind died down and the ducks quit flying. We sat there and didn’t see another duck for an hour. We called it a day at 10:30am and headed out to have some lunch.

We ended the season on a winning note and we were very pleased.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Sampson County 01-24-2011 11:09
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Went out for a quick hunt before work this morning. The marsh was mostly frozen and only put two mallard decoys in the main creek channel where it was thawed. The woodys were flying and I managed to splash one. Should have had my limit but let my partner take most of the shots. Saw about 30 birds in all. We saw mostly local predictable woodys at first light and a few mallards flying high with a purpose and not paying attention to our decoys or attempts to call them back. Still a good way to start the day.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Pamlico County 01-22-2011 12:58
Cloudy, High Winds – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
We went out for a hunt this morning and it was cold. The temps were in the low 20’s and the wind chill put it in the mid-teens with hard wind. We arrived at our boat ramp to find one boat unloading, one boat leaving and two other trucks parked. Not to worry, no one ever hunts in our spot. We launched and set out to our spot with time to spare.

Upon arrival we set out a dozen ringnecks, a dozen teal and a couple of mallard decoys. We set up the Avery Quickset on the boat and awaited legal time. At about 10 minutes before legal time, a pair of mallards appeared in the creek swimming towards our decoys, They turned around about 70 yards out and swam away, never to return. We sat there until about 7:20am when a flock of mallards came up the creek, low and looking. When they buzzed the dekes, we opened the blind and splashed two, a drake and a hen. Dixie made short work of the hen, it splashed feet up in the decoys. The drake, however, went down behind the boat, in the heavy scrub. I sent Dixie on the blind retrieve and hand-signaled her in to the spot I thought it went down. Dixie worked the area about 5 minutes, found the missing drake and returned to the boat. About 8:30, a flock of teal buzzed through and a single hen broke out of the flock and set into the decoys. My partner and I stood up and smacked it simultaneously. No need to tenderize that duck. Dixie picked it up and we sat down to wait.

We sat there until 9:30, and in spite of seeing a few ducks flying around, we decided to call it a day. It was a miserable, bone-chilling cold that cut clean through you. I am not normally too adversely affected by the cold, but today it was really severe in the high winds. My son was getting too cold and it was time to go home.

We arrived at the ramp and were the first to be leaving, a unusual situation for us. We are usually among the last to leave. We got the boat on the trailer as the second boat pulled up. By the time we had the blind stowed for highway travel, all the other hunters had arrived, loaded and left(we like to get our boat squared away before we leave the ramp for the next trip). Turns out that we just barely beat the rush. Made me feel less wimpy. I didn’t like being the only lightweight bailing out because of the cold.

Two mallards and a teal. Not bad

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Sampson County 01-20-2011 10:24
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Went out for a quick hunt this morning and was pleasantly suprised to find the marsh completely thawed. Saw about twenty woodys and shot eight times. They were done by 7:10. Mallards were flying up the creek but I left my calls in the truck and just watched them go on their way. I was packing up to leave and had my backpack on and about twenty geese came flying down the creek at 8:00. They got within 20yards and I shot one two times with a load of 2,3/4″ BB’s. Feathers went all over but it flew on also. Bad hit? Wrong shot? I’m still scratching my head over that one.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Hyde Co. 01-18-2011 10:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
We went out for our annual swan hunt and it was awesome. My son(age 13) had his first swan permit and hopes were high that he would take a swan. He is hunting with a 20ga, but I tried to give him every advantage and procured Black Cloud #2’s for the hunt(the largest shot I could find in 20ga).

My friends John,Raul,my son and I arrived at the spot and set out John’s decoys(as John is our resident swan expert and we were hunting as his guests). We could not have timed it more perfectly, getting out the decoys exactly at legal time with no down time to wait. We loaded up and began to scan the sky.

We saw thousands of snows, but as usual they had plans elsewhere and did not come close to us. We sat in the small irrigation ditch in the 30 degree temps until about 7:30, when a pair of swans came in low across the field of winter wheat. When they got close, we sat up and all waited to let Logan(my son) take the first shot. At about 40 yards he fired one shot, bringing down the swan like it flew into a wall. A perfect textbook head shot. I was so excited that I didn’t even fire and my buddy Raul took down the other swan in the pair with a clean shot as well. They ran out to retrieve their birds and tag them(which must be done immediately)and we settled back into the ditch to wait.

We sat there about another 45 minutes while several flocks buzzed us, just a little too high for the shot. Then a single came in low and set wings into the decoys. It was my shot now, so two shots later he was on the ground. We sat and watched swans flying all around and then when another single came in, John took it and our tags were filled.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Sampson County 01-17-2011 10:53
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Hunted saturday (1-15) and the marsh was froze solid for the fourth day and the ducks were gone. Didn’t even flip the safety off.

Warmer temps Saturday & Sunday brought them back today and we saw about twenty wood ducks and several mallards that wouldn’t decoy. Took a new young hunter with me and we burned some shells on some fast wooodys.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Sampson County 01-14-2011 10:35
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
The marsh was iced up all the way across the creek this morning. I could walk on the ice so I didn’t attempt to break my way out to put out decoys. Just shot at wood ducks as they passed overhead. Not as many this morning but I did get one wood duck and it crashed on the ice. That’s still good eating. I saw maybe 15 woodys. I passed on two groups that I should have shot at but they were on me and in the trees behind me before I could get the safety off. Everything was iced up and they’re probably on open water somewhere if they can find any. All the local ponds and swamps were froze solid that I passed on the way home.

North Carolina Duck Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Craven Co. 01-13-2011 11:49
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Went out for a hunt near New Bern and it was eventful. Got to the ramp(a WRC ramp for a change)only to find the creek I wanted to hunt locked up with ice. It was too late to regroup and go somewhere else, so I decided to take a chance looking for open water upstream from the ramp(my usual hunting location).

First,I had to break ice at the ramp and I had trouble getting the boat off the trailer and positioned next to the dock due to the heavy ice.Second, I had a boat malfunction, not what I needed to happen when I am already starting out late. It seems my shifter cable had gotten water in it and had frozen stuck. I managed to free my cable in reverse only by thawing it with a cigarette lighter. I disconnected the shifter on the motor from the cable and by shifting the motor manually and using the reverse setting on my shifter lever to increase the throttle, I managed to get away from the ramp. The farther I went upstream, the heavier the ice got. I found a small patch of open water and I threw out 3 mallard and 1 woodie decoy and set up the blind. Two minutes to legal time.

I loaded up and settled in to wait. I sat there until about 7:45 am and a single ringneck flew up the creek, going upstream. I sat up and fired, bam(feathers flew),bam(more feathers), took a deep breath, led the duck and BAM! I hit it hard and it went down in a frantically flapping descent into the creek, just around the corner from my position. I could not let the dog go for it due to ice, so I cranked up and headed to the spot.

No duck in sight. I looked around and saw the impact hole on the ice. Thinking the duck might be under the ice, I looked all around. After a thorough search, I decided the duck must have hit the ice, busted through, and then ran on top of the ice to the shore. I beached the boat and sent in Dixie the wonderdog. After a 5 or 6 minute search, she returned with the ringneck drake. I posted a pic in the 2010 hunting picture album.

Not a red letter day, but for overcoming the difficulties and Dixie’s awesome blind retrieve, I consider today a moral victory.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Sampson County 01-10-2011 10:48
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
The snow front definately moved the birds this morning. Saw about seventy wood ducks and brought one home. Most were flying down the main creek channel where I could not get to with waders. The marsh was frozen and covered with fresh snow except for the open creek channel. Several mallards passed over pretty high and were on their way to somewhere else.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Pamlico River 01-08-2011 20:21
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
My partner and I went out to hunt on the Pamlico River this morning. We wanted to hunt sea ducks, but NOAA was calling for 20 mph winds with higher gusts, rain and snow. So we opted to go puddle duck hunting instead.

We got to the ramp and were surprised to see 7 trucks already at the ramp and another pulled up right behind us in line. We got the boat ready as quickly as possible and launched to go to our spot. We headed the opposite direction as everyone else, we have a little honey hole we like to hunt. Hasn’t been that good for the last few years due to fishermen that would set up and fish right next to your decoy spread, but with gale force warnings and small craft advisories out, we were hoping they would stay home.

About 10 minutes to legal time a flock of about 10 or so ringnecks went by our boat. At 4 minutes to legal time, 3 mallards went right over us. Then it was legal time,didn’t see another duck for almost 3 hours. At 10:00am, a flock of 30 to 40 teal blew right over us and landed down the creek. We watched them for about 10 minutes, they took off and came through the decoys and we splashed 3,two hens and a drake. Then about 20 minutes later, another, smaller flock came through, just a little high and real fast, we managed one drake out of that group.

Two hunters, four teal. Not too bad.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Roanoke River 01-06-2011 16:00
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
I went up for a hunt on the Roanoke River this morning and it was not productive. I sat there until 10:00am without even pulling a trigger. I did see some migrators up high, some wood ducks and some big ducks(gadwall and mallards), but nothing that even pretended to consider decoying.

I arrived at the unimproved ramp at about 5:30am. I launched quickly and set out to my usual spot. I was somewhat surprised not to see any other hunters in the area, it was a sign they knew something I didn’t. It started raining about legal time and rained steady until I called it a day.

I think the dog is disappointed in me.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Sampson County 01-06-2011 10:50
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted the same location I did on Tuesday. No mallards here this morning. Go figure. Snowing 50 miles north and drizzle where I was and only saw 25-30 local woodys. Splashed 1 woody and got a merganzer. Still better than being in the office.

Two days ago it was clear and cold. Marsh was froze to the main creek channel and mallards were everywhere.

Posted By:
Sloughslogger
Guest

Sampson County 01-05-2011 09:22
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Hunted a new location with new hunters (friends)yesterday. A little farther east than I’m used to hunting and there were noticibly more ducks and more species than I’m used to seeing. This is getting better and better.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Nuese River 01-03-2011 16:35
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
I went out to hunt a creek off the Nuese this morning, it is a area that I have not hunted in at least 10 years, but I was at a loss of where to go and I decided to give it a shot. It is a beautiful location, where salt marsh meets scrub pine. I have shot a few woodies there,as well as a few mergansers. Nothing to get excited about, but it was a excellent location to try out to see if things had changed.

Sometimes taking a risk pays off. I got to the ramp about a hour before shooting time, I quickly launched the boat and faced the choice, up the creek to where I usually hunt, or down to try something new. Since I was already pushing the envelope, I decided to go up to my old location since it had been so long since I had been there. For all I knew, there was a housing development down the creek(it was too marshy for that upstream). I set out a dozen ringnecks and a few wood duck and mallard decoys and set up the blind. Not a minute too spare. I quickly loaded up and sat down to wait. Not for long.

A pair of big ducks passed overhead and continued down the creek. I went to hit the mallard call, but in my excitement, I blew a high-ball into my wood duck call. Recovering quickly, I hit the high ball on my Haydel’s Redleg several times and the ducks turned and passed by out of range on the other side of the creek. I continued to quack and chuckle as they passed over several times and finally they set wings and parachuted in. I could not let them decoy since I would not be able to take the shot in the low light, so I had to take them a little high as they came in, outlined in the early morning sky. They had feet down and were dipping from side to side when I flipped open the blind and picked out my duck. Two shots later, it hit the water, just outside the ringneck decoys. I sent Dixie out for the retrieve and she made short work of it. While she was swimming to the duck, I used the time to reload. When she arrived back at the boat, I realized that I had a blackduck/gadwall hybrid. It had the dark brownish/black feathers of a black with the wing coloration of a gadwall. It’s bill was not the usual olive/green color, but was black and orange speckled. At first I thought it was a black duck, it’s main coloration was that of a black duck.

I put it on the strap and settled back down. Two more large ducks passed by to the south of my position, I hit the call and they turned as if on a string. Before they got to me however, two other ducks passed by and they turned and followed them. I frantically hit the high ball and was discouraged as they continued to fly away. Just when all seemed lost, the small group of four turned and headed back. They flew over and circled around for another pass. I could see they were gadwall, I continued to do single quacks and feed chuckles. They set their wings, dropped their feet and came in, dipping from side to side. At about 10 feet off the water, I stood up and took a double at about 25 yards. It was awesome. Dixie made short work of the double retrieve and we sat back to wait for our next duck.

These were all the ducks I saw all morning. It was lucky I was able to capitalize on every opportunity that I had this morning. I sat there until 10:00am before picking up to come home. By NC standards hunting on public water, the black/gadwall hybid and the two gads constitute a red letter day. North Carolina has you shooting woodies and divers, from ringnecks to scoters and bluebills. An occasional teal or mallard. But to take three big puddle ducks while hunting public rivers and creeks is quite a accomplishment.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Craven County 01-02-2011 15:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
My son and I went out hunting to the “Wood Duck Hole”, one of my favorite locations for the last 20 years. It has not been good there for the last 5 or so years, but I am keeping the dream alive that it will become good again. The problem is that a couple of locals are shooting out the roost, it has totally ruined a area that was a almost guaranteed wood duck limit every time, not to mention that sometimes you took a few mallards or Canada geese as well. It is a beautiful location, were the creek opens up from a narrow to a wide area where a ox-bow re-enters the creek. It is surrounded by huge cypress and there is a small island off to one side. The area is pristine, no sign of development anywhere around.

But starting about 5 years ago, two locals(I am guessing by the sound of their gunfire)began to shoot out the roost. They go in and really blast it out. It makes me sad. I would hunt this location once or twice a week, hunting it lightly and slipping out with one or two woodies every time. I decided to go back to check it out, maybe the roost shooters moved away.

My son and I set up in our traditional location, we set up 3 woodie and 2 mallards out in the open area in front of the place we put the boat. We set up the blind on the boat and waited.

For nothing. We sat there until 10:00am and did not see a single duck within range. We only saw 3 ducks all morning, one teal and two mallards up high and out of range. We had a flock of Canada geese come over, but they were too high. We also had a flock of swans pass over us, up high about 100 yards south of our location. Obviously the roost shooters are still there.

I will not return to the “Wood Duck Hole” this year.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Pamlico Sound 12-30-2010 17:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
My partner and I went hunting for sea ducks today, the first time this year. We went to one of our favorite spots on the Pamlico Sound. We put in at the unimproved ramp at the headwaters of a small creek. We had to put the truck in 4-wheel drive due to the still-present snow and the heavy mud due to moisture saturation in the ground at the ramp. It was pretty nasty.

We had to pole the boat to turn around from the ramp due to heavy ice in the creek. We broke ice almost the entire way to the sound, in some places it was so thick that we had to slow down and let the boat go up on top of the ice and let it fall through to break it, somewhat like a icebreaker does.

After finally arriving out in the open water of the sound, we were immediately amazed at how slick the water was. There was not low wind, there was no wind. The water was slick as glass. We ran out to the spot we like to hunt, about 300 yards offshore. We put out a dozen scoter, one dozen bluebills and about a half dozen bufflehead decoys. After setting up the Avery Blind, we awaited legal shooting time, about a 30 minute wait.

We could hear buffleheads flying around the area, but could not see them. At legal time we had a group of bluebills skim just outside range, circle us three times and fly away. Then a single scoter came in low with wings set and I took him at about 35 yards. Scoters are hard to kill, but Black Cloud puts them down. He hit the water and didn’t even twitch.

We then had four buffles approach from the east and set up in the bufflehead decoys just as a single buzzed out in front. My partner took a buffle as it left the decoys and I lost my footing and missed the single flyer. About 30 minutes later a single buffle drake came into the bufflehead decoys and my partner took it clean over the blocks. It was a beautiful drake, so perfect and plumed out so well that he is going to have it mounted.

We saw hundreds of ducks out in the open water, but in the slick conditions they did not fly around. We picked up at 10:30 am and went home after sitting there for 2 hours without firing a single shot.

Posted By:
Scott-Tolar
Field Editor

Lenior County 12-29-2010 07:45
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
I went out for a quick hunt in the small beaverswamp across the road from my house. I had to be back early(by 8:00am)and I couldn’t really put in a real hunt like yesterday, two days in a row. I need a day or so to recover from each trip due to some health issues I have. But tomorrow I do intend to go hunting for real, my hunting buddy and my son will be going and they can bear the brunt of the labor.

I found the beaverpond frozen solid, I didn’t expect it to be completely frozen. I expected the sides to be frozen and the middle to be open water. My plan had been to catch ducks coming into the open water from the river. But with the water completely frozen, I only saw one flock of ducks(mallards) and a single teal. Both were slightly out of range and I didn’t fire a shot.

Tomorrow promises a new day. My partner and I hope to do some sea duck hunting tomorrow, the first time this year. It seems that the winds have been in excess of 20 mph on the sounds since the end of November. Every time we plan a sea duck hunt, it is high winds with small craft advisories on the sound. Tomorrow’s forecast is for 5 mph NE winds, perfect sea duck hunting conditions for the spot we like to hunt.

I am told that people have been doing extremely well hunting impoundments and in beaverponds all season. The ducks are evidently here and have been all season. We have been unable to capitalize on them since the river is so shallow as to make navigation all but impossible and I only have access to one beaverpond. This beaverpond is owned by a man I know and he will only let me go in to hunt there so I can’t ditch my hunting buddy to go there.

But tomorrow will be a sea duck hunt(if all goes as planned).