Category: Arkansas

Posted By:
DukGuy
Web Member

Norfork lake 01-05-2013 18:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Norfork and Bull shoals still dropping and very low water conditions. Ducks (mostly gaddies)have been using mudflats. Hunting from layouts out on the mudflats wallowing around in the mud. 4 of us killed a 17 duck mixed bag on Jan.3 of gwt and gaddies, a mallard and a spoonie. Went this morning Jan. 5 and the front must have moved most of the birds out. We killed only one gaddie and saw very few birds.

Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor

Altheimer – Sherrill Area 01-02-2013 16:06
– – –
All of our fields froze up last week. Our members have been hearing a lot of shooting right at daylight in Bayou Meto. Maybe it’s mostly wood ducks. The weather forecast is to be in the 20’s the next few days, so the fields will probably stay frozen for a while. Overall it’s been a very poor season for us.

Shoot ’em in the face!

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

arkansas 12-31-2012 11:12
– – –
From a count of the KC star web page in outdoor section,bird count on 12-27,showed over 400,000 ducks,mostly mallards on several of the conservation areas here in the state.Having snow here in Columbia Mo. today,expecting anywhere from 1-3 inches,already at 2 inches.Hope this moves birds south,the conservation areas are in north mo,at Bob Brown over 70,000 mallards and in central Mo. at Grand Pass over 100,000.Happy new year and stay safe.Time for me to look at coming goose season.

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

St Frances Co. 12-29-2012 10:55
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Pintails, Pintails Pintails!!!!
That’s about all we have in our fields right now. But there’s a bunch of em.
The Great Mallard arrival has not yet materialized in our area of Ark.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

NE Ark 12-21-2012 08:21
– – –
Not much to report, hunting is avg at best.

Posted By:
Trevor-Gramling
Field Editor

Beech Grove 12-20-2012 18:26
– – –
Been very slow ever since opening week. We are killing 1-5 a day and thats about it. We def need some cold air badly. We are not hurting for water so I am not worried about that as much and it doesn’t seem like Dave Donaldson is needing water now either. Lots of ducks holding in the area but they are wanting very shallow water. They are also very hard to work right now and seem to be very weary. We have really had to work hard for them. Hopefully the front that came through today will make for a good tomorrow.

Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor

Altheimer/Sherrill Area 12-19-2012 16:11
– – –
Our hunting has been very slow except for the opening weekend. We need cold weather & rain! As far as we can tell the duck population around Altheimer & Sherrill is the same. Hopefully tonight (Wednesday) will change things.

Shoot ’em in the face!

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Bayou-Metro 12-18-2012 14:13
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Bayou- Metro has many trucks and trailers parked at the Long Pond Access boat ramp this morning. Water level even lower than over the weekend, I noticed the number of Wood Ducks taken seemed to be much lower, and not much shooting. Hopefully the rain this weekend is what we need, a friend at work told me the his hunting buddies are having a good year in Northeast Arkansas, limits daily.

Posted By:
DukGuy
Web Member

Norfork Lake 12-17-2012 08:58
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Norfork and Bull Shoals Lakes are extremely low with hunting conditions very tough with exposed mud flats and deep sucky mud. A number of gadwalls are using these mudflats, but effectively hiding from them is tough as there is little cover on the “moonscape” close enough to the water. My son and I used layout blinds out on the mudflats and killed our limit on Friday 12/14 but putting out decoys and retrieving the ducks in the deep mud was tough!

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Bayou-Metro 12-17-2012 08:17
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Water level in Bayou-Metro low needs about 2-3 feet more water. There is just enough warter to really mess your boat and motor up. Now very few ducks mostly wood ducks, some snows and blues in the fields around Bayou-Mtero. Conditions poor and few water foul, looking at weather forcast does not look like a lot of rain in the forecast.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

12-11-2012 12:47
– – –
Thank you Rearny

Posted By:
REARNEY
Web Member

12-11-2012 09:04
– – –
Jay Robison-If this helps or maybe encourage you guys. Saturday and Sunday we received 14″ of snow in West Central Wisconsin that covered everything up. I hunt the Mississippi River around Lake Pepin area on the Wisconsin side and our hunting was excellent the entire season in which our group shot consistent limits all season. We did notice that Mallards are showing up later and staying longer. Now they should be moving south after this snow storm. Good luck and Merry Christmas

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Bayou Metro 12-10-2012 14:29
– – –
Good morning to the duck hunting world, as always they are a few doing really well, while the rest of us could use a little assistance. All the warm weather has just not brought the new ducks down at this time; this could start changing today we might start seeing a vast improvement by this weekend or even sooner. This past rain has really helped we could still use more, not everywhere got a good rain so a good slow 2 or 3 day rain would not hurt. Take care will post as soon as I have something of intrest.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Bayou Metro 12-10-2012 14:29
– – –
Good morning to the duck hunting world, as always they are a few doing really well, while the rest of us could use a little assistance. All the warm weather has just not brought the new ducks down at this time; this could start changing today we might start seeing a vast improvement by this weekend or even sooner. This past rain has really helped we could still use more, not everywhere got a good rain so a good slow 2 or 3 day rain would not hurt. Take care will post as soon as I have something of intrest.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Bayou Metro 12-10-2012 14:29
– – –
Good morning to the duck hunting world, as always they are a few doing really well, while the rest of us could use a little assistance. All the warm weather has just not brought the new ducks down at this time; this could start changing today we might start seeing a vast improvement by this weekend or even sooner. This past rain has really helped we could still use more, not everywhere got a good rain so a good slow 2 or 3 day rain would not hurt. Take care will post as soon as I have something of intrest.

Posted By:
Trevor-Gramling
Field Editor

NE Arkansas 11-30-2012 13:03
– – –
First week was pretty good for us. We started out with a good opening weekend and it kept up from there. Only day we didn’t do well was on the final Sunday. Started of the season right with 6 full limits on Saturday morning by 7:50. All in all a pretty good week. Water was the main key as always. We finished up the first season with 134 birds, with 129 coming out of one field. Very few birds around right now though. Hoping to see some more rain and birds before the second opener.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

AR Report 11-29-2012 11:16
– – –
Duck numbers similar to long-term average
LITTLE ROCK – Despite dry conditions across much of Arkansas, the state’s estimated duck population is very similar to the long-term average for November. Duck season is currently closed for the first split of the 2012-13 season. It will re-open Thursday, Dec. 6. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists conducted this season’s first aerial waterfowl survey the week before the Nov. 17 season opener. Flying randomly selected transects in the state’s Delta region, observers counted an estimated 832,799 ducks, including 442,121 mallards. The total duck count was similar to the long-term average for the early survey period, while the mallard count was more three times higher than last year’s November mallard count and the highest mallard count since the AGFC initiated transect surveys in the Delta in 2009. The mallard population estimate was roughly double the long-term November average. A separate aerial survey took place in the Arkansas River Valley on Nov. 8. Observers estimated 7,732 ducks in the region, including an extremely low mallard count of roughly 1,000 birds, but recent field reports indicate a likely increase in duck numbers in the River Valley after the passage of a pair of cold fronts. Biologists conducted an additional survey in southwest Arkansas Nov. 16. Duck numbers were higher in this region, with nearly 22,000 ducks estimated, 13,090 of which were mallards.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

NE Ark 11-28-2012 13:38
– – –
first week was avg, had couple bad days, 3-4 good days, couple avg.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

NE Ark 11-28-2012 13:37
– – –
first week was avg, had couple bad days, 3-4 good days, couple avg.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

NE Ark 11-28-2012 13:34
– – –
first week was avg, had couple bad days, 3-4 good days, couple avg.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

NEArk 11-06-2012 13:41
– – 45-50 Degrees
Need rain,some ducks around where there is water, alot of Gadwall moved through a week ago, i think most moved on south. Looks like a few mallards showed last weekend.
Black River, Ashbaugh and WMA is extremly low. North Island had water, looked like there might have been a little water in slough on south island. A little water in canal behind ashbaugh, not enough to float a boat. Still no wells running at Ashbaugh or DU ground. A few more fields are starting to get pumped up.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

10-29-2012 09:30
– – –
Gadwalls and specks are in Southeast, I agree with Mark there is little water to hold any waterfowl at this time. Weather reports show little rain in our forecast, for this week.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

ne ark 10-28-2012 16:59
– – 35-40 Degrees
Ducks and specks moved in this week. Low water conditions, few fields flooded, rivers low. Agf waited to long to flood now slow go. Ashbaugh looks terrible, half dry ground with dead fish laying around. But some birds on it. Wells are not running at lake or d.u. ground.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

10-26-2012 14:13
– – –
I have seen a few gadwalls and pentails,down

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Area around Bayou Meto 11-26-2012 14:29
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
I guess like everyone else opening was fair, went south quickly and then very slow for the rest of the opening season.

Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor

Altheimer/Sherrill Area 11-26-2012 12:59
– – –
Our club had a good opening weekend, but we fell off significantly after that. This weekend there were practically no ducks killed. So far we have water in only 2 of our 7 fields. We’ll be ready for the 2nd season.

Shoot ’em in the face!

Posted By:
Brian-Moore
Field Editor

NEA 11-20-2012 14:10
– – 50-60 Degrees
Good opener for us. Lots of birds worked and worked well. If you have water you will have ducks. Pretty simple right now. Very dry and will need rain before the full migration arrives to hold them here. Good luck to all. Just find water and you will find ducks!

Posted By:
kenbowen22
Web Member

Wabbaseka 11-18-2012 17:40
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the lease this morning after a report of little water on Friday. Had one field with enough water to hunt and the birds were flying well. 2 hunters 2 limits with 3 mallards, 3 gadwall and 6 spoonies. We did much better than we expected and were done before 9:00 which was good as only the geese were flying after 9:00. Should have been done sooner but some poor shooting on close birds extended or morning but it was fun and we had a great time. Hopefully our south field will get pumped up by this weekend!

Duck Hunting Attitude:

It takes 43 muscles to frown and
17 muscles to smile….
but it takes only 3 muscles for proper trigger squeeze!

[Edited By kenbowen22 on 2012-11-18 17:45]

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

NE Ar 11-15-2012 12:33
– – –
Snow geese come in this week. A few more ducks. 2 days till opener, gonna be alot of hunters piled into what public water there is. If you have flooded private ground you should do well for a few days.

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

Arlington, TN 11-12-2012 19:03
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees

MAJOR PUSH!!!!
Cold Front late yesterday and through the night triggered the Snow Geese.
Watched Flight of Snows ALL day long and past sunset.
As always, Geese were to far East and were headed West toward the River trying to get back into Arkansas.

Really something to see.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

10-22-2012 10:17
– – Over 70 Degrees
Just some early information.

Migration Update – October 17, 2012

Another weekend approaches and “Opening Day” slides further south along with the migration. Canada goose numbers continue to build in the upper Mississippi Flyway and Pintail numbers are building from the Klamath Basin to the Sacramento Valley. Increased rainfall has supplied much needed moisture to areas to parts of the eastern Central Flyway and The Great Lakes, though much more is needed to recharge the bulk of shallow wetlands.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
It’s mid-October and folks around the office are still wearing shorts here in northern Illinois. Opening Day is less than seventy-two hours away and the marsh where we normally hold the annual WFC Opening Day hunt is a choked with dried canary grass on bed of cracked, dry soil.
Despite the grim conditions we face at the marsh, geese are thick. Thicker than thieves and during our scouting trips we have noticed changes in habits that are worth mentioning here, as many of you hunting in drought stricken areas are likely to notice the same behavior.
Geese, being creatures of habit often return to the same fields to feed, over and over, until the waste grain disappears. The impact of the drought on the corn crop not only reduced the harvest rate but also impacted the amount of waste grain left in fields and competition for that little grain that remains is high. As a result, geese are changing fields often. Late flying flocks seem to be avoiding the crowds, traveling further and using more fields. In addition, the number of ducks using those fields appears to be above average as well.
That said, opportunity is abound if you are willing to step out of your waders and the safety zone of tradition methods and hunt were the birds are. As you are scouting and seeking land access, be aware that many states require you to carry a signed permission slip from the landowner to hunt. Even in states that do not require a consent form, it is a good idea to have one with you. Use the link below to access a standard form from the Ohio DNR or visit your state’s wildlife management website to download, print and store blank copies for your travels
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Excellent hunting continues in Saskatchewan and Manitoba with duck numbers slightly below average for this time of year in Dakotas. Low water and dry conditions continue to impact hunter success across the U.S. Prairie Pothole region as ducks continue to migrate south and few birds trickle down from Canada. Duck numbers from Colorado to Nebraska are fair with goose numbers good. Teal and other early migrating birds continue to drift south past dry areas as numbers slowly build in the southern most wintering grounds.

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
Above average temperatures and drought conditions continue to fuel early season lull for hunting in the northern most portion of the flyway. Hunting pressure has dropped slightly since opening day in far northern states and the relief is good for those trying who are happy to scratch out a few birds during the lull. Goose numbers continue to increase from Minnesota to Northern Illinois in preparation for the next round of season openers. With more rain on the horizon, hunters are hoping for any relief they can get from the coming precipitation.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

09-25-2012 09:05
– – –
GENEVA, Sept 25 (Reuters) – An El Nino event, usually associated with significant changes in rainfall, is likely to develop this month and next in the Pacific, affecting global climate patterns, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.

The phenomenon, characterised by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific, has been linked previously to drier-than-normal conditions in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, northeastern Brazil, southeastern Africa and parts of Asia, the United Nations agency said.

“A weak El Nino may develop in September and October and last until the northern hemisphere winter,” the WMO said in a statement.

El Nino is also associated with wetter-than-normal conditions in Ecuador, northern Peru, southern Brazil to central Argentina and parts of eastern Africa, it said.

El Nino winters tend to be mild over western Canada and parts of the United States and wet over the southern United States, it added.

La Nina, its opposite phenomenon which causes an abnormal cooling of waters, ended in April.

The WMO update is based on many different climate forecast models gathered from centres around the world.

“The majority of these climate forecast models say that there is a ‘moderately high likelihood’ of an El Nino. Having said that, it can’t be ruled out that neutral conditions may continue,” WMO spokeswoman Clare Nullis told a news briefing.

The Geneva-based WMO promotes cooperation among its 189 member states and their national meteorological and hydrological services and is the U.N. system’s voice on weather, climate and water.

Posted By:
DukGuy
Web Member

Near Hoxie 02-21-2012 11:45
– – –
Hunted snows near Hoxie yesterday. Appeared to be a large “exodus” headed north on a strong South breeze. Lots of “stratosphere” flocks going over. We had a few trading locally and managed to kill 4 but should have killed a few more. Gun malfunction during critical part of morning flight didn’t help a bit! Birds extremely wary and flocks slid out at about 60 yards before coming in range. By the time we moved our shooting positions to match… the flights were over.

Posted By:
Tom-Kopecky
Guest

Ozarks foothills, 2miles south of missouri line 02-02-2012 17:54
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Its starting, clouds and vees of snows and blues in the air heading north, kind of early, but look at the temp.

Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor

Altheimer – Sherrill Area 02-01-2012 15:19
– – –
Well, our season started well and ended well, with a significant “lull” in the middle. The last week the ducks left our Altheimer fields, but showed up in our Sherrill fields. We even had some mallards in our green timber (on my farm). I’m guessing that was a direct result of my having the timber around the holes thinned. Next year we will thin some more, and plant millet in the holes.

This year will go down as our 3rd best season. It was 63% as good as last year, which was our best year ever.

I have enjoyed communicating with everyone this season. Hopefully I provided information that was helpful. Have a safe time between now and this fall. I’ll see you then!

Shoot ’em in the face!

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

01-29-2012 19:35
– – –
Season ended on a good note for us on friday also.
Decent number of Mallards in the rice fields gave us a good hunt Friday.

But like Brian Moore said,a privilege just to be out there w/family & friends.

Thanks to all the Field Editors that took the extra time to post regularly and kept us updated. (That goes for you too John Donelson on the Missouri page)

Wish the best for all you guys in 2012 and look forward to hearing from you again in 8-9 months.

As for me, I will be getting the Golf Clubs out and begin to get ready for warmer weather. (NOW IS WHEN THE ANGER & AGGREVATION REALLY BEGINS)

God Bless each and every one of you.

WB (Bill) Duckman

Posted By:
Brian-Moore
Field Editor

Humphrey 01-29-2012 18:56
– – –
The season started slow and ended better. Ducks finally in bayou meto the last week of season. Ended last weekend with good friends and good times regardless of the daily bag. Sure hope next year is cold and Nast white up north but will figure a way to take a few and have fun regardless! Have some fun and remember just how lucky we are to have such great hunting areas in our back yard

Posted By:
Tom-Kopecky
Guest

Otwell,AR 01-29-2012 18:27
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
I ended the season on better note, hunted in a flooded rice feild pit blind,South of Jonesboro,Ar, dropped a nice greenhead with my first shot of the year,at 11 am, killed a shovel drake and a teal before noon. best hunt of the year,to bad the season ended, actulay I’m glad its over, but can’t wait till next season. its an horrible affliction.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Bayou Meto 01-27-2012 10:58
– – –
I am hearing that there are a few ducks in the woods, hope everyone ends on a good note.

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

01-25-2012 13:10
– – –
Anyone heard anything from Field Editor Mike McFerrin?
Been over 6 weeks since last Field Report.

Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor

Altheimer/Sherrill Area 01-24-2012 16:38
– – –
Things were better for us last week. All parties killed at least some ducks, and some killed limits.

I’m still hearing that there are “tons” of ducks in Missouri. Maybe they will get down here after the season and imprint on the area.

Some of us are taking kids on the youth hunt.

Shoot ’em in the face!

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

NE Ark 01-24-2012 07:54
– – –
Friday- field around grubbs- 4 hunters 16 birds, mixed bag.
Dave Donaldson wma- Saturday- 3 hunters 2 black ducks
Sunday- 4 hunters 0
Ducks are in the woods but would not work, staying clear of holes, decoys, calls.
I picked up gear and finished for year.

Posted By:
duxtrue
Guest

FAIROAKSSAT 01-22-2012 21:40
– – –
SAT—5 HUNTERS 24 BIRDS

SUN 4 HUNTERS 4 BIRD

SAT $220 FINE FOR NOT HAVING DUCKS SEPERATED AND TAGGED WITH EA INDIVIDUAL HUNTERS INFO

Posted By:
Brian-Moore
Field Editor

Humphrey 01-20-2012 16:43
– – –
As the cache, black, and white rivers have fallen the ducks have dispersed somewhat. There are still ducks in south end of white river but I have to say the article in the paper about no ducks being up north and that lots of ducks were here is rather disingenuous! I have reliable contacts up north and they tell me the bulk of mallard migration is just now hitting Illinois and norther Missouri. I’m not saying there haven’t been any ducks here because we have killed our share but to try and quote some game and fish guy from Missouri saying they aren’t holding birds north of here Is just flat bologna! Not complaining because you can’t change the weather and we have worlds best hunting regardless. Just don’t try and patronize us with that stuff!

Posted By:
Tom-Kopecky
Guest

Dave Donaldson wma 01-19-2012 12:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
loosing water in duck hole, upper Reyno gtr. decided to call it quits for the season after about the last 6 times out getting skunked not even getting close to a shot. wasn’t a bad season thou after killing 7 more ducks there than in the last 2 seasons. did kick up several groups of woodies on the river, other than that not a whole lot of ducks flying.

Posted By:
Trevor-Gramling
Field Editor

Peach Orchard 01-18-2012 14:20
– – –
Better and better every day. Seeing a lot of mallards and they all seem to want to work. Field is holding large amounts of mallards every day. Group that was in Sunday, 5 guys killed 17 mallards. Went this morning and killed a 1 man limit in 10 minutes. Looking like the last part of the season will be good.

Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor

Altheimer – Sherrill Area 01-18-2012 14:16
– – –
Not surprisingly, things were slow again this weekend for our club. We have one field near Bayou Meto that has been pretty good, but has very few mallards. Our numbers are about half of what we killed last year, which was our best year ever. The misery will be over in two weekends!

Shoot ’em in the face!

Posted By:
duxtrue
Guest

FAIR OAKS 01-17-2012 10:28
– – –
sat 4 hunters–24 birds

sun 7 hunters–35 birds

mon 2 hunters–7 birds

Posted By:
Tom-Kopecky
Guest

Big Woods wma 01-16-2012 19:09
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Took my annual trip to Manila,AR to hunt timber in Big Woods wma, and as usual got lost looking for the boat lanes, didn’t find a blind untill way after shooting time, didn’t matter, didn’t miss anything, no ducks, little shooting. Not worth the trouble or expense. the only birds I had in the decoys were several coots and a Bald Eagle sailed over.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

donaldson wma 01-16-2012 18:36
– – –
Friday 3 hunters 10 mallards, worked alot ducks, good hunt. Saturday 4 hunters 2 mallards, few birds that was hard to work. Sunday 4 hunters 1 mallard. Nothing flying. End is near!

Posted By:
kenbowen22
Web Member

Wabbaseka 01-15-2012 14:43
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Saturday – 6 hunters – 27 ducks 1 snow
Sunday – 2 hunters – 12 ducks
Mostly spoonies, gadwall & teal with the occasional mallard. Sunday was much slower than Saturday but we still finished up before 11:00.

Duck Hunting Attitude: It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 muscles to smile…. but it takes only 3 muscles for proper trigger squeeze!

Posted By:
davehunter03
Web Member

01-12-2012 11:10
– – –
WB: If it were not for the Pintails & Teal, our season would have been a ‘bust’. I too have hunted many seasons and this is the most I’ve seen.
Sr.

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

St Francis Co. 01-11-2012 19:01
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Well, it’s a good news/bad news type of thing.

Good news is, I have never seen this many Pintails. Ever! And I have hunted many years.
Pintails by the droves every morning.
One field we have right off of I:40 had 2000 ducks in it. From what I could see, all Pintails.

Bad news is, that is ALL we have. Hardly a Mallard in the bunch.

Things have been so bad this year that a few of the clubs around us have locked up for the year.

Posted By:
Tom-Kopecky
Guest

Dave Donaldson wma 01-10-2012 17:35
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
first time this year, no one messed around with my decoys and jerk line in the duck hole. Lots of ducks flying high over the timber at shooting time, north to south, nothing interested in working. not much water left in woods. hope tonights rain helps, still hoping for new ducks.

Posted By:
duxtrue
Guest

fair oaks 01-09-2012 19:57
– – –
sat–4 hunters 18 birds

sun—6 hunters 6 birds what a difference a day makes

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

Dave Donaldson WMA 01-09-2012 10:14
– – –
Friday- 4 hunter 10 birds, seen several they are just smart.
Saturday- 4 hunters 4 birds
Sunday- 3 hunters 0
Pretty sad hunting.

Posted By:
DukGuy
Web Member

01-05-2012 22:52
– – –
Missouri is still holding 100,000’s of ducks with open water. The North and Middle zones (which contains about 90% of their wetlands) is now finished with duck season, so Missouri is now one BIG refuge!!!! Unless they get some really nasty cold weather up there, we may be hosed!!!

Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor

Altheimer – Sherrill Area 01-05-2012 15:39
– – –
I didn’t think it could get any worse, but last week it did! I took off all week, hunted nine times, and our group killed a total of eleven ducks. Unfortunately I didn’t fire a shot in five morning hunts. Our club is way behind where we were this time last year. On a bright note my son went this morning (1/5), & four hunters killed ten gadwalls, a banner hunt for us. Come on “blue norther” up north of us!

Shoot ’em in the face!

Posted By:
Tom-Kopecky
Guest

Dave Donaldson wma 01-04-2012 19:22
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
started out ok,I thought, kicked ducks out of my duck hole when I waded in. that was it. very few ducks flying, very few hunters around me and little shooting. starting to loose water in the river and woods. guess the only thing we can do is hope for cold snap up north to push new ducks.

Posted By:
Jay-Robison
Field Editor

Bayou Metro 01-04-2012 12:37
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Very few mallards in the woods, a few ducks in the fields around Althimer. One of the good things about the Metro right now not very many hunters.

A good friend on mine says water north of us still open and hunting seasons are starting to go out.

Posted By:
kenbowen22
Web Member

Wabbaseka 01-03-2012 06:13
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
25 mph crosswinds made for tough shooting but a buddy and I were able to scrape 10 birds together: greenhead, gadwall, wigeon, 2 real and 5 spoonies. Conditions were brutal but still had a good time! Need some snow cover up North or those mallards won’t move.

Duck Hunting Attitude: It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 muscles to smile…. but it takes only 3 muscles for proper trigger squeeze!

Posted By:
Brian-Moore
Field Editor

Humphrey 01-02-2012 19:20
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Had another good hunt with some old friends today. We bagged several birds and got to catch up on things. That’s what it’s really all about for me. Ducks are very shy of decoys and calling which isn’t a big surprise since we have had these birds around for a while. Hope we get colder weather for the last two weeks to close the season out with a bang!

Posted By:
hannibal
Web Member

Hint 01-02-2012 17:48
– – –
End of season for us up here in NW Missouri required ZERO calling unless just trying to keep them up in the air cause looking to put feet down somewhere else. Turn off Robo on cloudy day with remote once they see it. Leave them on in Sun…..at least in open marsh/pool areas.

I know probably…..ducks 101 but most people can not keep their call in their pocket. We consider ourselves proficient callers so it is not that we don’t use the calls on the right days but for the spooky/decoys shy birds it seemed every time they come late in the season and we called they immediately bailed.

Just an observations.

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

St Francis Co. 01-02-2012 15:26
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Tons of Geese, a lot of Pintails starting to show up.
But still very few Mallards to speak of.

What we do see and are able to get a shot at are very spooky birds.
We are having to take 60 yard shots. They simply will not commit. They make 2-3 circles and leave

Very strong winds today.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

dave donaldson wma 01-01-2012 20:19
– – –
Dec 30 – 4 hunters 8 mallards 3 teal. Alot ducks early, very poor shooting. Dec 31- 3 hunters 8 mallards 1 teal, not much flying after 8. Jan 1- did not hunt.

Posted By:
Mark-Mullins
Field Editor

dave donaldson wma 01-01-2012 19:58
– – –
Dec 30 – 4 hunters 8 mallards 3 teal. Alot ducks early, very poor shooting. Dec 31- 3 hunters 8 mallards 1 teal, not much flying after 8. Jan 1- did not hunt.

Posted By:
duxtrue
Guest

fair oaks–colt 01-01-2012 19:44
– – –
12-28 2 hunters-2 mallards,2 gadwalls and 6 teal

12-29 4 teal,2 spoonies

12-31 6 teal, 2 gadwalls,2 spoonies

1-1 2 mallards, 2 gadwalls,1 spoonie,7 teal

Posted By:
DukGuy
Web Member

Bull Shoals – Norfork Lakes 12-30-2011 15:21
– – –
Scouted last few days… We have almost no ducks! Warm weather has just about ruined opportunity in this area. Still 100’s of thousands of ducks north in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. We need a “Blue Norther” and blizzard in the States north of the Missouri line to get em’ down here!

Posted By:
Trevor-Gramling
Field Editor

Peach Orchard 12-29-2011 22:43
– – –
Well the ducks are finally starting to act better. Haven’t had a whole lot to post until now. Duck numbers are slowly growing and success has been getting better. Still not many mallards to speak of but they are slowly increasing. Ducks seem to be concentrated on sheet water and in just a few select areas, but that is changing. Will start posting more as the hunts keep getting better.

Hevi-Shot ProStaff

Posted By:
hannibal
Web Member

NW Missouri 12-29-2011 16:01
– – –
There are piles of mallards still North of you and with the weather forecast may not be going anywhere for some time. We were still whacking mallards all the way to the end of the North zone season which just ended on 12/27.

The weather will change at some point but until we get snow they will not go anywhere no matter how cold it gets. They will find open water and stay around as long as they can get to open fields which right now stretch all the way into the Dakotas.

Strange year to say the least.