Posted By:
Bert Holtzman
Field Editor
Ohio River Zone 12-21-2010 13:23
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Had a fun little hunt this morning with Tony. We set up in a creek off of the river. We put out 20 duck decoys and some jumbo goose shells around our layout blinds and waited. Sure enough ducks started moving early again. We saw several groups. One gadwall drake liked what he saw and dove in out of no where. We took him in short order. We also ended up with a goose. That was it. Not much but we had fun.
I was suprised that we saw what we did, as I hadn’t seen all that much scouting the past few days. We saw one big group of mallards and another group of fifty ducks, all gadwall! It’s been a gadwall year around the zone. I’ve seen lots of them so far on top of the mallards we have. Looks like we’re getting more weather late this week. Hopefully it brings another push of birds. We need it.
Posted By:
Bert Holtzman
Field Editor
Ohio River 12-19-2010 16:13
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted the big river this morning and we had plenty of company. There were already four boats at the ramp when I drove by at 4:25 am with four more yet to show up. I arrived to our spot and got set up by 5. Then the hour and a half wait to shooting time began. A boat flushed a ton of birds out of the creek mouth we were hunting shortly after I had begun to set up but it didn’t take long for them to show back up. We had birds everywhere 10 minutes before shooting time and they flew for a good half hour after that time began. It was a particularly frustrating day for us in regards to birds wanting anything to do with our decoy spread or calling. “They’ve been called at, shot at and have seen decoy spread after decoy spread for months now,” Randy quipped. Right again Randy but it is still frustrating. Group after group of ducks cupped on us, worked as if somewhat interested, then promptly landed in the middle of the river. Some seemed to be pitching into the creek so Marty decided to investigate. Several minutes later a drake mallard gave us a look but flied on into the creek. Big mistake. Marty the man promptly ended him and we had our first duck. We all got back together and continued to be frustrated by the wary ducks of the Ohio River. They rafted up the river and eventually floated our way. I counted all 22 of them as they did. A part of the group made the mistake of getting within 45 yards of us and we had our chance. After rising to shoot we unloaded on them as they took to the wing. We got six of them and that was our day. We ended up with seven mallards and a goose. We couldn’t decoy a thing but had a heck of a day anyway. Everyone was pleased with the results. Back at it again later this week…
There are some huntable numbers on the big river but not near what I though we’d have after last weeks storms. We still have over a month. Be safe out there.
Posted By:
Bert Holtzman
Field Editor
Ohio River Zone 12-16-2010 10:28
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Braved the ice this morning and didn’t do much at all. A fair amount of ducks have been on the river since Monday but I’ve been sick all week. Today was my first outing of the week due to a snow day. I probably could have had a good shoot but I had to bust a hole open and there wasn’t much of a landing zone. Started off looking for a place and took a hard fall. I thought for sure I had broken my leg, and might have a minor fracture, but got up and walked it off. Soon I was busting ice and then got in my layout blind. Ducks were flying all around early and really wanted to work but it was simply too icy. I thought for sure the rain and rising temps would open things up a bit. Ducks worked behind me in a spot I can’t hunt all morning.
Back at it again tomorrow if we have a snow day.
Posted By:
Bert Holtzman
Field Editor
Ohio River 12-12-2010 12:55
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I slept in this morning but got up around 7 and scouted a bit. I certainly liked what I saw. Group after group of ducks lounging on the river. I saw ringnecks, mallards, gadwall and a few black ducks. A lot of them were in creeks off the main river. With all this snow to the North I assume we’ll start seeing more and more. With that being said, I’m heading out for a while to see if I can shoot some. I’ll be on the river in about an hour.
callmaster, duck hunting can be an up and down affair. We all get frustrated from time to time.
[Edited By Bert Holtzman on 2010-12-12 12:57]
Posted By:
callmaster64
Web Member
12-11-2010 22:05
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corey why is your stuff put up are you a quitter cant handle the pressure…. Thats sad……
Posted By:
Bert Holtzman
Field Editor
South Zone 12-11-2010 17:23
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Back from a few days of hunting. We had good success with the freeze up this past week. Two days of hunting netted twenty plus birds, all mallards and gadwall.
I’ll be looking around tomorrow morning and might get out in the afternoon.
Posted By:
oldsilverfox
Web Member
Scouted Morse Yesterday 12-10-2010 13:16
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Scouted her yesterday afternoon. Saw no birds – ducks or geese!. All of the holes they typically keep open were frozen shut although I did not observe the main body north of the dam..
This does not bode well!
Stsy Safe
Fox
Posted By:
Corey-Cordray
Guest
Home 12-10-2010 11:31
Arctic Blast – Froze Out
No info to post. All waterfowl gear has been put up for storage.
Posted By:
callmaster64
Web Member
12-09-2010 17:52
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what nobody has no info
Posted By:
fatman300
Web Member
northwest 12-02-2010 20:11
– – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
well guys. they say trmp, is going down around here, so most of the watering holes will be frozen up by morning, might be the end of our hunt? what few ducks we did have will be heading south real soon i think. good luck
