Category: West Virginia

Posted By:
TheBigRig
Web Member

Ohio River Belleville 01-20-2008 21:40
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
not seeing many ducks this late season on the Ohio River. Hopefully next weekend may have new birds, but not hopefull. One mallard bagged at appx 3:00 pm. Nothing moved prior to that. I did see two other small flocks afterward.

Posted By:
Palongbow
Guest

Zone 2 – Band report 01-14-2008 16:20
– – –
The goose I bagged last week was banded in Hastings, Ontario this past summer. Twenty plus miles north of the northern shore of Lake Ontario.

Posted By:
Palongbow
Guest

Zone 2 01-05-2008 15:13
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Still not any new ducks in the area but lots of geese.

I missed several shots at blacks and mallards and had several groups flare on me (never figured out why) but managed to take a greenhead and two geese. One of the geese had a leg band.

Posted By:
Palongbow
Guest

Zone 2 01-04-2008 09:33
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Below Zero
Had open water (spring fed) – -tons of geese and a few ducks on it – cold fog coming off the water – FORGOT MY GUN!

I’m almost glad. The truck thermometer said -8 degrees. I already put the gun in the truck for tomorrow.

Posted By:
Palongbow
Guest

Scouting both zones 01-03-2008 18:05
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Scouted a few spots in each zone. Birds are concentrated on open water but there doesn’t seem to be many migrants. About the same # of birds I saw in the area all year.

Gonna hit ’em in the morning anyway.

Posted By:
Palongbow
Guest

Zone 2 12-29-2007 17:53
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Saw 100’s of geese setting in on other hunters about 3/4 mile away. A few gave me a pass after they saluted them and I managed to bring one down with a looong shot.

Only saw to mallards all morning. A pair buzzed me about 9am and I smacked down the drake. No daylight flight.

Hope the cold brings them in.

Posted By:
Palongbow
Guest

Zone 2 – Scouting 12-28-2007 19:11
– – –
Hittin’ it tomorrow myself but scouting hasn’t turned up much. Hoping tonights rain floods a cornfield beside a creek I hunt. If not, I’ll set up on the creek and hope for the best.

Posted By:
MDfeatherdustr
Guest

Eastern Panhandle 12-28-2007 17:06
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Did a lot of riding around this AM — saw only one grp. of hunters on the river, no one field hunting.
Saw one small flock of mallards and one grp. of Canadas (about 30-40 birds). Interestingly, both groups were right next to the road, naturally in a safety zone….
Not as many geese at Harpers Ferry as I usually see, but a lot below the big bridge. Saw somewhat dismayed by the low river conditions — will have to use the canoe tomorrow instead of my jon boat.
MD featherdustr

Posted By:
TheBigRig
Web Member

Ravenswood 12-24-2007 08:47
– – –
I have noticed more hunters on the Ohio River each year. I do think Waterfowling is catching on in the “duck desert”. Not as many ducks the past couple years compared to 2003/04 season. Those large concentrations of duck aren’t visible in this area. I suspect that the ethonal boom, and more farmers in central Ohio growing corn have diverted more waterfowl to those areas. I have nothing to base that on, it’s just that a drive to Columbus has revealed huge expanse of fields planted in corn. I suspect somewhere in a corn field in Ohio, thousands of mallards and geese are feasting. Hopefully that will equate to more ducks in this area eventually if winter ever comes back to WV and moves them.

It was great to see another WV post. I also love high water and floods as it relates to duck hunting here. It seems like ducks of all varities show up overnight when the Ohio River back water creeps in.

Posted By:
TheBigRig
Web Member

Ravenswood 12-23-2007 07:55
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Friday Dec 21st, 2007

1 goose and one mallard early. High water areas holding back water pools have now receded. River still too much current to hunt though.

I have friends coming in to hunt a few days after Christmas, but weather doesn’t look promising. Full moon will keep them feeding at night I think. Mid morning is about it until weather moves in.

Honestly not seeing large concentrations of duck.

Hopefully my next post will be brighter

Posted By:
Palongbow
Guest

Zone 2 12-22-2007 14:11
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Anyone still hunt this state. I use to post here under waitinforwaves. Gave a little too much info about my hunts and spots I found and had all to myself for 15 years suddenly looked like the parking lot at a Mountaineer game.

Last year, my 13 year old chocolate lab died in surgery the day before the late season started. Took the drive out of me. Turns out she was the duck hunter, I was just her friend with the boats.

Anyway, I’m trying to get back into it and since I use the posts to scout in other states I hunt in, I thought I would see if I could get things started for WV again.

Only saw about 2 dozen mallards and no geese in the same spot that held 200+ ducks and 300+ geese last Saturday. Managed to close-out 1 greenhead this morning.

Last week when everything was flooded, ducks were everywhere. While scouting, I saw ruddys, buffs and bluebills! On a marsh! In WV! I love hunting this state when it floods.

The divers didn’t show for the hunt but we did get into tons of mallards, a few blacks, fewer teal and one squad of sprig though they didn’t get close enough to shoot.

My Christmas wish is more rain.

Make a post to say hello. Let’s see who’s paying attention.

Posted By:
LA4024
WFC Sponsor

OH River 01-08-2007 08:39
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Nothing new has moved in still only locals and they are hard to hunt. If you have permission on some of the good cornfields you can do well. But a lot of pressure means limited open fields.

Posted By:
LA4024
WFC Sponsor

OH River Pt. Pleasant 12-08-2006 09:26
– – –
Not seeing a lot of migration activity in the area yet. Some small groups of migratory birds but not the real large groups. Hopefully with cold we will get some new birds.

Posted By:
barrelburner
Guest

Shenandoah River 12-12-2005 08:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted Shenandoah river Sat Dec 10. Got set up late, water was open but some skim ice forming. Scattered groups of birds seen flying here and there. We had several flocks of mallards give us a couple passes but none commit. MAny geese in the air later did same thing. Finally, managed to draw in some mergansers, 3 blacks and a single goose. Ended the day with only two mergansa’s due to some poor shooting. I guess we were a little rusty and needed to warm -up. Things on the river looking up and getting better. Got one report of 100to150 mallards in a field feeding not too far from the river. It should be a good later season as long as the water stays open. Good luck to all.

Posted By:
avanatter
Gold Sponsor

Ohio River-Pt. Pleasant 12-11-2005 17:46
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Launched at 6:15AM, 16 degrees, smoke on the water. From legal time to 8:30, we had three large groups of geese. These were locals not migrators. Ducks were sparse. One group of about 15 mallards. The rest were two’s and threes of blacks, mallards, pintails, common and hooded mergansers. Wind was out of SW but we were on the Ohio side. Ducks were landing and rafting in the river. Able to bring in one group of geese and took four. No shots on ducks.

[Edited By avanatter on 2005-12-11 17:47]

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Zone 2 12-09-2005 14:21
– – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Finally found some ducks in Zone 2 but they all flew before shooting time. No shots.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Zone 1 Opener 12-09-2005 14:20
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Two of us got set up about 3pm and took 6 of the 7 mallards we shot at before sunset. Five were greenheads and my buddy hit a susie accidentally when he shot a drake.

Didn’t seem to be any migrants in the area. Same # of mallards there always is in that spot and no blacks yet.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Zone 2 12-01-2005 14:38
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
I found 5 ducks in Zone 2! Two susies came in tight but I let them slide. Maybe they’ll make more for next season.

to bonassa,

Sounds like you have it bad. Might be on the Ohio myself when Zone 1 starts, unless I find something on the Mon. It’s not a good river for ducks though. Ducks from way up North don’t seem to like all the people traffic on the rail trail.

Just got a free place to stay and free access to private land in the Chesapeake Bay area. Can’t wait.

Posted By:
bonasadbl
Web Member

11-30-2005 21:43
– – –
11/30/2005 22:43
To Waitinforwaves

Steve Brown is our DNR duck biologist at the Elkins Operations Center…he is directly involved in setting WV waterfowl seasons

I gun my own rigs, 18 ft Polarcraft with full blind and 80+ ducks and 12-18 geese for 3 and a dog; 15 ft sneakboat with conduit blind panels, 2 doz + ducks for 2 and a dog.

I live in Buckhannon but I stay mobile…been Ohio River for early opener, to Manitoba in October for 4 days; Lake StClair on Michigan/Ontario border in mid November, next week back to the Ohio River for Zone 1 late opener and down to Knotts Island, NC on Currituck Sound between Xmas and New Years…it might be obvious that I am seriously infected with the duck virus.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Still nothing in Zone 2 11-30-2005 05:27
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 45-50 Degrees
Still nothing going on in the Tygart River Valley. I have some spots that are awesome when it floods. Flooded fields and cut corn but no ducks. Saw 8 all day.

Zone 2 season is too early. This season would be used more in January. Anyone agree?

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Scouted Zone 2 11-25-2005 09:57
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Anyone hunt the Zone 2 opener? I can’t believe they have a season now. Every useless day we have now is a day we don’t have in January.

Even with a white Thanksgiving and small shallow waters freezing up, there were just a few ducks on the Tygart – probably local birds.

I guarantee birds will be there in Janurary after Zone 2 ends.

Anyone agree? Anyone know who we talk to about changing this?

Posted By:
LA4024
WFC Sponsor

Greenbottom WMA 10-10-2005 09:34
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
Only killed 2 woodies Saturday, saw about 15 total. Man the duck population here has really went down over the past 10 years that I’ve benn hunting here. Pretty sad that this place has done this since it lloks like it should be a duck factory. We did see 2 very large flocks of mallards come over heading south, I hope this is not a sign that they are moving south early.

Posted By:
LA4024
WFC Sponsor

Kanawha River 10-03-2005 08:58
– – –
Lots of fog but were able to take 4 mallards and a woodie, all drakes. Heard a lot of geese but couldn’t see them in the fog.

Posted By:
featherdustr
Guest

Shenadoah River 10-02-2005 07:16
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Five guys, two dogs, 13 goose floaters and about 20 duck decoys — we did okay with 2 geese, 7 woodies and 3 mallards. Incredibly bad shooting by some! The idea of being polite and letting the new hunters shoot first has to be reconsidered….
Had fun, saw a bald eagle, and off the water by noon.
We really need some rain — rock croppings all over the section we hunted. Couldn’t run the motor in the AM because it’s too shallow.
Heard some shooting below us and nothing above us.
I’m off Tuesday (Jewish holiday) so me and the dog will try another AM hunt.

Posted By:
LA4024
WFC Sponsor

09-30-2005 10:20
– – –
Hey guys Season starts tomorrow. Hope you all shoot straight and good luck.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Ducks Unlimited Banquet 05-19-2005 10:37
– – –
the Morgantown Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is having a banquet the Peking House on Van Voorhis Rd on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 6PM.

Reservations are requested. Call Scott Summers at 292-2895 before noon on Monday, May 23rd.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

RiverDawg 01-24-2005 16:03
– – –
We hunted a private waterfowl lease on the Chester River with a DU executive my buddy is good friends with. We’ve made dozens of free-lance trips to the area in the past 8 years. Some good – some not.

Usually we go to Deal Island but it’s had more people than ducks the last few years. Hoping to scout out a few new areas this summer.

I’m hoping to head south of the ice this weekend. Might have to go as far as NC but not sure if I can swing the 4 day weekend it would take to get there and back. Might try geese instead.

I live in Morgantown and always wanted to try the Ohio River. Have a pretty good rig for it. Surest way to reach me is e-mail – barebow@earthlink.net

Jeff Morrison
waitinforwaves

Posted By:
RiverDawg
Guest

none 01-24-2005 12:41
– – –
Waitingforwaves where did you guys hunt on the bay? Did you use a guide or do it alone?
Also where do you live in WV? I’m from Wheeling and I’m always looking for someone to hunt with. Let me know what’s up.

Posted By:
glitterperegrine
Supporting Member

01-23-2005 00:28
– – –
Help a little girl out everyone

Mackenzie Maier needs a postcard from you! Mac is a 4 year old with very serious cancer. Her goal is to collect a postcard from every state in the US. Please help her reach her goal by mailing her one today!

Her address is:

Mackenzie Maier
23037 Magnolia Glen Drive
Valencia, CA 91354

They have a website with a guestbook and pictures of her with Santa at:

www2.caringbridge.org/ca/mackenziemaier

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Chesapeake Bay Area 01-22-2005 19:22
Arctic Blast – 0-10 Degrees – Open Water
Took a trip to the Bay area to hunt with some friends that live there. Yesterday, my buddy Mike and I got a couple Canadas each and he got a black and a bluebill or two.

This morning I got 3 bluebills and a bull canvasback and Mike got a couple more bluebills.

All told, 6 of us got 21 bluebills, 2 canvasbacks, 5 geese and a blackduck in two days. Saw thousands of geese each day and had 100’s, maybe a 1000 or more bluebills in the decoys. Makes it hard to hunt in WV after seeing all that.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Central Wv 01-15-2005 11:37
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Tried an old spot I’ve been hunting for about 15 years. Just as I was getting ready to walk in 4 guys rolled in. Found out the spot gets hunted hard these days. Saw 1 duck – usually see dozens. A few geese came in and they got a few.

Might be done in WV for the season. Headed to the Chesepeake Bay for the next 2 weekends. Real duck hunting.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Zone 2 scouting 01-11-2005 20:06
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 45-50 Degrees
I had to work in the Elkins area today and couldn’t help but to look for ducks. Zone 2 always seems to have the most ducks after it goes out – this year was no different.

Flooded areas around the Tygart River were loaded with mallards. I saw dozens in a flooded spot near Crystal Springs and even more in a flooded cornfield near Huttonsville.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Preston County 01-07-2005 19:20
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hit the flooded field again. Had lots of action at daylight. I got 2 mallards – one had a leg band. Took my girlfriends son – it’s his 13th birthday and he got his 1st duck – a black. Saw a few pintails and blacks and dozens of mallards. Lots of geese in the area too but we didn’t have any goose decoys. They circled the calling but wouldn’t commit.

Someone was setup across the field. 2 guys with a black lab. If it’s anyone reading this post a report – like to know how you did.

Suppose to rain all night. Probably be great hunting tomorrow but I’m committed to a rabbit hunt in the eastern panhandle.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Preston County 01-06-2005 18:30
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Flood conditions are the best time to hunt around here. Wish I could have gotten out this morning. When I arrived this afternoon, I chased off 400+ geese and dozens of ducks.

While I was setting up, a pair of mallards, a black and a greenwing came into the spread. After I loaded up, a pair and then a trio of pintails set in perfectly. I got my first drake pintail.

Saw dozens of ducks and hundreds of geese after shooting time. The water was dropping fast so it won’t be as good tomorrow but I’m going to give it a try in the morning.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

wv gino 01-05-2005 18:59
– – –
Gino

just saw your message. That was me by the creek. I drive an olive drab Frontier. Feel free to join me if your going to the same spot.

I’m going back there tomorrow afternoon with jfowler. saw a few ducks there when I scouted this afternoon. Probably hit it Friday morning too if we don’t gun it too hard.

I’ve bagged gwt, bwt, pintails, blacks, mallards, woodies, geese and a gadwall in that spot when it floods.

give me a ring 288-4326

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Florida – last week 01-03-2005 12:43
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
didn’t see a single duck while set up in FL despite seeing teal, baldpate and ringnecks while scouting. Taking my boat next time. Did see 7 alligators sunning themselves on the bank when I waded back to the truck. Glad I left my dog at home and I’ll probably carry my gun next time I put decoys out down there.

Haven’t had time to scout back here yet but I know there not in FL.

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

MoTown 12-30-2004 07:44
– – –
Waitin,

Got your message and I am up for just about anything. I’m around until next Friday and then I leave for Erie for good.

I will try and give you a call this week.

Happy Holidays!
Jason

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Preston County 12-24-2004 21:25
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Went back to the same spot this morning, hoping the cold would freeze up most of the water in the area but there was still plenty open. Most of the 100+ ducks I saw went elsewhere.

There were several spent steel shot shells on the ground – they knew not to come in too close but I did manage to smack down 1 greenhead.

I saw a group of about 2-3 dozen greenwings and scouting local rivers I saw blacks, 2 pintails, and more mallards than usual. Definitely migrants in the area.

I’m headed to Florida for a week. Hoping to duck and boar hunt.

JFowler – tried to get a hold of you. I plan to river hunt from the duck boat when I get back. Hopefully we’ll have time for a hunt before you move.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Preston County 12-24-2004 03:27
Arctic Blast – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
I hunted Preston County on Thursday evening. About 200 geese, in small groups, were setting in when I pulled in. That’s about the same # I’ve seen in the area all season.

Lot’s of new ducks were in the area though. Over 100 mallards – I usually see a few dozen – and several dozen greenwings. I managed to take a 1-footed greenhead.

Saw some blackducks, lots of mallards, and a pair of pintails while scouting earlier in the week. They definitely aren’t local birds. This current front should bring in more.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

river 12-12-2004 11:03
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Saturday, December 11

The wind was a little wrong for our spot at first but then the birds started working as the wind shifted a little and picked up.

I took 8 of the 41 shots, including 3 at a very close goose and only managed to scratch down 1 greenhead. The Georgia boys took the other 33 shots, bringing only a goose to the bag. No wonder they lost at Gettysburg.

Went to nearby Pleasant Creek WMA for the evening. We only saw 2 greenheads and I closed-out 1 with a single shot. The Georgians missed the other one 4 times.

I don’t think any migrants have moved in yet. Had been seeing the same # of ducks in these spots for weeks.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

River 12-12-2004 10:53
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 50-60 Degrees
Friday, December 10

Had 2 buddies I turkey hunt with come up from Georgia wanting to shoot some ducks. One of them had never duck hunted before so I skipped filling my doe tags to try to find them some ducks.

A 50 minute boat ride in heavy fog is never fun. Even to hunt. We only saw 8 birds and they sky busted a pair while a quad of mallards was trying to set in the side.

On the way out we saw some birds in a spot I’ve hunted before so were are headed there on Saturday.

Posted By:
featherdustr
Guest

Below Rte. 9 Bridge 10-11-2004 18:38
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 50-60 Degrees
Got set up after sunrise on Saturday — while putting out goose decoys, a pair of woodies dropped right in. Not ready, so got to watch me set dekes….

Ended up with one goose — beautiful tolling shot. Cupped and locked from about 200 yards out.
Man, I know how to do a decoy spread!
Other flocks of geese looked and circled, but by then, the sun was up.
Only 5 days remaining.
Featherdustr

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

McClintic WMA 10-08-2004 10:57
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Drew a blind for McClintic WMA yesterday. First time hunting there, so I wasn’t sure what to expect….I was a little leary since I was driving almost 3 hours by myself, but it was well worth it.

Ended up seeing tons of birds. but mainly woodies, teal and geese. Didn’t get a ton of shots because of the weather and all the birds flying high, but I did manage a goose a really nice woodie drake and a hen green wing. SHould have had my limit of woodies and more teal, but still no complaints.

The guys who live near McClintic sure have a gold mine on their hands! Hoping to head back soon!

Jason

Posted By:
barrelburner
Guest

Shenandoah river 10-07-2004 12:03
– – –
Featherduster, I think I know who you are could be wrong though. Check your e-mail asap.
Yes, I do hunt the shenandoah, was out Oct 2 opening day and did pretty well. I would love to join you this weekend Oct 9, have a pretty good spot.PM me or respond back through e-mail

Posted By:
featherdustr
Guest

Shenadoah River 10-07-2004 08:48
– – –
Is there anyone in WV who is hunting the river around Charlestown?
All of the guys with whom I used to hunt the river have moved to farm ponds, farm fields, etc. I know the river is a lot of work and can be “iffy” in terms of birds.
Anyway, if any one wants to join me, send a message.
Art

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

Pleasant Creek 10-06-2004 10:35
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted Pleasant Creek WMA on Friday and was actually suprised at the number of birds. Saw a decent amount of blue wings, as well as woodies and an occasional mallard.

A few other hunters and only sparse shooting from what I could hear. Didn’t manage to bag anything, but that is another story.

Headed to McClintic tomorrow morning. Having never hunted it, should be interesting to go in “cold turkey.”

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Mon River 10-04-2004 20:44
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Didn’t have a chance to scout before the opener so I went to an old spot. Should have slept in.

I saw some geese and a few woodies and mallards but the only thing that gave me a look was a single goose. I missed him.

Did hear some shooting on some ponds near the river, on private land, but not many.

Posted By:
Gruman Widgeon
Guest

Mclintick 09-21-2004 15:46
– – –
Hey i wantd to check out Mclintick WMA. I missed the blind drawings. Anybody have any advice. If you show up in the morning do you still have a descent chance of getting a blind. If you don’t get a blind are the other areas worth hungting? Can you do it with out a boat? All info would be appreciated.

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

Delta Sporting Clays Shoot 01-28-2004 20:02
– – –
Sporting Clays Shoot to benefit Delta Waterfowl.

Sunday March 28th at 12pm – Hunting Hills Shooting Preserve in Dilliner, PA (about 15min from Morgantown)

Cost is $55 and includes 100 rounds of sporting clays, an awesome steak dinner, as well as door prizes, raffles, silent auctions, etc.

Great chance to get out and meet some fellow duck hunters!

Drop me an e-mail if at all interested.

Jason jfowler@hsc.wvu.edu

Posted By:
dmason
Guest

around New Martinsville 01-27-2004 19:05
– – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
It is good to see some posting on the WV state page. I live in New Martinsville and hunt the river exclusively. You can get some excellent days or terrible days. My experience has been areas south of NM are more consistent. I am talking about down around Newport and Reno Ohio. There is a lot more agriculture there. The boat launches are also better. These would be my recommendations.

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

Same Same 01-25-2004 23:35
– – –
Waitin….

No problem, I certainly understamd the family situation…my first if due Aug 30th (talk about poor timing 😉
Drop me a line when you get a chance. I have a few places lined up for the fall that will take more than what I have, so I’m hoping you and Gino will be able to join me!!!

Not sure if you guys have an occasional beer or not, but we should meet up some night in town……I’m up for whatever.

As a sidenote, I attened a meeting of the Western PA Delta Chapter tonight and we are planning a Sporting Clays event at Hunting Hills ( about 15 min from Morgantown) the end of March / 1st of April…….if anyone is interested let me know (send me an email to jfowler@hsc.wvu.edu)………..should have tickets and a date by the end of next week./….cost will be about $55 for 100 rounds of clays and an awesome steak dinner! Not to mention some awesome prizes!!

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

just talkin 01-25-2004 14:22
Arctic Blast – Froze Out
ND Spoiled

For the past decade I’ve duck hunted all over the Morgantown area – 50 miles or so. Use to spend a good deal of time duckin in the eastern panhandle. There use to be a good group of us but they’ve all moved away in the past year.

I’m always on the lookout for new hunting buddies that know what they are doing instead of just trying to find someone else’s honeyholes.

JFowler

Saw your # on my caller ID a little while ago. Been busy with work and family. Even had an invite to finish the duck season in GA with my old college roommate but had to pass.

I’ve never hunted the Ohio River but I’ve always wanted too. Even scouted it a few times from my boat. When the weather is like this there are usually birds everywhere over there. Power plants keep it from freezing.

I have a great rig for that river too. An 18′ semi-V hull with a 24hp Mud Buddy Motor and an Avery pop-up blind. Lots of goose floaters too.

I hurt my shoulder surfing (hence the nickname) a couple of years ago and can’t get the boat out of the hillside garage I store it in. So I haven’t used it much since my duckin buddies moved away. It’s hard to get a non-hunting friend to meet you at 3:30am to load a duck boat.

The drive across Rt 7 takes about 2hours towing a boat. This time of year, the road salt really messes up camo paint and decoys too.

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

01-23-2004 12:50
– – –
Hey Gino,

Yea, I know it’s a long way to New Martinsville, but I have been hearing that there are tons of geese over that way.

You’re telling me about the boat launch in Star City. There are even more in Westover and rivesville!

Does WV have a law that prevent people from feeding wild animals? I knwo that PA does. Not that it would make much of a difference.

I actually saw three blue bills and a couple of buffleheads down in Star City the other day….not to mention the pair of “cans” I saw on the Yough 3 weeks ago.

Posted By:
WV Gino
Guest

01-22-2004 18:11
– – –
Jason

you understand that the road to NM is three times longer that it looks on paper do to the curves?

You can probably be in Geneva in the same amount of time.

We need to scam a way to hunt all those ducks around Star City.

I saw a pile of ducks in zone 2 this evening. I need to stop and ask for permission for next season.

WV Gino

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

New Martinsville 01-22-2004 15:00
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Anyone ever hunt down near New Martinsville?

I was just curious as to whethe or not it was any good.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Posted By:
NDspoiled
Guest

Morgantown and surrounding 01-21-2004 22:41
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Hey waitinforwaves, i have hunted the areas surrounding morgantown as well. I was just wondering if you hunt with a group of guys or usually by yourself. I only knew of one other group of guys that hunted the area. Maybe you are part of that group?? Seems as though things are freezing up and birds are pushing farther south.. have you been noticing the same??

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Zone 2 Goose Scouting 01-20-2004 17:33
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 0-10 Degrees – Open Water
Found one of the flocks of Canadas I hunt in a pasture at about 10am – asleep. Nearly 300 with heads tucked under a wing. One sentry in the whole flock. Pretty cool to see in the snow.

That flock had only a few dozen more birds in it in the early season. The 300-400 migrants that were with them 2 weeks ago must have headed south. Hopefully I can get on them before the season goes out.

Several dozen mallards were on a nearby creek. Our DNR did a good job of protecting them by ending the season before they get here. Good thing we had duck season in November instead#%! Deer rifle season is such a good time to be out with no blaze orange. Water is nice to look at too. Real calm with no ducks swimming on it.

Who’s with me on having one statewide duck season that runs as late as possible instead of mid-November?

Posted By:
blackduckhunter2
Guest

01-17-2004 20:09
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Hey Waitinforwaves,I do have to commend you. You are a die hard waterfowler. West va. duck hunting has to be tough and you stick in there.Keep up the posts it is good to know what is going on up there.I grew up in Ashland Ky. and would like to come home and hunt that part of the world sometime. Plus we get several birds from Pa.and the northeast migrating to south central Tn. So your posts do help with our hunting. You do have one advantage over us in the south though,You do not have the amount of competition from every shotgun owner who has bought a duck call from wal-mart and calls himself a duck hunter.That is worth alot in my book. Keep up the posts,maybe someday we can trade some hunts.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Marion County 01-14-2004 18:32
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Tried an evening hunt today. Dozens of mallards were in the air around 2:30 when we arrived and we saw 100’s after sunset but only a few worked us in between.

My duckin buddy, Chris V. went with me. Hadn’t hunted with him for a few years. He still can’t shoot. He missed the only shot he took and the 3 1/2″ mags nocked back into the water.

I smacked down a greenhead with my only shot.

Still no blacks in the area. We didn’t see a single one. Usually there are several dozen in the spot we were in today.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Traveled to Delaware 01-12-2004 15:17
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 0-10 Degrees – Open Water
Took a trip to Delaware to hunt with some DU employees I’ve been fortunate to meet.

We hunted a flooded cornfield that had well-water pumping into it’- keeping the ice out. The hard freeze pushed most of the birds out though. 4 of us got 8 mallards and 2 Canadas on the 1st day and no shots on the 2nd.

It was a great trip despite the bitter cold. Hunted from a pit blind and saw mallards, blacks, teal, 1000’s of Canadas and maybe 10,000 snows. No lie on the snows. Made a couple new friends too. Hope to hunt with them again.

Posted By:
jfowler
Guest

01-07-2004 12:44
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Waitinforwaves……I sent you a Private message a while back, did you ever get it?

just curious. Let me know if you are interested in meeting up sometime for some WV hunting.

Jason

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Zone 2 01-03-2004 19:46
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted a flooded pasture I’ve been seeing ducks on for the third time. 1st time they landed in the pasture while I was set up on a pond. 2nd time the ice kept them from coming at all. This time I set up in the flooded pasture and they set-in on the far side of the pond.

Of the couple dozen mallards I saw, only a pair came in range and I cut the greenhead. The others would have nothing to do with the dekes, calling or mojo mallard.

Did see several hundred geese in the air and several were in range but I can’t bring my self to eat anymore of them. If anyone has a good way to prepare them – let me know.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Zone 2 01-03-2004 19:46
Cloudy, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted a flooded pasture I’ve been seeing ducks on for the third time. 1st time they landed in the pasture while I was set up on a pond. 2nd time the ice kept them from coming at all. This time I set up in the flooded pasture and they set-in on the far side of the pond.

Of the couple dozen mallards I saw, only a pair came in range and I cut the greenhead. The others would have nothing to do with the dekes, calling or mojo mallard.

Did see several hundred geese in the air and several were in range but I can’t bring my self to eat anymore of them. If anyone has a good way to prepare them – let me know.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Morgantown area 01-02-2004 20:08
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Tried to hunt the cattle pasture I watched all the birds set into last week but it was frozen solid. Only saw 2 mallards and they came in before shooting time.

New geese have arrived though. There were 3 times the normal flock of about 200. Watched to guys screw up a perfect set-up. Hundreds of geese worked them but they quit calling to early and the geese would swing wide. Instead of let them circle in closer, they sky busted. There average shot was over 70 yards. They fired at one group that was beside me and I was over 100 yards away.

I’m going back to the same spot in the morning. Should be real swampy with the rain and melting snow. Hopefully the geese and goose hunters won’t be there.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Scouted Tygart River 12-31-2003 12:00
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Ducks and Geese are all over the Tygart River. I had to work south of Elkins so I took a look around while I was there.

Zone 2 ends on Saturday. The big duck #’s always come after the Mountain Zone ends. The DNR must not like duck hunters. They start Zone 2 during the Rifle buck season – when there are no ducks and everyone is deer hunting. Must be another brainless tradition.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Taylor County – near Tygart Lake 12-27-2003 18:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Clear mornings are tough when there aren’t many ducks around. A dozen mallards came into the decoys 10 minutes before shooting time. Only 3 and a woodduck came in after. I managed to shoot a mallard but didn’t see a bird in the next 3 hours.

My good year-to-year spots usually have alot more birds by now.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

North Central WV 12-27-2003 18:53
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Tried to hunt a farm pond, on Christmas Eve, that several dozen mallards and a few greenwings were using a few days earlier but the weather changed the birds minds.

Rain and melting snow had the pasture around the pond real swampy and I had to watch them set in all around me – out of range. Couldn’t set up on them – no cover and the 60 steers in the field wouldn’t leave my lab Kota alone.

Seeing all those ducks set in was cool though and I passed several shots @ Canadas. Just can’t stand to eat them anymore.

Posted By:
waitinforwaves
Guest

Lewis County 12-19-2003 12:29
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
My brother and I hunted on December 12. About 1/2 the water on the wetland we hunted was iced over. We recently switched to Hevi-shot and haven’t figured the lead out I guess. We fired 12 shots without taking a bird.

It doesn’t seem that the ducks have migrated in yet. We usually see dozens of blacks and mallards by this time but only saw a few blacks and about 3 dozen mallards.

We also jump shot at a pair of greenwings and a 2 pairs of woodies. They accounted for 6 of the misses.

Posted By:
avanatter
Gold Sponsor

Pt. Pleasant WV 12-07-2003 16:08
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Excellent early morning, decoyed geese, green-wing teal, and mallards. 3 geese, 4 drake mallards, one drake green-wing, one hen bluebill were taken and retrieved. A hen mallard and greenwing were not retrieved. Pintails were seen but not shot, they are not legal until December 21. Ducks and geese were still in ponds, potholes, and backwater.
We had no snow or even ice Saturday morning. Boat ramp was a silty mess. Good Hunting to All!!

[Edited By avanatter on 2003-12-07 17:29]

Posted By:
WOODIE13
Guest

SEASONSARE OUT 09-14-2003 20:57
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Just found them on the DNR site. I posted them up on the discussion forum for you all.

Posted By:
WOODIE13
Guest

Southern WV 09-07-2003 22:56
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
Friday, went out blind, got one, scouted the rest of the evening.

Saturday, had 4 by 8:45 and finished up with the limit on a short float.

Posted By:
WV Gino
Guest

Mon/Preston Counties 08-01-2003 21:36
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – Over 70 Degrees
Went out scouting for resident geese Wed.

Found a couple of flocks at farms I have permission to hunt. Found one good sized flock on a farm I have never stopped at. Gives me something to do this weekend.

Stopped by the river front park in Morgantown this evening and saw alot of mallards. Wonder if they ever leave.

Working on getting someone from work to fly some areas of interest with a GPS reciever looking for geese for me.

WV Gino

Posted By:
Forum Moderator
root

02-24-2003 15:40
– – –
Dear Waterfowler.com Members,

Waterfowler.com is currently looking for more Volunteer Field Editors to participate in Waterfowler.com’s Volunteer State Field Editor Program in your state for the 2003/04 season.

Each Waterfowler.com State Field Editor will have his or her photograph and biography posted on their respective state page. Based on your level of participation we will renew your membership to Waterfowler.com website and Waterfowler.com Journal for free.

If you have time to volunteer by posting daily or weekly reports and are interested in participating in our program, please email me a short paragraph/biography which includes the number of years you have been hunting, the reasons why you have enjoyed this sport over the years, if you are involved in any organizations related to hunting and the reasons why you wish to participate in our program.

Please send your email to: vfe@waterfowler.com

Chrystel Eisenlohr
Director, Waterfowler.com VFE Program
vfe@waterfowler.com

Posted By:
Blackpowder
Web Member

Tucker County??? 02-01-2003 18:42
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Not a report: Wondering how the duck hunting is down in the Parsons, Thomas or Davis WV area. Probably can’t hunt in the Canaan Valley anymore. I’ve got kin down there and thought I’d make a trip do double duty next year. Any thoughts?

Posted By:
Eric-Gerencir
WFC Sponsor

Eastern Central 12-28-2002 09:57
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
12/27 Hunted on small lakes. Two of us were in the canoe(the “woodduck stalker”)and the “jinx” hunted set up in a cove with decoys to coax anything close that we may have flushed with the boat. Had a group of geese take to wing and we all shot for show but nothing really close enough to knock down. Only saw one duck and it was too far away to get a good ID. Decided to move closer to the Ohio river and there were birds. In the evening the birds were coming off the creeks and private stock ponds and we witnessed about 500 ducks cruising out of gun range straight over our heads…mostly mallards,blacks and a random little duck mixed in. The water is too open! Too many choice areas to hang out if you have webbed feet. A group of 5 mallards worked our small spread and a hen and I had a 5 minute conversation about why there was something “just not right” about coming closer to gun range. A few minutes before sunset two groups of 100 geese decided to give us a look and a group of 10 broke off and decided to take a very close look…at about 10 yards 1 goose with jewelery decided to come over for dinner. Total count 500 ducks flying, 199 geese flying, 1 goose in the canoe for the ride home and 1 spouse wondering why the King says he’ll be home at 5:00 and then creeps in at 8:00.

Go the extra mile and own the field. Seperate yourself from the soulless.

Posted By:
duckdog1187
WFC Sponsor

Around Bourbor County 12-26-2002 15:32
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
We went hunting 12/23. We saw alot of ducks for this area. They were mostly in pairs.They also didn’t decoy well. We were set up in a marsh area. We got a goose though.

Posted By:
TonySenn
Web Member

Greenbrier County 12-20-2002 11:45
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 40-45 Degrees
Before the water went up we were doing very well. Alot of Black Ducks again this year. Saw my first WV Bull Pintail two week ago. And had a group of 6-7 Swans work me one morning. Crazy stuff. Well I hope the water goes back down soon. Everything seems to be scattered especially now that the farm ponds are thawing out.

Be safe and use a trained dog!!

Posted By:
Tealdog
Guest

Burnsville 12-17-2002 08:22
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Anybody hunt Burnsville Dam ….or know if there is open water to hunt?

Posted By:
Benjamin-Dupree
Guest

Hunting Dabblers 12-12-2002 19:30
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A while back, Wade Bourne, a DU writer asked me to take a look at his new book Hunting Dabblers. Well, I’m a slow reader, and this book isn’t so new anymore, but let me tell you this book has it all. Bourne not only employs his years of experience but he also draws tips off other duck-hunting veterans from around the country. This book covers everything from proven calling techniques to what to look for in a shotgun. In just over 200 pages Bourne has captured every conceivable facet of waterfowling. The book is educational, entertaining, and full of very useful pointers. While I was reading this, there were several times I would think, “I never thought of that.” Even if this book had not been the authority of duck hunting, Bourne gained my respect with the closing paragraph in his acknowledgements section where he stated “And ultimately, I acknowledge God as my creator and Christ as my savior. Someday I plan on seeing all my old buddies on that Great Marsh where the drought never comes and the ducks always fly.” For an autographed copy of Bourne’s book, send a check for $30.45 to Wade Bourne, 450 Old Trenton Road, Clarksville, TN 37040 or you can obtain a copy of this book and support this fine webpage by purchasing one from the Proshop here at waterfowler.com. Dabblers would make an excellent stocking stuffer. Good Luck, Good reading, and God Bless.
Ben Dupree

Posted By:
Eric-Gerencir
WFC Sponsor

Zone 2 – Northeast 12-01-2002 13:40
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Wednesday Nov. 27 – “Hello Kayandar, I’d like to order the perfect day to waterfowl hunt!” So, the god of the virtuous hunter obliges and grants the king and rooster gray skies and working ducks. Lots of migrants in the air. Woodducks, mallards, and even a few ring necks worked along the river. We were not using decoys but the mallard and woodduck call coaxed birds within shooting range from time to time. We managed to bag three mallards and a ring neck. One of the mallards was banded. Returned to the same area two days later and the birds were still hanging around but didn’t see any ring necks but managed to see some teal still in the area. The skys were too sunny and high and the birds didn’t work our spread until the last ten minutes of shooting hours…did get one mallard drake to hand but sun set and shooting hours were over. The water in the swampy areas had not iced up yet and the birds were feeding in the corn fields.