Category: Illinois

Posted By:
Scott-Martin
Field Editor

North Central IL 01-07-2012 16:18
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Closed out my north zone season yesterday with one final goose hunt. Fun to be out and saw a ton of geese in the AM, but they preferred to trade north and west off the roost, rather than toward me (south and west) … did get a few lookers and one group close enough, so I didn’t end the season skunked. Looking forward to fresh goose this week.

In the PM, I figured out where the mallards and geese are in IL … north of 88 and north of 90. Piles and piles. Saw a mallard vortex that rivals anything I have ever seen before. With all the geese in the same area, it looked like a refuge. Which as of tomorrow, all of Northern IL will be.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow. not too late to keep singing. Otherwise pray for excellent breeding conditions for all the birds that will return there this spring.

– Scott

Posted By:
Kevin-Stallard
Field Editor

S/W IIllinois 01-07-2012 05:07
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
I was reading the Nebraska reports and they are waiting for the birds to come back from the south…….
Well alot of us in the sothern part of the state are waiting for the birds to get here from the north!!! What a terrible terrible year. No snow or blast predicted for the immediate future…

3,XXX geese in the southern zone, 38,XXX on average here this time of year…..enough said.

Posted By:
scattermaster1
Web Member

01-06-2012 08:07
– – –
60 Degree’s in NE Il today, enough said

Posted By:
webmaster
root

INHS Survey MISS. River 1-4-12 01-05-2012 15:01
– – –
Results are in for the INHS MISS River Survey (last to be flown this season) 1-4-12:

Total Mallard on the upper and lower Mississippi River survey areas are nearly 3 times the 10-year average of 57k at 167,010.

Total ducks are at 263,100 and over 3 times the 10 year average of 81,000.

In steep contrast, the Southern ad Central IL surveys are well below the long-term year averages.

Central Ducks: 3,700, 5-year average 56,025
Central Geese: Canada; 3,975
Southern IL Ducks: 60,300, 5-year average 92,088
Southern IL Geese: Canada; 3,075 5-year average 38,717
Southern IL Geese: Snows; 73,725 5-year avg 58,708

Posted By:
webmaster
root

NE IL Survey 01-04-2012 12:51
– – –
The INHS survey for NE IL (Jan 3) shows mallard numbers nearly 6 times the 5-year average at just above 13,000.

Canada Goose numbers are down at 10.3K with the 5-year average at 26k for this time of year.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

McHenry County 01-03-2012 11:14
– – –
Cold temps and flurries had geese moving pretty good yesterday. Running traffic proved to be difficult, I think most of them have our number after an entire season.

The dusting of snow made it hard to make the layout blinds blend. Geese would just slowly shy off on their approach.

Saw a lot less ducks but still seeing them in pocket groups near every tiny chunk of open water.

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

Down south 01-02-2012 19:43
– – –
This has been the most dissapointing season in 30 yrs of memory. it gets old staring at blank skies.AS 4 new birds about the only ones we seem to be gitting are woodducks and teal out of the south. Sad. On a brightspot tho I seen my first blacks and bluebills on Crab today.

Posted By:
Kevin-Stallard
Field Editor

S/W Illinois 01-01-2012 05:38
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
The last several days has been a tough go, the birds are stale as well as the weather. The weather has had some birds travelling NB thinking their winter was over and headed back home. At least the weather for the next few days will be more December like and hoping for some new birds to follow the high NW winds to our neck of the woods. I hope it is not too little too late with only 10 or so days left to chase the ducks here. May be the first time have to use the ice eater all year!!!

Posted By:
qacol
Guest

Desplains River- State Area 12-31-2011 15:53
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Got one goose and could of had a few more.

We had Blue-bills come in today, season over for 2 weeks and seen our first ones.

Posted By:
scattermaster1
Web Member

Will County 12-30-2011 08:17
– – –
Yep, lots of geese up here,all the way to SE Wisco – however will not come out of subdivisions,eating grass all day. Fair numbers of mallards around as well. Scatter

Posted By:
Michael-PhillipsIL
Field Editor

SW Pike County 12-27-2011 22:03
– – –
Did a final clean up yesterday and saw quite a few specks and a few honkers. This duck season started great but the last two weeks were a huge disappointment. I hear of lots of geese north so hopefully something happens up there to get these birds moving down and give us a decent goose season. A lake in my office park doesn’t have a goose on it while usually it has hundreds by this time. Hope they get here quick.

Posted By:
Scott-Martin
Field Editor

Central IL 12-21-2011 23:20
– – 40-45 Degrees
Didn’t get out for the fianle. Unfortunately. Would have liked to see what was happening with open water in the end of DEC in the bottoms. Reports are though that it wasn’t much of anything in our area.

Nov ducks arrived in a flurry and we had a good couple of weeks. Then it turned into stale ducks for many days with enough ice to scare them off but not enough to get new birds down our way. Reports from the north are that there are plenty more to come but we haven’t had the weather to make them do it yet. No snow up north means plenty if places to feed and now there is water everywhere so ducks around are dispersed. Great numbers in the state but we did not see them.

Maybe the weather will come and confuse the geese. No matter what it was a great season. They all are great seasons. More ducks for next year …. That’s what I kee telling myself. …

Posted By:
GooseMe1
Guest

Fulton County 12-20-2011 18:08
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
Myself and one other member was able to get in a last day of season hunt. 2 limits of mallards. LOTS of Specks around. Few large geese.

Posted By:
GooseMe1
Guest

Canton Area 12-18-2011 18:00
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Was a surprise but the last couple days in corn field have been great. Hate to see season go out Tuesady, work is getting in the way for all of us. Was a good year for corn field ducks. Now if some more geese would show up.

Posted By:
waterdog trainer
Web Member

Havana 12-15-2011 22:10
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Had a great hunt today. 5 guns shot 20 Mallards, 1 Black, 1 Sprig, 2 Gadwalls, 2 Cans and 2 Honkers. We’ll be able to go to the end without being froze out. One of the best seasons in a long time.

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

deep south 12-15-2011 18:09
– – –
hunting has been extremely poor. No ducks. went to the bootheel for a couple of days and its amazing how far ahead the mo. dept of recources of the idnr. No comparison. They have birds south of us but we have none. what does that say about the idnr?

Posted By:
GooseMe1
Guest

Canton 12-15-2011 18:04
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Seems to be a fair number of mallards around that have worked well the last couple days. Even killed a few Canadas today. Back at it tomorrow.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

INHS Waterfowl Survey 12-12 12-14-2011 11:17
– – –
The INHS survey for the past week shows total mallards nearly two times the 10-year average of 106,514 and sitting at 202,250 for the combined upper and lower Mississippi River Survey areas. Total ducks are at 347,065 and also nearly twice the 10-year average of 156,947.

Mallards in the Illinois River Area are at 146,653 — up slightly over the 10-year average of 117,183. With total ducks at 164,460.

There are no shortage of ducks in IL at this time.

Detailed Reports can be found here:

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/waterfowl/surveys/Pages/default.aspx

Posted By:
webmaster
root

McHenry County 12-14-2011 10:20
– – –
Rain has been falling and all the water that had begun to freeze is open again. Ducks are still here in force and the season went out yesterday.

Goose numbers have been climbing back to levels prior to the freeze in our area. Should be a great weekend of goose hunting on the way.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

MvHenry County 12-12-2011 11:40
– – –
Geese are back as quick as they left. Must have just shifted to the river for a few days.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

McHenry County 12-10-2011 15:44
– – –
Frigid morning — the kind that makes your fingers and toes ache. Lots of ice, no ducks, no geese — a huge change since yesterday but I suspect many bugged out on the bright moon last night. Did a long scouting drive to ponds that stay open late and have bubblers — even those were ready for iceskating.

I fear the fat lady has sung for us. Get ready for birds south of us.

Posted By:
Scott-Martin
Field Editor

Central il 12-09-2011 23:29
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Locked up. Ice. We had a few good days but birds haven’t moved in force since their food is not covered. Where are they? I think many went right past us or are holding on open water and feeding in fields. Forest preserve here in northern il is still wide open but all small water is frozen. Scott

Posted By:
ICGEESE61
Guest

il river, calhoun co 12-09-2011 19:40
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
ISP, did manage to scratch 4 greenheads today, but like you said it was tough. Did see some big flocks of ducks , all s-bnd. when i say big, they were 50-100 rnge. hearing reports in cent mo, lots of mallrds moving in. weather is crazy, ice to break in the morn, 50’s by thursday

Posted By:
Kevin-Stallard
Field Editor

S/W Illinois 12-09-2011 17:06
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Not much for the mallard population here earlier in the week we had a few migration groups SB but the last few days it has been slow throughout the area. It appears there is no major fronts headed our way. We are going to have a night in the teens and things will start to get hard, maybe that will get a few moving….

Posted By:
Michael-PhillipsIL
Field Editor

SW Pike County 12-08-2011 08:27
– – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Lots of ducks in the area but they are spooky. We are mostly getting single drakes or drake/hen pairs but no bunches. It seems to me the ducks are already starting to pair up quite a bit. All the ducks we are seeing are mallars with a few pintails and Hollywoods mixed in.

Posted By:
davehunter03
Web Member

12-06-2011 11:12
– – –
Thanks Webbie & Good Luck!
Sr.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone & McHenry County 12-06-2011 10:52
– – –
Dave — tons of mallards here right now and field hunting in high traffic areas is killing it. Ice is coming back in low level marshes but open water is holding tons of birds.

Posted By:
davehunter03
Web Member

Ill. River/N. zone 12-06-2011 07:16
– – –
Thanks fellas! I knew there were still some duck hunters on here! Good luck!
Sr.

Posted By:
waterdog trainer
Web Member

Havana 12-05-2011 21:27
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Davehunter. The mallards are on Grand Island. Thousands in their rest area. Sounds like there will be plently of hard water by this weekend. 3 limits of mallards and 1 honker today.

Posted By:
Kevin-Stallard
Field Editor

S/W Illinois 12-05-2011 20:20
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
With a strong north wind saw several groups of ducks and an assortment of geese heading south today. Looks like the colder weather up north has opened the gates for a few new mallards. The birds worked good to the call, too bad we are in the middle of our closed goose season here in the south central zone……

Posted By:
davehunter03
Web Member

N. Zone in Illinois 12-05-2011 18:42
– – –
Alright fella’s, I’ve heard enough about “Bedliners” & “Somebody needs to pay”. Does anyone have any idea where the Mallards are? I’ve heard central & southern S.D. and central Wisc.are holding the Mallards? It’s duck season!
SR.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 12-05-2011 13:32
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Missed hunting this weekend due to life’s obligations. Of course, I got texts all weekend about everyone filling out on ducks and geese at our place.

TONS of birds in the area and rain opened waters that were frozen. Hope it doesn’t refreeze before i get back out.

Posted By:
huntorski
Guest

Pool 12 Miss 12-04-2011 14:03
– – –
Hunted Saturday

Was hoping to see ducks moving in front of the snow. Didn’t happen

Ceiling was low and visibility sucked with the rain, but I saw nothing migrating

ended up with a pair of buffleheads. Had good chances at 3 others but missed.

Had a few mallards but they are very leery of blinds and calling

Hope my fold up blind drys out enough not to freeze solid so I can hit it again next weekend

Posted By:
qacol
Guest

Desplains River- State Area 12-04-2011 13:40
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
No shots and no ducks, this has to be the worse season in 32 years in my parts. We have 7 hunters in our group and we don’t have a day limit total for us 7 for the season.

Posted By:
2footroper
Web Member

Bath, IL 12-03-2011 05:09
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
We hunted Thursday and friday of this week. Virtually no hunters out. Just two of us and we mannaged to kill 6 Mallards, 1 Pintail and one huge Canada on Thursday. Friday we killed 6 more mallards and quit at 11:00 A.M. We probably would have filled out if we would have stayed. We had to start grouping the decoys real tight now. We saw quite a few birds but it is hard to get them to finish. No new birds for about a week now. Rumor has it that thousands of Mallards showed up in Oquawka on Friday so maybe the push is back on. I think it could be over for us as we can’t hunt until next weekend and by that time it will be a big ice cube. Oh well, theres always Arkansas. Be safe boys and girls and rember to let’em work and “shoot’em in the lips”.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

INHS Surveys 12-01-2011 15:29
– – –
The INHS Surveys arrived.

Total duck numbers for the IL River Survey (upper and lower) areas are 159,155 — below the 01-year average of 206,120 with ice coverage ranging from 10- 50% and 95% at Big Lake.

The Southern IL survey is 64,050 ducks and also below the 5-yr average of 73,710.

Upper Mississippi River totals show over 500,000 divers in pools 4-14 and 97,000 puddle ducks — 632,780 total ducks geese and swans.

here:

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/UpperMississippiRiver/UMRWF11.html

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 12-01-2011 11:04
– – –
Our ponds are froze. We’ll start setting shells on it for geese this weekend and switch to field hunts after the second gun deer season.

Michael — sounds like the ducks that were in N-IL 3 weeks ago. They’ll start working after they settle into the area.

Posted By:
Michael-PhillipsIL
Field Editor

SW Pike County 12-01-2011 10:37
– – –
Tons of ducks around but they won’t work. Its like we aren’t even there. I guess we are going to have to change tactics or hope for some weather.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone & McHenry County 11-29-2011 22:58
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Ice is building, thankfully the strong NW winds have kept shallow areas open but the days are numbered.

Duck numbers have increased a lot over the past 48 hours but with temps dropping and more ice coming they could leave as quick as they showed up.

Posted By:
2footroper
Web Member

Bath IL 11-28-2011 14:36
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted Friday and Saturday last week. Friday was partly sunny and once the wind blew we killed out again. When it’s calm the birds just circle and don’t want to commit. Once the wind blows they want to set down to get out of it a lot faster. Not much of a chance to look the spread and blind over real good. Saturday it rained and we only hunted till 10:30. Only 4 ducks killed so we packed it in. Others stayed but I don’t know how they did. Saw some possable new flights filter in but the word is the Mallards are still hold up in Wisconsin and Minnesotta. This weekend may be the end for us if it gets too cold. It doesn’t take much to freeze a foot of water. Good luck everyone and be safe. Let’em work and shoot’em in the lips.

Posted By:
Kevin-Stallard
Field Editor

S/W Illinois 11-27-2011 19:54
– – 35-40 Degrees
With the strong N/W winds today had a good movement of migrators heading south. Same wind predicted tomorrow, looks like it is just in time for the annual YankeeFest down at Horseshoe with Terry,Curtis and Scatter. Scatters on the move about Wednesday, lock up the kids.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone & McHenry County 11-27-2011 18:42
– – –
Massive sandhill crane migration today — going on all day long. Ducks were hugh and moving on the NW winds.

Lots of ducks both in the fields and over the marsh today. The ones that worked ended up on the strap – all mallards.

Pulled the decoys out today as it looks as we’ll be froze out by next weekend at the marsh. Probably take a break in the corn too as the second deer season is next weekend as well.

Lots of birds here and more arriving — big water and river action should increase as back waters and sloughs freeze.

Posted By:
farmerduck
Web Member

carman illinois 11-27-2011 17:29
– – –
anyone hunt pool 18 south of burlington in the last two days?

Posted By:
GooseMe1
Guest

Fulton Co 11-26-2011 19:13
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
Large amount of specs and snows arrived yesterday afternoon. They are thick. Good ducks in corn fields also.

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

The Shoe 11-25-2011 20:43
– – –
Lots of birds. Several realy want to work, but most people would rather shoot at than work and harvest a duck. what a shame. lots of crippling and educating going on around me. Several more came in today so hopefully some weather will get them up moving around.

Posted By:
Michael-PhillipsIL
Field Editor

SW Pike County 11-25-2011 20:00
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Lots of ducks around but not moving in this weather. Cannon Refuge on the Missouri side of the river has over 200,000 ducks in it according to the last survey. If you have a chance drive through it. What a site. Ducks are going into all the corn ponds around us after dark. Hopefully this weather will get them moving around a lot earlier. Plenty of ducks to hunt, just not a lot moving.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-25-2011 14:35
– – –
Ducks still slow, geese are thick. Saw a couple of groups of snows and even a few specs mixed in the Canada geese.

Goose numbers have been climbing again this past week.

Posted By:
benjack71
Web Member

Horseshoe Lake 11-24-2011 18:52
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted state public draw area. Surprised at number of ducks we saw. The crops that are planted that we saw and hunted around are in really good shape. Killed 6, two cripples we could not retrieve/lost. Would of could of should of several but opening day, the ducks were trying to work so we basicaly held up on shooting unless they were ducks actualy coming into the decoys. Not bad at all, no disapointment in going to the shoe for opening day. Glad I had a permit!

Posted By:
qacol
Guest

Desplains River- State Area 11-23-2011 19:14
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 35-40 Degrees
Only had 5 mallards come close and only got one. Did not see a goose today that was strange, going to take a day off.

Posted By:
qacol
Guest

Desplains River- State Area 11-22-2011 19:10
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Started off good with two mallards but the next 4 hours were dead.

We started to see big flights of mallards so I still have some hope.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-20-2011 17:29
– – –
Geese are thick, ducks totally MIA again today. We must be in the doughnut hole. Geese have ben feeding late at night all weekend.

Was and odd weekend for sure. Didn’t even hear shots on deer today.

Posted By:
2footroper
Web Member

Bath, IL 11-20-2011 05:29
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted Friday and Saturday. Friday was another great day with sun and wind. Full limits of Mallards with filler ducks like Teal, Pintails, and Gadwalls for everyone. Saturday was cloudy and more wind. Couldn’t scratch out limits for but got half way there for most. Saw a big push of geese both light and Canadas comming in from the North. They were high and moving all day long. Man I hope the cold stays away a little longer so we don’t get froze out early again. Be safe and have a great hunt. Let’em work and shoot’em in the lips!!!!

Posted By:
huntorski
Guest

Miss Pool 12 11-19-2011 18:07
– – –
Mostly divers today

was hoping deer hunters would kick up everything from the backwaters and send them to the pool – evidently not many puddlers in the area

Ended up with 4 buffleheads and my first goldeneye

Saw tundra swans – single, pair and small flock – hope that doesn’t mean we are about done. Don’t usually see them until freeze up.

Posted By:
qacol
Guest

Desplains River- State Area 11-19-2011 15:52
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Seen new ducks, shot some spoons and mallards, looks like a new batch of ducks.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

BOONE COUNTY 11-19-2011 13:34
– – –
No shortage of geese today — however they all flew over in one huge flock of 1000+

They all got up out of the corn north of us and flew over as they were heading back to their roost pond.

Ducks evaporated. Saw one flock of 30ish birds also heading back to the roost.

Everything must have been in the fields all night — the flight schedule was way off.

Hopefully some of those birds running from the snow to the north will start to arrive on the NW/N winds when they shift tonight.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

BOONE COUNTY 11-18-2011 14:44
– – –
Just got a report from a friend that was sitting on a deer stand on our place today — new birds arriving all morning.

We could be froze out by Thanksgiving. It’s game on until then.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

MISSISSIPPI RIVER 11-17-2011 13:19
– – –
Pools 4-14

Mallard 75,460
Black Duck 65
Pintail 5,085
Gadwall 33,515
Widgeon 5,545
Shoveler 900
BWT 10
GWT 4,075
Woodduck 90
Red Head 840
Canvasback 332,155
Ring Neck 32,605
Scaup 48,850
Goldeneye 2,820
Bufflehead 5,280
Merganser 170
Rudy Duck 1,580

TOTAL Ducks, geese swans: 650,290
Puddle Ducks 124,745
Diving Ducks 424,300

[Edited By webmaster on 2011-11-17 13:21]

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-17-2011 12:40
– – –
Mallards still here and still wary. Seems like the other ducks have moved out. Smaller groups finished ok and added a few to the strap.

Biggest group of the day that worked nicely, finally made the low wide swing to line up. Of course their perfect, locked up approach was ruined by a low passing helicopter. The ducks flared from the noise and pulled straight up into the path of the helicopter — which also flared to avoid making duck sushi.

Interesting moment for sure.

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

south central 11-16-2011 18:45
– – –
went up north this am to the grandtower area,saw a few but slow. 2 of us scratched out 4 gaddies and 5 greenwings but hey that wasnt to bad for the first hunt of the season.

Posted By:
benjack71
Web Member

11-16-2011 11:07
– – –
Good job Terry. Glad you had fun, it is a blast to take kids hunting like that. I use to enjoy taking my neice to mermet lake years ago before she “grew up” haha. Although she didnt actualy hunt and just went as a “non participant” she loved it. The staff there would always call her name for what blind we drew and she loved that. Glad you had a good time.

Posted By:
bigwoody2
Web Member

north kane county 11-16-2011 08:23
– – –
plenty of birds still around, no pintails like boone county but full bag of mallards and canadas for the 2 of us.

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

The Shoe 11-15-2011 19:43
– – –
Took the 14yr oid and his buddy out sat afternoon for the youth hunt. I have never done this but after seeing all the mallards fri evenning i gave in. Him and his buddy had never killed a duck before but they both scored sat. Now thats cool and they prob will never forget.my boy ended up with 3 mallards and the other boy got 1 mallard. It was alot of fun to see it thru a kids eyes. They had several opertunities and just thoughly enjoyed it.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-15-2011 12:31
– – –
Quite a few birds still around even though the water is out of the fields. What we did see worked well — mallards and pintails for everyone (but no full straps).

No wind this morning made the early lookers difficult. Thing improved as wind picked up.

WInds to be WNW tonight and tomorrow. A much better wind for us than the SW we had today.

Posted By:
qacol
Guest

Desplains River- State Area 11-14-2011 17:46
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Only had two wood ducks come close today, very few birds. Need some weather to get a push.

Posted By:
huntorski
Guest

Miss Pool 12 11-14-2011 16:12
– – –
Hunted Sunday hoping stronger wind and lower pressure would keep the ducks moving.

Wind didn’t shift and pick up until after 10. Didn’t seem to help.

Saw high flyers moving south.

Not much wanted to work exept the pair of mallards that came in while I was moving decoys. How come ducks will flare on the slightest thing but come in with the pop up blind down and me in the decoys?

Still too warm and forcast for the week is the same as it’s been.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

IL Forecast 11-14-2011 11:29
– – –
Just received this report from our state waterfowl biologist. Ray has been doing this a long time and his predictions are based on knowledge you can bank on:

I have reviewed the weather forecast for some areas of the continent that might indicate when to expect duck migrations. So far duck migrations in the IL river valley have been ahead of normal for early migrants such as teal and pintails and behind for later migrants such as mallards. The MS River valley has been behind for the most part but picked up recently. We were unable to conduct aerial surveys last week due to weather but hope to get some flown this week. Southern IL has been behind normal migration until recently as well. Last week we saw a good movement of ducks into IL but many mallards seem to be staying north for the most part.

Weather forecasts for this week look favorable for another good push of ducks south, including mallards. The usual rule of thumb for freeze up to occur causing migration is at least 3 days in a row where the average daily temperature is at or below 32 degrees. The average is calculated by adding the high and low temperatures and dividing by two. Here are some forecasts for average daily temperatures for the general areas where ducks might be staging that migrate through IL. Some ducks from Canada and the Dakotas may fly right to IL even though temperatures may not cause freeze up in Iowa, MN and WI. Others could head to Arkansas and Louisiana since it is getting late for early migrants regardless of temperature. Ducks tend to migrate at night with clear skies and north or northwest winds. They often leave ahead of a front.

Average Temperature Forecasts

Saskatoon, Canada

Today – 23, Tue – 15, Wed – 10 , Thu – 16, Fri – 7 , Sat – 4, Sun- 3
Looks like ducks in Saskatchewan will be heading south soon.

McClusky, ND

Today – 32, Tue – 23, Wed – 16, Thu – 26, Fri – 22, Sat – 14, Sun – 15
Ducks should be leaving ND as well this week.

Webster, SD

Today – 37, Tue – 26, Wed – 21, Thu – 28, Fri – 35, Sat – 23, Sun – 19
Same for SD for migration forecast.

Minneapolis, MN

Today – 41, Tue – 30, Wed – 28, Thu – 31, Fri – 38, Sat – 35, Sun – 27
Many ducks should leave this area by Fri but temps are moderating after that so many may hang up at this latitude for awhile.

Madison, WI

Today – 46, Tue – 39, Wed – 32, Thu – 32, Fri – 37, Sat – 34, Sun – 35
On the verge of freeze up this week but many ducks may stay in this latitude as well.

Ray Marshalla
State Waterfowl Biologist
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

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[Edited By webmaster on 2011-11-14 11:30]

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-13-2011 19:26
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Hunted sunrise to sunset again today just to try and figure out what the birds were doing. Water was receding in many of the grain fields and the birds worked over the fields they were feeding in yesterday and flared off when they discovered them dry — only to run off in search of more easy grain. Say half as many birds today as Saturday — but still no shortage of lookers.

Still, the birds would work a bit then run off. Was hoping the high winds today would change things a bit but no dice. When the sun came out if you touched a note on the call the birds would flare with scared wing beats.

5 ins after shooting while adjusting decoys for the next morning shoot, 2 goldeneye tried to land on me. I think they were lost. 😛

Showers predicted for Mon & Tues hopefully not enough to flood that grain again.

Posted By:
2footroper
Web Member

Bath IL 11-13-2011 06:08
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
First time we shot out for two days in a row. Hunted Friday and Saturday. Need wind to get these birds to work. We shot the majority of our ducks between 11 and 1:30. That’s because the wind was relitavly calm in the early A.M. hours of shooting time. With no wind they would look and work but never finish. Yea we might have been able to scratch a few high ones but I’m not into chasing cripples and educating new birds. Can’t wait until next weekend to get back at it.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-12-2011 18:16
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Hundreds of ducks that wouldn’t work yesterday, today be came well over thousand today. In all my years I’ve never seen the amount of birds in our area that we saw today (and not shot at any).

Flooded corn bordering the Kishwaukee is holding incredible amounts of birds. If you’re not in that flooded grain you’re pretty much in for the biggest duck tease you can imagine.

Looking forward to the water receeding out of those fields so we can work ducks again.

Group sizes ranged from 30 to over 200 — mallards, gadwall, teal, widgeon and woodies. Biggest wood duck flocks we’ve seen in a long time.

Back at it tomorrow. At least it beats looking at blank skies. 🙂

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone & McHenry County 11-11-2011 12:32
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MARSH in BOONE CNTY: Took my youngest to the marsh. Water continues to rise could top waders in many places on the ponds (so up maybe 3ft above normal). A LOT more ducks today — all mallards and one large group of pintail. Started the morning untangling half the spread from a rouge log that was carried in the flooding through the decoys — lots of missed opportunity while this was going on. After the blocks were fixed, group after group of mallards worked the paint of decoys but wouldn’t finish. Birds were super wary. Ended with a few geese and a kamikaze wood duck that was shot in self defense.

MCHENRY COUNTY CUT/FLOODED CORN: My oldest and a few school mates set a field spread for geese and ducks. Limits of geese for everyone. They saw a lot of mallards (travelers and those that worked) — same issues, ducks worked and worked and worked and worked and didn’t finish.

Both groups tried everything from heavy, to soft, to no calling — each produced the same result. Every time they decided to go away a comeback would turn them around and they’d swing a dozen times just on the edge of range.

Back at it tomorrow in both places.

[Edited By webmaster on 2011-11-11 12:33]

Posted By:
Michael-PhillipsIL
Field Editor

SW Pike County 11-10-2011 13:29
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Many ducks have come in over the last few days while the woodies appear to have moved out. Yesterday 6 guys killed 34 ducks with 8 mallards and today 3 guys killed 17 with I believe 11 mallards. Also had some teal and gadwall mixed in. Many of the ponds north of Delair are pounding them and roosting thousands at night. Looks like game on!

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-10-2011 12:00
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Whoa — water was up 2 feet on the property with a rip current draggin’ short-lined decoys all over. Saw only 4 groups of ducks in the first 30 mins as we fixed decoys and none after that. Sure expected to see a lot more.

The other blind picked up 4 geese. Not many geese flying towards us with all the flooded corn to the west, but what came over worked.

Lots of flooded crops right now. Birds are here but getting fat and happy in them.

Posted By:
waterdog trainer
Web Member

Havana 11-09-2011 22:23
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Ducks moved good all morning. 5 guns ended with 30 ducks. 19 Mallards/1 Sprig with the rest a mixed bag. Several groups of Snows & Blues headed south.

Posted By:
Scott-Martin
Field Editor

not yet …. hoping for the weekend 11-08-2011 22:06
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Game on…. weather looks good. hunt the weather…

Posted By:
GooseMe1
Guest

Woodford 11-08-2011 17:06
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Hearing same report from Woodford Co. area as WD states below. Some new birds.

Posted By:
waterdog trainer
Web Member

Havana 11-08-2011 15:30
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
Seems we have picked up a few new ducks. Ended the morning with 21 for 4 shooters. 16 Mallards and 5 off ducks. Lot of good working ducks. A little more wind would have helped. Sounds like we’ll have a strong west wind tomorrow. Should be a repeat.

[Edited By waterdog trainer on 2011-11-08 15:31]

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-08-2011 13:45
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Got a report from the blind for the past two days. Slower activity and only a few mallards each day.

Goose flights are lower with the current winds because the geese are feeding in a different direction from the roost — still a ton around. Cackler numbers seem a bit lower but they are super mobile compared to the giants.

[Edited By webmaster on 2011-11-08 13:45]

Posted By:
huntorski
Guest

Pool 12 Miss 11-07-2011 11:29
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Hunted both days

On the positive side, I got my nephew his first duck – hen woodie.

But we did not have much action. Was hoping that little front last week would push some new ducks, but if it did, they didn’t stop at Pool 12.

Not hearing much from anyone else either.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

Boone County 11-06-2011 21:03
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Everyone in the 2 blinds got a few mallards on the strap this weekend. Mallards worked great, when calls were soft and sparse. Green wings gave us strafing runs early but weren’t looking to stop.

Lots of stray snows in McHenry and Boone Counties. No big flocks around but they are sure mixed in with the Canada geese — a rare treat for these parts (we hardly ever see snows)

[Edited By webmaster on 2011-11-06 21:04]

Posted By:
Michael-PhillipsIL
Field Editor

SW Pike County 11-06-2011 08:30
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Some new ducks showed up on Wednesday. Finally saw some mallards. It has slowed down since. When we get some more cold weather it should get good again.