Category: California

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 01-12-2010 13:11
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FRIDAY…grrrrreat day! Pins, mallards, widges. Birds worked to the finish line!

SATURDAY…decent! Crummy fog…came in after 4:00am so most birds sensed it and headed back to their safety zones well before LST.

SUNDAY…one tough day! Super crummy fog less than 200 yds tall. Only hunters successful that I knew of were those w/ large(500+) snow goose spreads near their water blinds that were near safety zones holding lots of snows/specs and ducks.

We need this weather pattern change taking place Tues-Wed. It will hopefully break the nightime feeding pattern somewhat and relocate the birds away from their too customary safe zones. If Thursday clears and is sunny we may get a tall fog for Wed-Sun. There’s a tremendous # of birds in the north valley.

QUESTION: how’s your season going….rate it! I’m happy as heck but there seems to be alot of hunters complaining it’s the worst they’ve had in years. I’m surprised!!!

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

various 01-08-2010 10:11
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I have never hunted the sac refuge. But I’m sure some of our field editors have and would be more than happy to help you out. They probably just haven’t read here yet or have already sent you a PM. Hope it works out for you and your fellow hunters.

[Edited By sprigkiller55 on 2010-01-08 22:02]

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 01-06-2010 17:02
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WEDNESDAY 1/6/09…..great day! Birds flew consistent LST to 1:00pm. Mallards, pins, widges and big balls of teal. There is an azzload of birds in the north valley. With the low ceiling, day long fog-in/fog-out conditions and some precip Fri-Sat should be a good stretch all the way thru Sunday.

Posted By:
iamp
Web Member

los banos. kern, mendota 01-06-2010 10:13
– – 45-50 Degrees
I going to take a trip up tp sac refuge on 1-9-10. trying to get some info on what areas may be productive. it’s going to be the first trip up that way, there will be four or five of us and two dogs. any tip would really help hopefully it’s going to be a great trip.

thanks Ernesto

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 01-04-2010 12:00
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Hey guys, we need some weather. It’s early January and way too soon to be having a California winter.

SAT…lots of birds in the air LST to noon but only a few would finish. Only patience and hunting most of the day produced a limit. Frustrating when flock after flock circles around 2-4 times but won’t commit below 50 yds. Zero wind and motionless dekes ain’t gonna cut it.

SUN…more of the same except between 8:30-9:30 when the fog broke and it was game on. Mallards, pins, widgeon and specs.

Gonna be touch n go this week w/ the weather forecast. Warm afternoons could spell a building fog if the winds remain calm. Let’s hope so!

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

NORTH SACTO VALLEY 12-30-2009 12:54
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SUNDAY 12/27….grrrreat day! Limited out early on pins and mallards. Lots of widgeon and teal in the air.

MONDAY 12/28….el sucko! Completely dead AM and PM.

Unsettled weather Wed-thru this weekend. However, we need some wind which we haven’t had all week.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-21-2009 11:46
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SATURDAY….lots of birds in the air but hanging just out of reach on the edge of the fog. Hunters who were both patient and persistant in putting in a full day did manage to scrape a limit. SUNDAY….different story! Lots of birds and working birds. Loads of widgeon! Many hunters bagged their limit by mid-morning or sooner.

THIS WEEK….cool, sunny and dry! Watch for the possibility of fog forming after sunset and potentially strong NW winds to 20-25 mph on Tues-Wed.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-18-2009 11:16
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FOG!!! If it holds for 2-3 days there’s gonna be some good hunting. If we can get that mile high fog to lock the birds in their nightime feeding fields should be some great gunning. Can’t remember the last time we had the once traditional 7-10 day Xmas fog. Go getcha some!

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-15-2009 13:22
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Outstanding hunting past 4 days…Fri-Mon. Hardly a lull in the action w/ the exception of Mon PM when there wasn’t a wisp of breeze. Nice birds too….fat mallards, pins, widge, gaddys. Loads of GWT and the specs are still here in force. Observed some of the biggest snow grinds I’ve seen the past few years.

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

12-10-2009 22:29
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good good good in the gasslands,, i hunted sat,sun mon wed 24 ducks and 3 geese,, its about to break open.. gonna hit it tomorow solo at the club and then be at mendota sat and sun..

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

12-08-2009 08:43
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JC, I THINK YOU MAY BE RIGHT ABOUT THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS NOWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT OF WATER SHOWING ON THE WEST SIDE AS 2 YEARS AGO AND AS A RESULT THE NUMBER OF BIRDS APPEARS TO HAVE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. I ALSO THINK THE FEDS HAVE DRASTICALLY CUT OFF WATER FROM SHASTA WHEREAS THE STATE HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT MORE LIBERAL WITH ITS RELEASES FROM OROVILLE. JUST LOOK AT THE WATER SHOWING ON THE EAST SIDE AROUND RICHVALE. GUESS MIKE JR AND I WILL BE LOOKING AT A CHANGE NEXT YEAR! ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS?PLEASE PM ME IF YOU DO. LET ‘EM WORK!

[Edited By EMRDUCK on 2009-12-08 08:46]

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-07-2009 12:44
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I did not hunt this past weekend but my guys said Sat was fair on mallards and teal…lots of teal showed up. Then when the north wind started ripp’in on Sat PM it was game on for specs and snows.

This week from Thurs on into the middle of next week should be good. The Klamath Basin is froze solid w/ plenty of snow and the warmer Pacific storms are a come’in!

EMR….for what it’s worth, myself and plenty of other guys believe the hunting on the east side of the river is far better than the west side. The east side holds alot more birds.

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

12-07-2009 10:57
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just when one almost gives up all hope—a miracle happens. dwwilly3 is still alive and dumb as usual. how could you run out of shells man?? only rookies do that tumbleweedboy. you are giving brush okies a bad name. we thought you were a really good hunter you sloppy manzinita loser. your brush update really sucks this time. you have let us all–well i will speak for myself down my brotha. you look good though–3 parts in your brushy hair ( try parting your hair from front to back–instead of sideways)and 2 in your whiskers (or at least what’s left of them after trying to light the stogie stubs you’ve been collecting)–lol–i crack myself up sometimes!! well keep trying and some day you just might make it. i would tell you to keep your day job but welfare pays around the clock eh?? there i go –cracking my self up again. so please keep those brush updates coming–even if you still have bad news.

[Edited By sprigkiller55 on 2009-12-07 15:06]

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

12-07-2009 08:08
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HEY JC; HOW HAVE YOU AND YOUR BOYS BEEN DOING SINCE YOU REPORTED 12/2 THAT THE DUCKS HAVE ARRIVED “EN MASS”? WE HAVEN’T SEEN ANY OF THEM! ARE YOU KEEPING THEM TO YOURSELF OR WAS THAT A “DREAM” AND WISHFUL THINKING?

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 12-07-2009 08:01
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ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND OF WATERFOWLING! WENT OUT TO THE BLIND FRIDAY PM, SATURDAY MORNING & SUNDAY MORNING. TOTAL RESULTS 2 WIDGEON ON SAT AND 1 SPEC SUNDAY. PONDS HAD PROBABLY 3/8″ ICE SUNDAY AND NOT A DUCK TO BE SEEN. LOT OF SPRIG ON ONE POND THAT WAS NOT FROZE BUT THEY WERE GONE BY 6 AM. LOT OF GEESE (SNOWS) COMING FROM THE NORTH BUT VERY HIGH. FORECAST FOR MON/TUES IS SNOW IN THE N. SAC VALLEY IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT!

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
dwilliams3
Web Member

Buzzard Cliff Flats 12-06-2009 13:23
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
Super Morning.
Limited on Specks
Plus 21 Snows.
Ducks are still slow.
Ran out of shells… or would have had more.

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

12-03-2009 21:41
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if grasshoper was not therer with his master speck calling abilities, they would of had nada.. as for the so called grind of 200 speacks. that was about the 5th group that did that all morning and they just circled at 45.. you cant kill em from looking up at em.. pull the trigger and we woulda had 12 easy..

Posted By:
cwadu
Web Member

12-03-2009 19:58
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noas for my report.. hunted near marysville friday with a friend and his wife who couldnt hit her a.s.s with both hands, had 8 specks,, shoulda had limits for the 3..

Hey mallard man. According to the girl who couldn’t hit her ass with both hands. You should not take a shot at a single speck landing in the decoys when the grind is coming in with it. She says if you would have actually hit that speck that drove the grind off, you would have had 9. She says she hopes you now understand why she doesn’t like lots of full body decoys. The grind land and you shoot what is called the “Off the Swing”. Oh ya only shoot away from the grind (the big live decoys that landed behind you) Be patient grasshopper and good things will come. Penny said she new it was your first time in the rice, but she asks next time let the birds land or wait for the group of 10 to set in the decoys so she can shoot with you and help you drop the bird this time. billy says stick the the grasslands grasshopper.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

12-03-2009 11:00
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WEATHER for 10 days starting this Sunday, December 6th. Keep an eye on the weather! Computer models strongly indicate a series of strong Pacific storms that will pour into the north and central valleys starting right after this weekends weaker storm. These storms are predicted to begin around Tues-Wed next week and continue for a week or more w/ strong winds and lots of precipitation. They’ll be more of the Pineapple Express version rather than Alaskan.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 12-02-2009 11:07
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Just got a call from my group and the ducks have arrived in mass! Limits this AM. Lots of widgeon, teal, pins. Weather clear, no wind but the birds are working.

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

12-01-2009 22:27
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now 314–don’t falsely accuse. personally i never said anything about the amount of birds they got. so please re-read and take notes ok?? lol. and we don’t call them spoonies like the average joe–no offense. we give some –not much — proper respect in that we call them
“northerns” eh!! OH YEAH

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

12-01-2009 00:00
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well, ya i guess i am, since i was sent pictures for 2 days of all the mallards and sprig they shot, plus they were in a 30 mph north wind, next to sac refuge,, not that hard to believe, plus i just got back and we saw 3 times the birds poor into the rice after shoottime each day.. just keep shooting spoonies at mendota ns leave duck hunting up to us sport

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

11-30-2009 22:48
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mn314–are you standing up for that guy and his buds who counted 5000 birds and saw who knows how many feeding two nights in a row?? how sweet is that??? you are a good friend indeed!!

Posted By:
mallardman314
Guest

11-30-2009 19:09
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hey sprigkiller55/ dont be a jealous prick cause you arent on ducks,, they got a crap load of ducks last friday up there…..

as for my report.. hunted near marysville friday with a friend and his wife who couldnt hit her a.s.s with both hands, had 8 specks,, shoulda had limits for the 3.. not many ducks…. hunted little dry creek sunday with a guy who had # 1 ressi.. most ducks ive seen in a long time.. mallards, sprig and wig plus a snow… the ducks would poor into my friends rice club after shoot time by the thousands.. could here em all nite every time i walked outside to take a leak..

cooninham.. i think the coptor at howard slough was there to try to pull sprigkiller55 out of his blind. as it turned out, the blind was very small

[Edited By mallardman314 on 2009-11-30 19:09]

[Edited By mallardman314 on 2009-11-30 19:11]

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 11-30-2009 12:14
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Great day Saturday! The strong NW wind really got the geese moving. 4 of us limited on geese, half specs/half snows, in the AM. Very few ducks though! Sunday was a bit slower but we did manage goose half limits and the ducks were non-existant.

Refuges are packed w/ birds for the most part. Need a major weather change to relocate the birds from their safety zones to our hunting zones. The current high pressure ridge is forecasted to hold until the weekend. Sure could use a howling Pacific storm to shake em up.

NOTE: anybody know what went on at Howard Slough refuge on Saturday AM? Saw a life flight helicopter and fire engines at the hdqts on ZZ Road.

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 11-28-2009 20:05
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
SATURDAY ON THE WEST SIDE WINDS OUT OF THE NORTH 25 WITH GUSTS TO 35 OR SO. FAIR AMOUNT OF DUCKS RIGHT OVER THE BLIND RIGHT UP TO SHOOTING TIME AND THEN DEAD AS A DOORNAIL. NO GOOSE FLIGHT WHATSOEVER AND ONLY SAW TWO FLOCKS RIDING THE WIND SOUTH UP TO 10 AM. CALLED IT A DAY WITH ZIP. SAW A COUPLE HUNTERS ON #162 WITH A COUPLE SNOWS. SUSPECT SOME GOOSE FLIGHT ON THE EAST SIDE BUT NOTHING ON THE WEST SIDE.

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY 11-28-2009 10:59
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – –
SURPRISED? 2 HUNTERS 2 DUCKS.NOT MANY BIRDS FLYING AND STICKING AT THE REFUGES

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

11-27-2009 17:56
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SPRIGKILLER, THAT GUY ALWAYS DOES WELL WHEN NO ONE ELSE DOES. WHAT MY PROBLEM IS THE 5000 DUCKS HE SAW–HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN WHEN NO ONE ELSE SEES ANY DUCKS FLYING ANYWHERE, HI, LOW OR OTHERWISE? GO FIGURE!

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY NORTH 11-27-2009 11:09
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
A LITTLE BETTER THIS MORNING,4 MALLARDS 3 WIGEON AND TWO TEAL, TWO HUNTERS.NO WIND AT ALL SOME LIGHT SHOWERS,FLIGHT WAS OVER WITH AT 7:45 AM THOUGH

Posted By:
sprigkiller55
Web Member

mendota 11-26-2009 23:34
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hey j.c.–maybe you should with that guy who hunted east of sac. according to him they counted 5,000–not 5,001 or 4,999 ducks but 5,000. hey—he said it not me. and according to what he says in his report—him or him and his buddies even watched some waterfowl feed thurs and fri night. go figure!! or did i misinterpret his report??? if so i apologize profusely!! no really i do.

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

11-25-2009 07:45
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GOOD luck everybody,now that the front is petering out for Friday and only a breeze from the wind Gods is forecasted.Llano seco has a ton of birds though feeding rice at night and resting daytime

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

North Sacto Valley 11-23-2009 18:14
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Big disappointment Friday in spite of the weather. Not much of a storm.

Saturday was fair for most hunters. I finally started hunting Sunday and got the edge off w/ a spec, greenie, 2 bulls. No duck flight to speak of but the snows and specs flew all morning at their “just out of reach” safety altitude. The duck kill was pretty thin. Appears most refuges are loaded…one in particular just north of the Sink has more birds than anyone can remember, especially mallards. Mild temps are in the forecast w/ lite winds and then there might be a change starting Friday. We’ll see!

Posted By:
Andrew-White
Field Editor

San Francisco Bay 11-23-2009 17:00
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I have been seeing a lot of White Winged and Surf Scoters off Alameda to Bay Farm but have not seen any duck hunters. Where (how far south)do you have to go before you can legally hunt them. I know that one can’t discharge a firearm in city limits which is split right down the bay but have heard of people hunting in South Bay. Have hunted seas ducks for years in maine and would really like to get out for the scoters next season. Any info would be much appreciated!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY NORTH 11-22-2009 15:22
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
2 SPECKS A ROSS 3 TEAL 20 MINUTES THEN FLAT……..

Posted By:
Matt-Greene
Field Editor

Sac 11-22-2009 13:58
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Hunted east of Sac on Friday and we killed 22 birds by noon. Pretty slow until about 9:30 then all hell broke lose. The wind never really picked up above 10mph.

Birds worked in very well. I was surprised to hear all the poor reports on Friday. There are a ton of birds in Sac refuge. We watched 5,000 ducks come in 30 minutes after shoot time. It was pretty jaw dropping. They fed hard Thursday and Friday night.

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 11-22-2009 09:28
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 40-45 Degrees
WENT OUT YESTERDAY IN SPITE OF HOW SLOW IT’S BEEN. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FOGGY AFTER THE RAIN AND IT WAS. THERE WERE A POT FULL OF BOTH DUCKS AND GEESE ON THE PROPERTY AND AS USUAL THEY LEFT THO THEY WAITED TIL THE FIRST EARLY BIRDS NORTH SHOT. IT WAS A 10 MINUTE SHOOT AND THEN DEAD AS THE FOG LIFTED. THE WIND DIDN’T BLOW HARD ENOUGH TO GET THE GEESE DOWN AND THERE WAS NO DUCK FLITE AT ALL. LEFT WITH TWO SPRIG AND TWO SPECS. VERY PLEASED!

LET ‘EM WORK!

Posted By:
NORTHERNFLITE
Guest

BUTTE CITY 11-20-2009 20:23
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
LEFT THE BLIND WITH ONE GREEN HEAD,BUDDY GOT A ROSS AND A TWO TEAL,WERE TALKIN FROM 9:30 AM TO 3:00PM-WOW WHAT A SURPRISE.WELL WE USUALLY GET STOMPED AND START SHOOTIN QUANTITY AROUND AFTER THANKS GIVING.

[Edited By NORTHERNFLITE on 2009-11-20 20:24]

Posted By:
BUTTE CITY MIKE
Web Member

PRINCETON 11-20-2009 19:05
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
WENT OUT EXPECTING A GOOD SHOOT AND SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER. SHOT AT A HIGH FLOCK OF SNOWS EARLY ON AND WE GOT TWO OF THEM, THEN A LONELY SPOON AND THAT WAS IT. SAW 6 DUCKS THE ENTIRE MORNING OTHER THAN 1 LARGE FLOCK FLYING SOUTH VERY HIGH. LOT OF HUNTERS OUT THO EVERYWHERE BUT THE PICKERS DIDN’T SHOW MUCH EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS!

LET ‘EM WORK!

[Edited By EMRDUCK on 2009-11-20 19:11]

Posted By:
cwadu
Web Member

North of Sacto Airport 11-20-2009 17:46
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Perfect weather but no birds. Hunted till 10am on Friday 11-20.

Posted By:
John Cunningham
Field Editor

11-19-2009 11:48
– – –
Tomorrow Friday is shake’em up day! 30mph winds w/ gusts to 40 in the Valley. Reports indicate fair # of birds in the safety zones and plenty of specs. Go getcha some!!!