Posted By:
Rudy-Martin
Field Editor
Altheimer/Sherrill Area 01-24-2011 15:26
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Our success in the fields has definitely slowed down, but we are still killing some. This season will go down as the highest total kill in the history of our club. Each of the six fields we pumped up produced, although some were better than others.
The consensus around us is that Bayou Meto not being flooded really hurt everyone’s hunting. I can remember only one year when it was this dry, and that was in the 1950’s. Hopefully it won’t happen again for a long time.
Shoot ’em in the face!
Posted By:
MIQUELON
Web Member
01-24-2011 13:57
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Weather was definately a factor, I appreciate the advice on planning on hunting the end of Nov to mid-Dec. My buddy and I planned to visit a friend in S. Illinois and thought we would try ducks in Arkansas while we were in the general area.
We did not see a lot of ducks on the wing while we were down. Several bunches of snow geese.
Waterfowling in Canada is very different, you hunt from the truck finding were the birds want to be and get permissions for the shoot. Illegal to lease land for hunting in Alberta and Sask. We have found that the best duck decoys for field shooting are goose decoys.
99.9% of our duck shooting is in pea or barley fields. We do not hunt water often. Gnerally no need to call ducks.
Miquelon
Posted By:
Tom-Kopecky
Guest
Dave Donaldson wma 01-24-2011 12:51
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
launched at Datto access, water level 2’at Corning, river very low, didn’t hit anything motoring up river, went into timber upper Reyno gtr at my usual hole, 1/4 mile off river one foot of water in hole,no ice, no ducks working, did have 2 wood ducks dive bomb me while I was dealing with my dog on the platform [gun hanging in tree], high flying ducks all moving north, possible reverse migration going on, woods full of robins. I think it will get better this week. going tomorrow to lower Reyno gtr.
Posted By:
DukGuy
Web Member
01-24-2011 10:58
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Well said Timberhtr, While I’ve never hunted Canada, I have hunted early season North Dakota and expected an “EASY” hunt… well, I can assure you that while, they were a bit less wary than Arkansas birds… It was still challenging and not a “cakewalk”. They still fly fast, land just outside of decoys, and even flair from calling and robos at times. Don’t believe everything you see or hear on the hunting videos…
Woodchopper, Sounds like one of those “hunts of a lifetime”. I had one of those this year as well with both my sons (one HS senior the other senior in college) It was wonderful… a great memory that will last my sons, long after I’m gone. One more weekend!!!!
Posted By:
timberhtr
Guest
01-21-2011 18:12
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Woodste,
I apologize for cutting in on you guys discussion, but just had a comment on the Canada statement,for several years I saved to take a trip to Canada. Two years ago I finally made it. I had the same notion you described, still egg on their bills, piece of cake,WELLLLL found out in a hurry all these videos you see are not quite the way it is. They don’t just swarm in to robos, and geese tend to slide decoys just out of gun range. Not what I thought and hoped it would be like. I can tell you it is very fair. Waterfowl are waterfowl wherever your hunting em.
Posted By:
woodste
Guest
01-21-2011 09:58
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Miquelon,
Sorry you had a bad experience in Arkansas, but all i can say is next time book around Thanksgiving or in the middle of December because weather can be a factor. Arkansas hunting is GREAT, but Canada hunting is probably the easiest. I mean come on, you get to shoot ducks that are very young and have no idea about robos or bad calling. It’s almost not fair. However i am sorry you had a bad experience. You never know how many birds if any you will kill in a given day. We can limit out one day and not shoot the next, but you know what that’s what keeps it exciting. Also keep in mind guides work VERY hard to make sure you have an enjoyable hunt. They work, you shoot, you pay regardless.
Posted By:
Anthony-Santoli
Field Editor
01-21-2011 09:23
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MIQUELON:
If you and your pals have been hunting form 20 years in Canada,,,,then you should know that “no one controls mother nature” As far as things go per your post though, it appears that you did shoot some birds, so you really dont have nuch to complain about overall. Watch the weather and the news before you leave… hell I am in Ohio and I could have tol you that there was ice and snow in Arkansas,,,hence the little weather maps on the right side of the screen below the Migration Mapping logo…
Posted By:
woodchopper
Guest
Arkansas 01-21-2011 09:11
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DukGuy
I was on the same hunt with DaKnight and it was an incredable hunt! One of the top hunts I’ve been in on in over 40 years of duck hunting. We did little calling. None while the ducks were coming toward us and only short comeback calls after they were going away some 60-70 yards. Main thing we just happened to be on the X that day. We passed many Susies that committed (and landed) without drakes to our spread. On this day we could hardly keep GW teal out of the decoys. On more than one occasion the teal would mess up working mallards by cutting down under them while they were trying to commit. It was a very special day. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if my son could have shared it with us, but alas he had to be back at college.
Posted By:
jameson
Guest
01-21-2011 08:26
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MIQUELON
Sorry you had a bad experience. I am tring to figure out who you are mad at, didnt you book the dates??? Also why should the guides give you any money back? they were out there tring to put you on the ducks. Im not sure who you went with. However, this has been a very strange year (bad for most).
If you have hunted for 20 years hopefully you know what your getting into when you go on a guided hunt. Like i said sorry it sucked but you cant kill them everytime.
Posted By:
MIQUELON
Web Member
Waldenburg,Moro,St. Charles 01-20-2011 14:45
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – Froze Out
Waldenburg, 2 days ice, guide busted hole, same pit 1 greenwing teal hunted Jan 10 &11
Moro Jan 15 half dozen wood ducks and a gadwall AM in woods, PM also woods hole on Big Creek 1 mallard drake,
Jan 16 AM half doz spoonbills and a gadwall
3 guns,
St Charles Jan 17 AM 5 gadwall and a pair of mallards in a woods hole.
We got a some bad weather but were told that
ducks in Arkansas ducks fly late and only feed in water. We put on a lot of miles and the most mallards we saw were feeding in “dry” stubble and I mean bunches of 500 to maybe 1000, the ground was black with them.
For someone that has been hunting the Canadian parklands/prairies for 20 years we were expecting a little better experience. We had to book well in advance and make a 50% down payment. If the outfitters wanted our repeat business they would have been better off saying “guys it isn’t worth going out today, we won’t charge you the other 50% try again next year”
We saw some different country, spent some $$ at Mack’s but shooting spoonbills is not our idea of a duck hunt,
