Posted By:
mdavis3
Guest
flint hills 11-18-2006 17:25
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Had a good hunt this morning! We ended the day at 10:15 with a limit of geese and mallards (2 man limit). Best part was a banded bird my partner let me claim it.
Posted By:
Water SWAT
Guest
Harvey County 11-18-2006 16:10
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
We didn’t see the birds in any numbers this morning. We killed 2 Red Hed Drakes right out of the gate. Next came the Honkers. Had a group of about 20-25 that wanted into the decoys. 5 stayed with us. Had two orver 11 lbs. All were good sized geese. Next we had 4 mallards work us. Only one wanted in and we let him, well for a minute, he was greeted by steel. I had to leave at 0800. We had some more geese fly over between 0730 and 0800 but I think they were looking for breakfast, not a drink. After I left, the others stayed until 1130. Only added one more Gaddy to the bag. So 5 Honkers, 1 Mallard Drake, 2 Red Head Drakes and 1 Gadwal.
Posted By:
Greg-Haygood
Web Member
South of Quivera 11-18-2006 15:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Good mixed bag this morning (mallards, widgeon, gadwall and 1 bullsprig pintail). Weather was very mild and virtually no wind, surprised we had such a good hunt. Birds flew very steady until about 10am, most in small 4-6pack, but a few very large groups that appeared to be looking, but didn’t commit. Largest group we were able to call in was 10-12, worked good to the call and decoy spread for the most part. Not a lot of shooting we heard, suspect many felt the weather was not condusive to duck activity (must admit, I felt the same going into the morning). 10 big ducks in total. Strange though, didn’t see one group of teal this morning nor the number of pintails I saw on Wednesday. Guess the fact remains, everyday is a new day on the water.
Set-up, 4 dozen floaters, 1 dozen full body motion dekes and 1 mojo……did the trick for the most part. Hunted a very small 1-2acre creek pond, lots of exposed grass and a well camo’d pit blind. Prepared for a North wind, but really wasn’t a factor, birds were landing from all directions.
Hunt safe and take a kid with you when you go!!!
Posted By:
Greg-Haygood
Web Member
South of Quivera 11-18-2006 15:44
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Posted By:
kerhonk
Guest
11-17-2006 10:50
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Greg, thanks for sharing. Sounds like a hunt to remember. I can just imagine those pinnies dropping in by the truckload.
Posted By:
Greg-Haygood
Web Member
Just East of Quivera 11-16-2006 13:07
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
By invitation (which I was thrilled to get), I hunted with Gov. Hayden, KDWP Chairman Harrington and several other distinguished guests yesterday morning. On a private watershed with snow/rain mix, 30-40mph wind from the north and MORE ducks than I’ve ever hunted under in KS. 10 mins prior to legal time, they were swarming the 5-6 acre water. Couldn’t shoot until 15 mins after legal due to low light and inability to identify what we were seeing. Teal we easy to note, but didn’t want to fill our limits w/teal. Our 1st 4 birds (had 6 hunters) were bull-sprig pintails which made the balance of the morning intense trying to ID species. We filled out the stringers with greenheads, widgeon a gaddie and 5 GW teal. Enough on that, it was an incredible hunt, certianly one I will remember for a long time.
Here’s really the important part of this, I cannot tell you how many Pintails wanted in this watershed, hundreds upon hundreds which is just incredible given the number of pinnies I’ve seen in the last 5 seasons. This is a remarkable migration turnaround for this species in KS (as least where I hunt). I realize there could certianly be a fluke congregation/consolidation of the species in this area, but was very encouraged by the shear numbers, especially given I hunt this general region and have never seen Pintails this thick. I was a little concerned about the hunt given Quivera is currently closed to hunting (due to whooping cranes), but didn’t make a bit of difference. I did take the opportunity to ask these gentlemen why Quivera was the only State wetland area that closed the entire compound to hunting when whooper’s were on site (other areas just close certian pools where they are, etc..). The answer was simple, “it is in the sole discretion of the wetland/park manager to determine if, how and what areas are to be closed or modified during the whooping cranes stay”. So, there you have it and don’t beat up the entire KDWP organization over one man’s decision. You should now be clear on who to talk too!!! (if your opposed to the current process of full closure).
Normally I share the set-up used on the hunt, but in this case, pop bottles and milk jugs would have worked just fine. Actually 6 dozen floaters, no full body land/motion dekes and 3 spinners all tucked hard against the north bank (no more than 10-15yds off) where slightly protected water was evident. Good luck all and be safe, back with more after the weekend.
Posted By:
wtrfwlr44
Guest
SE KS 11-15-2006 21:40
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted a.m., field for geese. Saw NOTHING moving. No geese, no flocks of ducks trading around. Guess the birds hunkered down during the big wind or they moved on. will know in the next few days.
Posted By:
Tim-Carrigan
Guest
Private Marsh – Miami Co 11-14-2006 20:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
A series of events has had me out of town and not able to hunt or scout much, but I did sneak out for a quick hunt Sat AM. We had average success and saw a good number of birds, but the calm winds and bluebird day just made it tough to get the birds to commit. I dont think Friday’s winds and the cool front brought any new birds — those we saw and it sounds like from the other posts that there are birds, they just know where to go and what to look out for. Weather doesnt look like it will push much our way either, unless it happens tonight or tomorrow. Might have to work to get too the out of the way places to get willing birds….good luck.
Posted By:
wycohunter
Guest
Clinton 11-14-2006 08:30
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Well said bernie, i hunted clinton lake on sunday morning. One word, Horrible. I saw maybe 6 big ducks fly over head and that was it, water is extremely low where i hunted and the marshes were pretty low as well. Drove by the refuge at about 11, only saw a group of six at the most. Dont plan on goin back for a while, gotta find some new honey holes.
Posted By:
Bernie-Jones
Field Editor
Cheney Res 11-13-2006 20:01
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Hunted Sat morning south of Hutch. Set up a spread of fullbodies for a dry run, I guess. Nothin in the area for some reason. Hunted Sat evening at the Res. Didn’ see much of anything. A few groups of mallards and a few teal. Nothing even interested in lookin at the decoys.
You guys don’t have to give up you specific locations that you hunt but at least give us a county. No offense intended.
Thanks
