Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor
Sunrise side 09-05-2009 19:32
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I know that some here like the WWB area and like all say the water is definitely up. However there is a detour sign for road work on Pine River road. Don’t worry, they are working on the bridge just east of the road that goes into the state launch. Area looks great and I talked to one goose hunter whose son took one gander today and then was learning to back the trailer down to load the boat. Good job kid!
jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Small Lake in Tuscola County 09-03-2009 16:45
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
I missed Tuesday, something about a day job getting in the way of hunting.
Got out with a friend that did some scouting. Shot 4 on a small lake that the land owners wanted cleaned up on Tuesday. Went back today and shot the only bird we saw. Not pristine but the whole idea of this season is tied to removing some less than desirable beach and lawn destroyers.
Guys in the fields around us expressed varying levels of success. Some found corn fields cut for silage. It seems like mostly large groups coming out at first light and things are over in the fields within an hour. There is so much cut wheat, rye grass and other green fields the birds move a mile down the road and sit there all day.
Coming and going, fields with cows were full of birds. Maybe I need to invest in an Ole’ Bessy Blind. I have seen them used in Nebraska on snows. Any body else?
This weather has stalled any move of flight birds. Normally you can set your watch to the 5th to start seeing TVP birds coming down the shoreline. Even with the full moon and light north winds, unless something changes up North, they look to be late this year.
May sit out on the Bay tomorrow and Saturday, will post thereafter.
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor
middle of the mitten 09-02-2009 09:29
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 35-40 Degrees
I opened goose on my old home lake and did not see a goose. Talked to property owners and they still are crapping on the lawns. Checked a field that I had solo permission last year and found 4 guys who the owner thought was me also got permission. 0 birds taken but some seen at least. Gonna get ’em later I guess.
My YLF did a good job of staying calm as about 100 woodies flew by and then swam through the decoys.
jacduck
I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.
[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2009-09-02 09:31]
[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2009-09-02 09:32]
Posted By:
Fowl Mood
Guest
Michigan water levels 08-28-2009 19:17
– – –
The water level of Lake Michigan (and Lake Huron – they’re at the same water level – connected at the Mackinac Bridge) is up one inch in the last week (and 1″ higher than one month ago). That’s because of increased precipitation (esp. at the south end of Lake Michigan – Michigan City, Indiana had 2.7″ of rain Thursday and Thursday Night) and low evaporation. The Grand River in Grand Rapids is at 186% of average flow at 7:45 PM Friday evening. Rainfall since June 1 is about 3″ above average in Grand Rapids. Lake Michigan/Huron stands 11″ higher than last year and the lake is now only 4″ below the long-term average level. Lake Superior is up 3″ in the last month, up 1″ in the last year and 4″ below average level. Lake Erie is 6″ above one year ago and 3″ above the average level. Lake Ontario is at the same level as one year ago and 4″ above the average level.
Not sure how the water has affected local breeding Mallards but we’ve got one of the wettest summers on record going. Hopefully the waterfowl have benfitted as well.
Posted By:
ndhager
Guest
thumb 08-28-2009 09:21
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 60-65 Degrees
Trying to find geese is posing a challenge this year. Some birds around, but they are scattered and not using wheat stubble consistently. It seems that the birds are not as concentrated or consistent this year as in years past. I am seeing a few wood ducks around.
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 08-26-2009 10:51
Cloudy, High Winds – 60-65 Degrees
I was up last weekend (sorry for the late post) and fought the high winds and rain putting the finishing touches on our cedar blind.
Water is way up and building, which is unusual for this time of year. Normally, we loose water the month before the Season.
Areas that were dry two years ago no have enough water to float boats. No time like the present to start scouting.
Lots of bluewings moving through right now. This cooler weather will probably puish the majority South. I did not see the build up as in prior years, but this has been a wet cool summer, so my guess is the teal are not stopping long and are headed to the warmer climes.
I did see one small group of divers, they were grey blobs in the distance, more than likely young ring necks or redheads.
Goose sightings for this time of year have been way down. Rumor has it a semi load of wheat was dumped by accident up around the rock quarry off Bayport road. The result was to pull every goose for miles around to the free food and sheltered water. The DNR found out and made the farmer clean it up. Hopefully this explains the poor number fo birds sighted on the Bay. And sorry guys, don’t call, the quarry doesn’t allow hunting.
The corn in the managed area looks tremendous but is still very green. I was unable to catch up with Tim Geary and crew, but the higher water should allow for early pumping this year. Hopefully, the reserved hunts on the first two days of the season will have more huntable zones and blinds.
That’s about it for now. Don’t forget life jackets, flares and other safety stuff this year. You can count on more enforcement in the area this year cause its easier to get around.
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor
Traverse City 08-24-2009 20:05
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
Salmon fished this weekend and it was SLOW!!! We fished the west bay on Fri. and got 3 then got skunked on Sat. Went to Platte bay on Sun. and got skunked too but we did see a lot of divers flying around at sun up.
Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor
08-21-2009 10:14
– – –
This is stolen from the MI Duck Hunters Assn web site. It is interesting how to s for repainting plastics as well as how to buy paints in the colors you might need.
http://www.takeem.com/tp.php
jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.
Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor
middle of the mitten 08-21-2009 09:44
– – –
I have not had a lot of time to scout it out around here but all conditions look great. Problem with that is birds will be scattered. Goose count looks very good but I have not seen them using the wheat fields much yet.
When I say busy I did what many of you dream of. I bought a house (shack really) in ND as a hunting base. Hopefully when we get done with the fixin’ my son will really get back into hunting ducks and bring the 2 grandsons with him. Object a family legacy and a place to use it.
jacduck I worked out a new deal in Texas this past winter. I quit hunting snows when I get 5 or have used all 12 of the shells I carried. Worked pretty well since I tended to control my shooting. Mostly came home with ammo left over and often with the self imposed limit.
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
The Entire State 08-20-2009 16:12
Arctic Blast – Froze Out
You Know you guys the one way to make this site more active is for you to get more active.
You don’t have to be an editorialist to be a field editor. You just need to DO IT.
We haveFE’s on here that haven’t reported in a year.
HEEEEELLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO.
JUst apply. THey are dying for people to volunteer.
Even if you don’t want the responsibility or th e desire.
JUST POST.
There are other sites including MDH and DU.
But this is the only site that is non-political.
They just ant a few bucks for opening a channel for people like us to communicate.
In the vernacular of LARRY ________
GET UR DUUUUUUNNNN!!!
Everything else is between seasons!
