Category: Virginia

Posted By:
JH2Os
Guest

North of Leesburg 02-06-2006 10:30
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Report for Feb 4th.

Best goose day of the late season. Limited out by 10AM and would have been done sooner if I could have shot better.

First flock of 6 at 7:45; took one
Second flock of 2 at 8:20; doubled
Third flock of 9:20; took one
Fourth flock at 9:55; took the last of my limit

Had 10-12 additional bigger flocks get close but would not decoy. The four flocks above came in perfectly. The most geese I have seen in this area in a long time.

I only put about about 20 decoys – far fewer than I usually hunt with. A dozen big shells and 8 or so silhouettes.

Will try to sneak out during the week and then hit the last Saturday.

Posted By:
Richard-Nunnally
Web Member

01-31-2006 14:57
– – –
Well I guess it is over. Thank Goodness!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not remember such a slow year for big ducks. I guess we will wait for next year and hope for the best.

Posted By:
Kenneth-Burnett
Guest

James River 01-29-2006 05:52
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Wonderful last day. My brother and I slept in and casually launched the Canoe in the James up above Natural Bridge. Saw a total of four Geese which we brought home. My brother and I each got a double. We saw two mallard drakes and a Greenwing teal which we never got a shot. What a difference a year makes. Last year on the last day we saw a 1000 geese and ducks at the same spot on the James. Last year however, It had been bitter cold for several days prior to the last day and every pond for 200 miles was frozen solid. Every waterfowl for miles was flying the river looking for open water. Didn’t happen for us this year. Oh well, Back to fishing for Bluecats and waiting for the shad and stripers to start running up the James.

Posted By:
wtrfwlr44
Guest

SE Va 01-28-2006 20:13
– – –
1//28, the last day. A.M. hunt – 1 mallard drake. P.M. hunt – 4 geese between 2 of us. Had them waddle up on the sand bar with the shell decoys after we limited out. Pretty cool.

Posted By:
wtrfwlr44
Guest

James River near HI 01-27-2006 18:25
– – –
Pulling in at o dark thiry, I had a goose on the bank where I set up. Thought it was a cripple. Staggered away from the boat. Sent my lab for it and it must have been fine flew away strong. Sad to say it was the only goose I saw today. Saw 5 ducks. Had 1 GW Teal Drake come in and brought it home. The masochist is still in me, I’ll be out tomorrow.

Posted By:
Kenneth-Burnett
Guest

James River Amherst County 01-27-2006 14:35
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Going tomorrow for a last hurrah. Will post tomorrow. With the weather that blew through, I have my fingers crossed. Always seems to be a bunch of geese around at least.

Posted By:
wtrfwlr44
Guest

SE Va 01-25-2006 12:09
– – –
Hunted 1/24, on the Penisula, saw a handful of ducks got 1 mallard drake. Heard some widgeon and a gadwal before legal time. Today saw 2 ducks on the NLR had a Ringneck Drake decoy and come home with me. Filled my Swan tag today also. Figured today with the big wind the ducks would move, maybe they did, but not where I was.

Posted By:
gooosehunter
Guest

Back Bay 01-22-2006 19:53
Cloudy, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
We hunted one of our deep water blinds and got a few scaup and ringbills. We had many puddle ducks look at us and lock up, only to pull off at the last minute or land outside the decoys.

I have to agree with most everyone else, one of the worst seasons I have had in years. No weather to push the birds around and some baiting around the bay ruins it for everyone.

Dave Shourds Gooosehunter gooosehunter@aol.com

Posted By:
wtrfwlr44
Guest

SE Va 01-22-2006 06:00
Cloudy, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted a.m. yesterday with a couple buddies, got 2 geese and 2 beautiful drake widgeon. Sadly to say one of the best hunts this year. Was real glad to get some birds though. Geese are always great. Hunted P.M. cloudy windy and zippo. Place we hunted we usually see lots of birds in the p.m., not yesterday? Saw a flock of mallards (?) 50 or so big ducks, drop out of the stratosphere to get out of the wind, newbies? That’s probably the optimist talking. We were just not where they wanted to be. This has been close to the worst year I’ve ever had hunting in 18 years of waterfowling here. Seems like we have a soft limit of 2 birds whether 3 of us are hunting or me by myself. Suffered through quite a few shutouts. Will try to hunt everyday this week. My last year for hunting Va. Retired from the Navy after 30 and am moving to Kansas this summer. Probably will hit a different place each day as this is my last go round here. Will give me time to reflect on all the past hunts in different places. The Good, the bad, the funny, and some wind howlin scary ones. Good luck to all.

Posted By:
Richard-Nunnally
Web Member

01-21-2006 21:47
– – –
Well this if the last week. There have been some good days and more bad days. I do not know what to say. The geese are still around here but no ducks. This has to be one of the worst seasons for me in years.

Posted By:
mwingfield
Supporting Member

South of Charlottesville 01-18-2006 11:02
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Goose hunted 1/16 on my hot spot; many geese came by but turned out of range. I moved the blind and rearranged the decoys. The next group came in, 3 shots one bird. I normally do better than that. Sam my lab worked well on the one.

Posted By:
mwingfield
Supporting Member

South of Charlottesville 01-18-2006 10:57
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Goose hunted, or tried on 1/14, no movement into my hot spot.

[Edited By mwingfield on 2006-01-18 10:58]

Posted By:
Bluebill Buster
Web Member

N.Va – Potomac 01-17-2006 15:50
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Wood ducks are back again. Had a group of 5 swing into the dekes at first light Monday. Our group killed a drake and a hen. Shot two other birds that jumped up and flew off on us when we were out retreiving the down birds. Added a hen hooded later on.

Very slow AM. No mallards seen flying are way. Geese have really becoming non existant in their flights on the river. They have adjusted to flights over developments and land, and no longer seem to be using the river to navigate to and from different points.

Heard a fair amount of shooting, so someone out there is doing well, but try scaring some more ducks are way!!!! 😀

Posted By:
Kenneth-Burnett
Guest

James River Cambell County 01-15-2006 12:58
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 40-45 Degrees
Tried the birds Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Saw plenty of geese of which none would decoy. Zip on the ducks. Wish I had a better report.

Posted By:
gooosehunter
Guest

Fields – Back Bay 01-15-2006 09:02
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
The weather wasbrutal yesterday before the sun came up. Then, a little calm weather before the storm. We had a few mile ride across the bay and it was rough. The afternoon in the fields: Rain and high high winds mix with a little sleet.

What a day yesterday. The winds were incredible on Back Bay in the afternoon. We hunted the marsh in the morning and only got a ringbill. We did not shoot at a couple of other ducks due to the 100 mph tail winds.

We hunted a field in the afternoon and wow were the geese flying. Flock after flock of geese and several ducks flying into the neighbors private impoundment. Only a few came within range and I had to leave a few minutes before the end of the day while the other guys were still in the field. The birds are here, you just have to be on the “x”

Dave Shourds Gooosehunter gooosehunter@aol.com

Posted By:
bass_snatcher
Web Member

Surry 01-14-2006 15:25
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
I got out for a late morning hunt after work yesterday morning. Decided to check the holes in a swamp I usually hunt and found two dozen green heads a half-dozen Woody’s in one of my favorite locations. I was lucky, and took three green heads on the flush then sat around hoping for them to return but they didn’t.

Went to another area this morning with a hunting partner and although our blind location was wrong we did see quite a few green heads, golden eyes and Woody’s. The next time we go we no exactly where to set up and hopefully we will be able to shoot our limits if the ducks and whether will cooperate.

The ducks are here if you are willing to work for them. They are definitely in the creeks and swamp’s in good numbers. I think it will take a hard freeze before, you will find any ducks in open water.

Good luck everyone.

Posted By:
Bluebill Buster
Web Member

N.Va – Potomac 01-13-2006 11:35
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 40-45 Degrees
Another slow morning today. Same as the last couple… foggy and very calm. Saw a group of teal fly but out of range. As I was about ready to pack up had a bird buzz thru the dekes and knocked it down. It was trying to swim away on me as I jumped out of the blind to get it. Looked like a nice drake redhead until I got closer… nice bull can!!! Never seen one near our blind before, thank god for the fog. I will try to get a pic on the board, but this is the first time for me to post a pic.

I don’t care if I get skunked the next two weeks, my season’s been made!!!

Posted By:
ejpantalone
Guest

Chester River Maryland 01-12-2006 17:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
After being skunked in Virginia all season, I decided to buy a Maryland hunting license and waterfowl stamp. My first day of hunting on the Chester River in Queen Annes county was a tremendous success. I finally got that monkey off my back and shot 2 Canadas (one big and one huge.) I saw more ducks and geese in 3 hours than I saw all season in Virginia (James River, Scottsville.)

Posted By:
bass_snatcher
Web Member

Prince George 01-12-2006 11:34
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 50-60 Degrees
Geese, geese, and more geese. Watched flight after flight this morning while standing out back of the office. We have 2 wildlife ponds on sight and are generally a good indicator of what I’ll find in my hunting areas. The good news is there are plenty of Canadas around.

The bad news, 1 pair of greenheads is all that I have seen on the ponds since the end of the cold weather when the ponds were full of wigeons, hooded mergansers, gadwalls and greenheads.

Posted By:
Richard-Nunnally
Web Member

anywhere 01-09-2006 16:17
– – –
Seems like the luck is with everyone. No ducks at all. What do we do know? Keep trying and hope for the best.

Posted By:
mwingfield
Supporting Member

Charlottesville 01-09-2006 11:43
– – 40-45 Degrees
Goose hunted 1/7/06 in my hot spot on the X. Set up before sunup, but the first group came in at 8:00. Last year the first group would come in @ 7:10 every day. I am working with my lab, Sam and this is his first year hunting in the field. I took one bird from the first group, working with Sam. He did well on the retrieve, used hand singles once. The next group came in at 8:15, took one bird, Sam did great. Being by myself I picked up the decoys. At 9:00 aprox. 125 geese came in, saw me and turned and landed near the pond, I must have seen close to 200 geese on Saturday, all by myself.

[Edited By mwingfield on 2006-01-09 11:48]

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Creek off Potomac – 1/7/06 01-09-2006 08:13
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted our spot on the creek and had a first… no ducks seen at all!!! Saw about
30-40 geese and had one flock go right over us. Too high for our liking. A big group had gotten up earlier from other hunters going in.

General Observations –
From what I have experienced and heard the genral situation is this. Puddle ducks are few and far between except in protected or undiscovered areas. The few that do commit are VERY blind shy at best. They generally sit dow well beyond a decoy spread. I say this again, We need weather badly. Divers are holding pretty well on the river (mostly bluebills). They have been hammered pretty hard with folks going after them since they are the only real gunnable birds right now. The number are down a bit from their peak a cuple of weeks ago.
Geese are still pretty huntable, but you might have to stay out and wait for their return trip from their feeding areas.

Good luck out there.

Posted By:
Bluebill Buster
Web Member

Lake Gaston 01-09-2006 08:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Made a trip down to Lake Gaston for the weekend. Hunted the Virginia section with very poor luck.

Had only one group of ducks even pay attention to the spread. Group of 3 mallards we were able to cox back into the spread and we took a drake. Hunted the afternoon and were surrounded by coots, saw maybe 10 bills or ringnecks while riding over to our spot but nothing close to our spread then either.

Went there a month ago and the lake was packed with ducks. If they are on the lake, they are obvisiouly somewhere else.

Not only a frustrating am because of the birds, but also managed to get my foot caught on the roots of stump. Couldn’t get my footing in time and half fell in. Thank god I had my wading belt on, otherwise I would have been soaked. Just had a small case of wet feet. Also helped the water was knee deep too.

Just a friendly reminder… when you are out wading, wear your belts! We forget too often to do this. Not only can it save your hunt but it could save your life!

Posted By:
tperreault
Web Member

Quantico Creek 01-09-2006 07:36
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted Quantico Creek Saturday 7 Jan. Saw many Geese flying high. Had about 30 Mallards rafted about 150 yards from the blind but would not come in for nothing. On the way back saw about 1500 ducks on the main potomac seem to be staying away from the creeks for right now.

Posted By:
long gunner
Guest

Lower Eastern Shore 01-08-2006 17:15
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
We hunted on Magothy Bay on 1/6/05 and did not see much. The brant ate us alive and we normally do not shoot them, but when I saw silver on a leg I let him have it.Band looked old and weathered. Reported it online for the first time. Ended up with a pair of Black ducks and 4 Brant. Did not see enough to get excited about going back, but will try again.

Posted By:
Kenneth-Burnett
Guest

James River, Nelson County 01-07-2006 08:20
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Saw very few birds while floating and nothing when set up with decoys. Came home with the skunk smell.

Posted By:
mwingfield
Supporting Member

Charlottesville 01-06-2006 13:13
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Goose Hunted 1/2/06, first group came in and turned out of range with 30 birds. Next group had 8 birds, came short of landing and turned with in range. Next group with 12 birds were about to land when we shot. The last group came in quite while we were picking up from the last shots, turned at the max range, and only dropped one. Had a great day and my lab retrieved his first geese, he worked well with voice, whistle, and hand singles.

Posted By:
Bluebill Buster
Web Member

N.Va – Potomac 01-05-2006 12:55
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
OK, this high water/tide crap has got to go! I had to get out of the blind early today if I wanted to retrieve my dekes from the river. I would say the river is up about 18 inches than normal.

All of this water has got the birds reversed in their flights. Birds that usually are flying into the swamps at day break are leaving in the AMs. Much harder to get birds to turn around and come back to dekes than stopping birds coming to you.

Divers are plentiful, but I will agree that the puddle ducks must be lost. Or maybe in someone pool! 🙁

Posted By:
Richard-Nunnally
Web Member

01-04-2006 11:55
– – –
If you are looking for geese, (canadas) there are plenty to go around. As far as other ducks……… If you can find them please let me know where. We need some weather bad!!!!!!!!!!!! There are still some divers on the big rivers but as far as puddle ducks I can not find any.

Posted By:
Bluebill Buster
Web Member

N.Va – Potomac 01-03-2006 12:05
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted Monday for the first time in over a week, visiting the folks in NY. Thought we would have an ideal day and set up, with the low cloud cover, fog, and no moonlight. WRONG! Saw lots of puddle ducks flying away from the River and the back water area we were hunting. Probably saw 30-40 ducks, mainly in group of 5-8. Had a group of 3 circle dekes, but lit outside of spread. Nothing flew from 7:15 on.

On the way back to the house did some scouting and couldn’t believe the amount of bluebills, buffleheads, ruddy’s with mixes of redheads in these rafts. I swear there was two rafts that had to be 400 yards long and 100 yards wide. I have no idea how many ducks that would equal to but I would guess it approaching 20,000 birds. Its not uncommon to see groups of 1,000 birds sitting together but this was spectacular. The kicker though… they were 75 to 200 yards off shore near a housing development.

Went out in the afternoon and set up the goose spread. No ducks flew, but boy what a day of geese. We had our limit after the first two groups came in, 6 in each group. Never had geese commit landing gear down every single time as we did that day. We continued to call at the geese after our limit and they all wanted our spot. Once a larger group of geese was on the water though, they didn’t seem as interested. Note to self, geese coming to resting spot at night feel safe in bigger groups in the evenings.

I did hear the most ridiculous amount of shooting coming from Powells creek way. My hunting partner wanted to get in the boat and check out the spot and what they were killing. Don’t know for sure but if these boys didn’t have limits plus some, it was because they can’t hit a lick! Must have heard close to 100 shots in 4 hours!

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Potomac River N. VA 01-02-2006 12:37
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 35-40 Degrees
Went out this a.m. with a couple of friends and had a good hunt with the divers. Saw good number of bluebills and buffleheads & hairy heads. The divers are very skittish after getting hammered the past couple of weeks. Also observed a high fying flock on Cans.

One interesting note saw no more than 20 – 25 puddle ducKs! They are virtually non-existant right now. This was also the case with another group we spoke with. We need some weather to move big birds birds down.

Ended thre day with 1- goose, 6 black heads, 1-Spoonie, 1-bufflehead. Not a bad hunt on birds that have been under a good deal of pressure.

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Potomac River Creek – NVA 01-01-2006 22:00
– – –
Went out on Friday and saw 12 ducks all high flyers. Saw about 100 or so geese
and they got up and made a hard right over the tree line perpedicular to the set up. El Skunk-o!!! Going to try the main river in the a.m.

Posted By:
JH2Os
Guest

Cornfield North of Leesburg 01-01-2006 17:17
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
My son and I hunted in Final Approach blinds from sunrise until noon. Scratched out a goose each. Saw a lot of geese moving but they all seemed like they were on a mission to get someplace else.

Saw 8-10 huge flocks of ducks – 25-40 ducks in each flock. They were very high and not interested in our spread.

Posted By:
Kenneth-Burnett
Guest

James River, Fluvanna County 12-28-2005 21:26
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted the upper James. Brother and I did well for a change. Had luck with Geese and Ducks. Limits on both. We set decoys where we jumped a good concentration of birds. They started coming back 10 minutes after we set deeks out. Will give them a try again Saturday.

Posted By:
wtrfwlr44
Guest

Back Bay 12-26-2005 07:09
– – –
Hunted Back Bay last Wednesday. The first indication is there were not very many people at the draw. Saw very few ducks, really disappointing. It was downright pitiful. Heard a few shots around the bay but not much. Usually you at least see ducks up high trading the Bay, not wednesday, zippo. Didn’t pull a trigger.

Posted By:
ROWAND
Guest

Pungo/ Back Bay 12-25-2005 15:04
– – –
Has anyone hunted in and around this area? How are the numbers?

Posted By:
Bluebill Buster
Web Member

N.Va – Potomac 12-21-2005 09:54
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Its been a very interesting season thus far. Fast and furious the first few weeks, but it seems to have slowed considerably. Lots of divers on the river, but they seem very unwilling to commit which could be a result of the size of flocks. Years past flocks seemed smaller, but this year they are grouped tight and more abundant.

Although we have killed some divers out of our stationary blind. Common GE and a few redheads, which is extremely rare due to our location.

I am sick of blue bird days though… birds are flying high and paying no attention to the dekes. Geese seem to be very sporadic too.

On a curious note… I’ve had some very vocal ducks fly by. Never heard hens quack and chatter while they are flying by so much, almost seems like they are pleading with the dekes to fly away with them but they have no interest in committing to the spread.

Posted By:
Richard-Nunnally
Web Member

12-20-2005 20:34
– – –
Sorry it has been a while since I last posted, been hunting a lot. There are a good number of puddle ducks around on some lakes and rivers. They seem to be hit or miss though. You could have a good day and then the next not so good. The divers on the rivers seem to be in good numbers for this early in the season. Hearing of guys killing blue bills buffle heads golden eyes and seeing some cans. Places like lake chesden seem to be hot and cold. the Chick lake and river are holding some birds if you are in the right place. The upper james river has had some good shoots as well early. We seem to have some birds but the are spread out pretty good.

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Potomac River-NVA 12-14-2005 16:32
– – –
Potomac VA side – 3 of us (hunted w 3.5 inch party amd Mike.hn) had an very good shoot today (limits) on variety of ducks. Thousands of bird s on the river on both sides. Species taken included: Blackheads, Blacks, Spoonies, Greenheads and teal.
Alot of birds down right now- this could be peake time so get out there.

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Potomac River Creek – N VA 12-10-2005 12:47
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Welcomed the season back in this a.m.
solo. Had a Suzie fly in right before legal as I was scrambling to get a few dekes out. Could have hot her w/ a tennis raquet. After I got the decoys out had 2 birds swim around the creek bend toward the dekes. As I raised my gun and was about to click of the safety I saw movemnt of four little rockets coming in. Three of them stayed. The Teal Trifecta!!!

Saw 10 ducks total and counted 398 geese flying over in large groups of 20+.

Nice “cool” a.m. hunt.

Posted By:
Kenneth-Burnett
Guest

Swan Country 12-08-2005 19:52
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Any swans around? I have a permit and am looking forward to going.

Posted By:
dukscout
Guest

Arlington, VA–Observation 12-08-2005 17:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Noticed about 100 mallards rafted up and on the grass with the geese near Roosevelt Island. Have never seen that many mallards in that location. Looked like new arrivals.

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Answer for Duck Scout 12-07-2005 21:36
– – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Lower- South of the Wilson Bridge

Posted By:
dukscout
Guest

Virginia-questions for Drew 12-07-2005 11:18
– – –
Drew,

Are you seeing these ducks on the upper or the lower Potomac?

Posted By:
Bluebill Buster
Web Member

Potomac River – NVA 12-05-2005 09:46
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Saw lots of duck movement in the AM. Mostly divers though… ruddys, bluebills, and buffleheads. I would guess 750-1000 birds. This is the earliest concentration of them I have seen.

Saw a huge difference in puddle duck movement in the last 36 hours.

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

NVA Potomac River Creeks (Scouting) 12-04-2005 20:43
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
This was from a scouting trip on Sat. a.m.

Saw even more birds probally around 500-600 total puddlers with about 200-300 of them being Pintails. The most I have ever seen in the wild myself. I just glassed them and sat there a while. Really awesome to see.

Hopefully the storm won’t push em out until Sat.!!!!

Posted By:
Drew-Hawkins
Field Editor

Scouted/Potomac River Creeks 12-02-2005 22:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Saw a marked increase in puddle ducks today looking at a couple of creeks. Prob saw over 200 mallards in two different locations. Prob 100-200 Geese. And about 30-40 Ruddy ducks.

Could be good tomorrow. Good luck!

Posted By:
Richard-Nunnally
Web Member

Eastern Henrico 12-02-2005 14:01
– – –
The birds seem to be hit or miss. Some days there are there and then there gone. We had a lot of geese early but some have moved on some where else. Bring on the cold weather up north and maybe things will change.

Posted By:
IBUDOC
Guest

southern VA 11-29-2005 13:43
– – –
I am new to the Virginia Beach area and I live to duck hunt, but I am having trouble finding any decent public lands to hunt on can any one help. I am willing to travel to hunt.

Shoot Um All In the Face!!!!

Posted By:
Kenneth-Burnett
Guest

Upper James River, Fluvanna 11-29-2005 07:19
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Saw good amounts of geese and ducks trading up and down the river while hunting deer on Saturday. Talked to some friends who hunted the Rappahannock Saturday and they did well on ducks and geese. They saw thousands of geese and not so many ducks.