Category: Iowa

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Same as yesterday 01-06-2013 20:26
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Today wasn’t near as good. I think cooler temps, different winds, a smaller spread, and pressure from yesterday all played a factor. 2 geese came in and I pulled both of those and that was it. We had one big bunch act like they wanted in but on the final approach they changed their minds. Something we had going on flared them. We still seem A LOT but it was hard pulling them today! Thats all for my 2012 season!

No problem Mark, it was a great time. Glad we could do it. Dont forget about me when it comes time to play in the mud and chase them devil birds! Until Spring time…….Have a great winter folks, JB!

Posted By:
klobkilzduk
Web Member

on the X 01-06-2013 12:42
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That was pretty cool huh?

Thanks to you and Randy for the leg work!

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Iowa field 01-05-2013 16:44
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Great day! Our group limited out! Back at it tomorrow for the last time of the season! THOUSANDS of geese, they were everywhere, what a great time!

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Migration Update 01-03-2013 08:32
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In regard to the recent Migration update. In my “OPINION” YES, all species of fowl seem to be migrating later. Should season dates seriously be considered for a change…..yes. It is up for you to agree or disagree tho. As they staed geese and mallard numbers here in Iowa are still very good along rivers. Last weekend we seen mass flocks of mallards all over while chasing the big birds. Hitting it hard this weekend with high hopes. Hoping for the best. I am about done until spring….good luck on the last days here in IA. JB

Posted By:
klobkilzduk
Web Member

somewhere 12-31-2012 20:36
– – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Jeffers…Im an old fuCk….I know where to sit in the spread….Great job…Outstanding Jod scouting…lets close this MF-in season out right….

Posted By:
hannibal
Web Member

Iowa Cornfield 12-31-2012 15:08
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We had the same thing happen to us yesterday. Birds feeding in the field morning and night the day before and they went totally different direction. Moon, Wind Change caused them to do something different. Night before 3 of us shot 9 birds and point blank range…..no kidding – 15 yard shots in the hole! It was probably one of the best I have been on in a long time. Just got to put in the time and it will happen 1 out of every 3. Used to be more predictable but sure not the case anymore!

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Iowa Cornfield 12-31-2012 09:24
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We came, we saw, we DIDN’T limit out. We ended up about a 1/2 mile or so off of the “X”. LOT’S of geese….I mean A LOT!! 1 goose was on a suicide mission and Mr. Klob decided to help him fulfill his mission. The full moon the night beofore killed us. We will try again hopefully this weekend. It sure wasn’t for lack of trying though.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

12-27-2012 16:55
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Klob…..we are hunting in NE Iowa this weekend…..right?????

Posted By:
klobkilzduk
Web Member

Wow 12-27-2012 09:35
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www.legacy.com/obituaries/desmoinesregister/obituary.aspx?n=daniel-shawn-eldredge&pid=161971489

[Edited By klobkilzduk on 2012-12-27 09:35]

Posted By:
klobkilzduk
Web Member

Tell The World!!! 12-27-2012 09:25
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Hopefully this works out Jeff…..

On a side note….anyone on here know what happened to Shawn Eldridge “Googe Guru” ??

His obituary was in the paper today….

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

12-26-2012 18:02
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I have finally located an “X” with good amounts of geese working it. The farmer told me today that they seem to be working in the mornings and evenings. Our crew is planning to get after them on Sunday…..hope for the best!

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-22-2012 20:48
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TR: I use the refuge counts and harvest information for several things. By tracking the refuge counts over many years and using personal observation(and many calls from others) I can piece together the exact migration days. It’s the only way to do it unless you are out everyday and learn to trust certain individuals reports helps too. I do use the radar systems to track migrations too but precipitation nixs that and you know something is migration but it could be commorants.
I would like the harvest reports broken into separate turkey and deer reports by season rather than just one running total. I’m sure they do that for themselves. If you start comparing years info some startling trends really stick out that help people make decisions on where to hunt. Anyway, as a retired accountant and computer systems analyst, I still enjoy working with data and statistics.
We got 13 inches of snow thru the DM area up thru Marshalltown so I’m hoping we have some sheet water for the snow goose migration next spring. I sold most of my spread and will just use 300 rags. The flocks are smaller here because you guys shoot them down before I see them.

Posted By:
timber hunter
Guest

12-21-2012 10:54
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Howard, what are you using the various counts for? I can honestly say I don’t use any of them for anything. ???

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

12-17-2012 20:24
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Will work for goose hunt……name the time/place. I’ll do 90% of the work and the pup will do the retrieving.

LOL, maybe I should post this on craigslist…Ha Ha Ha Ha

Klob, let’s get after it!

Posted By:
ol man
Web Member

12-17-2012 17:46
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Has anyone found the DNR report to be any where near accurate. I never have. I think they count sea gulls and comerants as waterfowl! I would like to know how they come up with their numbers.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-17-2012 12:48
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I don’t think the DNR realizes how much we use that waterfowl county information. Same with the harvest report on deer and turkeys. We need that broken down a lot better by when and what and by what type of weapons. Lumping everything together is an bad as not having a waterfowl count posted for an area weekly.

Posted By:
getduck
Web Member

question for Al from DNR 12-14-2012 20:41
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is there a good explanation why the bird counts can’t be posted on Fridays like they are supposed to be? I can understand missing a week during the season but missing it week after week. Come on !!. If

357 not 911

UCMDUX

[Edited By getduck on 2012-12-15 22:04]

Posted By:
timber hunter
Guest

s.e. Iowa 12-14-2012 11:20
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Weird season. Easily a top five kill year, probably top three, but ducks never finished as well as I would like. Even the ice ducks picked up just as the feet should have been going down.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-12-2012 19:50
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What kind of decoys did you use Klob?

Posted By:
klobkilzduk
Web Member

VodkaVille 12-12-2012 18:05
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We hunted differnt locations Jeff…

Posted By:
getduck
Web Member

central Iowa 12-11-2012 21:15
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Dark Geese are moving tonight. multiple large flocks going over the farm heading South.

357 not 911 UCMDUX

Posted By:
goosepatch
Web Member

12-11-2012 09:03
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Did my final hunt for the year yesterday, hunted the Miss. backwater. 3-mallards and 1-gwt. strange mig. lots of ducks early for 1 hour than the rest of the morning here and there. Should have justed stayed in the boat early and shot my limit but instead decided to retrieve my first 4 ducks and by the time I got them most of the ducks stopped flying.Still was a good morning to be out. Got the boat cleaned out and most of the stuff put away before it froze.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Jagerville 12-10-2012 23:53
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Thanks Klob for a good time last weekend. It seems as if we just missed the push…..darn swim lessons! That’s all for ducks this year. Final count 78 ducks. Not the best but it could have been worse! Time to take to some fields to hammer out some Canada’s!!

Posted By:
birdk9
Web Member

Central Iowa 12-10-2012 18:31
– – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Field Hunt.
Mallards and Honkers everywhere. Lots of new fresh birds moving all over. How many days until they are educated. Go get em while you can.

Posted By:
timber hunter
Guest

s.e. Iowa 12-10-2012 17:58
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Quick four man limit. Migrators from high diving to the spread.

Posted By:
klobkilzduk
Web Member

Riverton 12-10-2012 16:02
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They are bangin em down there Howard…..

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-10-2012 12:47
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Shortlived migration! Went to RR sgain this morning and saw more hunters than ducks. Time to hang it up for the year and save the gas money, althought it is $3.08 down there. Big waste of time and effort.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-09-2012 14:22
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Sunday, a day for looking. I got up at 5:00 dress to hunt and then looked at the weather sites. Decided this was not good for me or the ducks and went to HyVee for breakfast. After church I went down to RR. Wasn’t optimistic because the front won’t come thru till tonight and the low clouds will keep any migrating birds just continuing on their way. Hit the hilltop to view where I hunt and there were people right in the very spot I set up at. That ok because it was pretty foggy and low clouds and little wind and those add up to migrators, if any, not interested in stopping. Set at the boat ramp for a few minutes and no ducks or geese. And no shots heard. My stomach said it was time to give us this useless hobby for the year and lets head for the closest Caseys. With the low 14 tonight with a 30 mph wind tomorrow it ain’t fit for man nor beast nor duck. And just plain dangerous.
Take care.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-08-2012 18:00
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Saturday, another frustrating duckless day. Saw 3 in about 4 hours and none of those looked interested. At least I had good company today to share the NO ducks. I probabley jinxed him because he has already had a decent year on ducks. If I’m able to get up and the roads are decent I will go forth full of enthusiam and hope my spot isn’t taken so I can watch the gulls and maybe “see” a duck. Strong NW wind but the jet stream just isn’t right for a good migration in central Iowa. But maybe the snow north with still push them.
w

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-07-2012 15:13
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5 hours today scanning the empty sky at RR. Saw one duck out over the open water east of the bridge where I hunt. No migrators but then there may be nothing north of us left to migrate. Got to watch a loon. DNR officer said birds are stale and hard to work at the boxcars which isn’t surprising. Tomorrow the deer shooters are back out so be careful. Six days left to complete my normal yearly 100 with 99 to go.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

12-07-2012 15:09
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Well, I thought it was skunked……if you show up home from the hunt, wake up with a pounding headache, realize you shot no birds, and dont remember how you got home it was probably drunk, LOL

kidding, safety 1st!

Posted By:
Drake Slayer
Web Member

Hutning with Klob… 12-07-2012 12:43
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Hey Jeff….

Did you mean “skunked” or “drunk” with regards to hunting with Klob?? Either sounds feasible….LOLOL!!!

Good luck!

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

somewhere public! 12-07-2012 07:54
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I sure hope so………The last couple of tomes we have chased geese together we have come home skunked! Hopefully we ahve better luck with the ducks…..BTW, I think we have them geese figured out for this year!

Posted By:
klobkilzduk
Web Member

somewhere 12-06-2012 21:24
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We will fix that this weekend Jeffery….hopefully…

Posted By:
getduck
Web Member

north central 12-06-2012 21:17
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we guarded the lake today for our last duck hunt in the North zone for this year. We were very successful we only saw 4 ducks and we made them keep on flying with just several dirty looks. We did enjoy a nice gourmet breakfast though.
Time to head West and see what we can scare in NE

357 not 911 UCMDUX

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-06-2012 14:41
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Thought today might be a winner but wasn’t to be. Spent 4 hours babysitting my best decoys and holding a 12 gauge instead of the 20 and left the robo home. Made no difference. Only saw 12 ducks and 4 canadas. I do appreciate the invitations to hunt, however, I use hunting as a way to keep me in shape. I may be old but I pace myself and get r done. I pull a 2 wheel cart loaded with equipment 1/3 mile across a soft bean field to get to my current spot on RR. Sometimes with a sled dragging behind with more decoys. In and out this gives one some good heart exercise. When I used my boat I set 75 decoys plus depending on the spot. Today my knee hurt some so I’m going to Wally world to buy some Joint Juice. Must have been the deer scouting I did after duck hunting. Probabley will be out somewhere tomorrow if it doesn’t rain too much. Saturday and sunday should be good days. Since I can hunt weekdays, I don’t hunt much on weekends because I’d take a spot that the weekend hunters can use. Hit it hard. Only 7 days to go.

Posted By:
goosepatch
Web Member

12-06-2012 07:52
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Well my youngest son and I went out for a morning hunt, he was sell furs in the afternoon. Lots of ducks moving early did’nt see much after 9:00. Managed to shoot 3 mallards out of the spread, and the boy got one pond hopping. Not the best day but great to be out and still beats work.Saw Mallards, GWT,Ringers, and Pintails. Ducks were hard to work, have not been using the Mojo and also limited calling.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

NA 12-06-2012 07:26
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I have been busy the last couple of days settling in to my new role here at work and haven’t had a lot of time to get on here. As we all know EVERY waterfowler WILL at some point have there ups and downs when it comes to chasing/finding/killing these ducks. While we ALL have DIFFERENT opinions on where they are at, and how to get them there is one thing we all have in common……Age and health permitting you will darn near do anything for a duck. Luckily us younger guys are able to break more of a sweat to make the hunts more succesful. 1 thing for sure is that we need to remember who layed thr ground work for us and who taught us the basics……”The Ole Timers”. Without them I wouldent have the pleasure of enjoying the sport. 14Ducks can attest tot he fact that I ahve called him on more than 1 occasion to offer to let him come along in the boat to kill some ducks when I have managed to find the “X”. I planned to let him smell the wet dog, eat snacks, and watch us young bucks do all the work. They have paid there dues and deserve it once in a while. Ok, so here is on to the posting……right now we are stuck @ 72 ducks. I am hoping to chase them on Saturday as it seems we have more ducky weather headed our way. With dee hunting last weekend I have done very little scouting so it may make it a bit tough for me. Anybody have any ideas to PM me?? I’ll supply the boat, dog, and chili……Our deer hunting crew faired pretty well. We managed 14 deer in 2 days. The 3 I shot were all does. We took home 3 bucks which were all 8 pointers. 2 of the 3 had very small racks and the one my buddy shot was a beauty. It’s at the taxidermy pending $600.00 pick up. It should turn out to be real nice. We hit the core ground around Lake Red Rock really hard. While the numbers seemed to be decent we struggled on day 2 as it appears a lot of them moved out and headed to private ground. I witneesed a REALLY cool sight as 8 deer swam ALL THE WAY across the lake only to realize they had come ashore right to our group, after the 1st shot was fired the other 7 turned around and swam ALL the way back to the other side. I coulden’t believe it. I talked to some duck hunters down there who said they had deer swimming through there decoys all weekend. The season is winding down so you had better make the most of what we have left. Before you know it we will be playing in the mud for snow geese. JB

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-05-2012 20:15
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I feel for you Jon D. I went thru a situation like that last year but having to think about it for a year I was determined not to let the young female canineers contain me. However, the drought did. May be my last as I see this drought continuing.
Anyway, spent the entire morning sitting on RR enjoying snacks, the eagles, gulls and listening to the deer hunters shooting. There were about 20 big mallards on the little cove I hunt but they left when I opened the truck door at about 400 yards. I keep trying but this is getting boring. Got some duck moving weather coming up but they will head south because it is too late in the year. Hope everyone had a good deer season. My friends are not seeing as many as normal but are getting bigger bucks. I hunt late ML without the pressure. I hate wearing orange to get to my duck hunting spot. Will be out somewhere tomorrow. Even at 73 I’m too persistent to stop. 63 years and this is by far the worst. Sure glad there was a record hatch.

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

iowa 12-05-2012 15:04
– – –
drake slayer
Thanks for your comments.

Posted By:
Drake Slayer
Web Member

12-05-2012 14:43
– – –
Couple things here, John….

– Noone is trying to offend you. Noone is passing judgement.

– Jon, I’ve been reading your posts since I’ve been a member on this website. I enjoy reading your posts. You are one of the few that comes here in June and says, “took dog for a walk down levees……saw X amount of acres of crops…..water levels are at such n such….blah, blah, blah….”. I appreciate your time and posts. Another reason I like them is because they all sound genuine. I can tell you’re not the guy comin on here lying, trying to impress others, blowin smoke up people’s aSS, etc. BUT, and please don’t be offended……This lease you’ve been a part of for the last several years has been a bust!! I defy you to go thru however many years worth of reports from there and show me 1 day were you got a limit. 1 day where everything went right. 1 day where you were covered up in birds. I’m not asking for a weeks worth….1 DAY!!! I’ve never once heard you mention this place (please don’t take this the wrong way), and me wish I could somehow get invited there??? And you’re lease is in some of the duck killingest area of the state!!!! My God, you’d think you would find a limit of dead ones everytime you walked out there??!!

Jon, there are places out there…..that aren’t 15 grand a year, that you can do better. You put your heart and soul into this sport, and I just think you deserve more out of it. I mean, for what you pay a year in lease fees, fuel, time, etc….you could probably book 5 or 6 hunts at the finest clubs in the state for less?? Be treated like a king when you get there, shoot your ducks, and be home by dark???

I know the measure of a man is not how many ducks they kill…..But, I also know that 1 duck by Dec. 4th just ain’t worth the time or headache……

Last….And this part I kind of took offense to….Please don’t come on here and try to scold me or Timber hunt for posting our opinions……You went on the MO page a couple weeks ago scolding some folks from your lease about their drinking, etc…..And didn’t you get in a little bit of a bind over that??

Again, I’ve always enjoyed your posts. I really hope you didn’t/don’t take offense to a couple guys opinions……If you did, I apologize. I’m not apologizing for posting them, just apologizing that something as little as that offended you.

[Edited By Drake Slayer on 2012-12-05 14:49]

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

Missouri 12-05-2012 13:18
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Drake Slayer and Timber Hunter
Had this lease for years,have always done well.I have enough sense at age 76 and over 60 years of waterfowl hunting to know to move on if hunting on the lease was bad year after year.Yes,they are killing ducks in Mo.,but these are being shot at the CA areas,I used that route in my younger years,now it requires you to get up at 2AM,get to headquarters by 4:30AM for the draw and then fight over spots with the young bucks,sorry,that is not my game any more,too many knuckle heads in the field today.One of your people “14 ducks” knows what age brings on,you hunt where your age and physical ability takes you.Yes there are duck clubs in mo. killing ducks,that is if you have the annual fee of $10-$15,000 a year,sorry,but that is out of my class.People need to understand background of these people posting before they start passing judgments on their reasoning for doing what they do.I,took offense to remarks that anyone shooting only one duck on a lease would have enough sense to move.

Posted By:
Drake Slayer
Web Member

12-05-2012 13:03
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Agreed, Timber hunter.

And that’s on a spot that’s leased?? I would demand my money back, and promise the fella he’d never see me again??!!!! LOL!!

Time for a new view…..Sitting in a pit lease everyday hoping that “soon it’ll be your turn” is more of duck “waiting”, not so much duck “hunting”.

Posted By:
timber hunter
Guest

s.e. Iowa 12-04-2012 18:43
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goosepatch,
I think some of these guys must try to see if they can avoid killing a duck. Something is being done seriously wrong to have one duck at this point.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-04-2012 15:38
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And then there are people that just keep going. Today a day far different from the others. Lots of shooting. However, it was from the deer hunters. Hunted 3 hours early on RR and saw a few ducks but very very wary. My robo duck stays home from now on. Had one shot but sun blinded me and I didn’t want a skinny gadwall anyway. I did see several flocks of migrating canadas going down river. Don’t know what that indicatex but it is better than just watching gulls. Someday after the season is done I’m going to post what duck hunting was like 63 years ago in Iowa and we’ll see if you young guys would even go duck hunting.

Posted By:
goosepatch
Web Member

12-04-2012 15:12
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I don’t get some of the posts on here,you have one guy who posts from Mo. that it’s the worst year ever and he’s killed one duck. Yet if you go to Mo. MDC reports they are killing ducks everday, some beter than others still they are killing ducks.S. Dakota post said they still have ducks and I would guess Minn. and Wis. does as well.Some of you old timers should know that 50’s 60’s and 70’s temps. is not the best duck hunting weather.Once again we are at the mercy of Mother Nature.Next weeks weather change will bring more ducks but we are running out of time. One thing I have learned after 35 years is that some days the river (Miss) is the place, other days I hunt the lake (Odessa) and other days places off the beaten path, and some days it’s better to just stay home.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

12-03-2012 21:41
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I’ve been hunting 63 years and the hunting is still good but the getting is terrible. It is not that we have birds as we have hundreds in the city limits and they go out to feed right when shooting time ends. Will hit it again tomorrow morning. Too old to give up easily. I’m stuck on 1 drake mallard but part of that is that I don’t work as hard as I use to. I know younger guys that work hard and they have had a decent season and still are bagging mallards.

Posted By:
birdk9
Web Member

South Dakota – Migration Update 12-03-2012 15:52
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Hunted ditch chickens the last two weekends in central SD. Driving out and back, and then all around central SD, there are still large numbers of waterfowl in the state. All the shallow ponds froze up last week and re-opened this week. Deeper water is still open and the birds are stacked on it. We saw one huge flock of snows that stayed through the cold snap. Still good numbers of ducks and geese in SD.

One hunting partner from SD, was field hunting and did well on mallards.

Dry, warm weather and the birds have not pushed out yet. Geese all over the MO river areas.

Weatherman says it will another week before any kind of a push. Could be almost two weeks before snow cover and or cold pushes birds

It’s not over but we are running out of time. Sure wish we could hunt somewhere in Iowa after Christmas. Our third Zone is better but not enough. I’ll try duck’s again this weekend and see what happens.

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

iowa 12-03-2012 11:36
– – –
ol man
Ditto on empty skies,been at it for 50 years,been hunting 2-3 days a week at my club.One bird all year,not due to poor shooting,just empty skies.

Posted By:
ol man
Web Member

Southern Iowa 12-03-2012 09:00
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Guys, I have been hunting ducks for 40 years and this is the worst duck season I have ever seen. I told my group yesterday this is the first time I will be glad its over. I am worn out from staring at an empty sky all day.

Posted By:
VLMATT
Web Member

red rock 11-30-2012 20:39
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time to give it up and shoot the deer that we dont have

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-28-2012 18:40
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Made a field spread of ducks and geese in a picked bean field next to water east of the bridge at RR. Hoping to lure something in. Not to be. Saw 4 divers low over the water and that was it. Solid ice back of coves but that should melt. No reason to even go out duck hunting.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-26-2012 12:39
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Same stuff as yesterday. Only chance I had today was using the truck hit a pheasant down by the boxcar ramp. Didn’t work as he flew away laughting. Did see a lot more eagles today. 4 vehicles at boxcar parking lot. That tells you a lot.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Redrock 11-25-2012 20:47
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Bust, for the 1st time this season I ended up skunked! Oh we’ll, it happens! Right now we are stuck at 72 ducks and the general waterfowl season is starting towards the end. We will be looking to fill the freezers with deer beginning Saturday! The main channel was open but as we started into the pockets we were breaking through 1/2 inch of Ice. We ended up getting a small hole opened up. The pup spent the morning whimpering and whining as I had her doors patched and wouldn’t allow her to look to retrieve. She wasn’t too thrilled about that. I wasn’t too hopeful after some minor scouting and talking with a couple of you but thought I had better get out. Looks like as long as water holds open I only plan to get 1 more boat hunt in this season. I guess time to get geared up for some field hunting of geese……Klob, you about ready?? Though we didn’t have a record year we seemed to fair pretty well for the poor water conditions we had to work with. The way we seem to be locking up you better make the most of what few opportunities we have remaining. Good luck to you this week, JB!

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-25-2012 19:34
– – –
Hit RR both east and west of the mile long bridge and didn’t see a single duck or goose. Strange to that the commorants didn’t show up or stay long and the eagles are very slim. Not even a coot around. Something strange happening. On a weekend and there are only 6 vehicles in the boxcar parking lot you know that it is slow. I worked up the Skunk river. Stopping occassionly to glass the valley and still saw nothing but crows and a lot of hawks. With MN showing very few ducks in their refuges and the hunters reporting open water but no ducks, that means they overflew us. Even the canadas I saw on farm ponds up to Thursday are gone. Bad, bad, bad!

Posted By:
timber hunter
Guest

s.e. iowa 11-25-2012 13:24
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Slow.

Posted By:
DU870
Web Member

11-24-2012 20:29
– – –
Hunted eastern Iowa over the turkey holiday. Thursday was slow, very few ducks seen. Jumped a small creek and found some widgeon and wood ducks. Ended up with 3 widgeon. We thought Friday would be the day with the weather forcast. Set up off a river channel and didn’t see many birds. The cold winds drove us off by 9:00. Shot 1 drake mallard. Saw 2 other flocks.

Posted By:
timber hunter
Guest

s.e. Iowa 11-24-2012 12:52
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Bulk of birds aren’t even close to being past us. Still seeing pintail, shovelers, and snows. Very good hunting the past two days. Shot half our limit with no hole today and the rest over a very small opening.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-24-2012 08:11
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If you read the Mo. reports you will see the birds are mostly by us. Lack of water will do that. I was out scouting this morning (Sat) and nothing but local canadas still sitting around. 14 degrees and a high of 35 will continue to build ice. Long range forcast is for warming but looks to be pretty much over. Record number of birds per the Fed’s and Iowa probabley had a record low of duck stamps and harvest. But it ain’t over till it’s over.

Posted By:
Mike-Joynt
Field Editor

Clear Lake / Ventura area 11-24-2012 05:25
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted yesterday had high hope with W/NW winds from late Thur. blowing hard, we were very disapointed not very many new ducks. Wind was way too strong to be boating in, everything ice covered, awoke today to 8* pulled the plug on boat hunting for the year. Good luck to those who can still go.

Posted By:
getduck
Web Member

central Iowa 11-23-2012 16:26
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there were a few new ducks that blew in overnight. We managed to harvest some mallards and one GW that was mixed in with one flock. Saw one flock of approx 40 darks migrating and enticed a few into the spread. Saw one other small bunch of darks booking South along with one high flying flock of ducks that never broke a wingbeat at the water.

anymore we need more than a strong NW wind to move the ducks. there has to be some weather up North to help them along. This is turning into another disappointing year.

357 not 911

UCMDUX

[Edited By getduck on 2012-11-23 16:27]

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-23-2012 13:59
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Dud day for ducks. Started the morning hunting the Skunk river a little out of the NW wind and optimistic. After couple hours of seeing no ducks we yanked the spread and headed south to RR. I was confident that there we could at least see some. Wrong O. Wind terrible. People shouldn’t even been on the lake in this wind. Today is a duck hunter killer. Checked the open water first and saw one flock of 10 struggling to fly into the wind. No potential there as we watched one blind work nothing. Went further west of the south bridge and again a couple spreads but no ducks. Decided to give it up and watch Iowa loose but first to stop at the boxcars. Again many hunters but saw no ducks. I’ve had lots of years on lots of rough water but I sure wouldn’t go out in small boats like many did today. Hope they realize that the strong northwest wind blows the water out of the boxcar area and can leave you and your boat stranded. Gave up and headed home.
Almost didn’t make it home because some dippy driver(female) in a small car swerved into my lane north of Newton and almost head-on’d us. Just missed by inches. Idiot.

No sign of any migration into central but radar showed pretty good flight of something down the big Mo. Just our luck this year. All bad.
I think the only water now flowing down the Skunk river must be coming from the Ames waste treatment plant and my decoys really stink. Litterly

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-22-2012 18:42
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Spent last two hours overlooking the DM and Skunk river valleys and saw not one flock of anything. Not even gulls. Trying to figure where to go tomorrow morning. Between the shotgun slug patterners and the atv’s running the river channels it makes it hard to figure a place that will work. Of course, if there are no ducks then it really doesn’t matter. Going to be dangerous conditions on the big water so if you are not prepared stay off. Ducks won’t come near while they are dragging for your body and it further limits where we can hunt. This migration being so late usually means they just overfly us anyway. I keep track of the refuge counts from each year to year and the counts really go down after thanksgiving. Except in the se and sw corners of the state. Squaw creek in Mo even drops. We call them calendar migrations but ducks like all wildlife live and function by the length of daylight in the day. Be careful out there.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

ITS TURKEY TIME!!!!!! 11-21-2012 15:30
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My mouth is watering thinking about the great food to be had tomorrow. I am hoping to get out here in the central part of the state on Friday and Sunday. That will be my last duck hunt before joining the “Orange Army” the following weekend. Our deer pushing crew is at an all time high of 15 guys this season so we should be able to move some deer around! We have a total of 22 tags to fill so there is no time for slacking or missing shots. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, be safe, JB!

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-20-2012 15:58
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Spent good share of morning hunting in south central Iowa. Didn’t see all that many ducks but didn’t expect to as the summer weather continues. What did work are very very call shy. We need some cold weather to put them back into their normal routine. Canada geese in our town never go to corn fields anymore. They just munch grass and get stuff from the water. Easy living. Friday looks colder but not that bad up north. Everybody and their great uncle will be out hunting though. Tradition. Guys that know what their doing a whacking them hard but the bulk ain’t and I’m in the ain’t group since I’ve been sick. Keep trying, be careful and have a great Turkey day.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

11-19-2012 17:25
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Did a good bit of driving and talking today and there are still a goodly number of birds in very restricted areas. As others have said they are also getting decoy and spinner shy. It’s been so warm there has been little movement to the fields for corn. Wierd year and going to get more complicated with the deer season not far off. I actually saw two tom turkeys in full strut yesterday. Guess they are practicing early or maybe we will not have any winter. I’d hate to drive deer at 60 plus degrees and have to process them very quickly. I’ve been hunting turkeys and have had 4 bucks come to my calling. Close.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Riverton 11-19-2012 07:30
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Thursday – 10, Friday – 18, Saturday – 10, Total = 38ducks between 4 guys and 3 days. The trip was fair. 99% of the birds we encountered were all stale refuge wise, decoy shy, and call shy ducks. It did make it challenging to say the least. The dog did great. She mad 35/38 retrieves so i was happy about that. LOT’S of Mallards! We had I think a total of 16 big fat green heads. Only 1 teal shot, the majority was shovelers and mallards. I am hoping to get out again towards the later part of the week but we will ahve to see. my little girl turns 3 on Saturday so going out may not be an option. Keep after them before they get gone, JB.

Posted By:
Mike-Joynt
Field Editor

Missipppi River / Ferryville area 11-16-2012 19:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the ole Miss earlier this week, went looking for divers but ended up with huge greenheads. 6 doz diver decoys on longlines and puddle ducks decoy, who knew. Hopeing to finish the season out strong, but the weather looks tobe terrible for migrations warm and south winds.

Posted By:
Mike-Joynt
Field Editor

Missipppi River / Ferryville area 11-16-2012 19:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the ole Miss earlier this week, went looking for divers but ended up with huge greenheads. 6 doz diver decoys on longlines and puddle ducks decoy, who knew. Hopeing to finish the season out strong, but the weather looks tobe terrible for migrations warm and south winds.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

11-16-2012 11:29
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Our group is on the water as I am posting. We are knocking the heck out of them!! Time for me to fire up the stove and throw the chili on! Good luck!!

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Get em! 11-15-2012 15:42
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I have talked to 3 different friends of mine who were all out today and there groups all shot limits by noon…..sure wish I wasn’t in the office today. Ready to get fater it starting in the morning. Good luck everyone and be safe!

Posted By:
getduck
Web Member

central Iowa 11-14-2012 20:56
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Here is the central Iowa report for the day. Lots of Darks V’ed up high and moving down the DSM river valley this morning. Flocks of snows moving last night in the dark. A small push of fresh mallards this morning between 9 and 9:30.

357 not 911 UCMDUX

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

central very small river 11-14-2012 18:40
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Spent 3 pleasant hours out babysitting 2 dozen decoys but only saw one mallard. Lots of gull and a few canadas. The bird counts on the refuges other than Riverton are way low for what should have showed up with that push last weekend. Just have to keep trying. Tomorrow my turkey call goes along. Still haven’t filled that tag.

Posted By:
timber hunter
Guest

s.e. iowa 11-14-2012 13:11
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Tons of snows moving around.

Posted By:
getduck
Web Member

central Iowa 11-12-2012 20:31
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Just a hint for you all. We had to be very aggressive with the calling today and call them all the way to the water. We were seeing and working flocks of 20 to 50 birds. We saw very few “others” and had no chances at any.

357 not 911 UCMDUX

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

Central IA 11-12-2012 20:16
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Sunday was a bust……got soak and wet, shot 1 GWT and headed in. I really thought we would get into some of the new birds like some of the other groups but no such luck. Today we scratched out 2 shovelers and another GWT. We did see a few new flocks of birds and we were able to bring them close but we could not get them to commit. I guess something wasn’t up to par for them. Nobody sharing the water with us knocked the heck out of them. Keep trying, word has it we have some moving in and through. I leave for riverton Thursday to put forth 3 days of effort. Good luck to everyone and be safe. Hats off to all of us Iowa boys for the great post!! I’f you look at the other state forums nobody talks at all. Stingy, and selfish…… Giving a general idea as to the section of the state you are hunting is not going to give away your spot.

Posted By:
Lindo
Guest

Central IA area 11-12-2012 19:38
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Went out this morning and broke ice in a small drainage ditch in west central Iowa. Set up 2 mojo ducks and some full bodies on the ice. Seen a few nice flocks of mallards and a few flocks of geese. Ended up working one flock with 4 dropping straight down and touching down. Examining the birds, it was my luck that there was only one drake. They then proceeded to jump and I shot the lone drake, letting the 3 hens pass.

This afternoon I headed out scouting hoping to see some motivation for tomorrow, and that is exactly what I got. Again, many new birds from yesterday and today. Mallards in this area are stacked up and if you can find the X, you’ll have your limit real quick. Lots of new geese today since I had been in the same area yesterday and didn’t see nearly as many geese.

Good Luck to all.

Posted By:
birdk9
Web Member

Central Iowa 11-12-2012 19:21
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Good west wind and lots of new birds came in today and over the weekend. Shot a few and missed a few.

Lots of green in the air. Not much for gray ducks or spares. Only a handful of teal seen.

Passed on Single Suzy feet down over the decoys multiple times all day. She needs to invite more boys to the party.

Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member

central Iowa 11-12-2012 17:16
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Lower 20’s this morning made a little ice that lasted till noon. Strong west wind made it really cold since we were in the open. Didn’t start hunting till 8:00 but did see 3 small flocks of mallards while we were going out but they were all going NW. After setup there was nothing. Hunkered down and finally had a flock of about 75 work us. Got ten or so down over the decoys but they were packed so tight we didn’t want to flock shoot. They flared up which present a shot at one drake and it folded clear. Could of shot the flock but there would have been a bunch of crips and that is not the way we hunt. Rest of the morning only had one hen mallard and we let her pass. I’m really surprised by the reports on here about lots of birds in central Iowa. I’m guessing they are talking Red Rock, Big Creek and Saylorville but people I talk to from there aren’t seeing that many. My tracking by radar like today shows some movement but not much for central Iowa. South Dak and NE are hot spots right now.

Posted By:
getduck
Web Member

central Iowa 11-12-2012 13:12
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lots of birds from yesterdays push and new birds dropping out of the heavens. Several setups that shot limits of mallards. saw one flock of snow & blues. saw one flock of traveling dark geese but we were off the marsh by 9:30/10:00 there could have been more birds after we left.

357 not 911 UCMDUX