Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sunrise side 08-27-2010 07:54
– – –
Getting the goose spread ready. I hunt mostly water with some fields included. Get ‘er goin’ gang it is time!!!!

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 08-18-2010 22:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Was up Sunday for squatters rights day on the Bay.

Set our inside blind without waders. Seems early but, it was something to do. Water roughly the same depth as last year. Rice fields have shrunk after being battered by bad weather. Celery beds are fantastic. Lots of baby mallards, a few teal and redheads around.

DNR website has the season dates for those that haven’t heard. Oct. 2 Zone 1&2, Oct. 9 Zone 3. Regs pretty much the same. 1 more pintail. Kept the Jan. 1&2 duck split.

Early Goose two weeks from today 9-01.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Kalamazoo 08-15-2010 13:25
– – –
** RARE LEG BANDS **

Waterfowl that have been rescued and cleaned from the Oil Spill are now wearing some very special jewelry:

“Each released bird will have two unique leg bands – one is the standard aluminum band from the USFWS, which is used to determine harvest information and the other is a special band that identifies the bird as having been de-oiled. There are separate phone numbers on the bands asking people who recover them to report any of these birds if harvested during the hunting seasons or found dead. The early goose hunting season in this region of Michigan begins on Sept. 1. ”

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sunrise side 08-13-2010 03:56
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
Hey guys just a couple of thoughts. The water is warm so now is the time to get those waders out and give them a try. A lot more pleasant to have warm water coming into those holes you forgot about. Plus they dry better in the heat and the shoe goo is easier to work.

Same applies to all your gear. Get it out and check it over before you need to rush around like a crazy!

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Bay city show 08-09-2010 04:59
– – Over 70 Degrees
Spent the week-end at the waterfowl show in Bay City. I hadn’t been there in a couple of years but I thought the crowd was pretty good on Sat and WX messed up Sunday which is normally slower at any show. I met several folks to put faces on names and generally had a great time. Sold decoys from a booth and enjoyed it. How many old squaws do you think I sold? Any one need any Atlantic brant? I still have some of them and some scoters all ov the plastic variety. They should make great additions to any MI spread. LOL. They came in a boat I bought in VA and that is a long story.

Have fun and play safe out there.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Grand Rapids 08-08-2010 09:12
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – Over 70 Degrees
I just finished the GR Press. In the outdoor section there is an article stating the Michigan NRC will vote on the duck season this week in Escanaba.

A DNR spokeperson stated they expect a similar season to last year and the
CWAC recommended no changes to the present structure. Hard to believe after the early freeze ups the last two years and no teal, but…..

Assuming that, I anticipate 60 day season in Three zones as follows: Zone 1 – UP, Oct.2, Zone 2 – N LP Oct.9, Zone 3 – S LP Oct. 16. More than likely they will waste the Split on the two days in January again.

It is possible they will move everything up one week, so watch the news.

The FWS is making an extra pintail available (2 in bag) this year. I was hoping for an extra redhead but that didn’t happen.

More when we hear.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 08-08-2010 08:53
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
I was over this week. Celebrated one of my members 70+ B-day. Boy they’re getting old, glad its not affecting me (ha ha)!

Ran the outside again. water appears to be up from this Spring, but this is the time we normally start losing water. We’ll keep you posted.

I did find some young mallard broods on wing. The older birds appear to be just coming out of molt. They only fly a couple of hundred yards and land. As of last Sunday the blue wings haven’t started showing up yet, but it was 90 degrees. I am going up this coming weekend. I expect to see the inside marshes full of teal.

Most of the geese broods are capable of flight, but that doesn’t mean anything since they have moved onto golf courses, greenfields and farm ponds.

About the only big flocks of birds I put up were cormorants. Rumor has it that that the USFWS and DNR controls are starting to work. Flocks do not seem as large as last year.

Fishing has been slow in the lower Bay. Some fish taken in the shallow weeds beds in low light. Tough fishing.

I’ll post again soon.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sunrise side 08-05-2010 07:30
– – Over 70 Degrees
Took another trip to da bay yesterday morning. Took my new to me TDB17 on a scouting run to see what the fuel consumption would be and also look at several potential spots I have not hunted recently. Fuel good, spots okay and day was great. Water levels still look good so I check it in Sept and let you all know.

Oh yeah forgot to mention we are expecting in Nov. YLF should show up to keep the other two YLFs in order. I had promised myself when my pup turned 7 I would get a pup and that is now. The older gal is slowing down and ten and it should all work out well.

jacduck

I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2010-08-05 07:32]

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sunrise side 07-21-2010 18:03
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Just got in from taking my Momarsh Fatboy DP out for a spin. Saw quite a few bunches of duckling but no geese. Did see a pair of swans with 5 cygnets in tow. I didn’t think they laid that many eggs. Hopefully FWS will come back and control swans again this year.

Water looked about the same as last year. I suppose the heavy rains are keeping it up but the drop could come at any time. I recommend summer scouting cause it is some kind of fun just to take your time to look things over.

What is it 41 days and a wakeup til the show starts.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 07-12-2010 19:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I was over on the Bay over the 4th.

Fishing was slow. For some reason, the bait fish have left the lower Bay and the walleye have followed. Reports are that limits are being taken North of the Charities. Pretty early for that action.

I did hitch up the airboat and ran the outside marshes. Water appears to be close to last year. I did find a few early mallards with broods already capable of flight. Not many geese, but as usual they have moved onto the golf courses and grass fields.

Crops look great. Corn is already 5-6 foot tall in many fields. Wheat is already being harvested. It looks like a spectacular grain season.

Wild rice beds took a beating with the rough weather. To early to tell if it will rebound. Wild celery, duck potato and sago beds look excellent. Ditto with Zebra mussel beds.

It doesn’t look like food will be a problem. Let’s hope the birds cooperate.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

South Dakota 06-30-2010 07:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
For the past couple of days I have been traveling across South Dakota. Good news is I am seeing water and ducks in places I have not seen them in the past. Mostly Gadwalls as near as I can tell in a drive by but ducks just the same. No clutches of any magnitude except the few local geese I have seen.

I am wondering if the birds short stopped here instead of heading to Canada like they did last year. That could explain the increase in Scaup in the ND counts.

My favorite marsh has been cleaned out by high waters and looks great.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

ND report revisited 06-28-2010 22:23
– – –
“John just curious about the “no prarie duck” statement?”

Several years ago in a presentation by DNR folks at a CWAC meeting the statement was made that most of the mallards harvested in MI were from the great lakes basin. The reason we have often done well in bad prarie years was because GL mallards were doing better than prarie birds. Of course my thoughts interjected that this is not always true but as a general rule band recovery evidence shows it holds.

Is that the question or did I miss something?

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 06-27-2010 23:33
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I fished on Friday. Calm seas, great day, and even a few dumb fish came to the net. Fished 20-25 ft, crawlers outproduced plastic. Could not get suspended fish to go. Rainbow and copper back blades worked best.

Water is still down from last year 5-6 inches, even after all the rain. Corn is way past knee high, more like waist high. Managed area is a month behind, but corn looks good.

Ditches still holding water. I have seen numerous broods in the drains. I haven’t been in the marshes since March. Will try this weekend.

John just curious about the “no prarie duck” statement?

Again the forecast is for an abundance of teal. Still waiting to hers about the CWAC meeting this Spring.

Strong rebound on bluebills and a great hatch of redheads. Maybe we’ll see some change in the bag limit?

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 06-27-2010 23:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I fished on Friday. Calm seas, great day, and even a few dumb fish came to the net. Fished 20-25 ft, crawlers outproduced plastic. Could not get suspended fish to go. Rainbow and copper back blades worked best.

Water is still down from last year 5-6 inches, even after all the rain. Corn is way past knee high, more like waist high. Managed area is a month behind, but corn looks good.

Ditches still holding water. I have seen numerous broods in the drains. I haven’t been in the marshes since March. Will try this weekend.

John just curious about the “no prarie duck” statement?

Again the forecast is for an abundance of teal. Still waiting to hers about the CWAC meeting this Spring.

Strong rebound on bluebills and a great hatch of redheads. Maybe we’ll see some change in the bag limit?

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

ND report 06-21-2010 10:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
You all know that mallards in MI don’t come from the prairie as a general rule but many others do so here tis- Spring Duck Index, Water Conditions Up

Spring Duck Index, Water Conditions Up

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual spring breeding duck survey showed an index of more than 4.5 million birds, an increase of 12 percent from last year and 107 percent above the long-term average (1948-2009). The 2010 index is the third highest on record.

All species, except for wigeon (-9 percent), showed an increase from last year. Pintails were up 10 percent and were at the highest level since 1970. Mallards were up 12 percent and were the fourth highest on record. The most significant increases were ruddy ducks (+162 percent), green-winged teal (+91 percent), scaup (+54 percent), and redhead (+33 percent).

In addition, all species were above the long-term average.

The spring water index was up 5 percent from 2009 and 76 percent above the long-term average. It was the fifth highest in survey history and the highest since 1999.

Mike Johnson, game management section leader, cautions that the water index is based on basins with water, and does not necessarily represent the amount of water contained in wetlands. “Water conditions were generally good throughout the state, with the abundant snow cover and significant spring rains filling most basins,” he added. “The large number of ducks tallied during our survey is consistent with the well-above-average populations we have been carrying since 1994. These high numbers are the result of abundant Conservation Reserve Program nesting cover combined with the wet conditions that have been in place since the summer of 1993.”

Additionally, reports indicate that much of the Prairie Pothole Region in South Dakota and Montana was in good shape this spring. While much of prairie Saskatchewan and Manitoba were dry at the time of spring migration and settling, Johnson said Saskatchewan has since experienced significant improvement in water conditions that should benefit renesting and brood survival for those birds that did settle.

However, nesting cover in North Dakota continues to decline. Since the beginning of 2007, North Dakota has lost more than 700,000 CRP acres, and projections for the next two years indicate up to another 1.7 million acres could be converted to cropland.

“This loss of our critical nesting cover will be disastrous for breeding ducks and hunting opportunities in North Dakota,” Johnson said.

The July brood survey will provide a better idea of duck production and insight into what to expect this fall. Observations to date indicate that production will be improved across the state due to improved water conditions and increased wetland availability for brood production.

jacduck

I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2010-06-21 10:30]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 06-13-2010 22:08
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – Over 70 Degrees
I was up to the Bay this weekend. Tried to fish but had boat problems. That freed up time to work on duck stuff and such. Also took my wife and Bell for a tour of the area.

The wet weather has brought the water back slighlty. It still appers to be down approximately 4-5 inches over last year at the same time. Goose broods are showing up, some with full size goslings already. Haven’t seen any duck flotilas as of yet, but many are renesting after the rain out two-three weeks ago.

Farm crops have exploded with the hot, wet weather. Corn apppears to be be excellent in most areas. I have never seen sugar beets this far along so early. Baring a real dry July, the Thumb farmers should be smiling this year. A bumper corn crop may hold some mallards this year.

The weed beds around the Sebewaing River mouth appear to be flourishing. And most walleye fishermen that have been running bottom bouncers will tell you the zebra and quagga mussles are expanding into deeper water. Water clarity is unbelievable. I have never seen the lower Bay waters this clear. The water is actually very blue and you can see bottom in 10 feet of water. This bodes well for holding diver flights this fall.

I toured the managed area on the way home today. All the corn is in and appears to be doing well.

The first reports coming in from duck counts sounds promising. Hope to see another 60 days season and maybe even more liberal diver bag limits.

I made refernce last fall to meeting some guys from Luuuheeesseianuh last Fall. Sounds like their duck season is in flux due to the oil spill. Let’s hope our ducks don’t get that far south this year.

Let me hear from some of you guys!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

N D looking good 06-03-2010 09:14
– – –
http://www.gf.nd.gov/

Latest in from ND.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 05-26-2010 18:43
– – Over 70 Degrees
Had to drive up I-75 from N of Fnt today and ponds were holding flocks of geese. Looks like the molt migrants are flocking up a little early. I normally see them pass here (Gladwin area) around the 5th of June. Keep your eyes on the sky and if you see them moving rush to a radar site and follow them. Usually they make it to the up from here in Gladwin and it is cool to see them moving.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 05-23-2010 10:19
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Fished the last two days. Water temps and activity are behind last year. We had four boats out and had 35 fish in two days of fishing. Not very good for this time of year.

Carp spawning is in full motion. Get a bow and small boat and you can fill the boat in less than an hour. almost every shoeline is full of fish. They just don’t eat so very well.

Geese are all paired off. Haven’t seen any broods yet, but I did see young swans already. Hot weather this week should bring on the hatches. Didn’t run the marshes this week with the airboats. Leaving the nester alone. Water apears to be 6 inches lower than last year at the same time. I’m afraid we’re giving up last years gains. Pray for rain.

PS – New carp recipe, put the fish in the oven on a cedar board at 350 for 4 hours. Take the fish out, put it in the dumpster and eat the board.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 03-29-2010 17:58
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t believe it.

I was up to the Bay this weekend, putting duck stuff away and getting down walleye stuff, when I wasn’t watching birds.

I swear I hit the peak of the migration north on ducks. Full, courting plumage ducks. And I mean every species.

Divers: redheads, cans, both bluebills (you can now see the difference with spotting scope), goldeneyes, buffle heads, ring necks, mers (all of e’m). I even think I saw some scoters in the distance around the islands.

Puddlers: mallards, tons of pintails (with full sprigs), blacks, widgeon, gadwall, tons of teal (mostly green wings) and a few woodies.

Geese: Giants and Richardsons and Snows.

Tons of swans and sandhills.

Basicly a cornocopia of everything we wish to see that doesn’t happen in the Fall.

They are following the thaw back. With 25 degrees Saturday AM, my bet is most will be here through next weekend. Get out and take a zoom camera.

Go to Gieger Road landing, Pop’s Place (get a burger and say hi to Hank for me), Bayport launch site, Fillian Road access,and the end of Fish Point if you walk out.

My bet is that there were between 50,000 and 100,000 birds between Fish Point and Sand Point this weekend.

Now I just want to figure out how to have a Spring Season by myself (or maybe a select few of you guys).

PS – take a boat to get better pictures and do some scouting, they’ll be there again this Fall, I HOPE!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Gulf Coast 01-17-2010 18:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Texas report!

Pictures are in short supply all my camera gear is moist from 4.94 inches of rain Wed, Thurs and Fri AM. Daggone wet here for sure. This evening was a spectacular sunset, all red and a few clouds of various shapes. Sat AM and got 2 cranes in a short time. Today I shot the first white goose of the season. Actually two of the white hoards.

My plan before I ever get here is to get some cranes and then some specs and then some cacklers all before I switch to white geese. Conservation season starts next Monday so this is the last week of cranes and cacklers.

Specs closed last Sunday so we are seeing large bunches of them. Typical of what I always say about MI mallards. The day after season closes a press release is put out and they come out of hiding. The proof is the specs here. During season you see small bunches. Before season, large flocks. After season large flocks. I admit the evidence is only empirical but has held up for as long as I paid attention.

I hope you all have the opportunity to hunt as I have the past few years.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Matagorda Co. TX 01-14-2010 17:37
– – 40-45 Degrees
Crummy cold weather but a decoy carving pal came in from England to hunt the “white hoards” with a couple of us here in TX. He got a crane first day and a cackler 2nd day. 3rd day he and I each got a cackler that were banded. 2 came in none left. Bands were from Nunavut 8/9/09 and were 2 numbers apart. Then later on my TX bud got a banded snow. Imagine 3 bands all from Nunavut in 4 days. What are the odds? The goose hunting was not that great 6 geese and 3 banded. How about that?

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
trisspeaker
Guest

Stuttgart, Ar. 01-03-2010 09:03
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
We just got back from Arkansas,hunted 4 mornings. Sun.- 27 ducks, Mon.- 34 ducks, Tues.- 37 ducks, and Wed.- 33 ducks. We limited out on mallards every day, also shot widgeon, green wings, gadwalls, woodies, hooded mergs, and some of the most beautiful spoonies we had ever been around. All the birds were fully matured and perfect for mounting, two widgeon and a gaddie will be mounted this winter.

[Edited By trisspeaker on 2010-01-03 09:04]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Mexico 12-27-2009 14:27
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
I hunted 100 miles south of Matamoros MX the week before Christmas. Ran into what down there is our equivalent of a severe blizzard. Wind, sleet and 40 degree highs. Once off the highways (paved roads) the dirt roads became increasing impassible.

We experienced some of the best duck hunting I have ever seen. Pintails were the top prize. In addition we hunted gadwall, widgeon, shovelers, redheads, bluebills, ringnecks, BWT and the last day the green wings showed up. Believe it or not, down there they are a relativley late migrants. Bringing birds back is difficult, so our Indian guides will be eating duck for a while this winter.

That was the good news, the bads news was that the afternoon upland was no existant.

On an the unusual happenings headline, my hunting partner and I spent an afternoon in a sorgum field with some gentlemen from Loooeesianuuuh (I think that’s in the US).

We were in white robes and hoods …………..

My partner thought we had joined a secret society ……………… but really we were just snow goose hunting!

Unsuccessfully I might ad.

That’s about it for this year. I will be at the Lodge for New Years and will look out longingly at the now long frozen marshes, wondering why we use our only split for these two days. At last report, the geese from our area have followed the freezing line down and are around mid-Indiana.

Hope you all had a wonderfull Christmas and best wishes for OUR ENTIRE STATE for a Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2010.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

Lower Lake St. Clair 12-22-2009 16:13
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Very large rafts of mixed diver ducks all along the Grosse Point shore line from the G.P. Yacht Club to the Detroit River. There are also small groups of canvasbacks close to shore and some geese,swans and mallards are present on the sand bars. The lower lake is ice free and approx. 10 thousand waterfowl have arrieved lately with the winter weather.The Michigan duck season is closed but the late split should be productive for January 1-2 2010 hunt.
Good luck to all you dedicated ice busting duck hunters, I will be thinking about it over a warm hearth and Merry Christmas & happy New Year to all.

P.S. An early teal season would be great for us old waterfowlers.

[Edited By nurban on 2009-12-22 16:26]

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Gulf coast texas 12-20-2009 19:13
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Crane season opened yesterday. So far Cranes 0 jacduck 3. So far this season I have taken pinnies, gads, bwt, gwt, BBTD, specs and snows and cranes. And my season down here started on the 7th of Dec.

Hope sometime in the future you all get the chance to live like I am.

Merrrry CHRIST mas and a great new year to all of my waterfowling compatriots.

John and Carol Cottenham aka jacduck

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2009-12-20 19:14]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 12-06-2009 17:21
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Wow what a finish. As you know if you read my earlier posts, we have suffered a plague of over hunted, educated ducks for the past three weeks. Well, this ice and snow finally brought fresh birds and not a moment too soon.

We hunted open water the last three days.

Friday, we had snow and a strong WSW 20-25, and the mallards all of a sudden liked my decoys and call again. We took our time, picked drakes and ended up with 9 birds, all mallards except for one bull golden eye.

Saturday, the wind slacked and boy did it make ice. And it’s amazing how ice attacks duck equipment. We broke ice, we broke an airboat, we broke an outboard, but thankfully we didn’t break anybody. We ended up getting out late but managed 13 birds from two groups. Mallards, redheads, pintails, blackducks, and bluebills. And yes the ice appears to have pushed some late divers down also.

Sunday, with boat issues and ice we had only one group get out. They managed 6 birds, gadwalls, redheads, and mallards. And my son, Brett swears he saw a flock of bluewing teal. The ice finally brought the flights. Too bad it took the last days to have this happen.

But what a wonderful end of season. I hope you were able to get out and see it. I blew taps over the march at sunset as is our tradition to honor the duck brothers that didn’t make it back to the marsh this year.

I am off to Mexico next weekend to visit with our Michigan teal and morning doves. I’ll post an end of season wrap up when I get back.

Time to break out the ice fishing gear.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Saginaw Bay Unionville 12-05-2009 18:02
– – –
Scouted for ducks Thursday evening drove out the other side of Owendale Gagetown area seen 3 small flocks only heading north also went south towards Dickerson road seen nothing.Hunted on Thomas Point Friday morning did not see much of anything hunted Akerman and French road did not see a bird. During early afternoon took ride to Fish Point lodge to check out refuge not much around. Also walked up observation tower at office seen a few swans small flock of geese and a few ducks buzzing around.Have to believe that the flights we seen heading south three weeks ago for one and a half hours very high never came back. With higher water in game area easier to eat and the combination of corn coming off late and being plowed right away birds ran out of feed. Dad seen birds eating in water right next to road earlier this week have never seen that before hunted all but 2 days and this was the worst season he has ever had.

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Thomas point 11-30-2009 20:12
– – –
Dad hunted open water on Thomas point this morning seen very few ducks managed a red head and a buffy only ducks that came in. Hunted field east of refuge Bayport and Mcalpine area seen about 150 birds all very high and heading further east.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-30-2009 16:37
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Well the November 30th blizzard will go down as never happening, surprise …… surprise!

Woke up at 2 AM to see the most beautiful full moon lighting up the marsh and new we had been screwed. Wind by itself isn’t cutting it this year. We went outside the islands and had some fun with mers and goldie eyes, but there were NO MALLARDS!

We have heard things have tightened up in Canada, so keep your fingers crossed for the last minute finish.

I stopped by the Fish Point Headquarters on the way home this PM and there were only 4 parties in the afternoon draw. So that kinda sums up the hunting around the Refuge. Duck numbers have dropped to around 11,000 and most are leaving the last hour to feed elsewhere. Contrary to my previous post, there is still a lot of feed in the flooded fields, but the ducks are choosing to go outside. My guess is to teach the young ones how to feed during the impending migration. Just seems like they are going farther out each trip. The staff at the Headquarters said that they have reports of birds flying to Harbor Beach and back.

Reports of a large flock of divers off Thomas Rd with mallards mixing in. Makes sense cause there sure aren’t many in the north marshes.

One week from yesterday, is all she wrote. Let’s pray for cold.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

11-29-2009 19:25
– – –
Did not hunt this weekend in Cadillac with the inlaws.Dad and the boys hunted the whole week again not much during the week got 5 on the 23rd.2 on the 24th. 3 buffies on the point walked the marsh got 3 mallards 28th. Did not see a duck but heard a lot of shooting to the northwest of Unionville. Best thing about today was the eggs tatoes and 3 pepper sausage from Lukes.I seen a large flock of geese between Clare and Leota exit coming back from up north. Taking Friday off hoping the cooler weather will do something.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay fish Point Area 11-29-2009 11:04
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
The following is based on my observations:

I hunted the marsh on Friday AM. Roughly ½ hour after shooting, we observed a large flock of mallards (say 2-3,000 birds) lift and leave the area around Geiger road to feed. We had a few chances on goldies and mers, but pretty much passed.

I hunted fields Friday PM and Saturday AM, ESE of the Refuge. On Friday PM, we saw birds high headed further E and N. On Saturday, we never saw a duck in the same field, but we later heard of birds in a strong N wind as far S as Caro.

Saturday PM, I scouted fields. I sat at the refuge, the birds just started to leave around 4:00 PM headed SE in a light WNW wind. I ran 5 mile E on Bach/Gotham. When I glassed the flight had moved NE. For the next ½ hour, I chased birds N of Owendale. They finally landed in a field ½ hour after shooting time in a field 1 mile S of Elkton. This is roughly 20 miles from the Refuge. They fed in 15 minutes and were off to the Bay with just enough light for me to see them. All told, I saw about 1,000 birds in 4 disked fields.

Sunday AM I hunted outside of Pitcher’s Reef. Again the only things close were goldies and mers. However, I was able to glass a large flock of birds (mallards and divers) roughly 2-3 miles off shore (to far away to accurately estimate but it was a big cloud).

So here’s the deal. The Refuge is getting fed out. Most mallards are opting to set out with the mers and goldies during the day. They come in to feed the last ½ hour of light in big numbers. They fly back to the marshes in the dark and are off at first boat or first light. They return to the Bay and the cycle continues.

These mallards are fickle. It’s almost impossible to forecast flight direction with the wind. A slight change in wind direction moves the flight path 5+ miles. The birds are call, decoy and especially robo-duck shy. In order to get birds it is roughly 2 hours of scouting for each hour of hunting. So that’s why the call it field hunting, right!

We need some green birds, not much new has come down in the past 2 weeks. Hopefully with this storm (assuming the prediction is right) Sunday night will be what gets it done. We should finally see ice conditions this last week of the season. If not, there is always next year.

Remind me again why we can’t shoot early teal for this!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

south of Fishpoint 11-22-2009 18:02
– – –
Rick don’t know where you are getting the info from about the directions birds are heading we have been hunting south southeast and southwest all season long up to 17 birds now only 1 this week and that is hunting every day. Most seem to be heading east depending on the wind. We have also seen them all season heading out against the wind and heading back with the wind. Had reports that a majority of the birds are heading out way the other side of M-81 feeding after dark. The fog did not help out last night or this morning either. With the crops coming out so late most fields are being plowed under within a day or two after being picked. The birds that we seen coming in last night were in a chisel plowed field west of Unionville along M-25. Can’t believe the number of birds is that high have been hunting the area since 1962 have never heard the refuge so quite at night do not hear nything except swans setting on the bay.

[Edited By wberg on 2009-11-22 18:14]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-22-2009 16:05
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Well there is good news and bad news from the Bay.

The good news first. Even though the diver flight has passed our area, early last week, flight mallards came down with the N wind. The Refuge is once again holding 20,000 plus birds.

The bad news (of sorts) is that the birds have zeroed in on corn fields south of the Managed Area. What that means is the water hunters around the islands are not seeing birds. I sat out on Thursday PM from 1-5 and saw a total of 4 mallards and maybe 10 mergansers.

Corn field hunting south is picking up, but many fields are leased out. Getting permission is the hard part. And as fields are plowed under, competition will get tougher.

I sat by the Refuge Saturday night and birds were just leaving at 4:30, a half hour before the end of shooting. There were only four setups in the Managed Hunting Area that I could see.

With the green birds arriving watch for the next weather change. Hopefully before the end of the season. If not get you golf clubs out.

We are losing water with the dry conditions and all the S wind. So if you do go out on the water, rocks you were missing in October are now in play.

Will be back up after Turkey Day, you all have a good one.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Freeland 11-17-2009 18:43
– – –
Beautiful sound woke up out of a sound sleep this morning around 3:30a.m. to the sound of a large flock of tundra Swans flying over the house. Amazing how I can hear a flock of incoming mallards wings and feeding chuckle but across the family room I can’t hear my wife ask me something. Maybe,something to that selective hearing stuff we are accused of. Nah.

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

Deer season opener St. Clair Co. 11-17-2009 11:55
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
A group of 7 hunters shot 3 deer, a 6 point buck and 2 does on 300 acers of farm land. Deer movement was good and alot of deer in the area.
The group ate well with venison pot roast and goose/pork sauage mixed with green peppers and brussels sprouts.

Local geese are still present and I will try hunting the Nov.26-Dec.6 season if the ponds do not freeze.

Lower Lake St.Clair has some groups of blue bills present and they were flying along the shore line. To date the weather has been to mild and hunting has been slow.The diver migration will arrive here in late December during freeze up,and as usual the duck season is closed.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-16-2009 19:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
These results are based upon my sons hunting. I took this weekend of to do some honey does and to step up the end run for the season.

Light winds have what’s left of the divers rafting way of shore 5 miles or more. Fishing boats report big rafts but the majority are late migrants, buffle heads, goldie eyes, and mergansers. Some redheads and blubills are being taken south of the islands.

We are starting to see a light mid-day migration of puddlers moving down the shoreline. Not sure if we are gaining or losing birds.

Lots (again too many corn fields) are down. The problem is that its not cold enough for the steady feeding that occurs at freeze up. So the birds are coming late staying late and sleeping in.

The operative word is PATIENCE! This is a normal mid-late season doldrum. Watch the fronts. Ice and the flights are coming. Save your time and hit it when its right.

And it it doesn’t happen before then end then its simple……… We have cured global wraming!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

S\E of Unionville 11-16-2009 14:48
– – –
Just plain bad season. Corn coming off late then when it does come off mowed and plowed within a few days.Hunted Fri. Sat. Sun. and Mon. got a total of 5 birds 3 mallards and a pair of pintials Saturday morning, yes I said pintials. Seen a lot of birds going out last night very high fliers looked like they were heading out a long ways hope they find there way back. With clear nights birds are holding up until after shooting hours to feed see them every night when picking up.Total for season thru the 15th. 15 birds last year 27 birds two years ago 138 birds this while hunting the same area dad has hunted every day. Judging by the number of posts looks like everyone is having a bad year.

Posted By:
lambdasig
Guest

Harsens Island 11-16-2009 08:25
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Got out again Sunday and got picked 34 of 43, so much for the deer opener thinning out the hunting parties. The winds started from the WSW and worked toward the WNW throughout the morning and picked up to about 12 mph. Hunted a marsh instead of the flooded corn this morning. Saw even more birds fly over and avoid us and every other hunting party as they went to the refuge, ugghhh. It turned out to be an exercise in futility and continued to see a significant amount of skyblasting. I know they limit hunters to 18 shells, but I sure wish there was some oversight and people were kicked out for taking ill-advised shots.

Posted By:
lambdasig
Guest

Harsens Island 11-16-2009 08:21
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted Harsens Island for the 3rd time on Saturday, picked 28 of 41. Weather was sunny and winds about 10 from ESE. There a lot of birds holding on the refuge, but that is where they stay. This place is a mecca for skybusters and very disheartening. Without new birds or cold weather and winds to stir them up, they almost fly the other way when a duck call is blown and its amazing how high they fly to avoid being shot. Its an awesome sight to see so many birds but just frustrating when nothing is responding or working the decoys. Did manage to have two work late in the morning, but thats it.

Posted By:
kayakis
Web Member

cass co 11-12-2009 20:25
– – –
Tim and I hunted this morning jumped 40 mallards on the way in… We shot 1 wood duck. saw no geese but heard 2 flocks….jimmy

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Unionville 11-11-2009 18:52
– – –
Rick your report pretty much sums it up. Since Saturday the ducks have been very spotty. With the clear nights they are definitely night feeding and holding tight all day. Need some cold weather to get them into the two feedings a day mode.

Posted By:
Ransom1
Web Member

Traverse City Area 11-09-2009 18:34
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted over the weekend on the bay and also on some inland lakes. Hunting was slow. Did manage to harvest a few birds nothing great. Hoped to see flight birds being from Central Illinois we only get flight geese. Oh well still enjoyed the weekend.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-08-2009 17:10
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday mornings. Very few birds around, up by the islands.

Locals report seeing flights of divers leaving on Monday afternoon. This matches up with the full moon migration pattern the last few years. This may explain why the redheads and cans were feeding so hard the last week.

Sorry to say but the big push of divers has left. Good news we really haven’t seen a build up of bluiebills (if there are any).

Teh management unit has lost birds also, 12-15,000 down from 20,000 a week ago. Some may have rafted up with divers on the Bay in the calm weather.

Very few mallards feeding north of Fish Point, most are heading SE of the refuge in the evenings. Lots of freshly picked corn fields (too many really). Again birds have gone nocturnal, morning field shoots have been poor. Best bets are from 3:00 to end of shooting.

Goose season closes in Zone 3 on the 12th thats Thursdaay.

I am sure most ar getting ready for Deer Season, I’ll be in the marshes.

Good Luck!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

Unionville fields 11-08-2009 13:55
– – –
Finally got out Saturday morning not much action Saturday evening great hunt from 4:15 until quitting time seen thousands of ducks got a few should have had more. It was great to finally get out with dad and Fred fun seeing all the ducks going out and coming into the fields. At times we had flocks of 100 plus working the decoys.

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St. Clair Co. 11-06-2009 14:10
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted farm pond on Tuesday,did not see any geese or ducks all morning.The regular season has been very slow and no flight geese were observed.I have shot 4 geese and 3 blue winged teal to date, also passed on several hen mallards.
There are small groups of geese, mallards and some divers along the Grosse Pointe shore line and no hunters present.

The duck harvest at Harsens Island to date:
Ducks—5,431
Geese—140
All corn strips are flooded and the hunting pressure has modified.

The migration map for the St.Clair flats area from Ducks Unlimited has not been active and hunting results are slow according to diver hunters.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side 11-05-2009 15:42
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Winds were actually light and in the direction I was looking for. Some birds of the diver variety offshore but nothing came into range except a single buffie hen. No need for her so we did not shoot this morning. Trying again in the morning but weather looks as dismal as today. have a great week-end guys and gals.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
Mark-King
Field Editor

LSC 11-04-2009 09:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees

Have been hunting LSC Slow is the best way to describe the season so far.
I hearing the same from a lot of locals as well.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

sunrise side 11-02-2009 08:50
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – –
Rick thanks for the info but I do not hunt week-ends. There are too many guys that need to hunt them and since I can hunt anytime I normally just stay home working on other projects or hunt seldom used by others spots. I figured it would be good but like I say. Let those that can’t go all the time have the week-ends.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-01-2009 07:29
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Not sure where you were yesterday John, but if you weren’t here you missed the best hunting day of the season so far.

Black flag weather, SW 30-40 mph steady. Everybody and I mean EVERYBODY got birds, that got out. And after Friday’s 20-30 SE the water came up a foot overnight.

Last night I literally sat on the shore and shot redheads and bluebills trying to get out of the wind.

The duck kill at the refuge had to be spectacular yesterday based on how many mallards we saw returning from freshly picked cornfields. and they readily decoyed in the morning to guys that set up mainly for puddlers. That’s right the corn is finally starting to come in.

The divers that everyone thought had left the area magically reappeared once we got some huntable weather. Sunny and 65 degrees mid week just doesn’t cut it.

Watch the weather guys, hunt the fronts. I talked to a guy that came back from the UP and he said divers are staging at the bridge. The next strong NE should bring the major push of the season. Hope you can make here!

And fo its sunny and 65 go golfing!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor

NW MI (Traverse) 10-31-2009 18:35
Arctic Blast – 40-45 Degrees
Wow. I would say the big move is on. I hunted the northwest of the state today and I saw 5-10,000 birds. Lucky for us wind was WEST. It was very slow shooting, mostly missing by my partner, I wish now I wouldn’t have left my shells in the layout. Get after ’em

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sunrise side 10-31-2009 16:09
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted 5 days this week on the sunrise side. Saw few ducks and reports or not very good from other hunters I talked to. Not sure what is going on since I expected the “calendar” ducks to be here this week but on the west side of the bay it just hasn’t happened. I have heard that the east side is doing well.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
kayakis
Web Member

cass co. 10-30-2009 14:16
– – –
Tim and I shot 2 mallards and 1 woody…jimmy

Posted By:
marsh deacon
Guest

St clair 10-28-2009 11:54
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Took a boat ride to scout this morning. Put in at deckers. Cut through fisher and goose bay, no ducks. Went over to Musk.bay, no ducks. Came back around strawberry, and through Balt. cut. No ducks yet.

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St.Clair Co. 10-28-2009 11:35
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted several times during the regular season. The weather has been mild and I missed the windy days over the week end.Goose activity has been slow and are decoy/call shy.There are more mallards in the area and alot of farm ponds available for safe resting. Some corn and soy beans are beening cut but the heavy rains have slowed the combining.
The turkey season was very slow,the woods are wet and few turkeys noticed.

[Edited By nurban on 2009-10-29 11:24]

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-25-2009 22:21
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
I hunted Friday after the monsoon (steady rain from 4:00 AM till around 2:00 PM). Divers moved well until sundown. High winds (E/SE 20-30 mph) dropped the water more than 12 inches and made shooting very difficult.

Saturday (S/SW 20-30 mph) still low water but the divers flew all day. Redheads, bluebills (if you could pick them out) and CANS!

My son drove by the Refuge on Friday and observed the evening shoot. Birds were every where after the rain. He went for a draw Saturday AM they were picked 40th out of 92 parties. The flight had slowed from the previous day with the birds returning to nocturnal feeding. They took a lesser field and shot two bluewing teal (they had to be lost!)

Very little corn has been harvested. With all the wet weather, farmers are still trying to get their soybeans in. Sugar beets are also behind. It looks to be a couple of weeks yet before the corn will start coming in. That pretty much means there isn’t a reason for the mallards to leave the flooded corn in the managed area. This is pretty much proved out by the few numbers of puddlers being taken in the open water.

So some good and some bad. This year looks to be a great early diver season, while the mallard harvest to date has been dismal. Still on Saturday, if you got out (with the low water) you got to see some David Maas type diver scenes in real life. Not sure how long they will stay around, but right now there here.

I know I’ll catch some flack for reporting this but the duck count at Fish Point is over 5,000 ducks taken so far this year and they are still holding around 20,000 birds. Pick you days during the week if you can (lower number of parties), and hunt the weather changes.

PS – I was kinda joking about the reward/bribe bands. I do think its a shame though that not every band is reported.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wberg
Guest

None yet 10-22-2009 17:44
– – –
Working 7 days a week but I can not complain better off then some people. Dad has hunted Freeland area By Fish Point area corn and bay not doing very good so far came home today. Looks like corn will be coming off late again this year hopefully will be able to get a few hunts in later when the action really picks up.

Posted By:
ducknut@sbcglobal.net
Guest

band returns 10-21-2009 20:08
– – –
Rick, the Fed doesn’t bribe hunters with reward bands so that they turn bands in. They have statistical formulas to figure out the normal rate of return by hunters by using the amount of hunters who turn in bands with rewards. I’m not a statistician, but it will show them bias and percentage so they can figure out populations numbers for species using band returns when they factor the normal return rates with the biased return rates.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-21-2009 16:02
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Sorry for the late post.

I hunted Friday and Saturday last weekend. both times on the outside of the MIddle Grounds.

Friday we focused on puddlers. Very few mallards around. We got 3 blacks (could have had more)and 2 green wings for three guys in the morning. Missed an opportunity on pintails. Tons of ducks and cormorants rafting a mile or two off shore. Believe it or not, I watched the teal lift off a raft an fly right to us.

Went for an afternoon draw to see what was up in the refuge. Picked 56th out of 72 parties. Went home an let my son chase divers, he ended up with one redhead and a widgeon.

Saturday was light wind, we went out for 2 hours in the afternoon and shot 4 redheads. You just need to scout a bit.

As luck would have it one of my drakes was a double band (as in reward). I am not expecting the lotto, but I find it interesting the the USFWS has to bribe hunters to report bands.

Refuge hunting is still hot. I saw the post on the Opening harvest. These aren’t my numbers, just reporting the facts. There are around 20,000 ducks using the area which is up from last year at this time.

I look for the outside hunting for mallards to improve as corn starts coming in. Warm weather this week should hold the birds around. The divers have lots of food yet, so there isn’t any reason for them to leave other than hunting pressure, which to date hasn’t been that bad.

Bluebill are just starting. Will post if and when they get here in numbers.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
kayakis
Web Member

cass co 10-20-2009 12:41
– – –
Tim and I went out this morning we shot 2 geese never tripped the trigger on ducks….jimmy

Posted By:
kayakis
Web Member

cass co 10-14-2009 21:10
– – –
Tim and I hunted on 10-13 we ended up with 1 drake mallard…. hunted today we shot 1 goose 1 greenwing teal 1 snipe….jimmy

Posted By:
paulblain
Guest

None 10-14-2009 07:43
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Having had a family member that worked in the Allegan Co. GMA some 3 decades ago, I know the goose numbers are ALWAYS fabricated, because the guys want the season to end ASAP, because they get tired of getting up each day at 3am. Of course, the guys that “work” there now, don’t DO anything except sit behind a desk, it’s a lot different these days.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck this year, hunters.

Posted By:
paulblain
Guest

None 10-14-2009 07:40
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
I find it extremely difficult to believe that THAT many ducks (1,069) were harvested at Saginaw on their “opener”. If the numbers are indeed correct, which the DNR has a tendency to fabricate (i.e. goose harvest), and limits were “legally” taken, according to bag limits/species set, this would mean that 178 DIFFERENT hunters would have limited out by managing to harvest a “legal” limit according to the set regs.

Show me 178 hunters in Michigan in ONE area that ever limited out on ducks on the same day.

Posted By:
ndhager
Guest

Thumb 10-13-2009 09:51
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Had a great woodie shoot this morning before work. We shot a two man limit by 7:45 and bugged out. Dog worked great, found one duck in the brush that I would have been hard pressed to find. Lots of woodies around still, seems like more than last year.

Posted By:
kayakis
Web Member

cass co 10-12-2009 11:50
– – –
TIM AND I shot 2 woodys and 1 drake mallard we missed some teal jumped alot of mallards going in but did not see many after daylight. allmost got on some geese just out of range…..jimmy

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-12-2009 10:26
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
I stopped by the headquarters on the way home Sunday afternoon. As I had suspected they had a fantastic Opener. 1,069 ducks and 157 geese.

First open shoot was this morning, don’t know much but the winds appeared to hold.

Water in most fields, some obviously better than others. If your going, makes sense to scout before you hunt the area. 10-14 no water yet. Wheh they flood look out.

Tons of geese around, corn harvest hasn’t started yet. Could be a couple of weeks off yet.

Watch the winds and fronts for diver moves. With the storms in the praries, could be an early push.

Good luck, I’m working this week (darn. But I’ll be back up next weekend.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
wwn1
Guest

Brighton/Pinckney area 10-12-2009 08:50
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Opened the season on a small lake on state land. Sat morning woodie limit by 7:30 (2 beautiful drakes and a hen); Sun morning 2 woodies by 7:20 (juvenile drake and a hen). Lots of woodies both days but never saw a mallard. Mallrd situation was disappointing but expected as I really haven’t been able to locate any mallards to speak of during a month of hard scouting. Oh well, I have about a half dozen good wood duck spots scouted so I’ll make do with them until I locate the mallrds or we get some weather to push them down. Hope everyone had a productive opener.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-11-2009 06:36
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Wow what an Opener.

Young mallards, redheads, bluebills and saw CANS! Throw in a few dumb geese and you have a spectaculat first shoot.

The only real problem was the wind switching 90 degrees but that makes for a normal Opening day.

On the negative side, the last minute guys who justify down winding their duck brothers who stayed out all night to get their spot with the “I didn’t see you” or “I don’t know where else to go” lines. You can’t do much but grin and bare it. But I just don’t understand how guys can come out unprepared and screw up everbody around them. That is bad form, not to mention unsafe.

Shooting at the refuge was hot and heavy. Will get a report on the way home today.

Other than a few miscreants, all present had a great time.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
kayakis
Web Member

zone 3 river 10-10-2009 12:16
– – –
Tim and I shot 3 wood ducks saw more birds then last year at this spot…. hope everone did well…. we heard alot of shooting……jimmy

Posted By:
kayakis
Web Member

10-09-2009 15:48
– – –
hope the opener goes better than last year…..jimmy

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

ND 10-04-2009 07:58
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 40-45 Degrees
Adding a little today.

Started out slow on opening day. It was rainy and cloudy so it was hard to identify ducks with accuracy. As a result I did not shoot a duck until about 0830 with opening hour at 0709. This was because of choice not lack of targets. Since we are here for several more days staying within the possession limit presents an issue. We will eat our share but that still puts the freezer filled.

My bag for the day was 1 can, 1 redhead and one widgeon. I was looking for birds to skin for reference in painting decoys and none of these met the criteria so off to the grill they all go. Another dull day today so I am planning on doing some scouting on foot of several places I want to know more about. I refuse to drive in farmers fields as a matter of courtesy since it is very wet here and most are saying not to.

I am afraid that those that are coming later in the month will find much fewer birds since the weather forecast is freezing almost every night and tomorrow’s is “Monday
Rain and snow likely. Breezy. Snow accumulation up to 3 inches. Highs in the lower 40s. East winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.” According to reports there are few birds in Sask or for that matter any province north of here so the big push will start from here this year. Hope they all don’t move out before the planned timing of the big push.

Having a great time and wish you were all here! Except it is pretty crowded, I heard shots in the distance from at least 3 other parties. The local restraint had trucks from TN, NC, MI, WI and MN for lunch. Got to talk to a bunch from TN and they are pretty hard core hunters. Glad to see the spread of waterfowlers.

Oh yeah my 12 shells still had 8 left over for the day…..BSEG!

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor

AuTrain MI/ Lk Superior 10-02-2009 08:28
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
Well we made it back from AuTrain and we did pretty good. There were tons of redheads so we had to be real careful on what we were shooting at, but there were alot of high flying migrators, especially tuesday when the wind shifted and blew hard out of the north. If I had to guess, the NLP opener ought to be real good.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

ND 10-01-2009 20:33
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
N D diary of sorts

On the way to Goodrich ND yesterday I passed a pond with some funny looking mallards on it and I thought of a couple of guys that I have hunted with out here in the past. At any rate this smallish mallard was on a pond quite a ways north of Jamestown. It had some mallard colors on it but not always in the right place. It had a smile on it’s face and it made me wonder who would shoot such a happy bird. I sure don’t

That actually was among the few ducks seen from the border to about 20 miles west of Carrington. They it got better. I have been in this area before and never seen so many ducks of all kinds. Redheads are really in great numbers as are the common puddlers normally seen in ND.

We had a great surprise that cost me some time on the phone today. Just before we got to Goodrich I looked to my left just in time to see 3 Whooping cranes lift off for a flight. No doubt what they were, big white with black wingtips that long stretched out crane look. I called a report in to Game and Fish and answered the questions the gal had on her sheet. Later the head waterfowl biologist called me back and we had quite a discussion about cranes, ducks and decoys. He and his dad are both collectors. He had been of for the first week of hunting and his wife was already on his case when I told him how many days and states I commonly hunt. He wanted me to call her and get him off the hook.

Rained most of the day today so I got some work done around the house and a little scouting. Got a spot picked out for Saturday’s opener and will have several backups before it all happens.

Anyone else out here or coming soon?

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 09-30-2009 06:46
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
I ran rhe marshes on Friday last week. Lots of water, but suprisingly few birds. It may have been the time of the day, but teal numbers are down from a year ago. Lots of young mallards, wood ducks and a few mixed puddlers, widgeon and pintail, but definitely not the numbers I expected to see.

Let’s hope with this cooling weather and a week and a half to go for the Southern Opener that we start to see some concentration.

On a positive note, I have never seen more natural duck food in the marshes, both wild rice and wild celery abound in the area. Hats off to the MDHA boys for spreading their seed!

I stopped by the Managed Area on Friday afternoon. Wet fields have kept them from harvesting corn in the overplanted areas. This may have to happen after the season this year since they have started flooding by now (scheduled for Monday AM). As you most know the first two days required registration by the end of August for a drawing. Hopefully all those who got selected in the lotto for these early hunts will have a flooded field this year. Remember the afternoon hunt on both Saturday and Sunday are youth hunts. You must have a young hunter in your party at registration to qualify for the drawing. If you have questions see the regs, the’re available on line.

Well, I have honey dews this weekend, so I’ll miss the Middle Opener this weekend. Wish all well who venture North. Next post will be after the Souther Opener. Weather patterns appear to be cooler than last year (mid 90’s remember)let’s hope this helps.

GO TIGERS!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor

AuTrain MI/ Lk Superior 09-24-2009 07:50
– – –
Sorry I haven’t been on here much but I’ve been so busy around the house and with work that I haven’t had time to get out and do much. Never even made it out once for the early goose season, but everything I could hunt was still covered in corn. Most if not all of the corn is off now though. I am finally getting some time off though and will be heading north for the U.P. opener and will give a report when I get back. Good luck to everyone that gets hit the first duck opener.

Posted By:
Bevrpndhntr
Web Member

Saginaw County 09-21-2009 04:35
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – –
Saginaw County youth hunters were greeted with clear skys (after the fog burned off) and lots of birds. Lots of shooting with some ducks taken. Quite a mixed bag. Teal, mallards and even a pintail. The youth hunt is a great opportunity for kids to get a taste of some fun waterfowl hunting!

Take a kid hunting today!!

BwB

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 09-19-2009 14:22
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 40-45 Degrees
A great day in the boat this morning. My two guests had a ball. O dark thirty found us managing our way through the fog to a secret spot covered up with woodies. Boys set the dekes, their dad kept trying to help but I made him quit. Then the wait until shooting time. Fog made the shooting fast and furious and tough for kids who don’t move as fast as old men in that kind of situation. I kept grinning and chuckling at the buildup of M-Ts on the water and few ducks that Maude (YLF) was required to retrieve.

I had promised 50 limits of woodies to be seen and we ended up short of that but plenty were around and the brothers cut the population by 5 when the day was done.

The boys picked up the decoys after telling me they had enough and away we went to a great breakfast and to continue the great conversations we already had throughout the morning.

What a blast! I don’t remember as much fun since the last time I had youths in the boat for the youth hunt. I heard a guy who wanted to stop that hunt because it ruined his opening day and I would rather have that youth hunt than ever open another season myself.

jacduck

Posted By:
nurban
Web Member

St. Clair Co. 09-16-2009 10:19
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Shot 4 geese over farm pond early yesterday morning. Also several groups of blue winged teal decoyed during the morning. Goose movement was limited and by 10’0 clock all was quite. The weather was hot and windless for the early season but there are alot of geese in the area basking in the sun on the water. Corn and soy bean fields are up but hay fields and golf courses were attracting some geese.

[Edited By nurban on 2009-09-16 10:23]

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 09-14-2009 09:15
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 50-60 Degrees
Did an early morning goose hunt this morning. Finally saw what I thought to be molt migrants. Anyone else seeing new locals?

Great day. Decoys were surrounded by wood ducks. Most I have seen in that particular area in 25 years. Too bad season on them will be so short again this year. They are usually gone by the 25th of Oct. around here except for a few stragglers.

I felt sorry for my YLF Maude. The pair I killed fell into the lilly pads and the weeds were so heavy she could only swim about 1/4 speed. I actually took the boat and went to her to help her out. No matter, she was not deterred from going after the 2nd on command even before catching her breath.

Great morning. Hope you all have many like it. I had to rush home to do a radio interview about DU since our Gladwin dinner is thursday night. My wife sucks up to the local FM station and gets us air timer.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 09-09-2009 09:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Just for the heck of it, we set up Monday morning in our cedar blind to drink coffe and see if we could pull a grain thirsty goose or two into our spread. We accomplished the former but not the later.

Still we had a good time watching all the teal buzz us on their way to getting shot in Indiana (I still don’t get it). And we had four mature redheads fly by, seems a bit early for these guys but we did have four days of light N wind.

Our hunt abruptly ended when a group decided to set out their blind about 200 yards across wind from us a feat that started at 9:00 am and wasn’t completed when we left. The did spook the only group of working birds we saw that morning.

I guess that’s the luck (or unluck) of hunting on Labor Day.

Water continue to be up, we are seeing more and more blinds in different areas. This should prove to be interesting on Opening Day. The rice beds a in full bloom. We are seeing lots of woodies, teal and widgeon in the rice beds. I hope some stick around for a while.

I hope your Early Goose Season is going well, just a quick reminder the season ends Thursday in Saginaw, Huron and Tuscola counties.

Everything else is between seasons!