Category: Kentucky

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

02-11-2009 07:42
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I pray that everyone’s lives are getting back to normal again. The ice has melted off a lot of the ponds and I’ve already been seeing geese paired up. Watch out for the downed trees today after this big windstorm goes through. On a brighter note, I read an article that says turkey numbers will be the best this year that they have ever been due to the abundance of cicadas last year when the poults were small. That will make for a bunch of jakes this year but next year should really be a banner one with all the two year olds.

Posted By:
Sean Riley
Web Member

02-03-2009 18:00
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Prayin for ya Skee…Hope you Ky boys pull through tis weather…we are having a blizzard here right now, sucks Azz, but at least its not ICE, Good Luck boys!!

Posted By:
nashua
Web Member

02-02-2009 15:41
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Well, we are convinced that we need to increase our Canada Goose spread for next year. (Can you believe we are already talking about next year? No wonder our wives think we’re crazy.) If anyone wants to part with some silouettes or full-body or any style of Canada decoy please e-mail me at fredpf@aol.com.
Thanks

Posted By:
Bert Holtzman
Field Editor

Skee and all 01-29-2009 20:39
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Best of luck recovering from this tremendous storm. It is tough up here but nothing like what is going on south of here.

Posted By:
mojcar
Guest

Corn Field, Gallatin co. 01-28-2009 15:50
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Well boys, its about done. Another year of hunting coming to a close and another year of logging on to read Skee and bridgeman’s posts comes to a close with it.It was a good season, not great in terms of the number killed, but it was the good times and the hunts that we remember. This season will be remembered for several reasons: in 10 years of getting up and getting after em’ I had never killed a bird with a band, this year the duck gods rewarded me with 2 banded mallard drakes, one from canada and one from South Carolina. This year I got to witness my buddy (and boat captain) kill his first drake Pintail and witness for the first time in all of those years bull canvasbacks land in the decoys. I will also remember this year for tuesday’s goose hunt. After a year of inviting her to accompany us hunting, The lil woman finally got up and went with me during the winter storm that was roaring through. We sat in layout blinds as sleet rained down and watched as 1000’s of geese poured in on my decoys. we killed our limit in short order and retreated to the warmth of the truck. I have never seen anything like that in any goose hunt and the fact that I got to share it with her will be remembered long after the snow we sat in has melted away. Skee, we were the ones who launched in front of ya’ll in ghent on Sat, glad you had a good hunt, maybe next year we can join forces for a hunt. Keep the posts comin boys always a pleasure to read. 3 more days to knock em down and I will be in the corn and snow all 3. This season is almost gone, but the times spent afield with good friends will be remembered every time I look at the 2 banded mallards on the wall. Stay safe everyone.

Fair winds and following seas……

JC

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River at Manchester 01-27-2009 14:08
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-25-09
Today was on of the best hunts I have had in a long while. We ended up with 3 Geese, 3 bluebills, 2 blacks, and 4 mallards. We decided to go to Manchester Ohio mile 397 Ohio River. River at pool stage, low last nite was 13, no wind and later a DS wind. I met Jim at his Mentor farm at 7:30 and his son Randy decided to follow us in his truck for breakfast at the General Store in Augusta. Before stopping at the General Store, I stopped at the Mentor Marathon for a thermos of coffee. I went up route 8 after getting coffee. The river below Foster had ice. Above the dam there appeared to be a lot of ice. These was no ice at Augusta. After breakfast Jim and I hit the AA highway and crossed over at the new Maysville Bridge and ran up route 52. There was only 1 truck at Maysville, and ice on much of the river. We were 3rd at my secrete Manchester ramp, so much for my secrete. We put in and decided to head right across the river due to the ice. Normally I run up above the islands and come down the ky bank. We ran across and screwed up on 4 mallards, and scared up blacks and mallards below us. I pulled into the bank to wait the ones below us to swim in. They did and we pushed off. We got to within 50 yards and they just took off. No reason except no high water. The floating was great, no wind and the river was a sheet of glass. We started down putting the 10 hp and spotting with binoculars. We worked down a good 2 miles, and saw nothing. The bank was a pretty sand bank the whole way. We then spotted fish ducks below us. We could tell they were fish ducks, because every now and then they would disappear as we watched them though the binoculars. They were blue bills and canvas backs. There was 25 blue bills and 25 CB. As we floated down a barge went past and the bouncing up and down brought the CB out and they took off when we were maybe 30 yards out. We got right up on the BB and I told Jim to take them. I watched as Jim shot the 20 gage La-fever double barrel. The first shot he got 2 and the next he got one, I did not shoot. Picked up our 3 BB, pulled into bank for coffee and cookies. Headed on down. We went another 2 miles and nothing. Jim was glassing the other bank and he said there is a duck. I got my binoculars and Jim said below the blue barrel. I thought I saw it. As we were floating down we spotted 4 swans swimming up the Ohio bank. We had passed them, and Jim was watching them, when he spotted his duck. We ran up the Ky band and followed the barge US who had just passed us. Jim said we will use the barge for cover. I ran up beside it at .75 throttle, the barge guy must have thought we were nuts. I got to where I wanted to cross, and waited for the barge to run up, so I could cut behind it. I grabbed the binocs and spotted a bunch of geese across from us, so I ran up a little more with the barge again using it for cover.( We really did not need the barge) The geese were DS from the swans so I decided to run over and get pictures of the swans. When we were within 500 yards of them Jim says there ducks in with them, I turned the boat DS and idled to the bank. We decided to float down on the Geese, and let the ducks above us calm down. I started paddeling down and we get within 100 yards of the Geese and about 10 more land right in front of us. We got within 30 yards, and they all got up, no shots fired. We then decided to float Jim’s duck. Jim says he is right next to the red Jug. You must understand this was the most garbage strewned bank I have seen in a long time. There was all kinds of old tires, clorex bottles, coke bottles, 55 gallen drums, you name it. I look in the binocs and I don’t see it. Then I do. We got right up on the drake mallard, I said take it Jim. We jump up and it is a cripple. We then crossed over and ran up to get above the swan ducks. We stared floating down and Jim spots them, we got right up on them, and I said take them. Jim gets a drake and hen mallard and I got a black. We had lunch and coffee and headed back down at a idel. About 2 miles down we spot more Geese and ducks. Jim says they are below the blue jug. We got right on them, we jump up and I drop a goose with my first, and miss a mallard with my second. Jim drops a Goose, but swears he got two. His is a cripple so I run out and cut motor and Jim shots it. We pick it up and then get mine. I has been snowing lightly for 1 hour. We pull into the bank and walk around to get warm. I think it was at Old Hollow Run. We stared back down. I look out in the middle of the river and there is a dead Goose, Jim’s first shot, we ran out and picked it up. Started back down . Jim spots more ducks, we pass more blue bills to get on some blacks and mallards. We got right on them, and Jim gets a black and I got a mallard. During the firing the goose that was dead jumps out of the boat all wrapped up in my life jacket, Jim says at least it was safe. I started the 10 and picked up the Goose with life jacket and wrung its neck. We picked up our dead ducks and headed down. We spot another drake, we floated down, and it keeps paddling down stream at a pace that is not normal for a duck, it was odd. It would swin in for a bit then head back downstream. We spotted it just below Moyer’s restaurant. We chased the duck for 1 mile, when it finally sat on a log. We got right on it, Jim jumps up and it is the same cripple mallard. We headed on down and Jim spots ducks below Elk Run. It was 5 what we thought were mallards. Now it is snowing like crazy. I look over and there is snow on there backs, it was 3 blacks and 2 mallards. We got right up on them, Jim gets his mallard and I missed mine. It is 4:00 and we had enough. I could barely see across the river it is snowing so hard. The run up the Ky band was fun, it is snowing like crazy, and we jumped up a bunch of ducks. When we hit the ramp the other trucks were gone, we never did see them. Had a great supper at the Aberdeen Dairy Yum Yum, home by 8:00. Best day I have had in 20 years, it is a shame the season is over. The river was super clear and pretty, though the lack of current made for tough hunting. Looking forward to next year.

Posted By:
WAS
Guest

01-26-2009 23:40
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Turn out the lights the parties over….finished the season in ARk and had a real good time. Can’t wait to do it all again next year.

God Bless and Godspeed to all!

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-26-2009 13:19
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On Saturday morning we decided to set up some dekes on the river to see what happened. At our first ramp choice there were already 4 boats so we went on up river to the next launch site. We were the only boat that put in there. We were running a tad late (after switching ramps) so we ran across to the IN side and set up. We set 18 goose floaters, 2 dozen mallards and black ducks and 2 dozen bluebills and goldeneyes on long lines. We soon had a group of geese come by (they really had no intention of landing in the dekes) and we got 2. We continued to see group after group of geese. Many would give us a look, only to head out to the middle of the river and land. While we were watching some geese a single duck worked in over our heads and plopped right in the dekes. It was a canvasback drake and boy was he a beauty. We watched him swim around for awhile and finally he picked up and headed off. It figures that we never and I mean never have cans in the dekes and the one time we do, there’s no season on them. Not long after that a single goldeneye worked the lines and we got it. That turned out to be all of our shooting. As soon as the sun pooped out of the clouds, birds immediately stopped flying. All told we saw about 50 ducks and 400 canadas. They were mostly rafted in the middle of the river, with very few of them working along the shores. Too much hunting pressure has conditioned them to stay out a ways. It makes me think that if a guy had a layout boat, and could get 75 yards or so off shore (and still not close to the barge channel, that he could do some good. Put the dekes around the layout and have a buddy pick up the birds. Oh well, maybe try it next year.
On Sunday we decided to give the skiff one more try. The ramp we had used on Saturday was frozen in so we had to go north to the next ramp to put in. We got there at 8:05 and were the 4th boat. There were some major ice flows on the river. While we were launching the boat I spotted some ducks sitting in the middle of the river. Upon closer inspection it was 6 bluebills and 2 canvasback drakes. We launched and started paddling our way out. We got to within 20 yards of them before they realized something was amiss. We got our 4 bluebills with 4 shots. After picking them up we headed to the IN bank and soon ran into some of the other hunters. There were two groups, one across from the other. We waved and went on by. We saw 3 mallards on the bank and rolled the boat over for the sneak. We got within 25 yards and came over and got two drakes. After picking them up we went on down a ways and found several more cans and bluebills. We went back up stream and soon found another small flock of mallards. Some really poor shooting led to only one drake being taken. That turned out to be our last duck of the day. We saw a small group of gadwalls, a pair of black ducks, a small flock of buffleheads and a bunch more bluebills and cans but most were sitting close to houses so we just left them and went on up. We took out at 12:00 with our birds and called it a season. Not to bad a finish. A couple of notes: I was surprised to see the numbers of hunters that late in the year. Usually the majority have quit by then but hunters were still out in force. Most parties did at least some shooting while we were out. The birds were hanging in the middle of the river, but evidently a few got close enough for some shots. This was by far the most cans I’ve seen in a season in the last 10 years. We hadn’t seen any in the last 3 seasons and the ones before that, we only saw a few here and there. Hopefully the numbers rebound with the season being out.

Dux, give me a shout when your down this way.

Posted By:
Sean Riley
Web Member

01-24-2009 22:56
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bridgeman and skee, just so you know I come on this page every weekend to read your reports, very enjoyable. I lived in Dry Ridge Ky, and my parents live in Erlanger, so I am very familiar with your area used to fish that stretch and we had a blind down stream from the dam good times keep up the good reports…..
Skee, I am gonna come visit you one of these days, I have got to come see my kids soon, so when I do I will drop you a line and we will get together

[Edited By DUX 3 on 2009-01-24 22:56]

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River at Augusta 01-24-2009 17:19
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-24-09
Due to high winds I decided to go decoying at Augusta Ohio River mile 426. I got up at 5:00 am and got coffee and a beacon egg and cheese sandwich at the Mentor Marathon. Was at ramp at 6:30 and I was the 6th. As I was getting ready when another boat pulled in. He put in ahead of me. I got in and headed up Ky bank. I turned off my running lights because the rear light blinded me. I could see well enough to not hit a barge or another boat. Headed up to stony Point Creek and put out 6 geese and 10 ducks. I was ready by 7:30. Jewels and I were ready. I looked across the river and there was a blind directly across from me. US and on the Ohio Side was another set of decoys hunters, I could see there spinning wing decoy. And DS on Ohio bank was another set of decoy hunters. Geese were flying from 7:45 to 9:30. I think all 3 groups across from me got shots. I saw maybe 5 groups of ducks. Nothing wanted in my decoys. Since there was so much competition in my area, I pulled up and went DS below Augusta. I set up about 1 mile below the ferry. Saw maybe 4 groups of Geese and 3 groups of ducks. I did talk to the MR. Mayes a cool 1949 barge, and the West Virginia on the marine radio, I told them to scare up ducks. I noticed this last Thursday, the ducks are sitting in the middle of the Ohio to keep from getting shot. I saw 6 swans fly up the Ohio bank, and two dropped off a little DS from me. The other 4 kept on flying US. I pulled up at 2:00 and had a great breakfast at the General Store, home by 4:30.0 shots fired.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-23-2009 08:01
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Those bouncing waves sure do mess up the skiff’n bridge. Many O times we’ve had the ducks unaware only to have a wave come by and mess us up.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River below Dover Ky 01-22-2009 20:23
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-22-09

Jim and I went to Dover on the Ohio River mile 420 this morning to float in the skiff. The Ohio is at pool stage, low last nite was 20 degrees. I met Jim at his Farm outside Mentor. We had a good breakfast at the Augusta General store. Was first at Dover ramp at 9:30, river was calm, very little wind. Put in and headed down the Ky bank. The sky was full of Geese flying US in bunches of 20 which went on for a good .5 hour. We spotted mallards about 1 mile down below ramp. We paddled down right on them, I turned the boat so that Jim was facing the ducks, and said take them. Jim jumped up and got drake with first shot, and missed the second. I did not shot, they were right over Jim. The duck was a cripple, I should have shot it on the water, Jim was empty, he had the 20 gage la-fever . I cranked up the 10 hp but hit shallow water. I pulled motor up and paddled in and got out in the shallow water, and walked over to the bank to find the duck. Ice had formed all along the bank, and he must have ducked under it . I kept breaking the ice, but never did find the duck. Went ahead and had coffee and tea. We started back down. We spotted a whole bunch of Geese about 1 mile below. Since there was so many of them, I held the boat out more than normal. I got right beside the lower end of the geese and turned the boat in towards the bank. As I turned the geese below us saw us and started honking. There was 200 geese and about 20 mallards in the group. We got within 20 yards, and the ones below us got up. Then the ones in front of us got up. Jim fired 2 times at a geese, feathers all over, but no Goose. I fired 2 times at a drake, but did not touch a feather. Jim is shooting heavy shot for the first time, so far he is not impressed. We continued on down, I started running the 10 hp at a idle. We were both glassing the bank looking for ducks. I look up and out swims a hen and a drake from the bank ahead. I cut the 10 hp and tried to paddle up on them. The would swim out, turn and swim in. We chased them DS for a good .5 mile. At last they swam in and I got to within 30 yards, when they jumped up. No shots fired. We continued on down below Indian Creek to the stone bank. We spotted ducks below us, and another bunch below them. We got within 100 yards, when here comes a train, guess what –they jumped up , scared by the train. All the time we are floating down we heard Geese across the river. We spotted them with the Binoculars. We decided to run up and float down the Ohio bank below Straight Creek. At this time the wind had picked up a bit. We ran up the Ky bank and spotted a big raft of ducks and geese in the middle of the river below Straight Creek . I jumped them up hoping they would land below us. We ran up above Straight Creek and started down the Ohio Bank. There all kinds of Comerats at the mouth of Straight. We started down . I spotted 2 mallards below us and paddled down right on them. Again I turned the boat so Jim was right on them. I said take them Jim. He fired 2 times and nothing. I swung on the drake and fired, nothing, lead him another 2 feet and dropped him. He was dead on the water. Had lunch and coffee. Started back down. I spotted blacks below us. I got just about ready to say take them and they got up. Neither took a shot. The problem was the boat was bouncing up and down from the wind blown waves. I was just too windy. We decided to run above Dover on the Ky bank, which is protected from the wind. On trip up Ohio bank we jumped up 4 groups of mallards, and 1 group of Geese. Just below Ripley I crossed over to the Ky bank. I wanted to go up further, but I would have had to pass a barge and get far enough in front to cross in front. Instead I crossed below it and waved to the guy burning garbage at the back of the tow. We started down the Ky bank. Nothing to ramp. Pulled out by 3:00.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-19-2009 09:26
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Didn’t get out Saturday with the high winds but I talked to several people on the river and they had some decent success. The divers are on the river in pretty decent numbers. Several groups killed goldeneyes, bulebills and buffleheads. There were a few mallards reported but not as many as I would have thought. Yesterday we put the skiff in and ran down stream. We flushed a flock of several hundred ducks off a point and the majority of them were black ducks. The rest were mallards. We saw a ton of geese flying and I got several texts from guys who were decoy hunting and they were doing pretty well. Again it was a lot of diver, including some beautiful redheads. We got two pair on our trip down and then went back up. Even though there were lots of geese around we couldn’t get any to hold tight enough to get any shots. I assume they have been run and gunned, like what bridgeman was saying a few posts back. They are VERY skittish. We did encounter some more mallards and ended up finishing with 11 mallards and 2 mergansers (for 3 hunters) and had a good time. The river has dropped a BUNCH, current was average and drift was almost non existent. The wind was out of the west which made for some difficult skiffing. We did see several groups of people decoying which is odd, usually by this time of year your down to just the hard care few. There are good numbers of birds on the river and in the adjacent fields. We watched several hundred birds hitting a cornfield close to the river. Might be a good time to dust off those full bodies and hit the fields.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River below Dover Ky mile 420 01-18-2009 09:07
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-17-09
Due to the high winds I slept in again this morning hoping they would die down by afternoon so I could take the skiff, but they did not so I took the decoy boat to Dover with Jewels my Chessie. We were at the ramp at 2:00 pm and was 3rd, with a 4th pulling out. I asked the guys pulling out how they did, and they had gotten 4 geese and a few ducks. They had a decoy boat with a portable blind. It was 4 young guys, good to see young dedicated duck hunters, reminds me of me 35 years ago. I had planned to decoy the Ohio bank below Straight Creek, but on the trip up RT. 8 I saw that there were decoy hunters there. I stopped the rig and got out my binoculars to make sure on the middle of RT 8 on the trip to Dover. I decides to go DS of Straight Creek, I ran down the KY bank, and jumped up only maybe 10 ducks. I crossed over below the decoys hunters below straight creek and started down the Ohio bank. About 1 mile below I jumped up a raft of Geese that was unreal. There must have been 200-300 Geese. There were very few ducks mixed in. I ran down a bit more and started putting out decoys. The wind was DS and very strong. I only have 4 Geese Decoys, and I put out about 10 ducks. As I was putting the decoys out a drake mallard tried to land on my head. I got the Boat pulled into the bank and got my tarps up. I sat for about 15 minutes and Geese started flying around me, but they wanted nothing to do with my small spread. As I was sitting, a boat ran up the KY bank and cut its engine, I did not see where it went. About ½ later about 8 Geese landed on the Ky band across and a little US from me. About 1 minute later boom ,boom ,boom its was the boat I had seen, they must have put out decoys. I watched them run out and shoot a cripple. From then until dark geese and ducks flew over but I had nothing land in my decoys. I was funny how clear I could hear the guys duck and goose calls from across the river. Barbarba, a barge went by and I spoke to her on the portable Marine radio that I have in the decoy boat. I pulled out at 5:30 and was home by 7:30.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Manchester Island Ohio River 01-16-2009 20:10
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Below Zero
Duck Hunt 1-16-09
I hunted above Manchester Island today. Got up at 6:30 and it was -2 and strong wind. I should have gone decoying. I went back to sleep hoping the wind would die down. It was calm in Alexandria Ky. Had a great breakfast at the Aberdeen Dairy Yum Yum, they have the best pancakes. I was at my secrete ramp at 11:30, wind was terrible, river at 31 which is just to low to float with high wind. Put in and ran US above both Islands. I was hoping that around the bend it might be calmer. It did not. I jumped up the same bunch of Geese that stays in the front yard in a house on the US end of Manchester. I ran up the Ohio bank motoring slow, using the binoculars. I spotted some ducks ahead, so ran to the middle of the river and ran up. Spotted them as I ran by. Ran about 1 mile above and crossed over. Floated down and got right up on about 5 mallards, jumped up and 3 shots and nothing. Ran back up Ohio bank to above Concord. Crossed over. Floated down on a bunch of geese at the green grass of Concord, the boat is bouncing up and down from the wind produced waves. I got fairly close, but they got up before I was ready. I did not shoot. There was maybe 50 Geese. Continued on down and spotted a goose and 3 ducks. Got right up on them and dropped the Goose, missed the drake. Pulled into the bank for coffee. I spotted decoy hunters below, it was war eagle sitting on the bank with a bunch of decoys. They said they had a few. Started back down and spotted a bunch of mallards, below me. Got right up on them and just dropped a hen. By this time it is 5:00 so I called it a day, jumped a bunch of Geese on Manchester Island. Stopped at Yum Yum for Chili and home by 8:00. Should have gone decoying, too much work.

Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member

Logan Co. 01-15-2009 17:03
Arctic Blast – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
See a few birds this morning. It blew my mind but we killed two woodies this morning. They were some of those Northern ones because they were the prettiest birds I have ever seen. We hunted about 2 1/2 hours because honestly it’s all we can stand. If anyone does happen to venture out in the next couple of days please use extreme caution. I’m sure you all have heard about the high school students from Murray. My thoughts and prayer go out to them and there families. Good Luck to all.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-15-2009 08:04
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It changes it BIGTIME. There’s tons of debris, the current is swift and creates eddy’s that you would not believe. It can be very dangerous but also a productive hunting area if your careful and mindful of whats happening around you.

Posted By:
WAS
Guest

01-14-2009 18:21
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32.5 wow, is that as high as it sounds? Does that change the character of the river significantly when it is 20 feet above winter pool?

Posted By:
pintail pete
Guest

01-14-2009 11:03
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Normal pool for McAlpine above the dam is 12.5, below the dam is 10.1. You can call the Dam at 775-5056. They update every 4 hours. 12.8 on the upper today, 32.5 on the lower.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-14-2009 07:29
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WAS, I don’t know about McAlpin pool as I usually hunt the Markland pool. The water at Markland as of Saturday was supposed to crest at 32.9 which is a long way above winter pool.

Posted By:
WAS
Guest

01-13-2009 13:49
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What is normal pool for McAlpin e pool?

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-13-2009 13:07
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We took the skiff to the river on Sunday. The river way WAY up and tons of garbage (it really makes you ashamed to see all the junk in the river) and was rolling along pretty good. We ended up with 8 mallards and probably saw 200 mallards, a handful of black ducks, some ringnecks and a beautiful drake pintail in addition to 250-300 geese. Although we were the only boat the river was not unhuntable. Anywhere there were trees the current was farther off the bank and the ducks were hanging out in these pockets. Like on past ventures we noticed quickly that the only places that would hold ducks were the pockets that had grass in them. The rock shore’s or mud banks did not hold any birds but if you could find the one’s with grass, they had ducks. It would have been a good time to be decoying back in some of those areas. The real key is safety, taking the time to get to a spot in one piece and dry. The big freeze up hits tomorrow so hopefully by the weekend the ducks will be more concentrated on bigger water.

Posted By:
GOOSE SLAYER22
Web Member

western ky 01-12-2009 14:46
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The geese havn’t made it down this far yet.The ducks have took off also from what i have herd from other hunters.But i live in paducah.There are some hunting clubs in ballard county.Close to the refuge which is about 30 mins from paducah. If you need anymore info just pm me .

Posted By:
mortinau
Web Member

Paducah 01-11-2009 18:32
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I will be going to the Paducah area at the end of January to visit my daughter. I was wanting some info on goose hunting opportunities in the area. I could trade a hunt. I have an property in Vandalia, Il. for duck and goose hunting. I would also be interested in any good hunting clubs in the area for a one or two day hunt. You can PM me or call my cell: 314-5687503

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River at Brush Creek Mile 388 01-11-2009 17:43
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-11-09
Jim and I decided to go to Brush Creek this morning, I met Jim at 8:00 at his farm. Jim’s son wanted to eat breakfast with us so we all went to the General Store in Augusta, Randy driving his car. Great breakfast. Jim and I got to ramp and were first, except for a car and a van, which we assumed were camping. We paid Roger his 5 bucks and put in. We were on water at 10:45, not exactly at the crack of dawn. I headed out of Brush creek and up the Ohio bank about 1.5 miles and crossed over. River at 40 low last nite 30 , a slight US wind, spitting snow. We crossed over to Ky bank and started paddling. We spotted about 10 below island, they just got up and flew away while we were still 300 yards out, they have been educated, by the gunner runner. We spotted 4 blacks below that , they let us get within 100 yards, and took off. At the green grass of Concord ( it’s a summer camp with very green grass that goes right to the waters edge) Jim spotted two drakes. I paddled down and there were about 8 in small groups of 2. I passed two and put Jim right on 2. I said take them, Jim dropped the nearest drake a split second before I shoot it. The only other shot I had was a hen that went out behind me, and I got her. We picked up out dead on water ducks and motored down a bit and pulled into the bank for coffee and a pee. Jim was using my 20 gage re-loads with a 20 gage double barrel La-fever. We had coffee and cookies. At this time it is snowing at a good clip.

We then pushed off and floated down a good 2 miles, and nothing. We pulled in to brush off the snow, and drink coffee. As we were sitting there we heard a barge below us blow his horn 3 quick times. 1 minute later he does it again. I pushed the back of the boat out past the willows to see what was going on though binoculars. It was the James F Neal , a coal barge with a big load of coal. The first barge in from of the Neal had smoke pouring out of it. Was he on fire? He was running US and cut his engines. He kept blasting his horn. We looked DS and a bunch of ducks were swimming out of the willows, next to the barge. Did he see us and was scaring up the ducks so we could not shot them. He reved up his engines and started back up river. He blew 3 times one last time, the ducks flew away. We waited on the edge of the willows for him to past. The smoke still poured out of the first barge, but they had no fire hoses out, though we could clearly see then on the side of the tow boat. No clue what that was about. We pushed off and headed down. We spotted 30 canvas backs below us. We got right up on them, jumped up and said bang. We headed on down. I spotted a drake sitting on the end of a downed tree that stuck out about 15 yards out from the bank. I normally paddle about 25 yards from the edge of the willows, but I pulled the boat out about 5 yards. We got closer and closer, I kept thinking the duck would hop off, but he did not. I told Jim to take him. Jim missed with his first, got him on the second. Another round of coffee and peeing. By now the snow has stopped, but the wind picked up. We floated down within site of Manchester Island, and the wind was so bad it was hard to control the skiff, plus it was bouncing up and down from the waves. We decided to run back up and perhaps go above the ramp.

I switch over to the Ohio bank to run up. When I got to the Ohio bank, it was much rougher, plus full of drift. I switch back to the Ky bank which had very little drift. On the 4 mile run up we jumped 1 back and then a group of 4 blacks. Got to Brush creek and it was 3:15, and still windy, we decided to call it a day. We pulled out, and the campers were gone. Home by 6:00 pm.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River at Maysville mile 409 01-10-2009 18:43
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees

Duck Hunt 1-10-09

I planned to go to brush creek this morning, I got up and it was raining. I decided to go back to bed. About 7:00 am we heard thunder and saw lighting, unreal. Got up at 9:00 and took the wife to the Coldsprings Bob Evans. Got back and decided to go to Maysville, mile 409 Ohio River. I got coffee at the Mentor Marathon. I was second at the Maysville ramp. As I was getting ready, a boat pulled in, it was the truck at the ramp. 4 guys in a big boat with a 70 hp. They said there were no ducks. As I was putting in , up pulls the game warden, he checks my license. I started up the Ky. Bank. River is at 41 it is a light rain, no wind, heavy fog. I ran up the ky bank to the power plant, then crossed over to Ohio side, and at the limestone mine went to Ky bank. Ran up to Crooked Creek and crossed over to Ohio and started floating. I did not jump a duck on my 8 mile run. Great floating conditions I paddles down to Power plant and then crossed over to Ky bank. Floated it to below power plant, and then crossed over to Ohio side at the hot water. Started floating and all I saw were tons of blue herrings. At the very end of the power plant willows, I spotted mallards ahead. Paddled right up on them. I jumped up and got drake with first, and missed second. Dead on the water. Picked him up and ran to the ramp, it was 5:00 pm. Pulled out and had a good bowl of Chili at the Country Store, my new dive on route 8 just past the ramp. Home by 7:15.

Posted By:
GOOSE SLAYER22
Web Member

01-10-2009 13:58
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thanks

Posted By:
WAS
Guest

01-09-2009 18:48
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sunset local time on 1/25/09

Posted By:
GOOSE SLAYER22
Web Member

01-09-2009 09:07
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When does the ky duck season go out.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-08-2009 12:16
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Big freeze up coming next week should really push the birds onto the river and a few of the bigger lakes. Keep your eyes open, by next weekend it may get REAL good.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

01-06-2009 08:22
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Well fellers, its been a different kinda week for sure.

We hunted a local pond on Thursday. We had been seeing a few ducks and geese using it. There wasn’t much wind and so we put out our Pulsator and it looked fantastic on the calm water. The birds are using these smaller ponds and lakes during the days and feeding in fields around my area. We had a group of 4 mallards come in and got 3 of them, followed by a single mallard drake. A little while later we have a single goose come in, but just before he gets in he’s joined by another single bird. After the smoke clears and the dog comes back I find that its a specklebelly. The first speck I have ever seen, much less killed in this part of KY. He was a beauty to, real nice bars and perfect orange on the bill and feet. One of the guys is going to get him mounted. We finished with another mallard and two more geese. The birds flew late with many of them being spotted and killed after 10:00 (which is pretty common for a resting spot). If you are hunting these spots give em time. I know its easy to want to leave at 10:00 or 10:30 when you haven’t seen hardly anything, but give them time.

We hunted the same pond on Friday afternoon and ended up with 2 mallards and 4 geese. The birds didn’t fly at all until the last 15 minutes of legal shoot. It was very clear and fairly cold, although the moon is dim which helps keep the birds from feeding at night.

Saturday morning my brother and I decided to give the skiff a shot and see what was on the river. There was only one other boat at the ramp. Just after putting in we spotted a decoy floating and picked it up figuring the guys were upstream. We headed on up and spotted a few ducks along the way, but soon enough we spotted the boat pulling out from the IN shore. They had not pulled a trigger and were giving up. We returned their decoy, shot the bull for a minute and headed on up the IN bank. We putted up for several miles without spotting anything then crossed over to the KY bank and headed down. We again went several miles without spotting anything until I saw a goose swim out, then back into shore. We paddled up on them and it was a group of 8. We got 3 of them and one was banded. While we were getting them our motor sucked something in and quit spitting water. Being a new motor we weren’t taking any chances so we pulled it up on shore and took off the prop, filter etc and cleaned out the intake. We lost about 45 minutes doing this, but it was back to rolling when we put it all back together. We had to be back soon after so we crossed over to the IN bank. We soon spotted some more geese and decided to do one more float. We killed the motor, let the current take us down and got to within 20 yards of them. There were a few ducks with them so I told my brother to shoot a goose and I’d try for a duck. He got his goose and I got two drake mallards. We headed on back. All told we traveled about 16 miles and saw approx 200 geese, 75 mallards a black duck and two ringnecks. All the birds were sitting on the shore, or just off of it. We didn’t see the first bird out in the channel. If your going to decoy the river, try to find a place where there’s some grass along the bank. Most all of the birds we saw were right along the bank where there was some grass to pick around on.

On Sunday morning we decided to try a local pond that we haven’t hunted in awhile. We saw approx 400 geese and 150 ducks but only managed 1 drake gadwall. The birds worked and worked but would not finish.

A speck and a band in one long weekend ain’t all bad though. I hope everyone had a great and safe weekend.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River at Brush Creek 01-03-2009 20:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-3-08
I took the skiff to brush creek again today. I got up at 6:30 and was on road by 7:00. I forgot to take my life jacket out of the boat, and lost it somewhere on the Double A between Alexandria and Mentor. When I got coffee at the Marathon at mentor I realized I forgot it. Luckily I carry a spare in the skiff in a bag tied to the boat. Low last nite was 31 and the river is at 30’, too low for a really good float. On the trip on 52 I saw 3 trucks at Maysville, that is looking better. I had a great breakfast at the Aberdeen Dairy Yum Yum with the regular crowd. I was at the ramp at 9:30, and was the 4th. Put in and headed up the Ohio Bank. I ran up about 1.5 miles and headed across. This time I spotted with the Binoculars, but there was nothing. As I pulled into the bank to get ready, I saw about 5 ducks swim out way US from me. I decided to head down, and save them for latter. Started paddling down the Ky bank. I spotted 5 blacks ahead of me and got within 200 yards; they swam out and took off. I continued on down and saw nothing. I decided to crank up the 10 hp and putt down. Just below the Island I motored right up on about 8 mallards, before I spotted them. They swam out and took off as I cut the motor. I completely missed them with the binoculars. I continued on down and saw 2 blacks on the rock band below the island. They also took off before I could get close. I looked below me and there were about 20 mallards. They were .5 mile below me. I spotted something else, about 1 mile below me, Mr. Gunner runner. That is why the ducks here are so spooky. It was an 18’ alum boat with a 70 Johnson with a tarp covering the whole boat. They were motoring US trying to Jump ducks. I wave my paddle hoping they would see me, but they kept right on coming US. My mallards flew away when the runners got within about 400 yards. The 2 guys just ran past me, and headed US. I have seen lots of guys hunt ducks this way on the river. They just motor up or down stream and cut their motors when the ducks jump. I my opinion it is illegal, but it is done all the time on the Ohio River. I pulled into the bank and had a cup of coffee, waiting for things to settle down. I headed back down stream. As I was paddling down I heard shots from the Ohio bank, below me. I spotted them; it was two decoy hunters on the Ohio bank sitting in two separate boats about 10 yards apart. I kept on going down. I spotted some ducks below me and paddled right up to them. It was 5 mallards. I jumped up and fired 3 times, and nothing. Continued on down. Just above Manchester Island, Gunner Runner runs past me but on the Ohio Bank. I figure he will start up my bank soon, so I decided to put a few decoys out at Toles Creek and sit in my Skiff. I sat for about 1 hour and nothing. I decided to head back US. I ran up the Ky bank. As I passed the two decoy boats they were pulling up. About 15 minutes they passed me and I watched them run into Brush Creek. All day long I had a downstream wing and about 3:00 pm it stopped. The river looked great. I ran up ky to the Island and then ran up the Ohio bank, and then back to the ky bank below Rome. I like the Ohio bank below Rome. I stared paddling down the Ohio bank , and all I saw was 2 groups of fish ducks. About 2 miles above Brush Creek I crossed over to the Ky bank and started down Ky. Bank. I was getting ready to paddle, and jumped a drake mallard right beside me, but did not shoot. I stated down. I spotted about 10 ducks below me, and got within 100 yards and they swam out. I paddled down, and they swam back in. They swam back out a took off while about 50 yards away. I continued on down, and spotted two backs ahead. I marked the spot where they swam in and paddled to it. It is now 4:00 and the sun is low on the ky bank making it hard to see. I pasted the spot where I last saw the two blacks, and could not see them. Then I spotted them, they had swam down about 20 yards. I got right on them, jumped up and fired 3 times at one black. I know I hit him, he flew US, and dropped dead at the waters edge. I have not shot a black in over 10 years. I plan to get him Mounted. I continued on down running the 10 hp at a idle. As I past Ruggles Run, out jumps a drake and a hen, they were so close I head them quack. I did not fire. At this point I am tired and decided to call it a day. I covered 20 hard miles of river today.Home by 6:30.

Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member

Ballard 01-02-2009 14:01
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I am heading over to Ballard this weekend for a quota hunt. Anybody over that way killing anything?

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River from mile 387 to 399 01-01-2009 18:23
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 1-1-09
I took the skiff to Brush Creek mile 388 Ohio River. I got up at 7:30. I had a great breakfast at the Aberdeen Ohio Dairy Yum Yum. It was very crowded since Browns is closed. On 52 across from the Maysville ramp I saw no trucks, that’s not good. At ramp by 9:30, and I was only one there. Put in and headed out to the river. Ice on the banks of Brush Creek. I headed up the Ohio bank about .5 mile and crossed over to Ky. Bank. I jumped up 3 mallards. I should have spotted the bank before crossing. Headed down. The river is at 33, which is just enough to float. Low last nite was 18. I had a down stream wind, which never happens. I spotted a drake and a hen below me. Paddled right up on them. Jumped up and shot 3 times at the drake, I thought I hit him but flew out to the middle and then dropped. When I motored out to him he was dead. Pulled into the bank and had a cup of coffee. Started back down the Ky bank. Spotted another hen and drake. I paddled right up on them, jumped up and 3 shots, no ducks. I really need to practice my wing shooting. Headed on down and was just getting ready to paddle, and I scared up too black ducks, who spotted me while I was still banging around getting ready. They flew away before I got within 200 yards. Spotted about 20 just below Brush Creek Island. I started paddling, they were very educated, they swam out and took off while I was still 200 yards away. Started up the 10 hp and pudded on down. I spotted another group of 20 and started paddling. About 6 blacks swam out and flew away while I was still 250 yards out. Next a bunch of mallards swam out, looked me over and swam back in. I got right up on about 6 mallards, jumped up got 1 with first and missed the second. I picked him up and drank a cup of coffee. Started back down. Paddled for a long ways and saw nothing, so I decided to start up the 10 hp, just in time to scare up 3 mallards. Paddled on down and spotted ducks in the mouth of Toles Creek. Got right up on them, Dropped 1 with first shoot and missed next 2. My drake was dead on the bank. Headed on down and then floated the left side of the first Manchester island. As I was motoring over I scared up about 5 mallards that were at the head of the island. I decided to float down the right side. Started down, I saw 2 geese at the end of the island, but they would not let me get any closer then 100 yards and then flew away. I spotted ducks in the left side of the second island so I floated down past the first and ran up the back side of the first and ran to the head of no. 2 and started down the left side. Floated all the way down and did not see them, I have no Idea where they went. Decided to float down the Ky bank for a little bit. As I was motoring over I saw 2 blacks swim out ahead of me. They were a good 400 yards below me. I started paddling. They swam to the bank, let me get within 150 yards and then swam back out. We did this for .5 mile, and I just gave up. I started up the 10 hp and headed back to the ramp. Just above Manchester I saw 50 geese sitting in a guys front yard. They saw me and took off over to Ky bank. I kept running up. Just above the islands I saw a eagle fly over, very cool. Ran all the way back Ohio bank and jumped up 3 blacks and two groups of 3 mallards. At the power plant I crossed over to Ky bank and jumped up about 20 mallards below island. I headed up brush creek and pulled out at 3:30. I payed Tony his 5 bucks. I had a great supper at the Dairy Yum Yum and home at 6:00. I had a great hunt. I covered 24 mile of river today 12 down and 12 up.

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

01-01-2009 08:37
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Does anyone know where there are some good Chocolate Lab breeders clsoe to Northern Kentucky, or know anyone one who has some chocolate pups for sale? Also interested in Chessie pups too.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

12-29-2008 08:39
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We didn’t hit it real hard during the break but I did see a lot of birds. We hunted in Southern IN on Friday morning and we saw tons of ducks heading south in big V’s. Not a one would give us a look but it was continual ducks all morning long. We only saw 3 geese and they wouldn’t work either. There was little wind, but when we crossed over the river it looked to be up and rolling along pretty well. I had been seeing some geese on a local pond so we set up 6 floaters on Saturday afternoon hoping to get a quick shoot. The winds were gale force and not long after we set up we had a group of 20 ducks try to work in. They fought the wind for awhile then gave up and were gone. Soon after we had 4 mallards lock up and drop right in. After some terrible shooting they all 4 left. We then had a single goose come in and he stayed. Right before dark a decent flock of geese gave us a look, but after a few minutes they peeled out and headed on by.
Yesterday I saw 3 shovelers on a pond close by and some more geese.
There are some good numbers of birds around right now, however they are spread out with all the open water and seem to be changing feeding locations regularly. Until we get a freeze up its gonna take some determination (and luck) to get on any real sizable numbers of birds.

Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member

Ballard WMA 12-28-2008 13:50
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Well went on a two day quota hunt over the weekend. Saturday the winds were really strong and birds did not want to work. The ones that did I couldn’t get to finish. That has been my story this entire season. Birds that won’t finish. I constantly change everything in my set up and calling but nothing seems to work. The guys up North are really giving the birds a good education. Sunday the birds have left. I didn’t see anything worth talking about duck wise. We did see a lot of geese. I’m so tired of 2-3 ducks being killed a day out of whatever blind I’m in that cut a hunting trip short. I’m tired of wasting time.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River below Foster Ky mile 439 Ohio River 12-27-2008 11:42
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Duck Hunt 12-27-08

After seeing a few ducks across from Black River on Christmas day, I decided to take the decoy boat and put in at mile 439 at Foster Ky. I got up at 5:30 and got out the door at 6:15. Stopped at the Marathon on the Double A for a thermos of coffee, and they had none. The guy had to brew some as I waited. Got to ramp, and I was first and only. Put in and Jewels and I ran across to the Ohio side, in the semi dawn light. Started down the Ohio bank, I jumped 3 blacks across from Black River. I then jumped about 20 mallards about .5 mile above Moscow. But out 2 decoys with big anchors out from the willows, and put about 12 more in the willows, and 2 Geese. I was ready at first light. About .5 hour later there were 3 groups of about 10 flying around. 1 group of 10 landed US and started swimming in. I gave them a feeder chuckle. They swam right in. I jumped up, but I did not have a good shot until they flew a bit to clear the willows. I fired 1 time and touched nothing. Jewels got excited, but no duck to retrieve. Another group of about 10 landed out but the high current carried them DS. Sat until 10:00 and saw about 20 land across from me on the Ky bank. Pulled up at 10:30 and ran back the Ohio bank and jumped 1 mallard, I let Jewels retrieve a stick at the ramp. I was home at 12:00.

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

12-26-2008 22:04
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Did anyone lose a cabelas dog vest on the access road that takes you from the AA Highway to the W.H. Bridge into Aberdeen ? Found one there in the middle of the road today, picked up, I have it, if you know whos it is let me know.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River below Foster Ky. 12-25-2008 18:16
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Duck Hunt Christmas Day 12-25-08

At 1 pm my daughter and wife went to the barn to ride horses, and I asked could I go duck hunting? I nearly dropped over when the wife said sure. I took the skiff to Foster mile 439 Ohio river. The temp. was about 40 and no wind the river at 33 at Cincinnati. Got a thermos of coffee at the Marathon in Mentor at the double A highway. I then got on old reiable route 8 to foster. The Ohio bank below Foster is one of my favorite floating banks. Started up and ran up Ky bank and crossed over just below Bear Creek. Started floating. Saw nothing until I was a little US from Black River and spotted a drake and hen mallard sitting at the edge of the water. I got right up on them. Just before I was ready to shoot I hit a eddy of water which started turning the boat. I corrected with the paddle, dropped the paddle and sat up. The mallards did not want to fly, I yelled hay, they jumped up , 3 for 3 at the drake, no feathers. I watch the two fly across the river. Across the river from me about 10 ducks swam out and took off. I started on down. Directly across from Black River I spotted about 10 swimming out from the bank though the binoculars. They swam in. I paddled down on about 15 sitting on the bank, all Mallards. I got right on them , perhaps 20 yards out. I jumped up and dropped a drake with the first and missed two shots at the next drake. About 15 ducks came out of Little Maple Creek below me. I picked up my drake, who was dead on the water, and pulled into the bank and had a cup of coffee. Pulled back out and continued down. About 500 yards above Moscow I spotted about 20 sitting on the bank. I got right on top of them, jumped up, missed the first, got a drake on the second, I didn’t want to shoot any more, two is plenty for me. I went to pick him up and he was gone. I looked for 20 minutes, even walked the bank, no sign. I decided it was a day, so I crossed over to the Ky bank and ran back up. I did not jump a duck. Pulled out and was home at 6:30. It is 18 miles from Foster to my house. Fantastic floating conditions today.

Posted By:
nashua
Web Member

central kentucky 12-24-2008 13:54
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 45-50 Degrees
The Geese are here.
We have seen hundreds of new birds arriving in big strings here in Central, Kentucky. Shot our limits this morning. Some birds seemed smart and climbed away from the decoys and others tried to land in the decoys as we picked up. Lots of mallards as well but there was skim ice on the pond and they shied away from it.
It has rained non stop since 4am.
Fields are flooded, truck stuck in corn. We’ll get in the Spring.

Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member

Talyor Bay 12-23-2008 15:43
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Well I hit the big water this morning and man where the ducks there. I had everything from singles to groups of 30 coming straight at me. There seemed to be only one problem. They would get about 20-30 from the decoys and spilt. I think I changed our setup 15 times. I pulled both mojo’s, then just one. I added and took away from the spread itself. I changed the boat blind on different sides of spread. I tried calling a lot, a little and not at all. I could not get the birds to finish to save my life. I simply ran out of ideas. I guess that you can check this day up for the ducks. We did scratch out one greenhead so the day wasn’t a complete bust and besides a day in the blind is so much better than a day at work. Happy Holidays to all.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

12-23-2008 07:45
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Some geese FINALLY started arriving. I saw several flocks of high flyers yesterday and the local ponds (that weren’t frozen) were loaded up.

Posted By:
chasmck3
Guest

12-22-2008 14:11
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KYStrokin,

IF you are in the central KY area, I highly recommend Gunner’s Taxidermy in Nicholasville. They have done 6 ducks for me and all are absolutely perfect. Sometimes it takes a while, but it is very worth it.

One note, don’t go cheap, because when you do, it won’t be pretty. A friend of mine didn’t go to Gunners for his wood duck and 6 months after he got it back, the tail section fell off and a couple of weeks later feathers started coming out all over the thing. This was after he boasted how he spent $150 less and got it back in 45 days. Now what do you think he will do with the next one???

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

12-22-2008 09:11
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KY, all of mine have been done by Damon Kustis of Sportsman’s Taxidermy in Louisville. Its pretty easy to find someone good with deer but ducks and geese are a whole nother story. Damon is good with birds. I also have a harlequin and an Eider at Birdman Studios in Colorado right now to be mounted. I haven’t gotten them back yet but the pics he has on the internet are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

On Saturday we put the skiff in and were the only bopat at the ramp. Thats three weeks in a row we’ve been the only boat at the ramp. It was calm and not overly cold. We headed over to the IN bank and traveled several miles before we spotted anything other than a bunch of beavers. We spotted two hooded mergies along the shore and after a good sneak I shot the drake. We got him and headed on down. Finally after a bunch of miles we crossed to the KY bank and soon found a pair of mallards. The current carried us right down and I got the drake. We kept going but to no avail. Finally we turned back and just before the boat ramp encountered a lone bufflehead which I took. In all we traveled over 17 miles of river and saw 5 ducks total. Its been so long since I saw a goose I don’t remember what they look like. Usually its slow this time of year however (according to my hunting log from the last several years we haven’t killed much in the weeks leading up to Christmas) it seems extra slow right now. The water was up but there wasn’t a whole lot of drift and the current was moving along but not dangerously so. I suspect there are more birds on the river now with the ponds being frozen but we need a push. If you get out be careful, its bitter cold and one wrong move could spell doom. I pray that everyone has a safe and happy Christmas.

Posted By:
KYStrokin
Guest

12-21-2008 21:14
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Who would you guys use to mount a few birds?

Posted By:
tramroadhunter
Web Member

Henderson 12-19-2008 17:50
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AGR 655

It’s been slow but got a big migration yesterday. It should get good this weekend

AGR 599

Posted By:
tramroadhunter
Web Member

Henderson 12-19-2008 17:41
– – –
AGR 655

It’s been slow but got a big migration yesterday. It should get good this weekend

AGR 599

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

12-19-2008 07:18
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I got two reports the last two days: On Wednesday a couple of buddies hunted Hardy Lake in Southern In and ended with 4 coots that they shot to get the dog some work. They estimate that 60 birds were seen total, no geese and the majority of them were in one flock in the middle of the lake.

Yesterday a group of fellas hunted the river and reported it to be up, some drift and heavy current. Very few birds were seen and no shots were fired. All the ducks seen were big duck (mallards etc) and no geese. They left at 11:15.

The geese that have been staying on the local pond have finally started venturing out to feed. They have left at around 9:00 the last two mornings and returned at 11:15 to 11:20 both days. This cold front coming in might change that pattern however.

Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member

Sloughs WMA 12-18-2008 22:24
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Does anyone have any info for sloughs? Are they killing anything or is anyone seeing any birds? I have a qouta hunt coming up.–Thanks and safe hunting

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

Ohio River 12-15-2008 12:05
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
We put the skiff in on Saturday morning to no other boats around. I was kinda surprised by that. We put in at 8:00 and headed upstream into some fog. After about a mile we switched to the Indiana bank. After another mile we spotted a single buffle head. After a long sneak we got her. Turning around we headed downstream and saw 3 mallards sitting on the IN bank. We got within 20 and rolled er’ over and got all three. After another mile or so we spotted three blacks on the IN bank and got within 25 yards before taking our limit of 1 a piece. We snuck several other groups of blacks but already had our limits and there were no mallards or other ducks in with them. We took out at 10:00 with our 6. Not a bad morning.
A couple of things that I’ve noticed: first and foremost the goose numbers are terrible. We haven’t even seen one flying the last 2 times we’ve been on the river (and we’ve covered over 10 miles of river). There are some staying on a local pond but oddly enough they are not moving. All day and all night they are staying on the pond, even sitting on the ice when it froze. The other thing I find odd is the lack of wood ducks. Now I know its been cold but every year (even in big freeze ups) we have seen and killed woodies on the river. I haven’t seen the first one since October. We have been seeing some divers here and there but not any large groups. The river came up a couple feet and had lots of drift. The current was strong and I gotta imagine this rain we are having now will add to it. If you hit the river be careful and use some heavy weights so you don’t end up chasing dekes the whole time.

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

East Augusta 12-13-2008 17:51
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted the blind this morning. Seen lots of ducks this morning but only the small groups would work. Killed 5 between 2 of us, all mallard drakes. Ran around 18 GHG mallards and the mojo. The small groups we had did work relatively well, and sucked right into the hole after about 5 passes. I’ve noticed myself somewhat over calling lately so I tried a new strategy today; less calling, and call only when they turn away, and I believe for the most part it worked. If anyone plans on hunting towards Augusta tomorrow let me know, I’d like to go, everyone in my crew is busy, and I don’t like to hunt the river by myself. Stay safe !

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River Brush Creek Mile 388 12-13-2008 13:56
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 12-13-08

I got up ay 4:30 to try decoying at Brush Creek mile 388 Ohio River. I took the 1954 14’ lonestar with Jewels the chessie. Grabbed a sausage egg sandwich at the Mentor Marathon. Stopped there was the biggest duck boat I have ever seen, it had to be 22’ long. I got to the brush creek ramp at 6:45. The low last nite was 19, and river at 34’ at Cincinnati, I really should have taken the skiff. Ran out to island and set up on the down stream end. I jumped up maybe 3 mallards at the mouth of brush creek. As I was setting decoys a duck swings over in the fog and lands just out from my decoys. I ignored it because I still had to tarp the boat. Got all done and looked up and the duck was a drake Canvasback and he is in my decoys swimming around. I was 90 percent sure they were off limits in Kentucky, but I could not shoot him anyway, he was just too stupid. He swam to within 15 yards of my boat. He got mad when the other ducks would not play with him, so he swam off down stream. That’s all I saw for about 15 minutes, when here he comes back and lands in my decoys, and stuck around for 15 minutes, and then swam back DS. About this time 2 mallards swam by, but were 70 yards out. They would not swim in. about 1 hour later I pulled up and took a boat ride US and DS of the island and saw maybe 15 ducks in groups of 3 and 4, not a lot. Pulled out at about 10:30 and paid Roger my $5.00 ramp fee. I wanted to stop for Breakfast at Browns in Aberdeen, but they were closed. I had a good breakfast at the Dairy Yum Yum. I stopped at the Dam on Route 8 to spot ducks, and saw a few above the dam, but did see 8 deer go over the hill and get knee deep in the River just 200 yards above the Dam. They stood there for 10 minutes and then took off. Home by 2:00, did not fire a shoot.

Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest

Ohio River 12-12-2008 11:51
– – –
After two weeks of hitting it hard,I am starting to have those mechanical difficulties. Mojo battery shot, mojo bag destroyed, mojo charger dead, gun starting to get really slow,truck smells like soured wet dog and the list goes on. On a positive note the salt caused the lights on my decoy trailer to start working.

Anyway, watched ducks last night not work the cornfield but were staging 1/2 mile down the river. Decided to give it a whirl this morning. Tried to setup where I thought was the G spot but to deep. River has has come up two feet on this section of the river. Ended up 200 yards in the wrong place. At daybreak I had two passing barges, and several hundred ducks working. Once the barges passed the ducks settled downstream and I was SOL. I worked several ducks but they all went down below my spot.

Decided to pickup, move downriver and restart. It worked, flushed the ducks out setup 12 decoys and a mojo and started hunting again. Ended with one hooded merganser, three mallards and one black.

Scout move, scout move and do not become complacent has been my moto this week. Hunting has been very, very good this week. I did see some redheads and goldeneyes this morning. May set some long lines tomorrow and see if we can get them to work.

“I take no prisoners”

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

12-11-2008 22:12
– – –
It’s $600 in the book I’ll take $500

Posted By:
KYStrokin
Guest

12-10-2008 22:39
– – –
How much you want for the ruger

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

12-10-2008 22:07
– – –
Anyone interested ina Ruger M77 Mark 2 in .300 Win. Mag.? Need money for my trip to Reelfoot in January !

Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest

Ohio River Corn Field 12-10-2008 08:49
– – –
Warm, Wet,Wild and Quick. No it wasn’t sex, it was this mornings hunt. Since you can’t hardly get dividends from bank stock nowdays, I have adjusted to duck scouting and it paid dividends in a big way this morning. I had Board meetings yesterday, but I still scouted before and after work. I found a sizable group of mallards and blacks working a recently harvested cornfield in a lower bottom next to the river. Five minutes from work! I made a few calls to those who say “call me when it gets good”, like usual, they were all busy. I told myself I wasn’t going to make those calls this year, but I knew it would be good and I wanted to share the experience. At least I tried.

Jethro, my lab, felt like he was back on the priaries. For the first ten minutes we just laid in the blind, watched over 150 ducks land, eat and just be ducks all around us. We were ducked in! Once good shooting light came, I made some moves in the layout blind and the ducks flushed off to the river. I wanted to make sure I could just shoot greenheads and a black.

Small groups began drifting back in and I took advantage of three small sets to harvest my four drake mallards and one black. Within ten minutes it was over. Out of the field by 7:50 and in the office by 8:20. I will give it a day rest and back again if they stay around.

Birds in our area have been roosting on the power plant ponds and are starting to dry feed in the cornfields. Very early for this to be happening. Don’t know how long it will last, but this week has been very good.

“I take no prisoners”

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

12-09-2008 21:54
– – –
Ain’t in no big hurry Skee, just whenever you find yourself with nothing to do. I know thats probably almost never though, haha.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

12-09-2008 07:57
– – –
Ohio, I still have those blinds and stuff. Been busy as heck. We’ll have to set up a time to get together.

Saw two large groups of sandhills flying over the office yesterday.

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

West of Augusta 12-08-2008 15:04
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Launched the boat at 5:30 A.m. yesterday. We were hunting a new area, so we had to take the “big pole” as we call it and check our depths. We got 6 dozen GHG mallards out and 2 mojos with about a 25 ft. hole in the middle and slight “j” bends at the end of each group. Seen several migrators- ducks and geese both. The puddle ducks didnt want nothing to do with us. Only the divers would work the spread. We killed bluebills, redheads (100% they weren’t Canvasbacks), Buffleheads and Mergansers. Only heard the guys fire down from us one time. We got our mixed bag then headed to the house around noon. Good luck and be safe !

[Edited By ohioriverhunter on 2008-12-08 15:05]

Posted By:
Wareagle23
Guest

Ohio River 12-08-2008 10:42
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Well I made it to the other side from last year and here we are talking about ducks again. I have been fortunate to have been out all but one day since opener and so far hunting has been fare.

Today however, things were a little better than just fare. Setup alone with the new dog Jethro, and within 50 minutes I had harvested four mallards and a black duck. As Jethro made the last retrieve I heard an old friend on the river bank saying hello. He brought along his trusted dog Jim Cooper and we were hunting again. Over the next 1 1/2 hour he had 1 black and three mallards.

The last duck shot was a black mallard so I let his dog make the retrieve. Unfortunately his dog, Jim Cooper, is 11 years old and the black duck did a lot of diving. After somewhat of a chase I sent Jethro on the back command to aid in the chase. Just as Jethro approached, Big Jim made the retrieve and Jethro honored the retrive and thought there must be another duck. Eight minutes later I am watching my dog walking on the Ohio shore. For whatever reason today he decided to take a swim acorss the river. Remind you, we are miles from any bridge and today, I did not have the boat. Thankfully, he quickly decided there was not a duck to be found and back he came. He had gotton so far out on the retrieve I don’t think he could hear me on the whistle and with no collar on today, he just kept going. Amazing the drive and passion of watching a two year old swim the river and an eleven year old chase a diving black mallard.

If not great enough to see the dogs work, I must also mention one of my mallard drakes I shot was banded. Banded in Ontario 9/08/07.

There were several groups of ducks coming out of the north this morning. Many of the ducks I saw were blacks. Just received a call from another hunting partner and he is seeing large numbers of geese on the move today and ducks in a cornfield along the river.

“I take no prisoners”

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

12-08-2008 08:34
– – –
We didn’t hunt Saturday as I was sick, however we did get out in our duck skiff yesterday (Sunday) and boy was it a hoot.
The wind had layed down some but it was cold. There were no other boats at the ramp so I was wondering if we were the only one’s dumb enough to get out. From the ramp we spotted a small group of buffleheads. We launched at 9:00 (after fueling up and putting on 19 layers of clothes). The sad part is that we had to be out by 10:30 as my brother had an occasion he couldn’t miss without the wife going ballistic. We started up the Indiana bank and ran into a group of sawbills, taking 2 beautiful hoodeds’. After a short jaunt we crossed over to the KY bank and it wasn’t far til we hit a single gadwall. After adding her to the bag we headed on down and paddled up on a group of mallards taking two drakes out of a group of 8. The birds were sitting tight against the banks. In this time e also saw more buffleheads, bluebills, black ducks and some geese that we couldn’t get upon. After going another couple of miles we added two more drake mallards to the bag and it was past time to go. A cold little run but a lot of fun. We saw several groups of ducks in the 15-30 range and plenty of divers if someone wanted to set a layout rig or some longlines. The blacks aren’t here in huge numbers yet, but are beginning to show. Although we saw some geese it wasn’t nearly the numbers I thought we would. Most of the small ponds were frozen solid (we tried busting some ice for a quick hunt to no avail) but with the warm temps and rain coming I suspect it will change a lot.

Posted By:
Saskentuckewan Hunter
Guest

Ohio River – Meldahl Pool 12-08-2008 07:59
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
My predictions of a mass migration came true Sunday morning. We looked north over the hills of Ohio around 8:00 to see clouds of birds moving in. Only one problem – they weren’t ducks, nor geese. Instead, we witnessed the arrival of hundreds of terns. In my early days of waterfowling I would have said that such a migration meant the ducks would come within the next couple of days. However, I’ve since learned that trying to predict waterfowl movement is like trying to pick lottery numbers.

We did end up bagging two mallards and two black ducks. Our shooting improved dramatically over that of the previous morning. The four we got were the only birds we fired a shot at. The down side is that we only had shots at four birds. We saw a total of around 100 geese and about the same number of ducks.

I guess it was nice not to have to take this weedend off, with the season continued right through from Thanksgiving. But I can’t help but think that the numbers of ducks we saw this weekend won’t compare to the birds we will have during the last week of January, as season closes on the 25th. I’m still having difficulty understanding that decision.

Good luck, and be safe!

[Edited By Saskentuckewan Hunter on 2008-12-08 08:02]

Posted By:
nashua
Web Member

Central Kentucky 12-07-2008 14:50
– – –
Saskentuckywan,
A better decoy would be to place a huge clock outside the blind set 5 minutes past legal shooting hours. That’s when ALL the birds show up!
Enjoyed your entry.

Posted By:
Saskentuckewan Hunter
Guest

Ohio River – Meldahl Pool 12-06-2008 20:33
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
What a beautiful morning we had today! A crisp 27 degrees and snow falling. The light winds made it a perfect morning to be on the river. Some days in the outdoors just have that extra special feel about them, and this was one of them.

Frozen ponds and lakes have pretty much forced all of the geese back to the big water. We probably saw 250 this morning. Most of them got up off the water and headed north to feed in Ohio around nine o’clock. Only one single gave us a look. We didn’t have any goose floaters out this morning, but we we able to get him to give us a few looks just by calling to him.

Ducks were pretty scarce. We may have seen 75, but that’s being pretty liberal. I would say many of them were the same ducks over and over again. We did manage to knock down two mallards. The highlight of the morning was watching Jethro and Spirit (both black labs) retrieve them. Both ducks were still swimming and heading to the middle of the river as fast as they could get there. Both dogs were going for the closest duck when, just before they reached it, Jethro broke for the far duck, leaving the close one for Spirit. Both ducks made several diving attempts to escape, but the dogs brought their “A game” this morning and the ducks made a trip to the boat in the mouths of labs.

After that, some dismal shooting allowed three woodies and three mallard to escape over the course of three different sets and volleys of shots. Dogs – 1, hunters – 0. Jethro and Spirit were not impressed with the shooting.

I’m anticipating good things to come tomorrow morning. A little snow to the north along with frozen water and a cold northwest wind could add up to some new birds moving in over night and throughout the morning. It’s time to put out the big migrator spread and a couple of mojos and hope for the best.

On a lighter note: I have an idea for a great waterfowl decoy. I think it could be the hottest thing since the mojo. In twenty years of duck and goose hunting, I don’t think I have ever gotten out of the blind to take a leak without being bombarded by birds, only to have my gun sitting too far away to grab. So I’m thinking about designing a decoy to represent a hunter taking care of business. I’ll bet you could stand him just outside of the blind and kill a limit in no time!

Good luck, and be safe.

[Edited By Saskentuckewan Hunter on 2008-12-06 20:35]

Posted By:
nashua
Web Member

Central KY 12-06-2008 15:17
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Hunted large farm pond Friday.
Totally iced in.
Broke up ice with canoe.
Skimmed over 20 minutes later.
Took one mallard drake and one shoveller.
Saturday morning set up in cornfield for geese.
Saw 6 flocks high and heading elsewhere.
Hope we get a thaw.

Posted By:
woodsman695
Guest

12-05-2008 17:28
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Hey KYStrokn,

It just depends which barrel went off first. One is improved and the other is modified!!!

Posted By:
eville
Web Member

Henderson County 12-05-2008 15:58
– – –
Three of us got out in the ice this morning on an open hole and did really well. We ended up with 18: 5 mallards, 1 wigeon and 12 gadwalls.

So a lot of ducks flying in from high over Ohio River about mid-morning.

Posted By:
KYStrokin
Guest

12-04-2008 21:30
– – –
Hey woods what area did you kill your birds in?

[Edited By KYStrokin on 2008-12-04 21:31]

Posted By:
woodsman695
Guest

Western KY 12-04-2008 16:35
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Finally got into the ducks today! Had a lot of fun! Nothin better than webbed feet in your face!

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

East Augusta 12-03-2008 16:29
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted east of Augusta today, didn’t kill a bird, only seen high flyers. Weakest day of duck hunting I’ve had so far this year. Maybe it’ll get better for this weekend. Stopped and talked to Wareagle23 and his group on the way out, don’t guess they had much luck either. Hey Skee you never did get back to me about the field hunting gear and what not from back in the spring, let me kno somthin’ !

Posted By:
Saskentuckewan Hunter
Guest

Ohio River – Meldahl Pool 12-02-2008 07:39
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
We hunted all four days of the Thanksgiving weekend. As you can see from my earlier post, we had a decent day on Thursday. But the numbers of birds dropped steadily with each passing day. We saw very few ducks over the four days, and the goose numbers pretty much matched the ducks by Sunday morning. I think we ended up with eight geese and seven ducks over the four days. I had been seeing several birds in the area during the few weeks leading up to the season, but noticed them thinning out as the opener approached. That’s what waterfowling in Northern Kentucky is typically all about: hunt ’em while they are here, then wait for the next cold front to push some more in. Hopefully this week’s weather will bring in a few new birds to chase this weekend. And even if that doesn’t happen, our crew will be out on the water or in the field theorizing about when they might show up.

Good luck, and be safe!

Posted By:
AGR 655
Web Member

Talyor Bay 12-01-2008 22:00
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 50-60 Degrees
Sorry but this is a late report. Fog was so thick we could see about 40 yards at daylight. We came out with 5 but hey that’s always better than being skunked. It was the fewest birds I’ve ever seen on opening day at Taylor Bay. I decided not to hunt the next 3 days and the reports I got showed I made a wise decision. If I could make a suggestion….if you duck hunt in Kentucky everywhere 100 miles east of Ballard you should really take a trip to Ark, MO or IL. Even if its just a weekend. I know that we get our fluke days but everyone should go experience what waterfowl hunting is supposed to be like. GL to all and be safe out there. I love this cold weather.

Posted By:
chasmck3
Guest

11/30 and 21/1 12-01-2008 11:34
– – –
Hunted our beaver pond honey hole that is still down 2 feet adn scratched out 2 woodies atfirst light out of a whopping 4 shots. Had one teal buzz by at the speed of light and no one had a chance to even raise thier guns! Saw 4 flying high that had nothing to do with us. Home by 10 am after scoutng DRY public land.

Monday-much better weather and ducks working!! Out of 5 shots, we dropped 3 mallards, 2 drakes and a hen after much deliberation on whether or not to shoot her. Left after 20 minutes as we had to get to work. lots of other ducks working today and goinback this afternoon.

Also went by Lexington Mall and saw 9 shovellers, 6 ring necks, 2 unknowns, and around 30 mallards with 20 geese. There were also an abundance of hooded mergansers and about 10 bluebills by the water company and many greater Canadas sleeping by Ricmond Road. They gotta move some time, don’t they??

GL to all.

Posted By:
Shawn-Keeton
Web Member

12-01-2008 08:42
– – –
Well fellas, it has started. We hunted Thursday in a spot we had been seeing some geese and only saw a pair of mallards about 9:30. It was fairly cold and a lot of the water locked up as we were sitting there.
Friday I went to Indiana and hunted a pond with my Dad. Again we only saw a pair of mallards and nothing else. Slow, slow and even slower.
On Saturday we set up on a pond close to the house and had a group of bluebills and ringnecks come in. I was back at the truck getting the shells for my sons gun and didn’t get to fire at them The boys got 3 (2 bluebills and a ringneck.) When I got back they had a cripple and when I shot at it the stock on my Browning busted into 3 pieces. I’ve never seen a gun do that (its a wood stock) and still don’t get it as it wasn’t that cold. Gotta call Browning today to get the scoop on what to do. So far I’d fired one shot and broke my gun. That ended up being all we saw.
Yesterday we hunted another pond close by and ended with a pair of mallards having seen about 12 and 8 geese.

My overall impressions were that the water is SUPER low everywhere. Most of the birds that we saw flew late (after 9:00) and there’s not much vegetation in the ponds. We saw very few geese. The lack of woodies really has me scratching my head. Granted its been fairly cold around here for this time of year but not to the extent that some northern woodies shouldn’t be here. We saw very few during the early season and didn’t see a single one in 4 days. I hope everyone had a safe weekend.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River below Dover mile 420 11-29-2008 17:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 11-29-08
Took the duck skiff to Dover Ky. Mile 420 Ohio River. I had a great breakfast at the General Store Augusta. Got to ramp at 8:30, and no one was there. That says duck hunting must be bad. It was a low of 28 last nite, it was sunny and calm, the river was a sheet of glass. Started up 1958 10 hp Johnson and started down the Ky bank. I was idling the 10 hp and spotting though the binoculars. I passed a boat dock and looked over and there were 3 mallards. Not the best job of spotting. I cut the motor, and started paddling, got right up on them, but did not shoot, I did not like the fact that they were so dumb that they let me motor right up on them. They jumped up and I pretending to shoot them. Continued on down. Spotted decoys ahead of me and ran up to ask how they were doing. They had a big house of a blind up a bit from the water’s edge, and no boat. The guy said they had gotten a few, and had been seeing lots of geese fly over, but they did would not pay attention to them. They had maybe 20 decks and 5 geese decoys out, but they were in close to the bank. They had seen the 3 I had jumped up. I continued on down and spotted mallards at Indian creek about a .5 mile below. They stood out as white in the bright sun though the binoculars. I took my time and paddled down on them just in time for a barge to run up. Just before I got on them the waves bunched me up and down, which the ducks did not like. They swam down to the mouth of Indian creek . I paddled the boat into the mouth as far as I could but hit bottom. They were about 30 yards away, a little further than I like to get. I suspected that ounce they got up they would fly towards me, which is common for ducks up a creek. I jumped up they few back towards the creek, turned and came back over me. I missed the first shot, got the second, and missed the 3rd. I pulled out and then ran over to deeper water to pick up my drake. I paddled the boat in backwards and hit a log just before I got the duck with my long handled net. Paddled back out and started up the 10 hp to get back in main river to have a cup of coffee. As I started forward the motor cavitated at mid rpm, this was strange. Drank a cup of coffee and headed back down. Got across from White Oak creek and decided to head back. On the run up the Ohio side I jumped nothing, and waved to the 3 fishermen at Straight Creek. God do we need cold weather. Motor still cavitated at high rpm. Pulled out and noticed my depth finder transducer was cracked, and pushed down, and this was causing the cavitation. Home by 2:00 I expoxed the depth finder mount good as new.

Posted By:
ohioriverhunter
Guest

East Augusta 11-28-2008 19:23
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 35-40 Degrees
Glad to hear from everyone! I can’t believe it’s already time to start slaughterin’ ducks again! Hunted Bracken Creek Thursday. Heavy fog held the birds down longer. Had a group of woodies come in early, killed 1 drake, seen several small groups of mallards after that. Deep mud prevented us from using the mojo. If we would’ve had some kind of movement in the spread we might have had better luck. Around 10 when the fog started to lift we had a group of 4 greenheads commit, we took 2, a drake and hen. Seen a dozen or so geese, they didn’t pay any attention to us, we didn’t have any goose decoys out. Today we didn’t see much early in the morning, we hunted out of the blind, one group of a dozen or so flew by and didnt want anything to do with us, didn’t see much after that until 9:30 or 10, had a group of 5 mallards commit, we took 3, 2 drakes and 1 hen. At about 11:oo we seen Wareagle23 come by, shortly after we began to pick up, while we was picking up we seen a nice group of geese heading east, I believe they were residents. Maybe could have dropped one if I had the gun. Hope everyone had a great opener! Stay safe!

Posted By:
Saskentuckewan Hunter
Guest

Ohio River – Meldahl Pool 11-27-2008 19:52
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Opening day of the 2008 Kentucky duck season is in the books!
We scouted the river by boat yesterday morning and saw some birds, but not anything to get too excited about. We decided to set up this morning in an area where we saw several geese and a few ducks during the scouting trip. The fog was about as thick as it could have been, and didn’t really begin to burn off until around ten o’clock. Four of us ended up with five geese and three ducks. The two dogs did a great job. It was nice not to have to chase birds in the river current. All in all it was a great morning. We’ll be back at it tomorrow!

Good luck and be safe.

Posted By:
bridgeman
Web Member

Ohio River mile 416 11-27-2008 17:42
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Duck Hunt 11-27-08
I decided to take the decoy boat to Straight creek on the Ohio River mile 422 to decoy the bank just below Straight creek. I got up at 4:30, alarm did not go off at 4:00(don’t know why) Loaded up and grabbed a egg and sausage sandwich at the Marathon on the double A at Mentor. Crossed over the new bridge at Maysville and was at Straight Creek at 6:30 just in time to see the gate was locked. On to Ripley. I was 3rd at Ripley. Jewels the dog and I ran up stream and put out 11 duck decoys and 4 geese just above the mouth of Eagle Creek, and sat in dead duck, my 1954 loanstar 14’ aluminum V bottom with the homemade blind. There was a heavy fog. Low that nite 26, though it was going to get up to 52 later. So far no cold weather yet, the lowest may have been 23.
Sat and heard Geese, and about 6 flew right over me going down stream. I called but they did not turn. About .5 hour another group of 8 flew over, same results. I heard a lot of shooting down stream this morning ( perhaps a total of 20 shots) They must be doing better at Augusta. About 9:30 I looked up and a hen and drake mallard are floating down, just on the edge of my decoys. I jumped up and fired two at the drake, who looked hit. He flew US and landed near the bank, perhaps 200 yards up. I fired up the 25 merc. and ran up to look for him. Still very heavy fog. Jewels and I got on the bank, and searched US then DS, but nothing. Just below Eagle creek on the sand bar was a cross with flowers on it -Dave …… drowned here Sept 2007. Ran back to decoys and sat another hour and fog cleared. Pulled up decoys and took a ride down to Dover and back and jumped up a total of 3 mallards above Dover. No decoy hunters at Lees Creek. Ran back to ramp and the two other hunters were gone. Pulled out and wanted to have a good breakfast at the General Store in Augusta, but they were closed. Home by 1:30.