Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
Rain
Guest

10-20-2008 12:23
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might wanna wait till mid november, aint much here right now.

Posted By:
blackdogales
Web Member

Ronan 10-16-2008 22:39
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Looking for connection in MT. I am living in Southern Illinois and wanting to hunt in MT.

HELP!!!!!!

Posted By:
Rain
Guest

choteau 10-16-2008 14:13
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
killed 14 ducks, mallards, gadwall, pintail and redhead. 6-pheasants, 1-sharptail and 5-hungarian partridge, and one goose. great day to be hunting but no real amount of ducks, its not on there yet.

Posted By:
Rain
Guest

Ronan, Pablo area 10-09-2008 11:27
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 40-45 Degrees
first weekend was pretty good. Shot mallards, teal and wood ducks. Not a ton of birds but enough to fill limts easily. Saturday and Sunday shot 20ducks and 3 geese. Hunted a pothole on Wednesday and killed 14 mallards, widgeon, teal and gadwall. First light we were covered with mallards, to early to shoot. Stood up and shood them away, they trickled back in. Wouldnt decoy very well lots of pass shooting. Great 3 hunts so far, probablly have to wait till Halloween for a good push of birds to come down.

Posted By:
PUDLJMPR
Guest

12-27-2007 16:18
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Any geese left up there? Just wondering if we can expect any more geese to show up in Wy or northern Colo? We have had a good number of little geese but not many big ones, just curious if there still there or passed us by.

Posted By:
GV55
Guest

Flathead 12-11-2007 00:14
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I know there’s people hunting, good numbers of birds too. But nobody’s talking.

Posted By:
gkduck
Guest

Flathead 12-03-2007 17:41
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Anyone still hunting out there, seems like the Mt. duck hunters have left the web site.

Posted By:
GV55
Guest

Flathead 11-18-2007 17:17
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
Finally some new birds showing up. Early migrators, spoonys, teal, widgeon, sprig. Not huge numbers of northern mallards. Swans are down, which means big weather is on it’s way.
Anyone else posting out there?

Posted By:
redrock
Web Member

City limits of Missoula 09-11-2007 11:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Missoula used to have a kid’s fish pond off of 39th Street on the south side of town. The fish pond has long since moved but the pond has become a fairly productive wetland – there were seven or eight mallard broods in evidence this summer, maybe more and a pair of geese fledged five goslings. The pond is also a magnet for staging birds, especially mallards in spring and fall. Once the hunting season starts especially, the evening flight of hundreds of mallards coming into roost at sunset is thrilling.

Periodically someone will drop off a domestic duck or two, usually right after easter. Because people regularly feed the ducks and the pond despite signs urging them not to, these domoestics manage to overwinter even when everything is frozen tight. For the last year or so, we’ve had a big ugly white thing – a pekin, I think – and he’s left his mark. There’s a late brood of mallards using what’s left of the pond that includes a couple of mostly white birds. This morning, I ran the dog through the flock, and yes, the white ones could fly.

Its time to do our duty, boys. We don’t need these domestic crosses making it through the hunting season and polluting the wild gene pool any more. So if a white mallard comes into your dekes, you know where he came from. Take ’em.

Posted By:
rwigton@hotmail.com
Web Member

coming to BIG SKY! 02-23-2007 21:47
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HAY GUYS, I WILL BE MOVING TO MONTANA IN 4 YEARS AS SOON AS I RETIRE AND AM LOOKING FOR A LOT TO BUILD ON. IS THERE AN AREA OF THE STATE THAT IS CONSIDERED THE BEST FOR WATERFOWLING/????? OR AN AREA THAT IS CONSIDERED THE WORST?? PLEASE HELP! THANKS, ROB// RWIGTON@HOTMAIL.COM

Posted By:
glaubsgoose
Guest

01-24-2007 02:22
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Does anyone have a report about if any geese have been though the east side of Mt. and how long ago. Thank you.

Posted By:
boxfa75
Guest

bozeman 01-11-2007 15:26
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 0-10 Degrees – Ice
there are still teal and widgeon in bozeman. there has been a warm south wind all year until today it is the first storm from the north since october and that is no joke. if teal, and widgeon (shot both yesterday) are still here what does that tell you. that the migration hasnt happened in this valley. did shoot lots of birds by dillon last week. lots. very small mallards. havent seen any large northern mallards yet this year, except in october where we had two alberta clippers. good luck the last day everyone

Posted By:
cogletree
Guest

01-11-2007 12:05
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I am in Williston and am hoping to get in one more goose hunt this weekend in spite of the cold. Does anyone know if there are still geese around? I have heard reports of geese on the river by Glendive or Miles City? If anyone has seen geese elsewhere on the eastern side of MT the tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the help!

Posted By:
Pintail2
Guest

01-11-2007 11:41
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cogletree, don’t do a goose hunting trip this weekend! The season in Montana closes on Friday, the 12th! It may seem strange for the season to close on a Friday, but that’s the end of the 107 days, the maximum allowed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Posted By:
cogletree
Guest

01-11-2007 11:35
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I am in Williston and am hoping to get in one more goose hunt this weekend in spite of the cold. Does anyone know if there are still geese around? I have heard reports of geese on the river by Glendive or Miles City? If anyone has seen geese elsewhere on the eastern side of MT the tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the help!

Posted By:
cogletree
Guest

01-11-2007 10:08
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I am in Williston and am hoping to get in one more goose hunt this weekend in spite of the cold. Does anyone know if there are still geese around? I have heard reports of geese on the river by Glendive or Miles City? If anyone has seen geese elsewhere on the eastern side of MT the tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the help!

Posted By:
glaubsgoose
Guest

Hawkspings 01-07-2007 22:45
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Yes this is true I have seen them for a few years and I have one on a mold mounted up already this kind of goose I found years ago and I was the first to report it and now it is a subspecies know as the Glaub’s goose on record as of two years ago. Mine has the White outer primarie feathers. I know this goose has been around for a few years because the first I seen of them was a few flocks about 30 birds and about 4 flocks. Now I see more and more and this goose was never reported by anyone and I reported it two years ago legaly and was give the right to name this subspecies. So it is the Glaub’s Canada Goose.

Posted By:
mlanders
Guest

colorado 01-07-2007 18:32
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We have always reffered to these geese as Quill Lake. We usually kill a few every year with white on different body parts, the chest being the most common. They also have feet mottled with white specks most of the time. I have one in the freezer, soon to be on the wall.

Posted By:
glaubsgoose
Guest

01-07-2007 02:40
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How are the geese up there are there still some and would you know if any have started come down yet and left from up the in Montana?

Posted By:
glaubsgoose
Guest

Hawkspring Wyoming 01-06-2007 01:38
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People may see this Canada goose they might get it has a white bar or band going from wing to wing accrossed the chest, some have white flight feather at the end of the wing where they are black and with white spots of feathers under the wing and white patch on the head goes to the bottom of the beak where it should be black and the white patch may go down to the chest down the neck, and maybe have whiteish toe nails and spots on its feet. I first seen these geese two years ago and reported them to a Game And Fish and a Sporting goods store for prof. It was said it was a family mutation but now it is not it is moved into a subspecies that was named the Glaub’s Goose. The first year there was not many found as they went though last year much more came though in one day there was seen 10 flocks about 40 to 50 birds a flock so then was 400 to 500 birds this makes a new subspecies and with other reports on these birds is prof. These are not a high breed or a cross of Snow and Canada, the Canada will only mate with another Canada goose. These geese will be the ones to get in years to come.

Posted By:
glaubsgoose
Guest

Torrington Wy 01-05-2007 11:35
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This is for the person who asked about the goose with the white bar on the gosses chest. I have info on this and you can write me at ho1972m1@aol.com or boss1972m1@aol.com my name is Rob

Posted By:
ericpikal
Guest

goose question 01-03-2007 11:33
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I recently had some friends that shot some Canada geese in Montana with white bars on their chests. Does anybody know if these are a subspecies or if they are a hybrid of some sort?

Posted By:
yogibear
Guest

hunting reports 12-28-2006 20:01
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Come on guys and gals, thats have some reports from Montana. Do you still have alot of birds, send Wyo way when you’re done with em.

Posted By:
boxfa75
Guest

bozeman 12-12-2006 21:54
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lots of goldeneyes, maybe by christmas like last year the mallards will come

Posted By:
Fred Tully
Guest

Great Falls 12-11-2006 09:02
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Tried hunting Great falls area this last weekend. Weather was warm, quite a few geese on the river, but were real decoy shy.Birds seemed to stay in the fields most all day long.Not a lot of mallards flying, all in all not a very productive hunt. Access problems to most private fields. How were your week end hunts.

Posted By:
PaulWesterberg
Web Member

Nowhere 11-30-2006 21:19
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Montana bird reporters need to get with it! Check out Nebraska!

Posted By:
boxfa75
Guest

belgrade 11-27-2006 19:08
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
wouldnt say new birds, but the snow and cold has frozen lots of potholes and other area ponds bringing more birds to moving water and springs. im sure they are coming looking at the snow cover. my party shot five mallards couldve shot ten but i didnt hit one duck somehow (i am trying to find a good excuse). i had one of those days. i need to aim better. any reports in eastern montana.

Posted By:
boxfa75
Guest

nowhere 11-26-2006 19:30
– – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
I saw them at dutton thankgiving flying back to from a field. weird to see them this late but with all the warm weather. that warm weather is gone, six inches of snow here in bozeman, and almost 8-9 in great falls. hopefully pushed some birds down. going out in the morning will report then.

Posted By:
MTDucker
Guest

Corvallis 11-26-2006 13:20
– – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Was just standing in my back yard, first heard and then saw hundreds of Snow Geese coming from the northeast and heading south right over the house. I bet they were coming from Freezeout.

Posted By:
boxfa75
Guest

north belgrade 11-16-2006 18:54
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
bluebird, bluebird. no ducks. its tropical here. all spread out. cmon cold

were you down at chilcotts, that small creek. also another real good place when its not so bluebird is florence river access by the bridge, walk upriver a few hundred yards and a slough comes in, walk up the slough til you see some blinds. this is extremely good at times. scout it. and get there early.

got into a duck hunting lease this year, its been incredible, but not when its this warm and calm. we have story spring creek, miles of the east gallatin river and smith spring creek. also ben hart spring creek. no more running around staying in hotels making the wife mad.

take care.

Posted By:
MTDucker
Guest

Bitterroot 11-15-2006 14:21
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Jason,
When I went to the little backwater on the 9th, it was a raging torrent. With all the rain and warm weather, it looks like Spring Flood. I couldn’t even get to the little backwater (which was now raging and the whole river bottom was flooded). I set a few decoys where we crossed the dry grass (which was now flooded) and downed 5 Mallards. I couldn’t even cross the little creek before the woods because it was over my waders. Had more action that day than in the past, though.
Good to hear from you again.

>> Jan << Posted By: boxfa75 Guest Bozeman, Stevi 11-07-2006 11:53 Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation - 60-65 Degrees This is the best duck year I have ever seen. I think it has alot to do with the colder temperatures. A wave of northern Mallards (small wave) is here in bozeman, and lots of geese are coming into the valley also. I realize this isnt a huge push, but its a push. These birds are fat northern mallards, huge. Making a racket and coming to the call. It is as warm now as i can remember for november over 70 degrees twice this week. The birds are sticking around but not flying anywhere. dabbling around MT ducker. lots of birds usually pile up on hueys, schwabs, mitchell, and across from chilcotts in a little refuge they have there. This time of year was always the best there for me, always limits on the river in the small backwater. its so warm now its tough. plus, the major mallard migration is still only half way down canada right now, and holding due to the warm. I was in peace river (WAY UP) a few weeks ago and the mallards hadnt shown up yet. i just called him and he said they left about a week ago. there were lots of snow geese piled up on the border last week but i couldnt get there with work. we are probably three to six weeks away from the major push of mallards. usually thanksgiving to christmas. 51 mallards down and 33 geese. the missouri river has been amazing, as has the east gallatin in bozeman. there are lots of ducks and more to come. Posted By: Rain Guest Southwest MT, by dillon. 11-06-2006 15:41 Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation - - Went Elk hunting got into about 40 on Sat morn but could only get to 660 yards. (range finder) Decided not to take the shot, there were only a couple Raghorns in the group so no biggy. Went back Sunday am and it was nasty, storm rolled in, clouds, blowin 30, freezin ass cold, didn't see and elk. Lots of season left though. Posted By: Rain Guest 11-02-2006 10:46 - - - MTDUcker, ive seen all those ducks your talking about. Every evening they're heading north somewhere, very high and back south in the morning very high. Wont even look at a spread. I hunt right around stevi, behind farm and feed, hunted last week shot one greenhead and missed a buzzin woody. I'm assuming those ducks when theyre heading south are going to like Mitchells Slough somewhere, probably behind Huey Lewis' house somewhere where they dont get messed with. Make sense??? Hopefully with this freezing weather some potholes, sloughs are going to get locked up and they have to start using the river. Hopefully... Posted By: saltspringer Guest 10-21-2006 09:50 - - - MtDucker where do those ducks usually settle down when they come that high and that many ? Are they going through this early? Posted By: MTDucker Guest Bitterroot River 10-20-2006 22:17 Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle - 40-45 Degrees K-Town, some of those Greenheads must have moved down into the valley yesterday and today, but they were HigherNaKite and Not Lookin' Down when they were following the River south. Only managed one that erred on the low side yesterday and one Wood Duck today. Both days saw wave after wave heading south along the river though. Hopefully they will stay around for a while. Posted By: K-Town Guest Kalispell 10-14-2006 12:21 - - - Three of us shot a limit of 21 mallards in a field this morning by 8:30, plus 2 bands. It would have been waaayyyyyyyyy better if we had some wind and cloud cover. Posted poics in grip and grin. Posted By: K-Town Guest Kalispell 10-12-2006 11:23 Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm - 35-40 Degrees Me and 3 other guys shot a limit of honkers by 9:00 this morning on a winter wheat field. At first light this morning, we probably saw 1500 mallards buzz over us and land in a barley field, gonna try to get them on Satureday. Ducks are in large groups now, resting and feeding were they know they are safe. With out question, I would say we are already getting some good northern flights down. A saw a field a couple nights ago that was solid GREEN, a good 3000+. Posted By: Rain Guest Pothole Ronan 10-09-2006 08:46 Cloudy, Winds Calm - 40-45 Degrees Took my 3yr old boy to the pothole, arrived 10-15mins late, ducks were coming in as I was settin dekes, decided I really didn't need that many then, (4mallard dekes, 3 goose floaters) went and got the boy out of the truck, got settled in blind and proceeded to shoot ONE STINKIN DUCK. Mallards came in early, i spooked them, and shot one Widgeon. Boy still had a blast, so did I...Not many ducks flying at all. Posted By: Rain Guest pot hole Ronan MT 10-02-2006 08:28 Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm - 60-65 Degrees Hunted my pothole opening morning, scouting trips didn't hold to much promise, not many birds at all. I did go and shot a decent bag, 2-drake mallards, 2-drake widgeon, 1-gadwall,1-hen widgeon. The neat thing about this hunt was 5-swans dropped in on me, i've never seen that before. I thought it was great, live decoys, worked good. A drake mallard came diving in, rolled him and the swans could have cared less I shot, dog retrieved the bird, they just hung out. It was pretty neat, I knew they were big but not that big, never paid to much mind to them before. Anyway, it was a good opener, my new lab did well, first time hunting her, she's almost one and did a fair job.

Posted By:
westside
Guest

FLATHEAD VALLEY 09-26-2006 10:52
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Anybody in NW MT been out scouting or hunt the youth weekend?

I was out in the lower valley last night and saw a few flocks of mallards but not too much.

Posted By:
MTDucker
Guest

Great Falls/Helena 09-17-2006 01:08
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 35-40 Degrees
Going from Great Falls to Helena this morning on I-15, saw a couple of family groups of Canadas fly over the highway going from the Missouri towards the cut grain fields. Then when I was going from Helena to Missoula on Hwy 12, saw good numbers of mallards and maybe teal on ponds along the way.

It’s ONLY 12 more days away !!!

Best of luck to you all this year.

>> Jan << Posted By: John-Prentice Field Editor No where in particular 06-30-2006 10:08 Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm - Over 70 Degrees Do any of you Montana waterfowlers hunt Sage Grouse? I am looking for someone to gift me a Male Sage Grouse. I mess around with taxidermy and would like to get one for my collection of Upland birds. I would of course pay shipping. Would appreciate any help. E-mail me at jwprentice@netscape.com We no longer have Sage Grouse in New Mexico. Had a few but poachers took them out. [Edited By John-Prentice on 2006-07-03 15:30] Posted By: Michael-Majcher Field Editor EVERYWHERE 06-21-2006 12:48 Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle - Over 70 Degrees Looks like a good year for the canada goose. From what I'm seeing, the bird numbers are up and running as the hatch seemed to take an early start with the less than "spring-like" weather we had early on. Missed the pintail flight that usually works its way throught the valley. Have resided myself to getting on my reconditioning of decoys early so they're not left to last minute as usual. Enjoy the first day of summer! Posted By: Rain Guest 06-19-2006 08:52 - - - Hunterduck, go cry somewhere else, I know I could care less, sorry... Posted By: HunterDuck1 Guest Brookings South Dakota 06-11-2006 21:30 - - - This post is about me losing my job with the US Fish and Wildlife. To find out more go to the South Dakota page. Let me know how you feel. I had never met the officer before in my life. I was not familiar with the road I was traveling and cam upon him and his son driving so I passed them going 63 in a 55. I had worked two jobs that morning including being the only one out of the three bird counters that was expected to go out and count. This officer said that he would be happy to not press charges as long as I lost my job. I couldn’t believe someone would do that. Either way whether I was charged or not the US Fish and Wildlife had to "let me go" because of this situation. I plan on getting up tomorrow and going out and trying to get some photos of waterfowl in the area. Maybe if I can get some that are good enough someone may feel some need for them. I will still try to report in once and awhile but I won’t be out as much now. Sounds weird but I feel lost now like I don’t know what to do. If anyone that reads these posts has any comments I would love to hear about what you think. The public’s voice is always interesting to hear on some situations. Well I hope everyone takes care and fall can’t get hear soon enough. Thanks you for feeling for me as well. You really don’t know how bad I wanted this to work out. I will say that a professor named Dave Noggle I believe at Montana University treated me with no respect in “letting me go.” I may not be a college professor or anything like that, but I am just as human as the next guy and make mistakes just like anyone else would, but this so called professor treated me as if I was and convict that had just murdered someone. Some people don’t realize that they can’t just talk to people in anyway the feel. I may still find some way to get back at this professor for how he spoke to me. I understood what I did was wrong and accepted it. He on the other hand took it way out of proportion. Posted By: Rain Guest 05-18-2006 14:35 - - - Good stuff MM, Flathead River??? Posted By: Michael-Majcher Field Editor wetlands - general 05-13-2006 15:11 Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm - 40-45 Degrees Thw spring warm-up is on, and with it comes the nesting of our quarry. Please take time to go around the nesting birds you encounter on your streamside excursions and outings. I recently had the rare opportunity to witness a true miracle. That being birth. While taking a break from casting (not fishing... or at least not catching hahaha), I took a seat on a nearby log. It wasn't until a few minutes passed that I noticed a goose warily watching me from her nest position. I couldn't understand why she had not honked at me to fend me off her turf. It wasn't but a few seconds later that a little dusty gold newborn made it's way from beneith her. She shifted her weight enough that another "egg" appeared on top of a gosling who shook the shell from it's back. It was then that I realized that she was keeping quiet for her young's safety. It was all so simple. The beauty transcended the worry about $3 gas and illegal immigration overruns. It got me back to WHY I was there in the first place.... to regain my position as a participant in LIFE, not just an observer. MM Posted By: salton sea man Web Member dillon mt 05-10-2006 18:08 Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm - 60-65 Degrees gentlemen, is there decent goose hunting around the dillon valley ?....i was told that the area doesn't freeze up and that there's quality waterfowl hunting all season???is this true?....thanks anyone...salton sea man Posted By: Rain Guest 04-18-2006 11:10 - - - Went turkey huntin Easter weekend, did well. However, early morning hunts didnt work to well, all henned up. Bout 9 930 they came runnin to you. one more week, maybe two its gonna be to easy!

Posted By:
cbeason
Guest

sask 02-02-2006 21:49
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I know this is not the right area to post this, but I also know how many Ndak’s hunt Sask. Anyway Sask is doing a phone survey of US Residents to determine what the financial impact would be on their economy if they required a guide to hunt Sask. So be prepared to answer this survey if they call you and lets make sure this does not happen

Posted By:
saltspringer
Guest

01-08-2006 17:26
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micah, what did you hear about ft. benton area or cascade area. saltspringer

Posted By:
K-Town
Guest

Kalispell 01-07-2006 20:04
– – –
Me and a friend pulled an all dayer, and only managed 9 greenheads, if are shooting was up to par we could have limited out, but the hunting was still very slow. It rained from first light till dark. Best part of the day was 2 of the 5 greenehads I shot were banded, talk about luck, that makes 4 for me this year.

Posted By:
Rain
Guest

01-05-2006 16:56
– – –
Last time I was in FB which was two weeks ago I didn’t see sh-t for ducks. Shot the livin helll out of the rooster birds though! EVERYWHERE

Posted By:
micha
Guest

ft Benton 01-03-2006 19:20
– – –
thinking about Ft Benton or Loma this weekend. Since it warmed up and all the ice melted ducks are really. scattered. I have a friend headed down there tomoorow. I will post tomorrow night

Posted By:
saltspringer
Guest

fort benton 01-03-2006 17:35
– – –
has anyone hunted the ft. benton area lately? Thinking of going up there in the nextweek or so if there are any ducks or geese around.

Posted By:
chuam
Guest

East Gallatin 12-26-2005 22:13
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Jump shot for 1 mallard and 1 goldeneye. Ducks are there but not moving around much.

Posted By:
K-Town
Guest

Kalispell 12-24-2005 14:45
– – –
Been killing ducks and geese the last couple days consistentyly (no limits). Not seeing huge numbers by any means, but the ducks are were you find em. Theirs actually still quite a bit of geese around, and have been hearing them at night alot. The weather is well above freezing at night and getting into the upper 40’s dureing the day, alot of waterways are back open, makeing some extra spots for birds to land dureing this weird weather. Merry Christmas.

Posted By:
micha
Guest

missouri 12-20-2005 21:46
– – –
Fish
Iam with you on that one. we were above Pelican point. Had to call my dog off 2 birds because of the heavy current and ice.Looks like the ice is breaking up good today maybe a guy could launch by sat. think I am going to hunt some pheasants

Happy Hunting

Posted By:
fishski1
Guest

Missouri 12-20-2005 18:25
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 0-10 Degrees – Ice
Also hunted the River on Sat.. LOTS of ice,, Almost lost a dog under the ice shelves.. Lots of birds,, but it is pretty dangerous to say the least. Looks like the river BELOW cascade is out for a while. Above Pelican would be good, but cant launch a boat at pelican right now.

FISH!!

Posted By:
micha
Guest

missori river 12-18-2005 19:44
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 0-10 Degrees – Open Water
hunted the missouri sat. 2 of us got 8 mallards and 2 geese. very cold lots of ice in river This is a place that stays open when everything freezes down stream. public access is about a mile upsteam from where we set up. Have to stay below the high water mark to keep from trespass. hope it warms up this week

HAPPY HUNTING

Posted By:
K-Town
Guest

Kalispell 12-10-2005 19:13
– – –
Had a pretty good shoot on open water today. 5 of us managed 22 mallards (1 band) and a honker and we smacked a couple more on our way back to the truck .Could of had more birds but our shooting was a little shaky. The action was slow but steady, if your willing to hang out a little longer, there is a constent circulation of ducks, its just that they are spread out quite a bit between groups.Most ducks are pretty smart, we did minimal calling wich helped. We mainly shot at singles and pairs, our largest group of ducks was 4. Lets hear some more reports boys!

Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest

SW MT-Bitterroot-Metcalf Refuge 12-09-2005 20:04
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 0-10 Degrees – Ice
Haven’t been out for a week, so went to Metcalf. Place is frozen solid. Two places where hot creeks come into the pond were only open for about 10 feet, right next to shore. Only saw 2 birds by 10:00. No reason to go back unless there is a warming trend.

I need to learn to hunt the river!

Posted By:
K-Town
Guest

Kalispell 12-03-2005 16:41
– – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted this morning on a spring and only managed 8 mallards with 4 hunters. There was tons of birds before shooting light, but once legal time hit we got a couple groups to come in, then it came to a sudden stop. Talked to a friend who was on the river and he said there was a fair amount of ducks and geese, but way too many hunters and sky busters, wich caused the ducks to scatter and become scitish. Oh well.

Posted By:
K-Town
Guest

Kalispell 12-01-2005 19:18
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Saw some major goose activity, i.e. migration, while i was hunting after school, saw between 1500 and 2000 honkers comeing in from the north. The first couple groups were high and then they seemed to be getting lower as more flocks arrived with the snow storm right behing them, most looked like they were heading to the lake. Me and a couple friends shot 10 greenheads in about a hour, not to bad. This weekend could be very good.

Posted By:
Rain
Guest

11-28-2005 12:16
– – –
K-town, nice post. Sounds like an awesome hunt…

Posted By:
K-Town
Guest

Kalispell 11-25-2005 19:05
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Finally got time to kill some green, and we let them have it. We found a field with about 2 thousand mallards in a bunch off barley that had been lost in the rain, but it was off limits to hunting. So are only choice was across the road in a dirt field that used to be potatoes (there was nothing on it). This morning we thought it would bust(why would ducks want to land in here). At first light about 100 landed in the barley, so we scared them off.We then turned on the mojos and started to do some loud and aggresive calling. The next group that came was about 200, and once they saw the 2 mojos they poured right into us. From then on, we had hundreds of ducks at a time swarming us, wich made for a quick 5 man limit of 35 mallards, 1 honker, and two bands.

Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest

Bitteroot Valley 11-22-2005 15:59
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
You know, RainNgn, you are killing me. I live on the East Fork, and I didn’t get my elk. I live by the 7 mile mark, and went up on the hills behind the house. Since it is all private property along the road, I thought I would have the area to myself. Hahahahaha. I saw 5 other hunters. Oh well.

As for duck hunting, today was awsome. My first full limit this season. Fog was VERY thick in the valley, and the birds would just appear on set wings comming into the set. 6 Greenheads and one widgeon (took him early, before I knew how good it would be) The new spinner made all the difference, since there was nothing new about my setup. I don’t like using it, but I gotta say, it sure was great getting 7 birds with 10 shots, including 2 doubles.
Didn’t see many birds, but that was probably the fog. No reason for them to have left the area. 50% of those I saw came into or over the set. I passed on lots of 35+ yard shots, since they weren’t on set wings. Lots of hunters in the area also, but not much shooting I could hear.

Posted By:
phutch30
Guest

Billings,Forsyth 11-22-2005 15:55
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There are thousands and thousands of ducks and geese between Billings and Forsyth. We saw one corn feild that had so many ducks and geese in it we couldnt count them,it was black with birds, and there was a cloud of birds swirling the feild. The further east of billings the more birds we saw. Around Hysham its was crazy,there were ducks and geese flying all day long. I just wish Id brought my shotgun instead of my rifle.

[Edited By phutch30 on 2005-11-22 15:58]

Posted By:
Rain
Guest

11-21-2005 08:57
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No waterfowl hunting for me, went up the Eastfork and helped my Dad and cousing fill their elk tags. It opened up to either sex this last week and they both shot cows Sat. morning first light. Very big bodied girls and 7 1/2 years old each. Neat hunt. So now that everybodys freezers are full I can get back to the ducks. Heading to Billings for the holiday weekend and my buddy says it’s on over there, lots of birds around.
Bill, after thanksgiving I will pm you and we can hook up for a duck hunt. we’re probably going to have to drive an hour and 15 mins from msla but we should be able to get into some crazy green! Happy Thanksgiving boys!

Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest

SW Montana 11-19-2005 18:43
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
By way of introduction, I was a Field Editor in Southern NV, but moved up here last Dec. Live on the East Fork of the Bitteroot, Sula. Still trying to learn the area (could use some advise!)
Mainly been hunting Lee Metcalf and the Big Hole river. Limited success at each. Big Hole froze up, very little open water, and NO birds to speak of. Maybe different on private property, but where I can get access and where I can see the river, very few if any birds.
Seem to be a lot of birds working Metcalf, and I am averaging 4 mallards per trip, but that is staying all day. Guys with spinners are pulling the birds in like crazy, and while I have quality deeks and decent calling, I can’t compete. Yesterday, I didn’t get a bird till the spinners left, then got my usual 4 greenheads. Course, all the skybusting doesn’t help either. I got my birds with 7 shots, including one cripple sluce.
So, my report is, there are lots of birds working the lower Bitteroot, but I don’t know where they are feeding. Saw a few hundred honkers also, but they are feeding elsewhere also.
Anyone need a partner? I’ll bring the dekes!

Posted By:
Rain
Guest

11-16-2005 17:20
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Killed a 5 point bull this weekend, will post pics. tonite.
My buddy who lives over by billings says the ducks are arring by the numbers

Posted By:
K-Town
Guest

Kalispell 11-15-2005 18:10
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Havent been able to head out and hunt in a week or so (been chaseing the whitetail species), but spotted a plethera of mallards comeing off a fead lot and heading east towards the river while I was doing some chores, probably saw around 300.If the weather continues, the hunting can only continue to get better. This is my favorite time of the year in Montana, the greenheads are arriving daily, and the bucks are gettin all riled up!

Posted By:
fishski1
Guest

SW Montana 11-15-2005 17:44
Cloudy, High Winds – 0-10 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted again this morning, Shot 14 greenheads! and a few geese. These are DEFINATELY new birds, as they are very agreeable to the call, and want some ‘friendly company’ :)) Flocks are in 5s, to 25s, and saw new birds coming in from outer space, So they are on the move!!

Fish!

Posted By:
Michael-Majcher
Field Editor

main river – Flathead – Foy\’s Bend 11-14-2005 22:48
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
They’re HEEERRREE!!!!!!

I posted the same on Saturday morning, and the post is gone… let me recap.

Scouted Friday evening, with only a pair of goldeneye around. Decided to make a hunt of it, none-the-less, the following morning.

Saturday morning, 28 deg. @ 7 AM Wind picked up and temps dropped in the next half hour. The birds didn’t stop coming in till around 8:30. We limited on green winged teal and a pair of mallards. 2 limits in just under an hour. Poor old Gus was tired and cold. He did a trooper’s job of fetching up and taking direction. I went home and passed out.

Sunday, headed up to Koocanusa to fill my elk tag. Animals are still up high. We didn’t see anything till we got above 4500 feet. The best concentrations were at 5000 feet in the snow. LOTS of cows, bulls were a bit more shy.

Today it snowed really nice this morning. It is sticking BTW. Had a guiding trip for this afternoon, but got some scouting along the river (Flathead). Folks filled their “B” tags in short order. Bucks are still not on the go, but I did find the first scrapes of the year. Geese, ducks and swans were funnelling into the river about 4:30. If you can get out of work early, it could be well worth it to launch the boat and head for some of the unfrozen backwaters along the edge of the main current. There wasn’t a lot of shooting this weekend, so these new birds aren’t very call shy and will come in to your spread.

Have a wonderful week all.

MM

Posted By:
micha
Guest

11-14-2005 19:39
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Have fished the marias a lot never hunted waterfowl there. there are lots of geese on the river by Cascade. not many ducks yet. as soon as pot holes freeze the missouri should be good. Hunted at Benton Lake sat got afew ducks It should be froze today with the cold spell as should freezeout going by freezeout thursday will tell ya if any activity

Posted By:
phutch30
Guest

11-10-2005 14:00
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YEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! Bring on the canadian freeze!

Here you go………………as of 11/10/05

CANADA

From central British Columbia to the northern portions of Quebec it appears that a freeze-up is in store for much of Canada. Though the snowfall potential is limited to scattered areas, the ice out on small to medium sized water bodies will serve to kick the migration through, and out of, Canada back into motion.

Most areas should retain some areas of open water for the next few days, but by early next week it looks as though an ice-out may be in store for large sections of the country. It is prime time in Canada for some last minute hunts. As smaller waters freeze, local waterfowl flocks should begin to merge into staging groups on the remaining open waters and feeding activity on grain fields should intensify.

[Edited By phutch30 on 2005-11-10 14:00]

Posted By:
jay
Guest

11-10-2005 12:48
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Could some Montana hunters PM me and tell me why Montana is such a great state for hunters? I’m trying to figure out where my wife and I want to retire in a few years so some first hand knowledge would be of great help. Sorry for posting a non-field report post.

Posted By:
westside
Guest

11-10-2005 09:25
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What happened to Hart’s post. Do we censor things that we don’t like on this board?

Posted By:
boxfa75
Guest

11-09-2005 16:24
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has anyone ever hunted the marias river, and if so any tips.

will be in great falls this weekend, how has the missouri been hunting if at all by cascade.??

would appreciate any info.

as far as bozeman, people have been shooting the heck out of the mallards on private sloughs (imagine that) they say the birds are here, i think the snow and winds just moved some of the local birds around. will post when back from great falls.