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Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Gulf coast matagorda county 12-04-2012 19:52
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Some of you know I am a winter Texan so here is a link to what happens down here regularly

jacduck Getting the plans in motion for the 12-13 season. Hope to be able to hunt 130 days + in several states again. You guys in the central flyway keep your powder dry! A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Gulf coast matagorda county 11-23-2012 17:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I had a day two days ago, got a couple of ducks for the dog and then picked up the decoys. A few geese were flying over so I sat down in the blind to watch. All of a sudden my first speckled-belly of the year made three circles in front of the blind and when he got close enough I dumped him. OMG when Kate got him in it was banded. Must be an omen of a good season. Actually the first goose I have taken so far this season as I have been passing them up. Went to report the band and the web site gave me fits trying to get it done cause it was too OLD. After sending pics and further documentation they came back with a banded as an adult in 1994 in Nunavut. Holy crap I was middle aged when he was banded. It all means he was at least 19 and possibly older. As a bonus I picked up another nice one shortly there after.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

ND middle of the state 10-19-2012 12:04
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
For those of you that were planning on going next year it may be too late. Small ponds are dry. Large ponds/small lakes are down about 4ft. Unless major precipitation (which is not in the forecast released today) comes this winter and spring the duck boom may be over for a while. Have fun meanwhile.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sag Bay waters 09-25-2012 05:32
– – –
If you missed the MI DNR public notice on Bay waters they consider the water to be down 9 inches from last year so plan accordingly and let’s all play safe out there.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten report 09-15-2012 15:18
– – –
Damn, I missed early goose totally this year. Must be an every 7 year thing. 7 ago I was at Katrina doing medical stuff. This year a similar poor excuse. I was learning to judge AKC hunt tests on the opener and then I headed off to Ark for early teal. First time I have done that since MI had the early season in 65-67. Not many teal but dog ran great and no snakes. That coleman squito chaser machine worked great in the blind. Hotter than heck for an old MI boy even tho we should be acclimated after this summer.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Wigwam Bay 08-26-2012 18:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Took the TDB and 2 labs to the pine river launch today. Not much wind so water levels were stable. Looks like it is down 6 inches from last year. More bad news, the channel is no longer existent. No markers and looks completely sanded in just beyond the last stand of cattails on the left. I pulled the motor way up with both lift and tilt and made it out to look around. Altho it is early there were no nets in place and the fishing boat across from the launch is not in the water. Sorry for the news but it is what it is.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 07-29-2012 06:58
– – Over 70 Degrees
Starting to get the itch hard again. Wonder if it will ever go away. Benadryl doesn’t help at all. Traveled downstate a ways this week and saw flying and feeding geese for the first time in several areas. Ducks should be in the air now also as YOY are tuned up and molt is close to done. Keep your eyes on the skies and see you at the Bay City Waterfowl Fest on the 4th and 5th. I will be inside the welcome center with some decoys so stop in and say HI!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

07-18-2012 05:59
– – –
we need a new Temp setting here and hotter than hell might work. Then weather conditions could have too sunny and hot to go outside.

Meanwhile 50% of the nation is under drought. Long term forecast says it probably won’t get better in the foreseeable future.

Those of you that have not hunted under a restricted season frame get ready as pond counts may well head down next spring and with that goes a decrease in YOY and nesting pairs the following year.

Get out there and do some rain dances for the prairies duck factory.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Numbers are in 07-13-2012 18:10
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I am sure you have seen the numbers somewhere on the net but the next thing we need to do is a national rain dance. Way too much drought around to make migrating ducks happy unless it changes. Remember it is not just the hatch but migration conditions as well as wintering conditions that keep our ducks happy so get off your duff and rain dance for crying out loud.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

NQP 06-19-2012 21:34
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Drove by NQP this morning and it all looks good for this time of year. NE flooded wood/marsh looks great. Corn on a par with elsewhere and they were planting inbetween the corn in the North field.

No comments

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

N Dakota report 06-18-2012 15:56
– – –
Spring Duck Index Up, Water Conditions Down

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual spring breeding duck survey showed an index of 4.8 million birds, up 16 percent from last year and 112 percent above the long-term average (1948-2011). The 2012 index is the third highest on record.

All species were well above the long-term average. Wigeon (+88 percent) and green-winged teal (+221 percent) were at record highs. Mallards, gadwall, blue-winged teal, shovelers, redheads and ruddy ducks exceeded the long-term average by more than 100 percent.

Only pintails, shovelers and canvasbacks were down more than 10 percent from last year, and mallards were essentially unchanged. Blue-winged teal were at their highest level since 2001, missing the record high by less than 1 percent.

“Excellent production last summer brought many breeding pairs back to the state,” said Mike Szymanski, waterfowl biologist. “Fortunately, there was still enough habitat to attract them to North Dakota.”

The spring water index was down 57 percent from 2011 and 6 percent from the long-term average. Compared to last year, Szymanski said water indices observed on individual transects were all down 50-65 percent. The water index is based on basins with water, and does not necessarily represent the amount of water contained in wetlands.

“Water conditions were good in larger wetlands, but the lack of snow this past winter and the lack of significant spring rains reduced the number of temporary and seasonal wetlands,” Szymanski said. “Undoubtedly, many wetlands dried up within days of completing the survey.”

Additionally, nesting cover in North Dakota continues to decline. During the survey, Szymanski noted many large tracts of grassland and Conservation Reserve Program land had been converted to cropland since last year. “North Dakota currently has about 2.3 million acres of CRP, which is down about 30 percent from 2007,” Szymanski added. “Projections are that more than 650,000 acres will be lost in 2012, and an additional 1.1 million acres will be lost in 2013-14. The loss of critical nesting cover will be disastrous for breeding ducks, other nesting birds and hunting opportunities in the future.”

The July brood survey will provide a better idea of duck production and insight into expectations for this fall. Observations to date indicate prospects for good production across the state given abundant breeding pairs and average wetland conditions.

jacduck Getting the plans in motion for the 11-12 season. Hope to be able to hunt 130 days + in several states again. You guys in the central flyway keep your powder dry! A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 06-08-2012 15:08
– – Over 70 Degrees
I had good news from TX. Our group which leases around 22,000 acres in the Matagorda Co. area is expanding into AR. Looks like we have a lease of 9,000 acres of farmland and ponds in SE AR. What fun to see the opportunities expand. If it works out like I think it might the TX dudes that join up will be amazed at how many ducks there really are.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 06-08-2012 15:05
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Well it happened again! June 5th the molt migrants passed through the Gladwin area. There are still some stragglers flocked up and it is easy to tell them from the nesters who are paired and escorting young. Anyone else follow the migration north?

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 11-09-2011 16:02
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Looks like a big snow north of us in Canada so get out there tomorrow and the next day and then see what happens for the week-end.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 11-08-2011 06:56
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 35-40 Degrees
Well today is the last day of goose season here in the middle and it is raining like mad and I don’t hunt in the rain. Field geese decoy shy but I got my two yesterday in soy beans a first for me. Never hunted cut soys before. Water geese decoy shy and still loafing on small waters. Got my two day before yesterday. All in all a so so season on geese for me and ducks are absent where I have been hunting. May get to da bay tomorrow if the rain lets up.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 11-02-2011 06:30
– – –
As advertised the majority of woodies left here around the 26th of October. There are still some around but the majority have left. They are called summer ducks elsewhere but I now consider them to be calendar ducks in the middle of MI since the past 27 years I have watched them on my home lake they have chosen Oct 26 as the departure done gone date.

Posted By:
quacksmaker
Web Member

zone3 livingston co 10-22-2011 19:05
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
its been a good week today shot 8mallards.looks like most woodys moved on.time to get out layoutboat in water for divers good luck be safe keep up post on sagbay.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 10-22-2011 18:07
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Back from ND and what a blast. Thanks guys for the posts I appreciate them. Family problems are keeping me from the water but soon I hope to be into some birds. Report from the sunrise side of Sag Bay says bills are in but not great numbers. Water levels good which really means better than a few years ago.

Play safe, many of you know we lost a hunter at fish point to a gunshot wound. Only speculation is what I am hearing so I will not repeat any so called details.

Posted By:
quacksmaker
Web Member

Zone 3 Livingston County 10-16-2011 13:23
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
What a difference weather can make. Saturday the 15th shot 4 Woodies and 8 Mallards. Sunday the 16th shot one Woody and 7 Mallards not a bad weekend. Keep your eyes to the sky and you will see more Ducks!

Posted By:
Leduck2u
Guest

Fish Point Refuge, Unionville MI 10-14-2011 11:55
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted in the morning of the 13th. Decent draw, not many birds flying in the morning. Maybe this new front will bring them in. The skybusters are alive and well here so far.

No comments

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
quacksmaker
Web Member

Zone 3 – Livingston County 10-09-2011 20:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Slow 2nd day only shot 2 Woodys. Only saw one Green head hopefully get some weather and turn it around. Has anyone been Hunting aroung Saginaw Bay? (Wigwam Bay)Keep your eyes to the Sky and you will see more Ducks. Shootem in the lips!

Posted By:
quacksmaker
Web Member

Zone 3 Livingston County 10-08-2011 18:42
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Not a bad opener, little slower than normal ended up with 3 Wooodies, 7 Mallards, 1
Goose. Things can only get better from here. Keep your eyes to the sky and you will see more ducks. Shootem in the lips!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

ND middle of the state 10-05-2011 09:42
– – Over 70 Degrees
Great start to the NR season here but too warm so CC n I are in Glacier NP siteseeing. Back in a couple of days when a cold front should hit. How are things in Zone II? Post up guys.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 09-25-2011 08:52
– – –
Going to miss all openers in MI this year cause I am heading to ND tomorrow. Please make some posts about how it went and keep us up on the migration of different species not just “ducks”

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

09-19-2011 11:16
– – –
Hey comm’on guys give us some youth hunt stories. I missed the hunt for personal reasons for the first time in many years. Sorry it had to happen so I need a fix.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side of Saginaw Bay 09-15-2011 15:30
– – –
Hey I forgot to mention that Doug Deming of Fish Point Lodge tells me water is up about 8″ from last year.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 09-15-2011 15:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Great last morning. Not many birds around and the normal flocks of woodies are absent this year probably because there are no acorns on the oaks along the shore. I did manage one dumb goose making a total of 15 for the “nuisance goose” season. I suspect they are called nuisance because they are so unpredictable this early.

Play safe and get all your gear ready to go. I just looked at the ND weekly video and it should be a banner year out there.

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St.Clair Co. 09-15-2011 10:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Sept.first opening day for geese was hot and windless with no movement at all.Labor Day was windy and cooler,(3)hunters shot 4 geese during the afternoon after 3:00 P.M. One of the team hunted several late afternoons and shot 5 more geese. I hunted early Wednesday morning and shot 1 goose at 7:00 0’clock and no other large group movement was noticed during the morning hours.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 09-14-2011 21:52
– – 40-45 Degrees
Headed out in the morning to see what the last day brings for geese. It has been a mixed bag for me with WX problems and a cranky motor on my TDB. I prefer to hunt water for waterfowl but the local field hunters I have talked with are having a slow time of it. I did have a great hunt with friends down around Imlay City last Sunday. We snuck out of the morning show at the woods n waters week-end show and hunted with positive success. Course that can happen when a local sets you up and you are with Champion team callers.

Make sure all your gear is really ready to go and have a safe season out there.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of the Mitten 09-07-2011 16:45
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Anyone who would like to know that molt migration has happened. I hunted a local spot this morning and saw what I normally see when the molt has happened. More geese than the nesters showed me a couple of days ago and dumb to boot.

No comments

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

07-01-2011 21:24
– – –
Delta waterfowl report in today sure makes it look like we will have plenty of ducks this fall. Now if the weatherman helps out. Guys in MO are crying because of crop failure because of floods and TX folks are doing the same because of worst drought in 50 years or more.

Now is the time to start getting the gear ready and the dog in shape. Work on some new drills with your pup. Mine are lining drills in particular. Simple stuff to do but oh so important.

jacduck Wow 136 days afield in 10-11 and maybe a few more for snow geese. Over all my season in MI, ND, SD and TX went basically as planned and we sure ate a lot of waterfowl topped with sandhill cranes. My new pup Kate CLF is 2/3s grown and has the makings of being a good one. We are going to hunt test her this season to exploit her potential. And give me more time doing what I love–getting ready for the 11-12 season. A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

TX 02-15-2011 17:36
– – –
Funny I just reread your post and last week-end I was in a group of TX waterfowlers discussing the season past and the split options etc. They expressed the same type of thoughts you are having. Problem is Weather is a big component and there is no one except the russians who can control it. Seems we are now covered up with ducks just a few days after season closed on Jan 23 and it happens “every year”. Same thing happened when I lived in Sag. Co. as a younger hunter.

Sure does, when the loud noises over favored hunting spots stop with the stings in the butt that accompany those noises the ducks return from smaller less favorable or larger less accessible areas.

Just an observation based on 62 years of waterfowling seriously…. Oh yeah that day we were laid out in a pasture with cows and 400 or so snow decoys…. Only got 22 snow/ross’ geese but it was great fun. Want to extend your season? Don’t stay in MI but plan some southern trips.

jacduck

Hmmm! MI, ND, SD, NE, TX and anything else I can add.

Got a new pup on order too. My youngest YLF is 7 and I promised myself that I would get a pup started so when she is nine she won’t have to work quite as hard. Takes a couple of years to get a pup to where I want ’em so now is the time.

A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2011-02-15 17:38]

Posted By:
trisspeaker
Guest

Saginaw County 01-01-2011 16:02
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
We saw more ducks today than we saw the whole month of November and most of October , it is time that we get a split in our season like they do in other states along the flyway. Every year we get two days when the birds are in. limits of ducks and geese this morning in shiawasee state game area and outside……

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Saginaw Twp. 12-13-2010 17:54
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Dad tried to get last hunt in before Saturday ending. Hunted all day. He said that the geese were very leery. At times had 200 or more birds working but kept flaring off. Every time he would think about picking up had geese come in. Did this four time finally left 5 monster big foot full bodies in field and then got his birds. With all the health issues going on with mom this season he was blessed enough to get around 20 geese. Never had a shot at a duck all season, first time this has ever happened. Myself after hurting my knee on the 18th. of October I never made it out. At least opening day I got two geese. That looks like it will be it this season. I’m having knee surgery on the 15th. Always next season GOD WILLING. Have a Blessed and Happy Holiday season.

Posted By:
BPage
Guest

12-12-2010 17:04
– – –
Pulled my gear off of Saginaw Bay in November and brought it to the west side.
As usual the hunting was very slow compared to the Bay. Thanks to Rick and John for your reports. I check each week to see if anything new pops up.

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Lansing area 12-05-2010 16:07
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Took ride over to the Lansing area yesterday. Looked like the St. Johns Marsh was covered with ice. Open water east of the 127 bridge. Left the area around 5:00 p.m. seen a few flocks of geese and a few setting on some open water ponds off of the highway. Dad hunting close to home since goose opened up again not much around seen a few ducks. Last week my cousin called my dad and told him that there were 1000 geese in the field behind their house off of hospital road. He went to check it out there yard, driveway and roof of the house were covered with crap along with the neighbors house.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Amarillo Crane hunt 12-02-2010 19:28
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Three of us hunted Amarillo TX for 3 days. Got 2 first day in 40 mph winds and they hung at 80 yards. 2nday no wind and it took almost 2 hours to get our 9. Spent the PM running roosters and got 7. I never saw so many pheasants in one area. Today 6 hunters started at 0709 and had 19 cranes at 0830 along with 4 unfortunate geese. Crap man it was fun. Drove 300 miles for cranes and pheasants yesterday. Things are a little spread out here.

Heading to Matagorda Co. for the winter in the morning with arrival before dark tomorrow I hope.

Hope you all had a good season. Oh yeah all 3 days it was colder at daybreak than in Gladwin MI

jacduck Hmmm! MI, ND, SD, NE, TX and anything else I can add. Got a new pup on order too. My youngest YLF is 7 and I promised myself that I would get a pup started so when she is nine she won’t have to work quite as hard. Takes a couple of years to get a pup to where I want ’em so now is the time. A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

Posted By:
callmaster64
Web Member

s.w. michigan 11-25-2010 17:20
– – –
Wheres all the mallards nobody been shooting any up there or even seeing any in the southwest part of the state.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-22-2010 08:59
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
I hunted Wildfowl Bay last Friday. I scouted the Bay the afternoon before in a 30-40 NW blow and the birds piled up in the lee of Sand Point. Literally tens of thousands, redheads, cans, blue-bills, buffleheads and a ton of mergansers. Tons of small feeding bunches spread out all over Wildfowl Bay, and everybody else were chasing deer.

So I stealthily planned my hunt with my boat blind and Bell. Off at the crack dawn, one problem, the wind had gone 180 degrees to the SE and I could hardly float my boat at the launch site. An hour later, I had chased birds off a feed bed and thought I was in for the diver shoot of the century. You know, the one shell in the gun kind because you want it to last longer, right!

Well the best laid plans didn’t work so great, I did manage my two redheads from the three groups that came back. But, I kept missing singles. After, an hour of this I looked at my gun and realized in the dark of morning, I had grabbed my sons which is 2 inches shorter on the stock. So much for planning ahead.

I did see something rare however, at precisely 10:50 AM. The entire raft in the middle of the Bay got up swirled up into the air, spread out into high multiple-layered V’s and headed South. Later that afternoon I scouted the area and almost all the birds had left. I think I would rather see the inbound migration, but it was still awesome.

There are still more birds to come, but even the refuge is reporting losing birds. With the Thanksgiving freeze coming, get out this weekend. We are running out of days.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 11-18-2010 15:26
– – –
Sorry for the lack of reports but I hate being the negative news guy. I just pulled in from a quick trip to SD. 4 days hunting shot a GWT and missed 1 mallard. Things are slow no matter where I go so don’t follow me…..

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2010-11-18 15:28]

No comments

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-10-2010 21:00
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
A bit late in posting, but there just hasn’t been much to report this last week. I hunted last Friday in a decent wind from my boat blind off a point, shot green wing teal and redheads. An odd combination to say the least. We lost divers over the past week. Redhead and can numbers have declined and were starting to see more bluebills, goldeneyes and mergansers. A sure sign of later migrants.

The Management Unit reports over 20,000 birds using the area. Most fields are flooded and in big wind days, they have been doing well. Birds are leaving the refuge late in the afternoon and morning hunts have been slow. Watch for cold fronts if your are looking to hunt the draw.

Corn is 95% in and most active fields have been disked. As the season progresses, fields will be tougher to get access since we are seeing more guides paying to tie up fields. Still the big push of flight mallards hasn’t started to show up yet.

Hunters on the Bay have been getting mixed bags with puddlers including gadwall, widgeon, gwt, pintails and mallards, along with redheads, bluebills and a few cans.

The last few days have been extremely slow. Hope for wind and dropping temps this weekend. 4 weekends left. Get out and get them!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-10-2010 20:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
A bit late in posting, but there just hasn’t been much to report this last week. I hunted last Friday in a decent wind from my boat blind off a point, shot green wing teal and redheads. An odd combination to say the least. We lost divers over the past week. Redhead and can numbers have declined and were starting to see more bluebills, goldeneyes and mergansers. A sure sign of later migrants.

Hunters on the Bay have been getting mixed bags with puddlers including gadwall, widgeon, gwt, pintails and mallards, along with redheads, bluebills and a few cans.

The last few days have been extremely slow. Hope for wind and dropping temps this weekend. 4 weekends left. Get out and get them!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-10-2010 19:58
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
A bit late in posting, but there just hasn’t been much to report this last week. I hunted last Friday in a decent wind from my boat blind off a point, shot green wing teal and redheads. An odd combination to say the least. We lost divers over the past week. Redhead and can numbers have declined and were starting to see more bluebills, goldeneyes and mergansers. A sure sign of later migrants.

Hunters on the Bay have been getting mixed bags with puddlers including gadwall, widgeon, gwt, pintails and mallards, along with redheads, bluebills and a few cans.

The last few days have been extremely slow. Hope for wind and dropping temps this weekend. 4 weekends left. Get out and get them!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St. Clair Co. 11-10-2010 10:01
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted Friday morning and observed no geese.Hunted again late Friday afternoon, a dozen geese decoyed at 6’00pm and shot (1)goose. Hunted again Saturday and Tuesday mornings with no goose movement during daylignt hours. Geese have been moving late and feeding at night. Geese have also moved to other locations and combined with mild weather and drying farm ponds the hunting is poor for the balance of the season.

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Kochville Township 11-09-2010 18:11
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 40-45 Degrees
Dad hunted plowed corn field dug himself a little nest and put the layout blind in it. Must have worked managed to get a couple honkers today. Me I got a Cape Buffalo some Red Stag’s and a couple Impala’s. I’m guessing he had more fun the me.

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Unionville area 11-06-2010 17:47
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Dad finally made it up to the bay, for what reason other then different scenery. Hunted no-til field didn’t see a thing. Took a ride like Rick said most fields have been turned under already. Only plus he said was their is going to be a lot of winter wheat for early goose season next year. My season is definitely over going to see the surgeon on Thursday to see when I can get my knee fixed. Only hunting I have been doing is on the Nintendo WII. Cabela’s Big Game hunter.at least the temperature hasn’t been to bad.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side 11-03-2010 16:29
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Lots of pointy beaks around this morning but not much else that I could ID. There are one hell of a lot of ducks way offshore though. Get ’em!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side 11-02-2010 17:05
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Went to da Bay to try out a new decoy rig. Got on the water around 10AM and went out on flat seas. As many divers as I have ever seen close inshore. Commercial fisherman says they are all over so check the weather, Play safe and have fun cause they are here.

Sure hope you voted today and if not polls are not yet closed.

jacduck

Hmmm! MI, ND, SD, NE, TX and anything else I can add.

A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2010-11-02 17:08]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-31-2010 07:38
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
I hunted Wednesday morning in the high S winds, gusts were up to 50 mph. Surprisingly, very few birds flew in our area. Small groups of divers continued to feed in traditional areas. We saw virtually no mallards.

After the hunt, I went scouting inland to get a field status. I was shocked. I drove a rectangular grid roughly 20 miles all told. 90% of the cornfields in the area north and east of Sebewaing are down and plowed under. The few fields that were available to hunt were either disked or mowed leaving very little cover. Within two weeks these will be gone also.

I stated in September, I was worried about an early harvest and the effect on cornfields for migrants. There will be no fields left at this rate to hold birds by the deer season. This does bode well for Thumb deer hunters since the 4 legged critters have no standing corn to hide in.

On a more positive note, my son hunted Friday AM and had a bunch of fresh divers. But yesterday in the light winds, very little flew.

The big push of redheads still are not here. But the storms in the West must have them on the move. Watch for the black and whites next, they may be the last opportunity on the Bay this Fall.

I will be up most of next week. Will post then.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
jimm@hascallsteel.com
Guest

Southwest Michigan 10-29-2010 12:47
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Saw several hundred Woodies at day break. They are still here.A few large groups of high flying mallards. 38 degrees at 7:00 this am. Big groups flying high with no interest.

Nice to see the a few new birds working the area.

No comments

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 10-25-2010 21:48
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Well as you have heard me say many times it must be Oct 25. I say that because that is the date that I use to say wood ducks are gone. I hunted a local lake with about 2 miles of oaks heavy with acorns where last week there were hundreds of woodies. This morning not a wood duck in sight. Must be Oct 25! A few smaller geese around but no real numbers. Locals pretty wise.

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

none 10-25-2010 17:45
– – –
What a crappy year mom and father in law diagnosed with cancer in July and August. Me surgery in July now last week screwed up knee at work. Dad has been getting out a little in the Freeland area has gotten a few geese here and there. Me on the other hand made it out for early goose opener, duck opener and another day with dad and Zack.I do believe my season is over. Will be the first season in over 38 years that I have hardly hunted. Always next year.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sag Bay area 10-23-2010 18:01
– – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted NQP Thurs PM with my son John and had a great hunt even though ducks did not cooperate. Very few mallards in the area as indicated by the weekly count. Most birds taken are woodies, teal and widgeon per Brandy.

Wigwam Bay the next morning and again the ducks did not cooperate but there are quite a few divers off shore.

Fish Point Lodge this morning not for a hunt but decoy business. Doug was still out abut Chris gave us a report that good hunters are doing well if they can shoot and call. If not it gets sketchy. Divers and big mallards showing up.

My memory calendar says this is the week for the major push. My pal in NE says sandhill cranes are passing over early and all the ponds in the sandhills are full of ducks. I will be there the first week in Nov. and then up to SD to see what is happening.

Ya’ll play safe out there, do some scouting and get some ducks.

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St. Clair Co. Monday 10-18-10 10-20-2010 17:16
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Set (3) dozen oversize shell goose decoys
approx. 100 yards from the pond in the cut coy bean field and laid down amongst the group.(5)geese decoyed by 8:00 am and I shot my limit. Between the (10) floaters in the pond,(6)full size and(8) shells goose decoys along the shore, also (4)standing and (4) floating mallards and (6) teal floaters completed the spread.A total of (70)decoys and a live blue heron made for a great hunt.The geese responded well to the open field and later in the morning decoyed in the pond and my nephew shot his limit.
There are many geese in the area and some of these groups are large during their morning flights to open cut grain fields.There has not been any duck activety to date.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten` 10-18-2010 08:25
– – 50-60 Degrees
Odd thing happening here in the middle. Corn is going in by the train load and sugar beets are still in the field. Get out and do some scouting the geese are changing pattern daily. I can’t remember corn going in this early around here, usually some is done on frozen ground.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-18-2010 06:14
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
I took the weekend off. Completed a long list of “honey do’s”. Hopefully I won’t miss for a while.

This from the area, the only day that produced consistently was last Thursday. The N blow and rain on Wednesday brought down some green birds. Still no real large build up of divers. That should start this week.

The Management area at Fish Point is still behind in flooding. If you are going this week, take a set up that you can drag since the many areas with water still aren’t floatable. They are getting birds.

Hopefully I will post on Friday this week.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St. Clair Co. 10-15-2010 15:03
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted farm pond yesterday morning until 1:00pm.All goose movement began at 9:00am and stopped by 10:00am. The groups were large and were headed for cut grain fields in the surronding area.Smaller groups were difficult to decoy as the larger groups called them off.There are many geese due to the northern migration arriving lately.The weather condishions were good with breezy west wind and rain.No early movement was puzzling and a few loners were leary.Observed no duck flights all morning.

Shot a 10 pound hen turkey Monday morning.The weather was mild,sunny and still. There are a fair amount of young jacks and jenneys in the area. The spring season should be productive in all southern units.

[Edited By nurban on 2010-10-15 15:11]

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 10-15-2010 12:03
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
This from the web page of Brian Wallace a taxidermist I know from AL. He does fabulous work so check him out if you are in the market.

Meanwhile here is his story that I would like all of you to think about how things happen so fast even to the highly experienced. Brian can be thankful he was not in MI waters because of severe hypothermia which occurs very rapidly. Take that from a Paramedic who has seen it many times.

http://wildaboutfowl.com/huntersbeware.htm

I guess copy and paste is the only way to do a link here, if that is not so please tell me how in a PM or something

Please play safe out there.

jacduck

Hmmm! MI, ND, SD, NE, TX and anything else I can add.

A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2010-10-15 12:04]

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Freeland 10-10-2010 16:20
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Not as many birds today plus a few more hunters in the area. We managed to get 2 geese very leary almost acted like they have been shot at for weeks. At least dad and I got to spend some quality time with each other, seeing things with mom have been up and down at times.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Middle of ND 10-10-2010 11:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees

Sorry for lack of reports but I am in ND and net access is very limited. Canvasbacks outnumber mallards locally. Great hatch they just moved somewhere else according to the local warden. No matter still getting what I want and having a great time. Hope you all played safe the past two week-ends and I will catch you up when I get home next week.

No comments

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-09-2010 16:18
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
The morning started slow,mostly due to people shooting early. In the area that we hunt, guns were going off 15 minutes early. Now really guys, you can’t see color at the legal time, that early you are shooting at shadows and pushing the birds out early.

Well once things settled down, the birds flew in mostly small bunches, 3-10 birds. We experienced a mixed bag of mallards, gw teal, pintail, black ducks, redheads and ring necks. Add in one small flock of geese my son called to stool and we had a great morning.

Most hunters in our area experienced the same. Typical to most Bay Openers, the birds rarely worked in close, but the pass shooting was excellent. Save for the occasional sky buster that thought that a shotgun had unlimited range.

I am happy to report that most had a wonderful day and at least in our area all returned safely.

Hope yours was the same!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Freeland area 10-09-2010 11:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Not much moving early. Birds started to move around 8:15. Really surprised not to hear any other hunters in area. Did hear the occasional thump from a far distance away. Took a limit of geese in about a half hour after they started moving. Got a double to finish limit dad had already gotten his birds. Bonus bird one was banded, appeared to be an older band had a some ware on it. Will post info when I get it back. Kind of surprised the bird was banded in Ohio June of last year. Guess you can’t judge by the band.

[Edited By wberg on 2010-10-10 16:14]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-08-2010 21:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Scouted the water and fields around Sebewaing. Conditions look good for the Opener tomorrow.

Goose numbers are strong with large flights returning from cornfields at mid morning.

A mixed bag of divers on the bay, big numbers of ring necks and early redheads, with a few bluebills and cans mixed in. Young mallards mixed with widgeon, pintails and green wings are strong in the inner marshes.

The original forecast was for a warm, calm Saturday. That has been replaced with a moderate NE blow 15+. This should raise the water and allow for a great Opener.

Good Luck To All! I’ll try to post tomorrow during the half time of the MSU – M game. Go Green!b

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
webmaster
root

U.P. 10-04-2010 10:22
– – –
Redhead and ringneck numbers are increasing in the U.P. — mergansers are moving right along with them.

Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor

N. W. MI 10-03-2010 20:15
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 40-45 Degrees
Hit the opener for the north half of the state in the Traverse City area and didn’t do well at all, and talking to a few other hunters no one did very good. Did see lots of geese flying south, very few ducks. Usually it only gets better up that way once the big push of divers get down though, so I’m not too worried. Good Luck

Posted By:
trisspeaker
Guest

Saginaw County 09-20-2010 06:45
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 60-65 Degrees
Took 3 young hunters on the youth hunt Sat., Two of the kids shot their first duck, both greenheads. For the most part the shooting was hot and heavy with most shots just poking holes in the clouds. They shot over 70 rounds and managed to down 8 mallards and 2 geese. We saw lots of mallards and woodies, and a good number of geese.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 09-19-2010 20:29
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
I was up this weekend putting finishing touches on the blind and gear. I observed a busy Youth Hunt Weekend. Congrats to all the young’s. I saw a fair number of woodies, teal and even a few early divers.

A larger than normal concentration of blue wings are present. With the N blows this week I thought they would have moved on, but not the case. little hope these birds will hang around for us in three weeks, but it sure is nice to see them period.

Goose concentrations are improving, still not seeing many James Bay birds as of yet.

Mallard numbers are up according to the Staff at the Headquarters. Surplus corns has been picked and they should begin flooding this week. Stop by at dusk and watch the show as this starts, it is quite impressive.

Some corn is being picked already (not just cut). But reports are that there is too much moisture for an early harvest. Which bodes well for holding birds this season.

Three weeks from Saturday. Hope you are getting ready. Looks like we are headed for a Great Opener …………. Gentlemen Start Ur Engines!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side 09-18-2010 14:21
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Yup the first day of Youth Hunt is done. I have a pair of brothers I take and Dad goes along. This was the 3rd year and the shooting was much improved. What fun! I know some look at youth hunts with disdain but they give me the opportunity to look back and remember who and where I was with my own son and even myself 60 years ago as a young hunter. Ahhh! the memories!

Woodies were our target as we all agreed before hand that we wanted them instead of a full 6 bird limit. My YLF got some tough work in the heavy weeds of woody territory. Glad she was there because I would have died doing those 6 retrieves. Actually 7 because she had a diver that never came up. She got a little frustrated with that but all in all Maude is ready for all hell to break loose in a couple of weeks in ND.

Hope many of you had as great a morning as we did!

Awaiting a call from a fellow about taking his son in the morning.

jacduck

Hmmm! MI, ND, SD, NE, TX and anything else I can add.

A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2010-09-18 14:23]

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

09-18-2010 14:13
– – –
Mike the early season goose is set in the spring and I have seen news releases on it. Next year ask some questions here or call your local DNR office you need to get out and control those “nusiance” geese. Normally Sept 1-15 in your area. Only changes over the years has been a reduction from 5 to 3 daily but that was back up to 5 the past couple of years.

Hope that helps.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side 09-18-2010 14:09
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Yup the first day is done. I have a pair of brothers I take and Dad goes along. This was the 3rd year and the shooting was much improved. What fun! I know some look at youth hunts with disdain but they give me the opportunity to look back and remember who and where I was with my own son and even myself 60 years ago as a young hunter. Ahhh! the memories!

Hope many of you had as great a morning as we did!

Awaiting a call from a fellow about taking his son in the morning.

No comments

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

By Webmaster January 9, 2013 January 9, 2013 Michigan

Posted By:
Michael-Majcher
Field Editor

Boon; Mesick; Hoxeyville 09-17-2010 12:37
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Teal have noticeably moved in (not that we can do anything but look at them). The geese inhabiting the fields remain safe and comfey as the state didn’t bother to release the regulations booklets in time for those of us without the internet, to take advantage of the early season.

BTW the renovation here at the library in cadillac is still ongoing.

Trees have begun their color change! It began during yesterday’s rain… you could watch by the hour the tinge begin in the tips of the trees. This morning, a golden sheen had been cast across the maples.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side 09-13-2010 12:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
I sure hope you folks are doing better than I on nuisance geese. I have been hunting my normal water spot with ZERO results. First time ever that I have been skunked. I keep hoping for the molt migrants to show up a little early but so far that is not happening. Looking over other places have not shown me enough geese bunched up to make it worthwhile in changing my spot. I have seen lots of wood ducks however, most ever I think. My youth hunters will have to bring extra ammo or shoot better than last year. This is the last year for the oldest of the two brothers. I am proud of him though be cause he chose duck hunting over going to the U of M game. What a kid!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 09-08-2010 20:03
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
I did not hunt this weekend, weather and wife kept me busy.

Limited numbers of local geese are around, now pretty concentrated. 20-30 birds per group.

Migrants will start showing up this weekend, just as the Bay’s Early Goose closes.

Lots of teal, will lose them with North blows.

WNW 30-40 all weekend kept the water high on our side. Water will start to cool. Heard reports of perch limits off the Sebewaing River.

4 weekends to go. Will post a report on the Management Area in two weeks. Corn looks great!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
trisspeaker
Guest

Saginaw County 09-08-2010 12:08
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted opener at a local golf course, 9 geese – 4 guys . Day 2- 2geese , farm field. Day 3, 1 goose- golf course . Day 4 , 6 geese- farm field. Day 5, 5 geese- farm field. Day 6, shutout for first time in farm field..

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St . Clair Co. 09-07-2010 17:06
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted opening day and Monday. The 90 degree temperatures, no wind and extremely dry condishions made for the poorist early goose season ever to date. There was some movement by small groups about 9:00 0’clock am and most geese were on ponds or near water.
There are alot of geese along the Grosse Pointe shore line at Jefferson and the area. The weather is the main factor and today the hot wind was gusting over 40mph.
Also no teal were observed.Most farm ponds have evaporated approx 50 precent and no corn has been harvested and the cut hay fields are turning brown.

Hunted Thursday morning until noon and observed two lone geese in the distance only. The area is extremely dry and geese have altered their nornal flight patterns.
Yesterday was a cool day with breezy n/w winds and 70 degree temperatures.

Hunted yesterday Sept.14th. had 3 geese pass over the decoys, waited for the second pass but the geese moved on and no shots fired. Also another larger group passed over out of gun range. By 10:00am all was quite.This was my last early goose season hunt with 0 results.
Driving down Van Dyke between 17 mile and 12 mile roads were geese along the grass and ponds,some geese were within feet of the moving traffic. Go figure?

I also set up my turkey blind for the start of the extended season beginning today.
There are alot of young birds in the area and the hunt should be successful.

Waiting currently for the October duck/ goose season with improved condishions.

[Edited By nurban on 2010-09-15 10:48]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Grand Rapids 09-01-2010 19:34
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – Over 70 Degrees
I couldn’t make it out, but a buddy hits a silage field and limited out in less than an hour.

Will be up to the Bay Friday,will try it over the weekend.

Only have one weekend at the Bay for Early Goose
maybe with the cold front, we’ll get lucky.

Good luck to all.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Grand Rapids 09-01-2010 19:30
– – –

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Grand Rapids 09-01-2010 19:30
– – –

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Mobile blind 08-30-2010 10:40
– – –
Check this dude out and wonder if it would work where you hunt.

http://www.youtube.com/user/MarcDillard#p/a

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sunrise side 08-29-2010 06:42
– – –
Temp drop down should have “hotternhell” as a choice. Spent yesterday morning being taken around by a non-waterfowling pal. a local farmer family who decided to get me permission to hunt several farms of his friends. Wow, I am basically a foreigner here since I only have lived in the area for 27 years. Problem is most of the fields are corn and will still be standing for quite a while. Oh well, I will have some fun later on. Get out there and find some spots, don’t wait for patterns to be established and then ask. You know what fields will be productive since you have been watching them over several years and crop cycles.

Author: Webmaster

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Michigan Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

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