Posted By:
getduck
Web Member
central Iowa 11-23-2012 16:26
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there were a few new ducks that blew in overnight. We managed to harvest some mallards and one GW that was mixed in with one flock. Saw one flock of approx 40 darks migrating and enticed a few into the spread. Saw one other small bunch of darks booking South along with one high flying flock of ducks that never broke a wingbeat at the water.
anymore we need more than a strong NW wind to move the ducks. there has to be some weather up North to help them along. This is turning into another disappointing year.
357 not 911
UCMDUX
[Edited By getduck on 2012-11-23 16:27]
Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member
11-23-2012 13:59
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Dud day for ducks. Started the morning hunting the Skunk river a little out of the NW wind and optimistic. After couple hours of seeing no ducks we yanked the spread and headed south to RR. I was confident that there we could at least see some. Wrong O. Wind terrible. People shouldn’t even been on the lake in this wind. Today is a duck hunter killer. Checked the open water first and saw one flock of 10 struggling to fly into the wind. No potential there as we watched one blind work nothing. Went further west of the south bridge and again a couple spreads but no ducks. Decided to give it up and watch Iowa loose but first to stop at the boxcars. Again many hunters but saw no ducks. I’ve had lots of years on lots of rough water but I sure wouldn’t go out in small boats like many did today. Hope they realize that the strong northwest wind blows the water out of the boxcar area and can leave you and your boat stranded. Gave up and headed home.
Almost didn’t make it home because some dippy driver(female) in a small car swerved into my lane north of Newton and almost head-on’d us. Just missed by inches. Idiot.
No sign of any migration into central but radar showed pretty good flight of something down the big Mo. Just our luck this year. All bad.
I think the only water now flowing down the Skunk river must be coming from the Ames waste treatment plant and my decoys really stink. Litterly
Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member
11-22-2012 18:42
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Spent last two hours overlooking the DM and Skunk river valleys and saw not one flock of anything. Not even gulls. Trying to figure where to go tomorrow morning. Between the shotgun slug patterners and the atv’s running the river channels it makes it hard to figure a place that will work. Of course, if there are no ducks then it really doesn’t matter. Going to be dangerous conditions on the big water so if you are not prepared stay off. Ducks won’t come near while they are dragging for your body and it further limits where we can hunt. This migration being so late usually means they just overfly us anyway. I keep track of the refuge counts from each year to year and the counts really go down after thanksgiving. Except in the se and sw corners of the state. Squaw creek in Mo even drops. We call them calendar migrations but ducks like all wildlife live and function by the length of daylight in the day. Be careful out there.
Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor
ITS TURKEY TIME!!!!!! 11-21-2012 15:30
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My mouth is watering thinking about the great food to be had tomorrow. I am hoping to get out here in the central part of the state on Friday and Sunday. That will be my last duck hunt before joining the “Orange Army” the following weekend. Our deer pushing crew is at an all time high of 15 guys this season so we should be able to move some deer around! We have a total of 22 tags to fill so there is no time for slacking or missing shots. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, be safe, JB!
Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member
11-20-2012 15:58
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Spent good share of morning hunting in south central Iowa. Didn’t see all that many ducks but didn’t expect to as the summer weather continues. What did work are very very call shy. We need some cold weather to put them back into their normal routine. Canada geese in our town never go to corn fields anymore. They just munch grass and get stuff from the water. Easy living. Friday looks colder but not that bad up north. Everybody and their great uncle will be out hunting though. Tradition. Guys that know what their doing a whacking them hard but the bulk ain’t and I’m in the ain’t group since I’ve been sick. Keep trying, be careful and have a great Turkey day.
Posted By:
14ducks
Web Member
11-19-2012 17:25
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Did a good bit of driving and talking today and there are still a goodly number of birds in very restricted areas. As others have said they are also getting decoy and spinner shy. It’s been so warm there has been little movement to the fields for corn. Wierd year and going to get more complicated with the deer season not far off. I actually saw two tom turkeys in full strut yesterday. Guess they are practicing early or maybe we will not have any winter. I’d hate to drive deer at 60 plus degrees and have to process them very quickly. I’ve been hunting turkeys and have had 4 bucks come to my calling. Close.
Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor
Riverton 11-19-2012 07:30
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Thursday – 10, Friday – 18, Saturday – 10, Total = 38ducks between 4 guys and 3 days. The trip was fair. 99% of the birds we encountered were all stale refuge wise, decoy shy, and call shy ducks. It did make it challenging to say the least. The dog did great. She mad 35/38 retrieves so i was happy about that. LOT’S of Mallards! We had I think a total of 16 big fat green heads. Only 1 teal shot, the majority was shovelers and mallards. I am hoping to get out again towards the later part of the week but we will ahve to see. my little girl turns 3 on Saturday so going out may not be an option. Keep after them before they get gone, JB.
Posted By:
Mike-Joynt
Field Editor
Missipppi River / Ferryville area 11-16-2012 19:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the ole Miss earlier this week, went looking for divers but ended up with huge greenheads. 6 doz diver decoys on longlines and puddle ducks decoy, who knew. Hopeing to finish the season out strong, but the weather looks tobe terrible for migrations warm and south winds.
Posted By:
Mike-Joynt
Field Editor
Missipppi River / Ferryville area 11-16-2012 19:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the ole Miss earlier this week, went looking for divers but ended up with huge greenheads. 6 doz diver decoys on longlines and puddle ducks decoy, who knew. Hopeing to finish the season out strong, but the weather looks tobe terrible for migrations warm and south winds.
Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor
11-16-2012 11:29
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Our group is on the water as I am posting. We are knocking the heck out of them!! Time for me to fire up the stove and throw the chili on! Good luck!!
