Category: Michigan

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Sunrise side 09-05-2009 19:32
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I know that some here like the WWB area and like all say the water is definitely up. However there is a detour sign for road work on Pine River road. Don’t worry, they are working on the bridge just east of the road that goes into the state launch. Area looks great and I talked to one goose hunter whose son took one gander today and then was learning to back the trailer down to load the boat. Good job kid!

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Small Lake in Tuscola County 09-03-2009 16:45
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
I missed Tuesday, something about a day job getting in the way of hunting.

Got out with a friend that did some scouting. Shot 4 on a small lake that the land owners wanted cleaned up on Tuesday. Went back today and shot the only bird we saw. Not pristine but the whole idea of this season is tied to removing some less than desirable beach and lawn destroyers.

Guys in the fields around us expressed varying levels of success. Some found corn fields cut for silage. It seems like mostly large groups coming out at first light and things are over in the fields within an hour. There is so much cut wheat, rye grass and other green fields the birds move a mile down the road and sit there all day.

Coming and going, fields with cows were full of birds. Maybe I need to invest in an Ole’ Bessy Blind. I have seen them used in Nebraska on snows. Any body else?

This weather has stalled any move of flight birds. Normally you can set your watch to the 5th to start seeing TVP birds coming down the shoreline. Even with the full moon and light north winds, unless something changes up North, they look to be late this year.

May sit out on the Bay tomorrow and Saturday, will post thereafter.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 09-02-2009 09:29
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 35-40 Degrees
I opened goose on my old home lake and did not see a goose. Talked to property owners and they still are crapping on the lawns. Checked a field that I had solo permission last year and found 4 guys who the owner thought was me also got permission. 0 birds taken but some seen at least. Gonna get ’em later I guess.

My YLF did a good job of staying calm as about 100 woodies flew by and then swam through the decoys.

jacduck

I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2009-09-02 09:31]

[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2009-09-02 09:32]

Posted By:
Fowl Mood
Guest

Michigan water levels 08-28-2009 19:17
– – –
The water level of Lake Michigan (and Lake Huron – they’re at the same water level – connected at the Mackinac Bridge) is up one inch in the last week (and 1″ higher than one month ago). That’s because of increased precipitation (esp. at the south end of Lake Michigan – Michigan City, Indiana had 2.7″ of rain Thursday and Thursday Night) and low evaporation. The Grand River in Grand Rapids is at 186% of average flow at 7:45 PM Friday evening. Rainfall since June 1 is about 3″ above average in Grand Rapids. Lake Michigan/Huron stands 11″ higher than last year and the lake is now only 4″ below the long-term average level. Lake Superior is up 3″ in the last month, up 1″ in the last year and 4″ below average level. Lake Erie is 6″ above one year ago and 3″ above the average level. Lake Ontario is at the same level as one year ago and 4″ above the average level.

Not sure how the water has affected local breeding Mallards but we’ve got one of the wettest summers on record going. Hopefully the waterfowl have benfitted as well.

Posted By:
ndhager
Guest

thumb 08-28-2009 09:21
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 60-65 Degrees
Trying to find geese is posing a challenge this year. Some birds around, but they are scattered and not using wheat stubble consistently. It seems that the birds are not as concentrated or consistent this year as in years past. I am seeing a few wood ducks around.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 08-26-2009 10:51
Cloudy, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
I was up last weekend (sorry for the late post) and fought the high winds and rain putting the finishing touches on our cedar blind.

Water is way up and building, which is unusual for this time of year. Normally, we loose water the month before the Season.

Areas that were dry two years ago no have enough water to float boats. No time like the present to start scouting.

Lots of bluewings moving through right now. This cooler weather will probably puish the majority South. I did not see the build up as in prior years, but this has been a wet cool summer, so my guess is the teal are not stopping long and are headed to the warmer climes.

I did see one small group of divers, they were grey blobs in the distance, more than likely young ring necks or redheads.

Goose sightings for this time of year have been way down. Rumor has it a semi load of wheat was dumped by accident up around the rock quarry off Bayport road. The result was to pull every goose for miles around to the free food and sheltered water. The DNR found out and made the farmer clean it up. Hopefully this explains the poor number fo birds sighted on the Bay. And sorry guys, don’t call, the quarry doesn’t allow hunting.

The corn in the managed area looks tremendous but is still very green. I was unable to catch up with Tim Geary and crew, but the higher water should allow for early pumping this year. Hopefully, the reserved hunts on the first two days of the season will have more huntable zones and blinds.

That’s about it for now. Don’t forget life jackets, flares and other safety stuff this year. You can count on more enforcement in the area this year cause its easier to get around.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor

Traverse City 08-24-2009 20:05
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
Salmon fished this weekend and it was SLOW!!! We fished the west bay on Fri. and got 3 then got skunked on Sat. Went to Platte bay on Sun. and got skunked too but we did see a lot of divers flying around at sun up.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

08-21-2009 10:14
– – –
This is stolen from the MI Duck Hunters Assn web site. It is interesting how to s for repainting plastics as well as how to buy paints in the colors you might need.

http://www.takeem.com/tp.php

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 08-21-2009 09:44
– – –
I have not had a lot of time to scout it out around here but all conditions look great. Problem with that is birds will be scattered. Goose count looks very good but I have not seen them using the wheat fields much yet.

When I say busy I did what many of you dream of. I bought a house (shack really) in ND as a hunting base. Hopefully when we get done with the fixin’ my son will really get back into hunting ducks and bring the 2 grandsons with him. Object a family legacy and a place to use it.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

The Entire State 08-20-2009 16:12
Arctic Blast – Froze Out
You Know you guys the one way to make this site more active is for you to get more active.

You don’t have to be an editorialist to be a field editor. You just need to DO IT.

We haveFE’s on here that haven’t reported in a year.

HEEEEELLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO.

JUst apply. THey are dying for people to volunteer.

Even if you don’t want the responsibility or th e desire.

JUST POST.

There are other sites including MDH and DU.

But this is the only site that is non-political.

They just ant a few bucks for opening a channel for people like us to communicate.

In the vernacular of LARRY ________

GET UR DUUUUUUNNNN!!!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

The entire State 08-20-2009 16:03
– – –

Posted By:
BPage
Guest

Saginaw Bay 08-20-2009 13:31
– – –
Just thought I would start out the new season with a “Thank You” to the Field Editors who report on line. I have watched this site for several years and greatly enjoy the reports from John W., Michael M., and John C. (and others). Since I spend most of my time hunting out of Bud’s Landing, I greatly appreciate the comments of Rick H. This web site has declined some the past couple of years but since I still work and have little scouting time all of your comments are welcome. Maybe, over the next year, we can generate more interest from those who take their hunting seriously.

Posted By:
Michael-Majcher
Field Editor

Traverse Bay 08-19-2009 22:44
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 60-65 Degrees
Pintails seen flying over M-37 on my way up to Munson hospital last week.

Today was the first sunny day in the last week and it’s started to rain again with the forcast to only hit the 60’s for tomorrow.

we have yet to see any real summer weather here along the Manistee. The Pine River is well off color and the swamps and backwaters are full. Ducks coming down will have no trouble finding the out of way places to hole-up.

Salmon should be in… I’ll verify this week.

MM

Posted By:
wwn1
Guest

08-19-2009 16:00
– – –
Anthony Santoli, Ohio FE, has a second-hand report of high duck numbers on Lake St. Clair, including what sounds like a big jump in redheards. Any of our resident LSC experts care to weigh in with what they are seeing up that way? Good numbers of the big divers, if true, sure would be good news.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 08-18-2009 12:02
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Well August 15th has come and gone. And the Bay around us is already in preparation for the new season.

Early bird hunters have their blinds already started. And the cedar swamps have been trimmed for dressing up the blinds.

Water continues to be plentiful. As a matter of fact, there is a marked channel between Maisou and DaFoe. The first time in 5 years or more. Getting around the Bay does not appear to be a problem for this year.

But remember, the rocks that were in plain sight last year are now 1-6 inches below the surface. The unwarry will be spending a lot this Fall on lower units on their outboards. The best advice is to mark your routes with a GPS in the daylight and follow them in at O’dark thirty.

The cool summer has stalled the arrival of early ducks. Lots of baby mallards around, but the bluewings are just starting to show up. Geese are starting to return from the golf courses.

The high water and summer storms have wrecked havoc on the wild rice beds. But the wild celery and duck potatoe has flourished. Even zebra mussels beds on the inside have returned with the cooler water. This should bode well for the inside diver hunting which was very poor last year. Who knows maybe we’ll actually get a crack at some Cans this year.

I’ll be up this coming weekend, will give another report then, including conditions on the Managed Area.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor

08-14-2009 14:38
– – –
Here’s the season dates if you haven’t seen them already.

Duck seasons will run Sept. 26 – Nov. 20 and Nov. 26-29 in the North
Zone (Upper Peninsula), Oct. 3 – Nov. 29 and Dec. 5-6 in the Middle
Zone, and Oct. 10 – Dec. 6 and Jan. 2-3 in the South Zone.

There is an open season on canvasbacks this year as well as expanded
opportunity for scaup. The daily bag limit is six ducks to include no
more than four mallards (no more than one hen), three wood ducks, two
redheads, two scaup, one pintail, one black duck and one canvasback.

Early Canada goose season opens Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 15
statewide, except for the Upper Peninsula and Saginaw, Tuscola and Huron
counties, where it runs through Sept. 10. The daily bag limit is five.

Regular goose seasons are Sept. 16 – Oct. 30 in the North Zone; Oct.3 –
Nov. 9 and Nov. 26 – Dec. 2 in the Middle Zone; and Oct. 10 – Nov. 12
and Nov. 26 – Dec. 6 in the South Zone, except for designated Goose
Management Units (GMU). The daily bag limit is two.

In the Saginaw County and Tuscola/Huron GMUs, the goose season is Oct.
10 – Nov. 12, Nov. 26 – Dec.6, and Jan. 2-31 with a bag limit of two.

In the Allegan County GMU, the season is Nov. 28 – Dec. 21 and Dec.
28-Jan. 17 with a bag limit of two.

In the Muskegon Waste Water GMU, the season is Oct. 13 – Nov. 14 and
Dec. 1-12 with a bag limit of two.

Elsewhere in the South Zone, the late season is Jan. 2-31 with a bag
limit of five.

Hunters may also harvest other geese during the regular and late goose
seasons in their respective zones. The bag limits are 10 snow, blue and
Ross’ geese in combination; and one white-fronted goose or one brant.

Hunters are also reminded of the Youth Waterfowl Weekend on Sept.
19-20. This hunt is statewide for licensed youths 10 to 15 years of
age. Youths must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or someone 18
years or older. The adult will not be allowed to hunt waterfowl and is
not required to have a waterfowl hunting license. The daily limits are
the same as those allowed for the regular duck season.

To learn more about hunting opportunities in Michigan, visit the
DNR’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrhunting.

Posted By:
BPage
Guest

08-04-2009 20:14
– – –
Citizens group meets Saturday and then the Commission meets next Thursday. We should have answers next Friday.

Posted By:
mallard 1 duck
Web Member

08-03-2009 11:43
– – –
Has anyone heard about the bag limits for Mich yet? Should be sometime this week?

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 07-22-2009 06:14
– – –
Concealed weapon vote today. Call your senator ASAP

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20090722/D99JEFTG0.html

Concealed carry in all states measure needs 60 votes today!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Sagniaw Bay Fish Point Area 07-06-2009 09:24
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
Fished around North Island on Friday. Came up just short of three limits in 3 hours. Didn’t get out early and got blown off around 2:30 PM. Had to work to find a feeding school, but then it was like ducks in a barrel, then just a fast they moved or stopped biting with a wind change.

Mid-day stay away from the pack and find your own fish. Water is warming and clearing, fish spook if they are chased too hard.

Still draggin meat, bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses (green and copper worked best) Did catch one nice fish on a long-line Hot-N-Tot, so the switch to plastic may be on soon. 15-20 foot, almost anywhere. 1.7-2.0 mph, slower and you get cats and drum. Look for fish to start migration to the Outer Bay in the next few weeks, water is warming 67 dgrees on the surface.

On Suday, I took a tour on the airboat with my two best girls, Judy and Bell. Stayed away from nesting areas, just ran open channels. Water, water everywhere. Had a mild S 6-10 mph. Areas that haven’t seen water in four years can now float light boats. Higher water is slowing the phragmite growth, this should bode well for cattail resurgence. Rough weather the past few weeks hasn’t helped the wild rice, but the celery and duck potatoe beds look great.

Saw a few early mallards and what looked like young redheads. Geese are on molt, so the only way you will see them is with a golf club in your hand.

Drove by the Managed Area, fields are all planted and appear to be healthy but behind the private fields surrounding. Most corn looks good all over, some late plants and soybeans got washed out. But over all it looks like a bumper corn year AGAIN!

Let’s hope the reports from Canada and the Praries are true and we get to see some ducks this year.

Drop me a line if you got questions.

Regards,

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Sagniaw Bay Fish Point Area 07-06-2009 09:07
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
Fished around North Island on Friday. Came up just short of three limits in 3 hours. Didn’t get out early and got blown off around 2:30 PM. Had to work to find a feeding school, but then it was like ducks in a barrel, then just a fast they moved or stopped biting with a wind change.

Mid-day stay away from the pack and find your own fish. Water is warming and clearing, fish spook if they are chased too hard.

Still draggin meat, bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses (green and copper worked best) Did catch one nice fish on a long-line Hot-N-Tot, so the switch to plastic may be on soon. 15-20 foot, almost anywhere. 1.7-2.0 mph, slower and you get cats and drum. Look for fish to start migration to the Outer Bay in the next few weeks, water is warming 67 dgrees on the surface.

On Suday, I took a tour on the airboat with my two best girls, Judy and Bell. Stayed away from nesting areas, just ran open channels. Water, water everywhere. Had a mild S 6-10 mph. Areas that haven’t seen water in four years can now float light boats. Higher water is slowing the phragmite growth, this should bode well for cattail resurgence. Rough weather the past few weeks hasn’t helped the wild rice, but the celery and duck potatoe beds look great.

Saw a few early mallards and what looked like young redheads. Geese are on molt, so the only way you will see them is with a golf club in your hand.

Drove by the Managed Area, fields are all planted and appear to be healthy but behind the private fields surrounding. Most corn looks good all over, some late plants and soybeans got washed out. But over all it looks like a bumper corn year AGAIN!

Let’s hope the reports from Canada and the Praries are true and we get to see some ducks this year.

Drop me a line if you got questions.

Regards,

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

NORTH DAKOTA 07-01-2009 11:03
– – –
You’ve seen the reports here is an interview with the biologist talking about the ND surveys.

http://www.gf.nd.gov/

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 06-30-2009 17:14
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 60-65 Degrees
Water, water everywhere and ducks mostly mallards and woodies are still flying some. 2nd hatch looks good too. I say a group of mallards just out of the shell by the size and there were 11 of them I could count. Too bad that someone pulled the boards on the flooding and now it is dry. Looks good here guys!

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
Michael-Majcher
Field Editor

Hoxeyville 06-23-2009 17:09
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Well the heat has reached us here in the “north”. I can’t believe it was only 2 weeks ago that we had a consistent 60 degree temp. What happened to “spring”?

Well, the first hatch of robins was good. We had a nice hatch of grouse out back on the creek. I killed my first rattler as well as a big racer that was as long as I am tall (I held it up – headless of course). Found that baby herons make an unbelievably awful noise at night when they perch above your house (don’t know if the darn things make that racket in the wild).

Hoxeyville has no waterfowl to speak of, so that is about that…

If you chase the hatches here in Mich, you’ll be happy to know the Hex is on and mousin has heated up as well.

Posted By:
bmyers
Guest

06-15-2009 12:29
– – –
I’ve seen a few flocks of 40-60 birds flyin high heading north over the last couple weeks..

I was amazed at the one flock, nearly 60% of the birds wings looked like they had been sky busted. I know they’re heading north to molt but had never seen such a large number of birds in such poor condition (feather wise). Wings looked more like sieves.

Posted By:
Michael-Majcher
Field Editor

Hoxeyville 06-04-2009 23:04
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Not much in this part of Michigan for waterfowl. It is surprising the heck out of me. With all the swamps and wetland around here, I thought I’d see some serious breeding pairs.

We have one resident pair of canadas and a trio of sandhill cranes. The Herons hatched 3 young and boy do they make a gosh aweful sound.

The pups and I found a woodcock nest and we have an active grouse nest that hatched out 4 chicks the other day.

Otherwise, Flyfishing season is in full swing even with this pathetically cool weather.

Just trying to keep you aprised of the happenings round here… Varmints tallies for the season are at 3 opossums, two fox one rattler and a racer. All egg-eaters

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 06-01-2009 14:42
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
I do believe you are right. It appears that the flocks are gone from here near Gladwin and I saw one headed north but missed the chance to follow them on radar last Friday. A friend from Freeland reported much movement Thursday and Friday. Did anyone catch them on radar???

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 05-31-2009 13:40
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Over 70 Degrees
Fished rough water both Friday and Saturday. Was paid back with limits both days for three fishermen.

Fish all over, went South of Thomas’s Cut, ended up trolling North all the way to DaFoe.

Most aggressive fish were in 15+ ft. Bottom bouncers (2-3 oz), crawlers (orange harnesses) and in line boards were the order of the day. All the keepers were solid fish, probably threw back 50 under sized fish. Bodes well for the reproduction on the Bay.

Zebra mussle beds all over. Saw tons of geese, probably 10 groups moving North along the shoreline 50-100 birds each. This in support of John’s post.

From now through July, the Lower Bay will only get better for “Eyes”. Don’t trust weather reports, they were wrong both days. Saturday PM we had a serious “not forecasted” storm cell move through with hail and 60 mph winds. Watch the sky and pull up if winds and clouds move in.

I know this still isn’t about ducks, but its a fun thing to do, and the eating isn’t bad either.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
CVG
Guest

05-29-2009 12:07
– – –
DRIVING DOWN 12 MILE AROUND NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY AND IT MUST OF BEEN ONE OF THE FLOCKS OF MOLT MIGRANTS THAT EVERY ONE TALKS ABOUT AT LEAST 100 GEESE HEADING NORTH IN ONE BIG FLOCK

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 05-26-2009 08:27
– – 50-60 Degrees
They flocks of Canadas are bunched up I expect the move any day now. Keep an eye on nexrad if the weather is clear enought to differentiate.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

middle of the mitten 05-13-2009 07:10
– – –
Time to watch for the molt migrant move guys.

I am seeing flocks of geese banding back together after the nuptials. When they start flocking up it means they are preparing to move north to the southern James Bay region to molt and loaf in luxury.

I normally see the movement about June 5 but you should keep an eye on it. When you see the birds moving take a gander at radar and maybe you can follow them on the trip.

jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 05-07-2009 19:57
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Fished last Saturday, or should say bounced around for a couple of hours. Found one 20 incher that wanted to come to the box, you have to cull the weak ones.

Water, water everywhere. Up at least 6 inches from last Spring, probably more.

Let’s hope that more water equates to better nesting success.

Lots of goslings already. One group had 8 little ones, better than last year.

Ducks still on nests, I did see some Buffleheads on the water.

The only bad news is the numbers of cormorants, unbelievable. I saw one raft at least 200 yards long and 10 foot wide. Now thats worse than any gill net ever set.

Somebody needs to do something here.

Keep the faith, only 5 months to go!

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor

Snow Goose expert 04-16-2009 17:30
– – –
I get stuff from ND since I am practically a native. At any rate there is a big discussion on snow geese in other states that I hunt so I thought I would share this 19 minute video interview with you guys. One of the things I got our of it was the snows have moved from traditional nesting grounds that would allow them to overfly MI spring and fall so that may be a major factor in our not seeing them like many of us used to in the olden days…..

Cut and paste the link and sit back and listen to an expert researcher.

http://www.gf.nd.gov/

jacduck It is not the limits I get but the HUNTS I get that makes a great season. And I don’t shoot spoonies!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay 04-13-2009 21:11
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
The Bay lost a friend this week.

Ken Wiersma. My stap father in law.

He loved the Bay, as much as I do.

Walleye master catcher and an under study of “pick a letter on the compass and follow it” master of boat driving.

Only after three trips did he offer the fact that his hearing aid still worked.

Seldom in this life time are we given a gift of true friendship, no questions asked. That was Ken.

My favorite day with him was in the goose blind he helped me set out before Opening Day.

After WWII, he never wanted to handle a gun.

We sat there in the early morning lite, drinking coffee. And as luck would have it, two dumb ones listened to my bad calling, folded wings and came in.

My old Charles Daly, over and under went Bang, splat….. Bang spalt………

He dryly looked over at me and asked “was it this hard all the time?”

I answered ” Only on special days!”

That was the last goose retrieves for my dog “Sammy” and the only retrieves that Ken ever saw.

The best wish I have for Ken is that he finds the winds of Heaven pushing him over schools of fish and that he marks them all before I get there.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 03-25-2009 14:08
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 40-45 Degrees
Just returned from the Bay.

If you ever want to see birds, now is the time. Ice is out, and the geese and ducks are too plentiful to count.

One small bay that we hunt held over two thousand divers. Tons of every species. And the geese and swans make such a racket, you can hardly sleep at night.

Kind of makes you wonder why we don’t see this build up in the Fall.

If you have the chance drive by and take a look at God’s bounty.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
Michael-Majcher
Field Editor

hoxeyville/caberfae area 03-20-2009 13:25
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Welcome to spring.

This the first day of spring, we’ve had the following here in the valley:
-A pair of nest searching geese looping the skies in the evening.
-A pair of teal circling the bigfoot dekes I put out to welcome the northbound canadas.
-Lots of blackbirds have been around since last week. They arrived two days ahead of the robins who now fill the yard.
-Migrating lampreys have found their way up Hoxey creek (to their demise LOL)
-Skunks can be occasionally smelled on the evening breeze (get ’em before they mate!)
-The piles of snow have dwindled to scant traces in the shadow of the pines.
-Trees are budded up and getting ready to green.

With all this, we have a new season. Many of us worry about the demise of our country or our jobs. We worry about what next week will bring. I’ve been caught up in it as well. Take the time to notice the changes around you and remember that we got to this point in the history of Man by being the best we could possibly be with what sense has been bestowed upon us. Enjoy the little things that each day brings us.

Cherish what you have and hug the little ones. As sure as tomorrow will come, we too will rebound from that which tethers us today.

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 03-08-2009 18:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Drove up this weekend to see how the Lodge faired through the winter. Things are fine.

Friday afternoon was beautiful sunny and 60ish.

Tons of geese are back. I personally saw a dozens flights of between 20-60 birds fly along the shoreline.

A word to the wise, many are still venturing out for walleye. Places the ice is still 2-3 feet thick (before the Saturday rain). But people are crashing through closer to shore. Might be time to put the ice rigs away and start fishing the rivers.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
ducknut@sbcglobal.net
Guest

snows 02-19-2009 18:49
– – –
Papa Goose; There used to be a large population of snows that migrated from James Bay in Ontario non-stop to Delta National Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana back then. Three square was a prime food for them back then, and many snows were winter residents of the coastal marshes of Texas and Louisiana where it was found. Rice agriculture to the North of the marshes grew over time, and the snows started to utilize that habitat instead of the marshes. Sometimes, if it was a late hatch, and the young weren’t real strong, some flocks would have to stop for rest, and those were the ones guys would see in fields in central Michigan, or get shots at on the bay. My understanding is that it’s only a remnant of that population that gets to Delta now, and I don’t think any snows fly non-stop that far anymore. Agriculture along the way changed that and they learned to make stops along the way like other fowl do. Take care, Ducknut

Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor

Not 02-19-2009 18:37
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Papa Goose, they still fly over, they just don’t stay. I have camped out in the Bay during the season and heard them flying over at 2:00 in the morning on a clear night.

The other thing that has happened is that the States to the west of us have effectively moved or pulled the migration that way by improving both Fall and Spring habitat.

If you draw a line from James Bay southwest to say Texas, it comes right over Michigan. There are still way too many Snows, but a shame you have to go elsewhere to see them. If you want a trip go to Southern Illinois in about 3-4 weeks. You won’t believe what you see.

Atleast thats my understanding.

Everything else is between seasons!

Posted By:
papagoose
Web Member

South end WigWam Bay 02-15-2009 11:21
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
When I was a Kid, say in 1968, I would be out phasent hunting and see 200 or 300 snow Geese going south and today in the Fall I’ll see maybe 2 or 3 snow Geese in a flock of canaida’s , Can any one explain to me and others what happened to all those snow Geese.

papagoos of Standish Mi.