Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-09-2010 16:18
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
The morning started slow,mostly due to people shooting early. In the area that we hunt, guns were going off 15 minutes early. Now really guys, you can’t see color at the legal time, that early you are shooting at shadows and pushing the birds out early.
Well once things settled down, the birds flew in mostly small bunches, 3-10 birds. We experienced a mixed bag of mallards, gw teal, pintail, black ducks, redheads and ring necks. Add in one small flock of geese my son called to stool and we had a great morning.
Most hunters in our area experienced the same. Typical to most Bay Openers, the birds rarely worked in close, but the pass shooting was excellent. Save for the occasional sky buster that thought that a shotgun had unlimited range.
I am happy to report that most had a wonderful day and at least in our area all returned safely.
Hope yours was the same!
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
wberg
Guest
Freeland area 10-09-2010 11:36
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Not much moving early. Birds started to move around 8:15. Really surprised not to hear any other hunters in area. Did hear the occasional thump from a far distance away. Took a limit of geese in about a half hour after they started moving. Got a double to finish limit dad had already gotten his birds. Bonus bird one was banded, appeared to be an older band had a some ware on it. Will post info when I get it back. Kind of surprised the bird was banded in Ohio June of last year. Guess you can’t judge by the band.
[Edited By wberg on 2010-10-10 16:14]
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 10-08-2010 21:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Scouted the water and fields around Sebewaing. Conditions look good for the Opener tomorrow.
Goose numbers are strong with large flights returning from cornfields at mid morning.
A mixed bag of divers on the bay, big numbers of ring necks and early redheads, with a few bluebills and cans mixed in. Young mallards mixed with widgeon, pintails and green wings are strong in the inner marshes.
The original forecast was for a warm, calm Saturday. That has been replaced with a moderate NE blow 15+. This should raise the water and allow for a great Opener.
Good Luck To All! I’ll try to post tomorrow during the half time of the MSU – M game. Go Green!b
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
webmaster
root
U.P. 10-04-2010 10:22
– – –
Redhead and ringneck numbers are increasing in the U.P. — mergansers are moving right along with them.
Posted By:
john-wickham
Field Editor
N. W. MI 10-03-2010 20:15
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 40-45 Degrees
Hit the opener for the north half of the state in the Traverse City area and didn’t do well at all, and talking to a few other hunters no one did very good. Did see lots of geese flying south, very few ducks. Usually it only gets better up that way once the big push of divers get down though, so I’m not too worried. Good Luck
Posted By:
trisspeaker
Guest
Saginaw County 09-20-2010 06:45
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 60-65 Degrees
Took 3 young hunters on the youth hunt Sat., Two of the kids shot their first duck, both greenheads. For the most part the shooting was hot and heavy with most shots just poking holes in the clouds. They shot over 70 rounds and managed to down 8 mallards and 2 geese. We saw lots of mallards and woodies, and a good number of geese.
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 09-19-2010 20:29
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
I was up this weekend putting finishing touches on the blind and gear. I observed a busy Youth Hunt Weekend. Congrats to all the young’s. I saw a fair number of woodies, teal and even a few early divers.
A larger than normal concentration of blue wings are present. With the N blows this week I thought they would have moved on, but not the case. little hope these birds will hang around for us in three weeks, but it sure is nice to see them period.
Goose concentrations are improving, still not seeing many James Bay birds as of yet.
Mallard numbers are up according to the Staff at the Headquarters. Surplus corns has been picked and they should begin flooding this week. Stop by at dusk and watch the show as this starts, it is quite impressive.
Some corn is being picked already (not just cut). But reports are that there is too much moisture for an early harvest. Which bodes well for holding birds this season.
Three weeks from Saturday. Hope you are getting ready. Looks like we are headed for a Great Opener …………. Gentlemen Start Ur Engines!
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor
sunrise side 09-18-2010 14:21
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Yup the first day of Youth Hunt is done. I have a pair of brothers I take and Dad goes along. This was the 3rd year and the shooting was much improved. What fun! I know some look at youth hunts with disdain but they give me the opportunity to look back and remember who and where I was with my own son and even myself 60 years ago as a young hunter. Ahhh! the memories!
Woodies were our target as we all agreed before hand that we wanted them instead of a full 6 bird limit. My YLF got some tough work in the heavy weeds of woody territory. Glad she was there because I would have died doing those 6 retrieves. Actually 7 because she had a diver that never came up. She got a little frustrated with that but all in all Maude is ready for all hell to break loose in a couple of weeks in ND.
Hope many of you had as great a morning as we did!
Awaiting a call from a fellow about taking his son in the morning.
jacduck
Hmmm! MI, ND, SD, NE, TX and anything else I can add.
Got a new pup on order too. My youngest YLF is 7 and I promised myself that I would get a pup started so when she is nine she won’t have to work quite as hard. Takes a couple of years to get a pup to where I want ’em so now is the time.
A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!
[Edited By John-Cottenham on 2010-09-18 14:23]
Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor
09-18-2010 14:13
– – –
Mike the early season goose is set in the spring and I have seen news releases on it. Next year ask some questions here or call your local DNR office you need to get out and control those “nusiance” geese. Normally Sept 1-15 in your area. Only changes over the years has been a reduction from 5 to 3 daily but that was back up to 5 the past couple of years.
Hope that helps.
jacduck Hmmm! MI, ND, SD, NE, TX and anything else I can add. Got a new pup on order too. My youngest YLF is 7 and I promised myself that I would get a pup started so when she is nine she won’t have to work quite as hard. Takes a couple of years to get a pup to where I want ’em so now is the time. A serious hunter has to plan ahead! BSEG!
Posted By:
John-Cottenham
Field Editor
sunrise side 09-18-2010 14:09
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Yup the first day is done. I have a pair of brothers I take and Dad goes along. This was the 3rd year and the shooting was much improved. What fun! I know some look at youth hunts with disdain but they give me the opportunity to look back and remember who and where I was with my own son and even myself 60 years ago as a young hunter. Ahhh! the memories!
Woodies were our target as we all agreed before hand that we wanted them instead of a full 6 bird limit. My YLF got some tough work in the heavy weeds of woody territory. Glad she was there because I would have died doing those 6 retrieves. Actually 7 because she had a diver that never came up. She got a little frustrated with that but all in all Maude is ready for all hell to break loose in a couple of weeks in ND.
Hope many of you had as great a morning as we did!
Awaiting a call from a fellow about taking his son in the morning.
