Category: Alabama

Posted By:
kgaut
Guest

11-29-2005 15:30
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Mobile Delta. This is only my third year duck hunting. We saw alot of teal, several small groups of mallards, some greys, and woodys. We got beat to our spot, whoever got it had a great shoot, it sounded like a war. We seem to have alot more birds this year than last.

Posted By:
john arrington
Guest

FLORENCE 11-29-2005 10:15
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HEY EXT, MY IN LAWS LIVE OVER IN FLORENCE. BEEN WANTING TO HUNT OVER THERE JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO EXPECT. THEY LIVE RIGHT OFF OF 72. HE’S GOT A DIESEL SHOP ON THE HWY CALLED WHORTONS DIESEL REPAIR. ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED

Posted By:
ext
Guest

Florence- TN River 11-29-2005 09:22
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted Friday and Sat on the river out of Florence. Nothing decoying and only saw a few groups of big ducks traveling the river. It was a slow opener.

Posted By:
WERD
WFC Sponsor

Alabama River near Montgomery 11-28-2005 10:56
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
I hunted Friday morning and saw some wood ducks, no big ducks. Due to the lack of cold weather the past month, no big ducks have made it our way. Hopefully, with the colder weather this week, we will see some ducks on opening morning.

Posted By:
r-n-tms
Web Member

montgomery county 11-28-2005 05:50
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
had a good opener 3 hunters took 4 mallards one bufflehead saw 60 to70 candans and 2 blue geese and 0ne snow saturday 3 hunters killed 1 woodie and 1 gwt we saw 40-50 woodies that moring headed to the creek no big ducks

Posted By:
Ross-Malone
Guest

Stevenson, Jackson Cty. 11-25-2005 20:00
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Yes, it’s dry. It was a very slow start for a season opener today. We had a couple of woodies do it and that was it. Saw a few very high birds and do not know whats up about with this. Rain is on the way and we need it. Good luck if you go out tomorrow and remember to read the rules. The new map for Jackson has a lot of details with some new information so take time to read it.
Be safe.
Ross

Posted By:
wigeon55
Guest

11-25-2005 17:16
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
What a slow day of Hunting Not hardly ANY birds flying..Had one Bluebill buzz outside the decoys he dove and never poped back up had a couple of woodies land outside the decoys my wonderful shooting allowed them to survive..I will report to the Sporting Clay range next week..All this cold fronts and no big push of birds..Looks like the Boys in the Mobile Delta had some good hunts…POst up Guys

Posted By:
Ross-Malone
Guest

Jackson County, Stevenson Al. 11-23-2005 20:30
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Raccoon, Mud Creek(Greentree), Crow Creek all are dry. Water is dangerous low. Be careful if you try to use a boat in any of the areas. Raccoon Creek WMA has some water by the 117 road bridge, but below the gates are about as dry in the swamps as I have seen in a many of years. Very few ducks coming off the refuge to use these areas.
Waneville has new boat ramp this year. With the present water level you cannot use without lots of hard work to push your boat off and then not sure it can be done. The water level is maintain at river elevation and it’s very low.
River is about as low as I have seen for a duck season opener. If you hunt the river beware of this critical fact.
River level is being maintained between 593.6- 594 for the rest of the week. The rain we had this past week did little to fill any of the areas. It will take time to fill the low spots and obtain any runoff.
ADNRC did a flight survey yesterday. Numbers are not anything to write home about, but were fair as compare to last year.
Be safe and remember the best is yet to come.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Ross A. Malone

Posted By:
sx2shooter
Guest

Guntersville 11-23-2005 14:33
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CFGadwall, where in the G’ville area were these blinds destroyed? I second the motion on what should be done to the person who did this!

Posted By:
CFGadwall
Guest

Guntersville 11-23-2005 12:23
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Just got word from a friend that up on Guntersville a large number of blinds were cut down over the last couple of days. Someone took a chainsaw to them & toppled them. Some of the blinds had been there for years.
If other “hunters” did this, they deserve to be tarred, feathers and banned from hunting the rest of their natural lives.

Posted By:
r-n-tms
Web Member

montgmery county 11-22-2005 12:21
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
did a little scouting yesterday afternoon saw about 40-50 woodies and about 25-30 gwt and afew geese hoping to hunt there this weekend the pond needs some water we had about 1′ yesterday

Posted By:
Ross-Malone
Guest

Raccoon Creek WMA 11-21-2005 21:00
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
For those that plan on trying to hunt Raccoon Creek more bad news. Just got off phone with ADCNRWF and they cannot pump since river is so low. The phase I is dry along with all other areas. Some water up close to the road, but not enough to lauch a boat. Be aware and get the word out. We did get some good rain today, but not sure how much this will help. I ask if the road gates would be open or closed and they have not made the decision on how to leave them.

We are still very dry and not sure we will have any water in the area till mid December. We are to get another rain this coming Sunday, but we are in the catch mode. This dry weather will benefit the birds for when they do show up here they will have a fresh food source.
Good luck this Friday and remember to give your peer hunters room for a quality outing and a fun outing in the field with the critters.
Be Safe.
Ross

Posted By:
ext
Guest

11-18-2005 12:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
The last few days we have had a few new birds show up. Last week we had 5 hooded megansers show this week 25 hoods and a few greys ducks. Not an area that can be hunted, but a fair indicator pond. Can’t wait for the opener it will still be fun.

Posted By:
wigeon55
Guest

11-16-2005 07:32
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9 Days…..Man I am not seeing any Birds only year round birds…Alot of Geese this year…Ted how are things down there?…

Posted By:
Ross-Malone
Guest

Mud Creek /Raccoon Creek 11-11-2005 19:52
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Well, today was a beautiful day in the field with my new Mud Buddy motor. It gives one a new avenue to seek and find the ducks.
Saw a few gads and even some pintails. Not a lot of anything, but was good to see a few ducks with the warm weather.
I have sad news. Raccoon creek has not been pumped up and it will be a very hard task to get it pumped up with the river so low. The managers of the WMA want to get it ready for the season opener, but don’t be surprised if it does not happen. We have not had any measureable rain in over 5 weeks. Everyone is dry in the southeast unless you’re within 150 miles of the coast. The wood ducks have jumped us this year. Without some rain soon the birds we normally see on the opener will not be here.
Pray for weather changes with rain and colder weather to hit the northern states ASAP.
RAM

Posted By:
kgaut
Guest

Mobile Delta 11-10-2005 13:45
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Saw a nice bunch of geese last week, counted about 30 birds. For me this was like seeing the holy grail!! Not many birds down here. I think they were locals.

Posted By:
wigeon55
Guest

11-06-2005 09:08
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Had about a dozen Specks fly over yesterday..Not seeing much else..Alot of local Birds…Never saw a Teal…Buffleheads are usually buzzing around none yet..

Posted By:
Ross-Malone
Guest

Jackson Cty. 10-24-2005 21:03
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Just a note to tell all the free permit map used to hunt in Jackson County, on Mud Creek, Raccoon Creek, Crow Creek WMA’s has been changed. The permit map has been marked up to show where you and can’t hunt waterfowl in the afternoon, Monday thur Thursday. Be sure and get one and check it out.
Crops look good, but if we don’t get some wet weather here and colder weather up north it’s a mute point. A dry cold winter is not as good as a wet warmer winter. The woodies and teal are really on move and they will jump us and keep on trucking if we do not have pot holes and back water to hold them.
Start cleaning the decoys and working the dog for we are in the count down.
Regards,
Ross

Posted By:
Puddleskipper
Guest

HOOCHie 10-06-2005 06:53
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Roger that, Charlie. Heading down your way today to Albany to work for the day. I’m going to go by way of Fort Gains and stop in the Corp office to ask some questions. Don’t forget to get your Corp permit. =*(^)< Posted By: Charlie Smith Supporting Member 10-05-2005 23:22 - - - Hi PuddleSkipper - hope you got a pile of ducks on order for Eufaula this year...well, maybe not a pile...at least til I get there anyway...

Posted By:
Puddleskipper
Guest

HOOCHie 10-02-2005 15:44
– – Over 70 Degrees
Water is down. Sand bars and stumps are up. Walked to a duck hole the other day that normally I’d boat to. Local farmers complain about geese but, won’t let hunters in. Worried we don’t know the difference between cows and geese—-I guess. Wont be long before the Eufaula Refuge starts drawing them in. Patrick?????? anything on sea ducks ? Besides the lease .

Posted By:
wigeon55
Guest

09-23-2005 17:31
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It’s always slow posting in here…I don’t teal or early Goose hunt due to no teal and don’t want to have to mess around with the fisherman..I have seen a few teal on farm ponds but a few..Geese are everywhere up in my neck of the woods..I will Post when the Duck season opens..until then good luck to those hunting now…

Posted By:
Dr. Skillet
Guest

Central Alabama 09-20-2005 06:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Hunted opening morning with a few other groups and saw 0 teal. Had had good reports of a few birds in the area but they must have heard about the opener! Heard oif a good shoot in southwestern Alabama on a Catfish pond which led to 4-5 limits of teal in about 10 minutes! Heading to Arkansas this weekend to our lease. We were late getting water on our teal hole and gave it a couple of weeks to get some birds. Where are our Alabama Duck hunters? No posts, his is sad. 🙁

Dr. Skillet

Posted By:
Ross-Malone
Guest

Duck Season for Alabama 08-10-2005 20:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
From what I have been told the season will be a carbon copy of last year for Alabama.
Open Friday and Saturday (Nov. 25-26) after Thanksgiving then close till December 3 and open until January 29. NOTE THIS HAS HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY ADCNR….. Just suggested dates to work off of. Last year we hunted to January 30. Lost one day at the end the season this year.

Teal season dates are listed in Alabama G&F Outdoors website as Sepember 17 thur 25. THIS CONTINGENT UPON FINAL REGULATIONS!!!

Take care and watch for those low birds on opening day of dove season.
RAM

[Edited By Ross-Malone on 2005-08-10 21:19]

Posted By:
Ross-Malone
Guest

MS Flyway Council Meeting Recommendations 07-26-2005 18:52
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Howdy Sports Fans,
Is it hot or what? Well, we all know hot days of summer are hitting us hard and hopefully this will cool you down some.
Here is a summary report provide by DU on the Mississippi Flyway Council Meeting. Recommendations have been sent to the USFWS and remember key word here is recommendations. You state may approve less.
“Mississippi Flyway Council Recommendations 2005-06 Season”

“Just a quick note to inform everyone that the Mississippi Flyway Council at its meeting Sunday, July 24 in Tunica, Ms recommended a 60 day duck season and a 6 bird bag for the Miss. Flyway in 2005-06. Species restrictions same as last year except that the pintail season is back to a full season with a 1-bird bag. Also recommended was a 30 day, 1-bird bag limit for canvasbacks (same as last year). The season can open the Sat. nearest Sept. 24th which happens to be the 24th this year and close the last Sunday in January, which is Jan. 29th this year. Keep in mind this recommendation now goes to the SRC (USFWS) for approval so it could be changed.
Also be mindful that states are free to impose more restrictive season dates and bag limits if they so choose. The only MFC state that hinted they may do so is Minnesota–they will likely have a 4-duck/4 mallard limit this year and may even go so far as to impose a 45 day duck season. There were several other matters taken up by the MFC but I’ll get that out tomorrow. I just thought you might want this info. now in order to make your hunting plans! ”

Ross Melinchuk
DU Southern Regional Office

Ross A. Malone
TN DU Regional & CPC
Volunteer Chairman
http://tn.ducks.org

[Edited By Ross-Malone on 2005-07-26 20:07]

Posted By:

guntrsville 07-25-2005 07:18
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I have been out on the water looking for new blind locations and took some time to repair some old blinds.I saw a good amount of ducks and just took some time to watch them.I wish more of the duck hunters would spend more time getting ready for the season.I got some good pics and got a renewed fealing for the up coming season.I hope you all have a good season.

Posted By:
Charlie Smith
Supporting Member

Lake Guntersville 07-17-2005 23:06
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Any info on duck hunting Lake Guntersville will be appreciated. Thanks.

Posted By:
wigeon55
Guest

04-01-2005 20:36
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Still seeing alot of Gadwalls around…Also alot of Geese and the Wood Ducks are chasing and mating

Posted By:
rebelsdad
Guest

Central Alabama HRC 02-22-2005 20:28
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We are having a hybrid Ht / FT in the Tuscaloosa area first weekend March.
2 levels.
“Non titled” ( single marks, no blinds) and “Super Duck Dog” which will be a wide open anything goes type set up. Every dog will get a land and a water series and probably a flyer.
Judging for 1-3 places in each level and JAMS.
Entry $50 per dog. Limit 2 dogs per handler.
Free lunch and dinner on Sat night.
More info call Mike Perry @ 205 300 0349.

Let em get close!!!!!

Posted By:
wigeon55
Guest

02-09-2005 16:12
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🙁

Posted By:
Puddleskipper
Guest

HOOCHie 02-07-2005 22:31
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Charlie =”(^)< Heard about that guy. Saw some of his work. It does look good. Got a guy in Columbus that mounts mine for me. I trade him out drift wood for his mounts ,for him mounting mine. Sounds like you did have a good season. It's like I keep telling these young fellows around here. It's not the amount of ducks ,it's all about the hunt. Heading to Missouri the 19th and 20th to do some snow goose hunting. Called the guide tonight and he said the geese are stacking up. Should be a great hunt. Private post me if your interested in joining us. Stay safe. SKIPPER ="(^)< [Edited By Puddleskipper on 2005-02-07 22:33] Posted By: Charlie Smith Supporting Member 02-03-2005 07:34 - - - PuddleSkipper : I had a normal year ( remember, this is just my second year of deciding to be a duck hunter bec. of the great Lab I found and gave a home to ) for me, which is pretty darn bleak. I harvested, from memory, 12 ducks this year. I did have 2 highlights, tho, my 9 month old Lab pup made her first duck retrieve this Jan. and it was a water retrieve. Also, I got to take my 7-yr.old nephew the last day and, although he didn't get a duck, I did manage onw woodie out of 5, and he claimed it as "his first duck", which, I guess, is correct in one sense. Took him with me to the taxidermist and let him pick the mount for "his" duck and the one that was my pup's first as well. Both mounts will be his, by the way. Tell you something else, I had been told this "new guy" taxidermist was SUPER and, after seeing his work, I must agree. His name is Brad Henry and he is near Parrott, Ga. about 55 miles S. of Columbus. The young guy really takes pride in his work. Anyway, I hope to do better next year, and if things go as I hope, will have a small duck pond on my place before next season. Enjoyed your reports and your help. [Edited By Charlie Smith on 2005-02-03 07:35] [Edited By Charlie Smith on 2005-02-03 07:37] Posted By: Puddleskipper Guest HOOCHie 02-03-2005 04:56 - - - Don't know what my count is. Just keep cleaning and stuffing them in the freezer. I know it's not high. Had a major family situation twice in January that cut into about 2 weeks of hunting. For me to miss more than 2 days in a row is very rare. I usually hunt 4-5-6 days in a row. Did manage to collect a can and a pair of buffies for the wall. Also shot a very colored out drake ringneck that I think I might get mounted. All in all it wasn't a great season for me. I killed 5 geese and about 4 dozen ducks. I shot the impoundments less this year because of all the skybusters showing up. Just frustated me. They can't call, don't know when to call and when not to and place out decoys only to shoot at birds 100 yards + high. Saw very few teal this year after the hurricane. Shot none. Gadwall got all the birds this year. Wigeon sounds like he had a respectable season also. How'd you do Charlie? The best hunting I had all year was when I went to the bays down in Fla. Birds by the hundreds but no hunters. Except for the few that went with me. Bluebills, Greater Scaup, Scoters, Merganzers, Bufflehead and Redheads were on the plate those days. Hope to get in a snow goose hunt during the conservation order in some state before the season goes out. Maybe that will make up for the season some. Me and my buds made it thru the season again without any major catostrophies. Thank the Good Lord for that. Almost time to dust off the big boat at the beach and get ready for saltwater fishing. Posted By: Charlie Smith Supporting Member PuddleSkipper\'s backyard 02-01-2005 21:25 - - - Ok, Pudd, where you at and go ahead and give me the bad news about how you skunked us GA. boys....what is your tally for the season ???? Posted By: CFGadwall Guest Mobile Bay & Delta 02-01-2005 08:43 - - - The last two weeks of the season were a roller-coaster ride. From the 20th-23rd, we were covered up with big divers. We killed more greater scaup, redheads and canvasbacks in those 4 days that we killed in the previous 4 weeks. Limits were easy & I even killed a 3,2,1 (3 greaters, 2 redheads & 1 can) on the 23rd. We also had a good number of gadwalls thrown in. The last 4 days of the season were poor. The big divers seemed to dissapear and while we had lots of gadwalls, they were very blindshy. We hunted all day the 27th & 28th and only had a few gadwalls and a Canada goose to show for it. Saturday was better, with 14 birds (13 gadwalls and 1 drake bluewing) taken by three of us. Sunday was a bust with only 2 gadwalls in the bag. This turned out to be a strange year, especially for divers. From about the 15th through the 24th we were covered up with greater scaup, redheads and canvasbacks. Out of the 16 bluebills I killed this year, 12 were greater scaup. We did find a large raft of lessers & hunted them on the 22nd. This weekend, we went back to where they were and most were gone (or at least we couldn't find them). I killed more canvasbacks this years than I killed in the '97-98 thru 2003-04 seasons combined. Twice this year, I had a flock 8-10 cans come into the decoys. Redheads were almost the same case, until this last weekend, it was pretty much a given that if you hunted the bay, you were going to kill at least one redhead. However, this past week, most of the cans, redheads and bluebills that had been here seemed to vanish. Maybe they went to Miss. Sound? We saw a good number of gadwalls as the season progressed but they were very hard to hunt this year. Even when it appeared we had new birds, they seemed to arrive blind shy. We saw no teal until this weekend when I killed a beautiful bluewing. No one in our group saw or killed a pintail. We killed a good number of wigeon early & they disappeared. The ringnecks that were here at the beginning of the season disappeared right after New Years. I suspect that went up into the creeks in the Delta. Oh well, lets hope the breeding grounds get lots of rain & snow this winter and that next year will be better. Posted By: wigeon55 Guest Coosa 01-31-2005 11:28 Cloudy, Winds Calm - 40-45 Degrees Hunted the last day...Slow had a group of 4 come in and got 1...then had a group of 2 come in and got both...worked a small group of geese but they stayed out of range...then a a lil larger group came in but still out of range.....hunted til 10 and saw very few birds......as for the seson had a really good year killed a fair amount of birds...8 species.....met some new people.....look forward to next year maybe i'll get down to hunt with you Ted......But i am glad tat it is over til Nov I am wore out.....My pup had a good year she got to retrieve lil ducks and Big geese......She made some good retrieves and some bad ones too....I made alot od bad shots...and pulled a few out of my butt.....I really hate that this states posting is getting to be poor.....Good Luck and see ya next season Posted By: Last Shot Guest North east Alabama 01-27-2005 20:43 Sunny & Clear, High Winds - 30-34 Degrees - Open Water First of all, please allow me to say that This used to be the most exciting website for waterfowlers on the internet. Due to last year's reconstruction & new restrictions to access to the field reports, it has become the most droll excuss for everyday duck & goose hunting reports that could be. I have lost count of the (2004) faithful that no longer check in daily with this once awesome resource. What a shame! Please reconsider your policies - I completley understand that this a business. Sorry to choke up one of the vaulable 3 posts allowed at one time. But, There has been a ton of great duck hunter's info & banter that has now been disallowed. Afterall, we all love to hear about DUCKHUNTING. Waterfowler.com used to be the place to go. Hope everyone had a good season! Last Shot Posted By: wigeon55 Guest Coosa 01-26-2005 10:37 Cloudy, Winds Calm - 50-60 Degrees A slow day had alot of mallards flying at 6:00 but nothing at legal shooting time...I had 1 mallard come in and got him...Then the geese started flying so a few SNOW GEESE had them pass over a lil high for me to shot at..Then the Canadains started flying called a nice flock in got 2 out of the bunch..then worked a few more flocks but nothing wanted to come in would just circle high and swing wide..had a good time..Enjoy calling the big birds.... [Edited By wigeon55 on 2005-01-26 14:17] Posted By: Ross-Malone Guest Jackson Cty. 01-24-2005 09:08 Sunny & Clear, High Winds - 30-34 Degrees - Ice Hunted Raccoon Creek WMA the past two days and what a disappointment. Hunted hard all day yesterday and maybe saw 30 birds and the day before hunted till 1000 and did not see anything. WE had 6 redheads pass throught on Saturday and one of the four guns got off a shot and bagged one nice drake. Birds just do not move off the refuge and private places around Crow Creek when it gets cold. Big waste time unless you like to freeze and watch seaguls migrate down the river. Did not hear any shooting and most of the setups left by 1000 and it was so bad the evening setups left after a couple of hours. Maybe we need to go back to a 30 day and 3 bag limit to get the pressure off the birds and get the numbers up. If DU, Delta and USFWS along with MS Flyway Council contuine to do nothing then it can only get worse in future years. Duck hunting is a multi billion dollar business. Let us protect the resource for a few years and see if we can make a difference in the quality of our hunts. Sure am glad we got the extra week to hunt this year for I'm looking forward of viewing more blue skys and seaguls on the route. Be Safe RAM Posted By: wigeon55 Guest Guntersville 01-23-2005 17:11 - - - I hunted Guntersville for the first time...what a experience...I have seen decoy shy birds but wow...Ater watching thousand of coots.bluebills and gadwalls raft up of the shore line..i was thinking why and then i saw the light SKYBUSTING...Boys ya'll are educating your ducks by busting them up in the air let them decoy and then shoot....Even the grebes where to scared to swim into the decoys...i watched gadwalls land just out of range like they knew they are safe....Let the birds work the decoys when they get into a range that you can kill them shoot....ducks are not stupid just hunters.....