Category: Utah

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

10-29-2005 16:22
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why do people insist on setting up within 100 yards of our spread, here we are hunting a 20 mile lake, they dont set up any decoys, they just pull their boat into the cattails and continue to try to knock down geese that are 100+ yards in the sky? nothing frustrates me more than idiots like i had to deal with this morning!

ok im done venting now!

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Rain Rain And More rain 10-29-2005 01:13
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Had a good shoot for Gadwalls. The good reverend Dr Kirk Harris and myself both shot a limit of Gadwalls. Best shoot I have had so far this year. I have already shot more Gadwalls this year than the last two combined. Caution where there is rain there is mud. Good Luck Men
Kurt zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Bear River Unit 2 10-25-2005 22:45
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Holy smokes…. and here I thought the highlight of the morning was stump jumping. Next time I’ll try and find a good solid cottonwood to ram into. Anyway it was really slow although I did see more birds moving in the morning. Good buddies in the boat always help pass the time.

Branden, I took my boat out on Willard a few weeks ago and setup on the South side of the bay fairly close to where the airboat club has the channel marked with those orange flags. How often do you go out that way?
One thing I would like to find out there are the block C markers for the refuge. Guess I’ll take a little trip out that way and see what I can find.

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

Ogden Bay 10-25-2005 22:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
I have been having a hard time getting out, but a buddy at work has been to Odgen Bay several times. Shooting has been slow for the most part. He usually walks in on the North run and heads quite a ways out West. I am hoping to get out in the airboat this next weekend. Jereme, when you said that you went to Willard Bay, was that in an airboat out on the spur?

Take care and keep your face down,
Braden

p.s. last weekend up in Bear Lake, I saw several large flocks of swans flying south at migration altitudes.

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

BRBR 10-24-2005 18:58
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Hunted saturday AM with Jereme, up at Unit 2 i believe, too darn warm, we still managed a couple of pintails, a shoveler, and what im going to call a pintail-merganser hybrid! hahaha. we saw quite a few birds at first light, and if the wind had kept blowing like it was in the dark we would of done better with the birds i believe. saw probably over 100 swans, and 2 seperate flocks of snows, that right there tells you that the birds are starting to move down south. this is the earliest i have ever seen light geese in utah. all in all we had a fun time B/Sing in the boat, the highlight of the morning belonged to my sure footing, we launched the boat and as i pulled the boat to the side of the ramp, i lost my footing in the mud, hit the ground square on my bottom and proceeded to slide into the chest high water, for sure it was one of my most gracefull moments in waders!

jereme, it was a fun time and we need to plan a weekend we can hit utah lake together. thank you again buddy!

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
andrea7683
Web Member

ogden bay north 10-18-2005 00:53
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not much happening this afternoon slow need some wind to push them off the lake

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Salt Creek 10-16-2005 19:49
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
I second the Blue-wing teal post Kurt. I seem to be good for at least one or two per outing.

Salt creek is not fast and furions (neither is the rest of the state for that matter) but we have taken a good mix of birds up there over the last two weeks.

Widgeon, Canvasback, Ringneck, Redhead, Mallard, Blue Bill, Blue wing teal, Ruddy and Pintail.

Right now youll need a mud motor to get out there unless you have enough gumption to do a little pushing. Take some good buddies and some food. You might need it to kill time between flights.

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

Mtn. Valleys 10-15-2005 16:59
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Hunted saturday morning on a friend’s field, we managed 4 geese and 1 kamikazi mallard. Only had 4 geese come into the decoys but we left no survivors!

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Blue Wing Harvest 10-13-2005 22:35
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Had a good shoot today. Most of the Birds were Blue Wings. This is the latest I have ever shot Blue Wings In northern Utah. Have any of you ever shot Blue Wing this late in Northern Utah.
Kurt zeke@bnads.com

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

10-13-2005 09:15
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hey, is there an echo in here?

jk buddy i had to give you a hard time.

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Fish Springs Goose hunt 10-12-2005 21:30
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Cut emnova

Up North looks like it has alot of potential. I havent even seen that many greenies this year. Sounds like an awsome outing. I’ve only gotten out 5 times so far this season and haven’t had a goose in acceptable range yet.

Hope everyone got your permits in for the Fish Springs Goose hunt. The drawing and results should be posted on the Fish Spring site by the 20th.

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Fish Springs Goose hunt 10-12-2005 20:55
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Cut emnova

Up North looks like it has alot of potential. I havent even seen that many greenies this year. Sounds like an awsome outing. I’ve only gotten out 5 times so far this season and haven’t had a goose in acceptable range yet.

Hope everyone got your permits in for the Fish Springs Goose hunt. The drawing and results should be posted on the Fish Spring site by the 20th.

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

up north 10-11-2005 22:56
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jereme, yeh i would say you’ve been slacking!!! haha jk buddy!

well we just got back from the opener up in idaho, we acquired 300 acres of wheat grain fields that shared the shores with the snake. we got up there the night before, walked out in the field and found that the farmer had just barely disked the field leaving hardly any cover. 5 am came around pretty fast and as we walked out of the house, we were greeted with nothing but geese in the star filled sky, all the boats heading up the snake for the opener must of pushed them off of their roost early. we got set up with around 5 dozen full body geese, 4 dozen shells, and around a dozen mallards. first light came around and the sky was filled with birds, we had a single goose come right into the decoys and the new SBE II claimed its first honker on its first attempt. the rest of the day brought us nothing but frustration, the geese were either flying the snake or i-15, they didnt want to leave those flyways. we ended up decoying alot of mallards in which kept us smiling and the barrels smoking nonetheless. we decided to head in for some lunch around 1 pm. as we were leaving the spread we commented to the rookie that was with us, about how many times we leave our spread and come back an hour later to find birds in the decoys. (we jinxed ourselves there) we headed back out and looked at the decoys only to notice about 30-40 more decoys than we had set out. TYPICAL. we walked out and bumped the geese up, when we did that about 15 mallards came out of the spread also, we looked at our rookie and he just laughed at us.

needless to say we had a great time in the field decoying in the ducks, they just couldnt say no, no hesitation or nothing. we ended up with close to 40 mallards and 1 widgeon. the geese won again, i think the pressure of the opener and them being disturbed on their roost early just altered their normal patterns. should only get better the later in the year it gets. the winter wheat is about 3 inches high and it should be about a foot tall by the end of the month when we hit the area again, that should help out blending in the x-landr’s.

p.s. im loving the new firearm.

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Willard Bay Sat. Oct. 8th 10-11-2005 20:10
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 60-65 Degrees
Saturday October 8th
Willard Bay

Hit the big bay early and got setup for some geese. Pretty slow. We ended up taking the boat out of the vegetation and set up in the middle of nothing but water. We salvaged the day with some Gaddies, Widgeon and a Pintail.

Saw lots of Shovelers. Very few geese even moving.

Stay as close to the large rafts of coots as you can and you will get some shooting.

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Bear River Bird Refuge Scouting Unit 2 and 3 10-11-2005 20:05
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Friday October 7th
Bear River Bird Refuge
Scouting Units 2 and 3

We did a lot of running and gunning different Units in the boat today. Overall conditions on all of those units look good. Took two Green heads while scouting. The mallards are using a lot of the smaller ponds enclosed by the reeds and cattails.

You could probably get some good shooting if you are willing to work your way through the stuff and sit on a small pond.

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Howard Slough Saturday Oct. 1st (Evening) 10-11-2005 19:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Saturday October 1st (Evening)
Howard Slough

There were lots of birds moving all evening long. There were groups of hunters spaced about 50 yards apart all the way around the entire slough. I couldn’t even count the number of vehicles in the parking lot.

Most groups were trying to take birds between 100 and 150 yards. Made you kind of sick to watch. My poor dog (Ranger) ended up retrieving several people’s birds before we could get out of there. I just have a hard time saying no. The mud sucks around the dikes so take a dog out there if you have one. I ended up with one Green Winged Teal on the way out of there.

You know a ten shell max count out there for opening weekend would do wonders for those sky busters.

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

Bear River Bird Refuge Unit 3 Oct 1st and 2 nd 10-11-2005 19:51
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
O.K. I feel like I’ve been slacking a little so here goes. I’ll run this through several posts. It’s just easier to read that way.

The opener Saturday October 1st
Bear River Bird Refuge Unit 3

Shooting started in earnest about 8 min early according to my watch so I just stood in amazement as a dozen woodies buzzed my decs several times. None the less my buddies and I stood like oak trees. We saw a good mix of birds early on in the morning being a bit heavy on the teal side. Between us we ended up with Widgeon, Pintail, Mallards, (1) Blue, (1) Green, Several Cinnamon Teal and some Gaddies.

Not the best opener but it was just good to get out.

Sunday October 2nd
Bear River Bird Refuge Unit 3

Got a little earlier start today but the shooting was really slow. We took a few Teal, Widgeon and a Pintail.

We saw quite a few geese moving up through Unit 2 towards the North but not a lot of shooting.

Before you go to BRBR know the regulations. The link is below.

http://www.fws.gov/bearriver/hunting.html

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Poor Bird Numbers 10-05-2005 20:51
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Spent the P.M. in the ouray valley only had 1 gadwall decoy in she is in the freezer.
Kurt

Posted By:
dhinds
Web Member

Westside Duck Club 10-04-2005 21:35
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Had 2 great days with my boys out the HArrison Duck Club. We killed 3 limits on Saturday and 3 limits on Sunday. Killed some mallards, gadwalls, a few widgeons and the rest teal. Great weekend.

Posted By:
andrea7683
Web Member

N OGDEN BAY 10-04-2005 01:05
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
WENT OUT THIS AFTERNOON TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE BAY DROVE ALL AROUND THE CANALS AND CHK PONDS NOTHING STAYED TILL DAK AND SEEN MAY 20 DUCKS HEADED IN NO GEESE ON THE OPENER ONLY SEEN 10 GEESE AT THE BAY QUITE SUPRISING

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

utah lake 10-03-2005 09:25
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hunted the am on utah lake, next time please remind me to check the gas tank before i go!!!!!!…..needless to say we made it to the spot to hunt, were able to take 11 quackers, and luckily, and i stress luckily!!! made it back across with one guy continuousely pumping the bulb on the gas line. Overall it was a fun opener, if i only knew how to shoot the new SBEII we should of both had our limits easily.

Heading up to Idaho this coming friday to hopefully fool some honkers.

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

Willard Spur just north of Harold Crane 10-02-2005 20:49
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
The best thing about the opener is of course that the season is now open. We camped out at the Willard launch on Friday night. Thankfully, the water had continued to rise. As we awoke the next morning, we realized that other hunters had already started to arrive. We hurried and ate and hopped in the boat and were still the first ones down the canal. We set up in 2 groups. The group that sat in the tules did slightly better than those sitting in the open water. The birds decoyed a lot better in the open water, and we shot a giant greenhead, but the tules produced more birds. Joe, I couldn’t agree more about moving the youth hunt up a week. We went for ride in the boat on Friday night. The bird numbers were DRASTICALLY reduced from what they had been before the youth hunt. I also support it, but it has really changed our opening days. I am excited to hear how everyone else did.

Stay safe,keep your face down, and don’t eat the spoonies or the goldies,
Braden

Posted By:
gooseguts
Guest

top secret 10-02-2005 20:43
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Hey guys, where’s all the posts it’s opening weekend? is there still people who post in utah or has everyone left the site?Joe I’ve got a marsh tale for ya, have you ever seen someone lube there 11-87 out in the marsh using that slimey stuff in a can of viennas.
I did saturday it was “spry yellow dog” that did that dirty deed. This was probably the best opener i’ve had in 10 years the mallards where thick we had to be very selective not to shoot are alotment of hens, and the geese provided very well with a flock of about thirty landing in the dekes the opportunities were plentiful. I hope all of you guys had success. But it’s not all about the kill, my boy called in 4 flights of mallards he’s 11 and can’t hunt yet but watching him do this made the whole hunt.

good luck all
GOOSEGUTS

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

So. entrance/Farmington Bay area 10-02-2005 15:09
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Hey guys–So how did it go? Any surprises or wild tales you’d care to share? This is the place!! Here’s how mine went-in a nutshell–
up at 4, pick up buddy at 4:50, to So. entrance by 5:10, parking lot FULL, so I’m 5th vehicle parked along gravel road heading back out,packed my bike trailer and biked out to designated pond, happily passing hordes of hikers, to pond by 0530, floated all gear on ice sled to our spot, set uu dekes by 0600, found leak in ice sled 0605, worked on improving hiding spots, now 0630, walk around alot trying to fend off other hunters from our little spot, 0645 re-adjust dekes, 0700 cut some more cat-tail to fill in gaps on my blind, etc, etc..Then about 0715 the bird show started, mostly just a few trickling in to the dekes, some landing 10 yds away and getting a smile and chuckle from us before they were up and away again and maybe a bit smarter..now 0745 and no shots fired yet!! I was amazed..0755 and the sky was full of birds and all of Fmgtn Bay opened up on the sky targets..constant heavy-duty shooting for 15 minutes, then slight slowing down next 15 minutes,etc, and real slow by 0900 with only an occasional bird or two seen after that. We did well, but it all went way too fast, and I’m looking forward to the ‘real’ duck days that are to come.. I hope you guys all had a safe and successful opener, and hope to see you in the marsh.. CUL Joe

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

No Spooners No Goldeneye 09-29-2005 23:11
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If you shoot a spooner or Goldeneye in Utah DONT EAT IT!!! High mercury levels. You must retrieve it and count it on your limit BUT DONT EAT IT.
Kurt zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

09-28-2005 14:15
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Hey Guys — Did a little scouting this A.M. with my bike (and trailer) on the So. entrance to Fmgtn Bay area. Holy Cow!! What a change the Youth Hunt makes — duck numbers are down at least 75% compared to weeks preceeding this past Sat. I am all for the Youth Hunt, but at Fmgtn Bay it sends the birds packing. It should be held 2 weeks in advance of the general opener, to allow time to get some birds back in here, and let them settle down. I’ve brought this up with RAC before,,,maybe if some others did also… Anyhow, still some teal in the area, and I’ll be out there with all the other crazies on Sat. A.M. to see if I can reel in a few. –Drop ’em where you can find ’em — CUL — Joe

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

09-27-2005 19:24
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we may head somewhere local this year for the opener, havent had much time to do any scouting locally, so we may just go hunt for an hour or two and then do some scouting in the boat?

we are heading up to idaho the following weekend to do some damage on the honkers up there, we just acquired a few hundred acres that share banks with the snake, the fields right now are holding a couple hundred of the big birds, should be a good time!!!

good luck to all!

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Opening Weekend 09-27-2005 18:27
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Where are you planing to hunt for the opener. I will be heading to cutlar dam in Logan. Birds usually decoy well there on opening weekend. No large groups but the smaller groups work well into the decoys. The Uintah Basin Area has lots of water this year but no birds.
Kurt zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

09-25-2005 21:46
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That sounds like a pretty good outing Kurt. I didn’t make it out this year but normally the kids we take are lucky to end up with one or two birds by the end of the day. It certainly can be one of the most entertaining days of the year.

Jereme

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Youth Hunt 09-24-2005 18:21
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We had a good hunt today for the youth hunt. Not alot of birds but the birds we had were willing to decoy. 7 Mallards 5 Drakes 2 Hens. The birds had very little color lucky we shot the 5 drakes first. Has anyone been seeing any Teal if you have where are they at.
Kurt zeke2basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

09-21-2005 15:05
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Hey guys. It’s good to know I’m not the only one that can’t sleep in anticipation of the coming season.

I just read my Fall 2005 edition of Utah Pentales (Utah DU Newsletter). Page 9 has an article written up by Tom Aldrich, Migratory Game Bird Coordinator Utah DWR. It is titled “The Great Goose Debate” and it outlines the reasoning for the split season.

In a nutshell the article talks about there being 5 to 6 times the number of geese now wintering in Utah than we had in the 60s. The vast majority of geese stay in urban areas and parks through much of the hunting season and this adds to the declining goose harvest rates from year to year. In late January geese start to leave the urban areas and begin looking for suitable nesting areas for the coming months thus exposing them to being harvested.

The state is limited to a 107 day season by Federal rule and cannot extend it without delaying the opener or splitting the season.

Now the reason for picking the proposed closed dates……?

New Utah Waterfowl hunt forecast link below.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/05-09/waterfowl.html

Opening WMA conditions
http://wildlife.utah.gov/waterfowl/forecasts/

On another note some buddies and I went up to Snowville this last weekend and shot Hungarian Partridge, Chuckars, doves, and cotton tail. It was a good warm up for my swing and follow through.

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

Jackson Hole Wyoming 09-20-2005 22:20
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
The early season in Wyoming went pretty well. We had 8 people and we shot 17 geese over 2 days. Early season geese sure are a lot easier to fool than the wary late season honkers around here. We were disappointed to find out that half of the ranch we hunt on is going to be developed. The guy said that the lots will sell for about 10 million a piece, and those type of people aren’t usually too friendly toward hunters. Maybe the geese will overpopulate and defecate all over their yards. (can I say that on here?) Anyway, I need some serious practice with my wingshooting. I hope this season is good so that I can find my stroke again.

Take care and keep your face down,
Braden

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

09-19-2005 15:45
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braden,

how did the early season go up in WY?

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

09-18-2005 22:09
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We took the aiboat out on the Willard spur Sat 9/17 It is pretty tricky getting out of the canal, but once you get out the water level is good. We went out about 4 or 5 miles and then the water got really scarce. We saw a lot of birds. There is more vegetation than I have ever seen growing out into the middle of the lake. It will be interesting hunting from the reeds instead of laying in the open water in coffins. Last week my brother went out and said the goose numbers were way up as well. We did not see as many geese this week. I am hoping that now that the irrigation season is over, the water levels in the marshes will start to rise. Cut em, I have talked to a wide range of people about the split goose season, and they have all said the dates are all about the “money” clubs in box elder county. Anyway, I am already having a hard time sleeping at night and we still have 2 weeks.

Stay safe and keep your face down,
Braden

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Bird Counts 09-18-2005 13:22
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Bird numbers are poor in the Uintah Basin Area right now. Very few Ducks anywhere. Does anyone have info on Bird numbers on the great Salt Lake Marshes.
Kurt zeke@bnads.com

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

09-16-2005 17:15
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kurt,
how is pariette looking this year? i shot a juvenile snow goose last year up there. but i agree on how strange it would be to see them up there this time of year.

heading up to idaho this weekend to check out some property i have permission to hunt this fall, i will let you all know how it goes.

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Snow Geese 09-15-2005 23:35
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I was in the Pierette Wetlands area today and watched about 200 Snow Geese this is a strange time to see Snow Geese.
Kurt zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Goose Split 09-12-2005 16:46
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If you want to change things for next year now is the time to talk to your rac chairperson I have already spoken with Clay Hammond our area rac chairperson I keep a field journal that will speak facts not opinions.If you let your rac chairperson speak for you it carries alot more clout. Kurt
zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

09-11-2005 20:56
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jereme,
i have had the same gripe since i heard of the split season, from what i have heard, originally the break in the season was planned for early november or late october. in my opinion that would of been a “better” time to close the season, doing so i think would let the resident birds calm back down a little bit and hopefully move them back into the marsh and away from their newly acquired home (golf courses, local parks).

What i have gathered on some other forums is this.

Some of the “More expensive” (bear river) hunting clubs, usually end their hunting in late november early december due to their area freezing up, therefore the “money” clubs had a big fit saying that “their already shorter season would be even shorter if the split was during october or november”.
bottom line=MONEY TALKS.

I’ll still hunt here in utah, but not as much as in years past. Im heading up to Idaho most likely. Not only have i just acquired alot of private property to hunt on up there, including a farm that shares the banks of the Snake, but they seem to take care of the “average” joe more.

I dunno? i just might have been misinformed, but from the info i have gathered, the above reasons is the main reason for the dumb december split! hopefully the DWR proves me wrong.

WE WILL SEE!!!

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

[Edited By cut emnova on 2005-09-11 20:58]

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

09-11-2005 10:31
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Just looking over the new 05/06 Utah Waterfowl Proclamation…… Hmmmm

Before I say anything that may seem harsh, let me say that I do think that those that decide what the season will shape up to be for Utah waterfowl hunters carefully take into consideration all available information.

With that said, Page 3 first paragraph under HIGHLIGHTS states that the goose season is now split. Not much of a shocker. Kurt (one of our valuable VFEs) mentioned this over a month ago. Yes it is only over a two week period, but it is the last sentence that really gets to me. How do you take two of the peak migration weeks for geese and say “This change is expected to increase harvest opportunity for hunters.” You don’t increase harvest by taking away peak migration days in the field. If we have a decline in goose numbers I would expect a more drastic change in bag limits, dates etc.

I should mention that the goose season closes statewide Jan. 29th a full two weeks later for zones 1 and 2 than it did last year. So from the hunters perspective approximately as many days in the field are available, we just loose potential peak migration times.

I guess I am just looking for a better explanation than “This change is expected to increase harvest opportunity for hunters.” I would like to know what the determining factors were for the change. Just not quite adding up for me.

Oh yes, changes for Pintail are in there also. Get the proclamation and read it.

Jereme

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

09-07-2005 22:36
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Hey Goose guts, Jereme, Cut em, Dan, et al –Sorry I’ve been out for a while, too much summer stuff going on. Cut Em Maxie is now 18 months old, when she was little, and eating, I’d bang on anything loud I could, th;en laterI started taking her to the skeet range to get used to those gun noises, then started walking her on leash in the parking lot at the range, gradually going a little closer. She loves a gun going off, and now associates it with being able to retrieve something. My problem is getting her to stay by me when someone else shoots, as she wants to retrieve for them too, even if it’s a long way off. This is her real first hunting season, and has retrieved 11 doves for me so far. I’m a proud papa so far!!
Got my dike bike trailer done (thanks to my buddy ‘Yellow Dog’) So if you see me on the dike somewhere, give me a drink!!
Ducks and geese are looking good near So. entrance to Fmgtn Bay, I’ve biked the area 4 or 5 times so far. Goose guts, I’m starting a Hunters Ed class this Monday 6-9 pm at the Lee kay Center..I’m going to be an assistant for this class. I’tll go 3 weeks, Mon and Wed. Starts the 12th..Be there!! CUL — and don’t forget your duck stamp and Hip # — JOE

Posted By:
gooseguts
Guest

just lookin around 09-05-2005 21:35
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
It’s almost time!
Where’s everbody at? Joe are ya still with us buddy? Sorry I have’nt got back with ya on the hunter safety thing, I just have’nt heard any report back yet.We went scouting last saturday and what an adventure that was we went on the big salt lake, we took two long shaft boats out one boat was 18’long with a 35hp hyper drive and it went pretty good on the big lake the other was 15′ with a 16hp vanguard this boat was way to small for the big water, by the time we got in my face and ears were white from salt.We coverd over 25 miles of lake it was beautiful out there. Most of the water is about 18″ deep but where the birds are the water gets about 6 to 8″ deep and you cannot drive a long shaft boat poductively it this amount of water, I was very dissappointed in the whole long shaft boat idea.If you can’t take your boat where the birds are the boat is not worth much to me.Maybe i’ve been spoiled riding in airboats my whole life?The big lake seems to be the same depth as last year maybe up an inch or two but not enough to make a big difference I don’t think.There are alot of birds out there though, if you’re going out you better start scouting now and figuring out how your going to get to them.

GOOSEGUTS

[Edited By gooseguts on 2005-09-05 21:37]

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

08-17-2005 22:27
– – –
lol yes the nova is being retired, the name will still live on in rememberance though.

the early season wyoming hunt would be a blast, one thing, it runs sept 1st through the 8th i believe, and you know as i do thats elk hunting time! the rut should just be starting right around then. its going to be a tough year bowhunting for me, i usually tag out on my buck and bull every year, but this year the wife instructed me that shes hunting this year, soooooo im in camp with the 1 year old while she sits in the old reliable ground blind. i may buy a tag and hunt the wasatch, but thats feathered fever time.

Teal is well, i just havent had any time to take her up to the gun range, because ive been getting the trailer and everything else ready for this weekend. where you guys heading?
anyways good luck to you my friend, i better be getting some pictures sent from you with a huge smile on your face.

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

08-17-2005 21:20
– – –
An early Wyoming goose hunt? Man you just got my blood pumping. That sounds like a lot of fun. I am a believer in hevi-shot with the geese. It just plain works.

Cut emnova you’d bet we are getting together this year and not just for the conservation hunt. I am packing for the archery deer and elk right now. With any luck I will have the tags filled by early September and can get a little dove hunting in. Whenever you are ready to go to Wyoming even for just a weekend let me know.

How things coming with Teal?

Ohh.. by the way is a name change in order here? I guess you are at least staying with the Benelli family. The nova will always be a good backup.

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

08-16-2005 21:56
– – –
braden, where abouts do you hunt during the early season up in WY? my in laws live up in grover, which is just north of afton and they have told me that they can pretty much get permission for anywhere to hunt in star valley. my father in law has been the county coroner for the last 25 years up there, so he has all kinds of contacts, i still may head up there for the early season, ive just not put any time into scouting like i should have. i cant wait to get the new firearm, i did get a hell of a price on it, i paid $952 for the thing, but shhhhhhhhhh.

jereme, we going to get together this year to reap havoc on some honkers or what? the spring snow season was fun, i just wish we all could of hunted together!

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

[Edited By cut emnova on 2005-08-16 22:46]

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

08-16-2005 21:51
– – –
Get your swan application in by tonight at 11pm. Joe, I have a scout troop also, in fact, I feel like I have been at camp all summer. I am excited to finally start scouting the birds for this season. I will try to get my bike out and ride the dikes at Ogden Bay this next week. Stay tuned for a report. I just went and traded in my kids for a couple of boxes of Hevi-shot. We are going to Wyoming again for the September goose hunt. Last year I skimped on my shells, and when a big flock of geese came over at about 50 yards, I watched my brothers (shooting Hevi-shot) knock 8 of them down. I am pretty sure that I did not get any of them. Cut em, my brother shoots a SBE II. It always performs flawlessly. Of course it should for the price, but just like with the Hevi-shot, in the field money means nothing.
Performance is everything.

Take care and keep your face down,
Braden

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

08-16-2005 21:03
– – –
Yea, it took a little time with Ranger. I first took him to the shooting range while a trap shoot was going on and played with his bumper. I think someone else on here told me about trying that a year or so ago.

After a while he just plain forgot about the noises. I also bought some training blanks online took him out and let him run around with the kids while they were shooting their BB guns. It will come in time.

If I draw a swan tag this year I am going to try to get one with my recurve.

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

08-13-2005 10:34
– – –
jereme, glad to see you are alive. i was about to call ya to see where the hell you have been!
Teal is well, only thing with her is that she is extremely gun shy and jumpy!….it makes it super tough on me, especially when i have put so much work into her, she is fantastic when it comes to working with bumpers, as soon as i bring out the kids capgun and fire it once, she just won’t come near me for a day or so. any ideas?

anyways glad to hear from you.

whose all putting in for swans?

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
jereme
Guest

08-12-2005 23:13
– – –
Holy smokes….. got to be some dedicated hunters here. I just wrapped up the longest contract of my life (at least it felt that way) working in CA. I could hardly stand to even think about all the spring and summer scouting/projects I missed out on. Well anyway with this small sacrifice I have officially freed up most of my fall hunting season. I want to get out 40+ times this year.

Cut emnova, good to see you still here. Congrats on the new SBE II. I have heard lots of good things about the SBE. Guess I’ll never give up the 870. Kinda cracks me up that Teal was in heat. Is she ready for this season? I need to catch up on a lot of work with Ranger.

Man it took me 15 min. to catch up on the posts over the last few months. Thanks to all that give those reports, I would have a hard time catching up without them. I feel as if I have been shirking my posting duties. But be assured as much as I am back I’ll spill what little bit of information I glean from the birds, swamps and weather as I figure it out.

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

08-10-2005 22:05
– – –
ok i did it, i finally did it!

just put my order in for the SBE II. i got a hell of a deal on it and i couldnt pass it up.

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Swan Hunt 08-05-2005 15:51
– – –
If you want to hunt swan you have until Aug 16 to get your application in.

Kurt zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

08-04-2005 23:25
– – –
Hey guys — Aug 1 most dikes were opened up again..Anybody been out looking around? I’ll take my bike outsometime this weekend, maybe with my dog..looking forward to that. I especially like to leave from the Farmington Bay South entrance (West Bountiful) from there you have access to miles and miles of dikes, much of it bikable. With the help of a friend, I’ll have my bike trailer done for this season, so you may see me struggling on the dikeswith my load..I’ll be pulling my portable amphibious gear-hauling layout duck blind.. a contraption that’s sure to get me to where the birds are (ya, right) Anyhow, it’ll be fun trying. That’s my major “duck thing” for this season…you guys done anything fun, or weird for the new season??Take time to scout…JOE

Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest

07-28-2005 18:22
– – –
I don’t know how many of you are old enough to remember when the state used to shut down the goose hunt at the end of November and the honkers would just pour into the state.

Public lands like Farmington Bay would have Northerners that were migrating through – land next to the public road next to the mound on the north entrance – becuase no one was hunting them.

When I was 14 (back in 1977) I shot a blue goose at Farmington Bay on the center dyke. I turned myself in as it was when the goose hunt was closed, only to be amazed that the C.O. at the time was amazed that I had shot such a rare bird.

Yeah there will be geese around in January – but the hunting will not be as good as it would have been in December – when the bulk of the birds move through.

Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest

07-28-2005 18:14
– – –
I think the whole state went the wrong direction when Don Peay entered the scene years ago. Seems to me since that time – the DWR is trying to stay in step with the “more well oiled” sportsmen than the rest of us. They could care less about opinions from anyone other than these “special interest groups” like the Bear River Bird Club, or Don Peays group.

The DWR’s decisions to me are becoming based on political decisions to keep these people happy, versus good solid scientific data….

My opinion only

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

07-27-2005 23:52
– – –
it just pisses me off that the money clubs get to make the decisions on the split season. i heard some of the clubs close up around november or december, therefore they didnt want less time to hunt their clubs. i just cant figure out why they would close the season during the better times of the season!

just doesnt make sense to me, what you guys think?

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

07-27-2005 23:09
– – –
Hey Kurt, Braden, anyone else??
Good info on the local flyway, I think we can take the ‘liberal season’ here without any detriment to the total flyway. Our problem, the way I see it, is the uncontrolled growth all along the West areas, toward our hunting marshes. I think the idiots would drain the GSL permanently if they thought they could put new developments out there. Our local marshland predator population is also way too healthy.
I took my Boy Scout troop out to Kays Creek this morning for a clean up service project along that stream, before it turns to marsh. We got a lot of miscellaneous junk; otherwise the area is looking pretty nice–lots of bank work by D.U. Still closed for the Summer, but should be open for hunting season. Lots of geese, cranes, and ibis in the area…One month for the doves, everything coming up fast..CUL — JOE

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Utah Waterfowl Season 07-27-2005 18:15
– – –
It looks like we are going to get another liberal season this year in Utah. The season will start on Oct 1 with a 7 bird bag limit. This year there will be a split in the goose season in December I think it would be better in October but I think they have made up there mind and December it is. If you would like additional info just E-Mail me. Kurt
Zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

07-16-2005 23:35
– – –
I was out checking the water levels around the Willard spur area last week. I can’t believe how far the water has gone down, I don’t think you could get an airboat out on the spur right now. Hopefully the bird refuge will fill with water and start to spill into the spur. I was talking to a friend and he heard that the swan application might be a few weeks earlier this year. I just wanted to let people know, because I have had years when it almost passed me by.
The best thing about the heat of the summer is that it tells me that the season is just around the corner. As soon as that first cool night hits, you will be able to feel it in your blood.

Start getting ready and keep your face down,
Braden

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

07-06-2005 00:07
– – –
The migratory Bird Hunting Proposal is out. This is what the season framework is set from. The Pacific Flyway gives you three choices which range from 60 days to 107 days. With a bag limt of 4 or seven birds. If anyone wants additional info just drop me a E-Mail.
Kurt zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

06-24-2005 21:05
– – –
Hey Guys — Braden, water is still very low by entrance to Antelope Island also, but this has been a good start; could take 5 years to get back to a normal high. In the meantime, lets just enjoy what we’ve been given, can’t do anything about it anyhow!!
Maxie’s nose and mouth is almost back to normal. I just hope it doesn’t scar.. CUL — JOE

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

06-23-2005 23:01
– – –
I took my Boy Scouts hiking in the hills above Layton last week. We stopped for few minutes to take in the view of the Great Salt Lake. I was surprised at how much the lake had come up. I was also surprised that there was still a large portion that was dry, Especially down towards Farmington Bay. I think that the water is going to be great for this coming season, but I hope it keeps coming because we still have a ways to go. I am amazed at the number of ducks and geese I have been seeing around. Sometimes I wonder if I am just imagining the increased numbers, but I sure hope it is a good sign for the coming season

Take care and keep your face down,
Braden

[Edited By Braden-Mitchell on 2005-06-23 23:02]

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

06-19-2005 23:20
– – –
Hey Cut em–When I get some time, I’m going to look that up in the library or maybe the internet, about our labs heat time. My girl, 17 months, just went thru her first noticable period, dripping for a full week, but pretty heavy just one day. If you find out before I do, let me know!!
Braden — Appreciate the info on Locomotive Springs..I’d sure like to try that this coming season, maybae even bring along a fishing pole! Maybe we can get together..
Silver Kitty — Phone # on bottom of this page could get you to the VFE guru for this site. They can tell you what you need to do. I’ve enjoyed doing it these past few years, no reason why you can’t, especially if you enjoy writing and taking the time to share info on your successes and failures, new ideas, thoughts, conservation issues, etc. Good luck!! Maxie got into some poisonous plant a week ago, and still has some blistering around her muzzle from it. Anyone have experience !!!!??? It seems to be getting better, but not going away like I’d like it to..My vet (over the phone) said Benadryl, which I’ve been doing, but it’s still really noticable.. CUL — JOE

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

06-19-2005 14:58
– – –
Boy! i cant believe the number of geese and ducks that have hung around our state this spring, seems like the high water levels sure enticed some birds to stick around and nest here. Alot of lakes are just overflowing on the spill ways and the amount of new hunting spots the high water has created is very exciting. i just hope the water levels continue to stay so high come fall! i doubt it, but a guy can wish right?

quick question. how long does a lab usually stay in heat for? im new to the dog ownership thing and she is in heat right now. dont know how much longer i can handle not taking my eye off of here and hearing the howling at night….haha

Darren….daz3825@comcast.net

Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest

Lots of Ducklings & Gosling 06-16-2005 10:04
– – –
Geez I am seeing birds everywhere this year. I was up at Eaglewood in Bountiful last night and saw a couple mallards buzz over. I wonder if people think I am nuts – when I use my “imaginary shotgun” to shoot at them???

So what does it take to become a volunteer field editor?

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Dreams 06-14-2005 14:53
– – –
This year the water levels are great in this part of the state.
The ponds that are filled with spring water once again are full. Last week I stoped at a pond that had been dry for 4 years It was chuck full and there were lots of birds useing it.
Spring pond counts should be out soon and we will have a better understanding of when our hunting season will start and end.
Kurt zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

06-07-2005 14:17
– – –
I saw the article in the Tribune about the mercury levels. I will be really interested to see what the final report shows. We have many days where we shoot mostly greenwings that spend most of their time on the lake. At least I can use mercury poisoning as an excuse for any bad behavior. Joe, I have spent lots of time hunting Locomotive. In the late season if you are the first one there at the freeze up, there are ducks on every spring. I like how far away it is. I shot my first goose on the West Lake. The lakes have been slowly drying up, and the springs are not even producing like they used to. I have heard it is not because of the drought but I have always felt that it had to be related. We will see if the water comes back. I love it out there because of the decreased pressure. They also stock the springs with catchable trout during the fishing season. It is a fun place for summer camping.

Take care and keep your face down
Braden

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

06-06-2005 21:33
– – –
Hey guys — Looks like they took me back after all — actually I think we were all cut off 1 JUNE unless we sent back a signed and agreed upon statement of terms and conditions for being/returning as a Utah VFE. I couldn’t open their attatchments, so it took me a bit longer to respond, as I am computer challenged…;;maybe you understand.
Anyhow, I am grateful for all the water we’ve been getting.. my wife and I took a trip to Locomotive Springs last weekend and that area (what we could see) looked nice…..Any of you guys ever hunt up there??
Sure is out of the way, but I would guess there isn’t much pressure either..I think ;you would want to spend the nite there, and it looks like others have done that..Any experiences here?? ;Maxie is almost 17 months now, and she’s turning into a sweetheart of a black lab. We’re working on some casting; back, over left, over right, some distant sitting–I think she’s doing pretty good, just limited by my abilites.. Hope your Summer is going well — JOE

Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest

06-03-2005 08:48
– – –
So is the article that appeared in today’s Salt Lake Tribune about high mercury levels in waterfowl have anyone worried?

I feed a lot of duck breasts to my family. Hopefully with all the migrating birds the ones we shoot are not carrying to high of levels of the stuff.

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

06-02-2005 14:07
– – –
looks like they cut them down to the editors that actually report. about time too!

Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net Darren

Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest

06-02-2005 11:13
– – –
So what happened to all the Field Editors?

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

05-25-2005 16:50
– – –
thats good to hear about all the hard work out in the basin. we appreciate it very much, we do hunt out there quite a bit and im sure it will be very beneficial come october.

its great to see guys up posting again here, must be all starting to get the bug!!!

Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net Darren

Posted By:
Kurt-Case
Guest

Uintah County 05-25-2005 13:55
– – –
Hay Boys!! That’s what will be growing this year in the Ouray Valley. Most of the fields that were corn last season will be Hay this year. Last spring we put about 30 nesting structures out, this spring all of them were used. This is a great way to expand your season. If you are fishing this spring at Pelican Lake and see a nesting box that’s ours.
Kurt Case zeke@basinnickelads.com

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

05-24-2005 23:59
– – –
Hey Cut ’em et al — Hope your “off Seasons” are going well. I’ve only been to the range once so far, but hope to make that a more regular event. I usually go to Lee/Kay center out West Valley area, and now that I have a key, I usually take my dog with me to do some training after shooting. Anyone interested in doing this, with or w/o dog, give me a ring at 298-5561. I’m no expert shot, but I sure enjoy shooting, usually skeet, to practice zooming in on the ducks.
Speaking of dogs, any of you guys use an E-collar? My dog is 16 months now, I bought one a few months ago, but just haven’t tried it yet. I have the video (Tri-Tronics) with it. Should I just go with the video instructions, or should I have a trainer introduce my dog to it?? Any experiences along these lines would be greatly appreciated!! CUL — JOE

Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest

Airboaters & Bailey Lake Hunting Club 05-23-2005 14:22
– – –
I have gone out with my buddy in his airboat two times – and it was awesome hunting. The last time I went with him was around 1997. If I had even a minimal amount of mechanical skills I would seriously look into getting my own airboat. I have three sons that love waterfowling as much as I do and would love to show them some of the best hunting available.

I do have some good news though – I was able to finally get into a duck club. I used to hunt Bailey Lake years ago when United Sportsmen had it and always wanted to get back into a good hunting area. My Brother-in Law’s neighbor has been a member of it for a while and gave me a number to call for a yearly membership. It took me two years, but I finally got in. I have been hunting the walk in areas with my boys at Farmington Bay and cannot express enough of how much I have wanted to take them to place that would allow me to teach them more about using decoy’s on ducks and how to hunt geese.

The only problem is I sold all of my goose decoys several years ago and do not have any. Anybody have any good recommendations? I have thought about the silloute (sp) decoys like the real geese or outlaws versus the heavy shell decoys like I used to have.

Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member

05-22-2005 23:00
– – –
Hey Silverkitten, I can tell you that all of the airboaters I know have had terrible seasons the last few years. This last season was the worst yet. I am so excited to see all of the water coming down and filling the marshes around the Great Salt Lake. I remember as a young boy hunting the dikes around Harold Crane, and watching the airboats run out on the Willard spur. I always figured that those had to be about the most hardcore waterfowlers around. When we got our first airboat about 12 years ago, I shot more ducks in that year than I had shot in my entire life up to that point. Since that time, the success has been slowly decreasing year by year. Also, I have realized that there are hardcore duck hunters using just about every method known to man to take ducks. I have tons of friends that hunt with mud buddies, and the have taken more ducks in the last few years than we have. I sure hope that all this water brings back the ducks for the airboaters.

Take care and keep your face down.
Braden
P.S. cut em nova, I checked out the picture. You have got a serious case of duck fever “in the blood.”

[Edited By Braden-Mitchell on 2005-05-22 23:07]

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

05-13-2005 20:12
– – –
i heard something about a split season like colorado has?

Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net Darren

Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest

Waterfowl Season next year 05-13-2005 18:56
– – –
I have heard several rumblings of shortened season for ducks next year – resulting from extended droughts in Alberta. But in my last D.U. magazine they are saying that from about 2/3 of the province has good nesting habitat.

what have you guys heard?

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

05-12-2005 17:33
– – –
joe good to hear from you. i would be interested in hearing about a trip on up to north dakota, i would just need some time in advance to plan and save for it.

i looked for you at the outdoor expo but i guess there were like 4 or 5 hunter education areas at the show. oh well!

you guys should see the rivers and creeks coming out of the mountains up there in park city, they are just rushing down full of water, all the rivers are pushing the banks up there, talked to a guy today that works up at deer valley, and he says they still have markers on top of the resorts that show 18 feet of snow. WOW!!!!! we got the water we have all been needing. my only worries now is with all this water is it going to spread the birds out more? it will be nice to be able to set up in some natural cover with water within 50 yards, its been a while since i can say i have been able to do that.

anyways must go for now, keep posting up.

Jereme where are you?

Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net
Darren

[Edited By cut emnova on 2005-05-12 17:34]

Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest

05-12-2005 11:37
– – –
HEY guys — Good hearing from all..I also think alot about boats and mobility this time of year.. still just have my canoe and electric motor.. With the new “super drive/hyper drive, etc.” 4×4 type short shaftmotors now being offered, we should be seeing more long shaft types being put up for sale, used category. There’s one (with boat and trailer) in Bountiful across from the Colonial Square market. Boat looks a bit small, but the motor looks nice. No $ !!
I usually take a trip to Saskatchewan in early Oct., but may be interested in a hunt in North Dakota this year….Anybody been there/done that/any connections/interested in getting a little group together?? Maybe during the pheasant season for a combo hunt??
Just renewed my HIP # for the new season on line, pretty easy. Don’t forget. Before the ‘big rains’ I saw one sucsessful hatch of geese along the freeway, end of April. I thought that was pretty early, but it worked good for that family…. CUL — JOE

Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest

05-09-2005 22:20
– – –
we had some great hunts out of the boat, we had an avery pop up blind on it also covered in fast grass, complete with cushioned swivel chairs and heaters! nothing like hunting in the marsh in comfort, the main advantage was the ability to haul decoys around without breaking the back. its missed, but we will have another one within a year or two hopefully.

Committed Waterfowl …..daz3825@comcast.net Darren