Posted By:
wberg
Guest
11-29-2009 19:25
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Did not hunt this weekend in Cadillac with the inlaws.Dad and the boys hunted the whole week again not much during the week got 5 on the 23rd.2 on the 24th. 3 buffies on the point walked the marsh got 3 mallards 28th. Did not see a duck but heard a lot of shooting to the northwest of Unionville. Best thing about today was the eggs tatoes and 3 pepper sausage from Lukes.I seen a large flock of geese between Clare and Leota exit coming back from up north. Taking Friday off hoping the cooler weather will do something.
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Saginaw Bay fish Point Area 11-29-2009 11:04
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
The following is based on my observations:
I hunted the marsh on Friday AM. Roughly ½ hour after shooting, we observed a large flock of mallards (say 2-3,000 birds) lift and leave the area around Geiger road to feed. We had a few chances on goldies and mers, but pretty much passed.
I hunted fields Friday PM and Saturday AM, ESE of the Refuge. On Friday PM, we saw birds high headed further E and N. On Saturday, we never saw a duck in the same field, but we later heard of birds in a strong N wind as far S as Caro.
Saturday PM, I scouted fields. I sat at the refuge, the birds just started to leave around 4:00 PM headed SE in a light WNW wind. I ran 5 mile E on Bach/Gotham. When I glassed the flight had moved NE. For the next ½ hour, I chased birds N of Owendale. They finally landed in a field ½ hour after shooting time in a field 1 mile S of Elkton. This is roughly 20 miles from the Refuge. They fed in 15 minutes and were off to the Bay with just enough light for me to see them. All told, I saw about 1,000 birds in 4 disked fields.
Sunday AM I hunted outside of Pitcher’s Reef. Again the only things close were goldies and mers. However, I was able to glass a large flock of birds (mallards and divers) roughly 2-3 miles off shore (to far away to accurately estimate but it was a big cloud).
So here’s the deal. The Refuge is getting fed out. Most mallards are opting to set out with the mers and goldies during the day. They come in to feed the last ½ hour of light in big numbers. They fly back to the marshes in the dark and are off at first boat or first light. They return to the Bay and the cycle continues.
These mallards are fickle. It’s almost impossible to forecast flight direction with the wind. A slight change in wind direction moves the flight path 5+ miles. The birds are call, decoy and especially robo-duck shy. In order to get birds it is roughly 2 hours of scouting for each hour of hunting. So that’s why the call it field hunting, right!
We need some green birds, not much new has come down in the past 2 weeks. Hopefully with this storm (assuming the prediction is right) Sunday night will be what gets it done. We should finally see ice conditions this last week of the season. If not, there is always next year.
Remind me again why we can’t shoot early teal for this!
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
wberg
Guest
south of Fishpoint 11-22-2009 18:02
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Rick don’t know where you are getting the info from about the directions birds are heading we have been hunting south southeast and southwest all season long up to 17 birds now only 1 this week and that is hunting every day. Most seem to be heading east depending on the wind. We have also seen them all season heading out against the wind and heading back with the wind. Had reports that a majority of the birds are heading out way the other side of M-81 feeding after dark. The fog did not help out last night or this morning either. With the crops coming out so late most fields are being plowed under within a day or two after being picked. The birds that we seen coming in last night were in a chisel plowed field west of Unionville along M-25. Can’t believe the number of birds is that high have been hunting the area since 1962 have never heard the refuge so quite at night do not hear nything except swans setting on the bay.
[Edited By wberg on 2009-11-22 18:14]
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-22-2009 16:05
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Well there is good news and bad news from the Bay.
The good news first. Even though the diver flight has passed our area, early last week, flight mallards came down with the N wind. The Refuge is once again holding 20,000 plus birds.
The bad news (of sorts) is that the birds have zeroed in on corn fields south of the Managed Area. What that means is the water hunters around the islands are not seeing birds. I sat out on Thursday PM from 1-5 and saw a total of 4 mallards and maybe 10 mergansers.
Corn field hunting south is picking up, but many fields are leased out. Getting permission is the hard part. And as fields are plowed under, competition will get tougher.
I sat by the Refuge Saturday night and birds were just leaving at 4:30, a half hour before the end of shooting. There were only four setups in the Managed Hunting Area that I could see.
With the green birds arriving watch for the next weather change. Hopefully before the end of the season. If not get you golf clubs out.
We are losing water with the dry conditions and all the S wind. So if you do go out on the water, rocks you were missing in October are now in play.
Will be back up after Turkey Day, you all have a good one.
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
wberg
Guest
Freeland 11-17-2009 18:43
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Beautiful sound woke up out of a sound sleep this morning around 3:30a.m. to the sound of a large flock of tundra Swans flying over the house. Amazing how I can hear a flock of incoming mallards wings and feeding chuckle but across the family room I can’t hear my wife ask me something. Maybe,something to that selective hearing stuff we are accused of. Nah.
Posted By:
nurban
Web Member
Deer season opener St. Clair Co. 11-17-2009 11:55
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
A group of 7 hunters shot 3 deer, a 6 point buck and 2 does on 300 acers of farm land. Deer movement was good and alot of deer in the area.
The group ate well with venison pot roast and goose/pork sauage mixed with green peppers and brussels sprouts.
Local geese are still present and I will try hunting the Nov.26-Dec.6 season if the ponds do not freeze.
Lower Lake St.Clair has some groups of blue bills present and they were flying along the shore line. To date the weather has been to mild and hunting has been slow.The diver migration will arrive here in late December during freeze up,and as usual the duck season is closed.
Posted By:
rick-hungerford
Field Editor
Saginaw Bay Fish Point Area 11-16-2009 19:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
These results are based upon my sons hunting. I took this weekend of to do some honey does and to step up the end run for the season.
Light winds have what’s left of the divers rafting way of shore 5 miles or more. Fishing boats report big rafts but the majority are late migrants, buffle heads, goldie eyes, and mergansers. Some redheads and blubills are being taken south of the islands.
We are starting to see a light mid-day migration of puddlers moving down the shoreline. Not sure if we are gaining or losing birds.
Lots (again too many corn fields) are down. The problem is that its not cold enough for the steady feeding that occurs at freeze up. So the birds are coming late staying late and sleeping in.
The operative word is PATIENCE! This is a normal mid-late season doldrum. Watch the fronts. Ice and the flights are coming. Save your time and hit it when its right.
And it it doesn’t happen before then end then its simple……… We have cured global wraming!
Everything else is between seasons!
Posted By:
wberg
Guest
S\E of Unionville 11-16-2009 14:48
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Just plain bad season. Corn coming off late then when it does come off mowed and plowed within a few days.Hunted Fri. Sat. Sun. and Mon. got a total of 5 birds 3 mallards and a pair of pintials Saturday morning, yes I said pintials. Seen a lot of birds going out last night very high fliers looked like they were heading out a long ways hope they find there way back. With clear nights birds are holding up until after shooting hours to feed see them every night when picking up.Total for season thru the 15th. 15 birds last year 27 birds two years ago 138 birds this while hunting the same area dad has hunted every day. Judging by the number of posts looks like everyone is having a bad year.
Posted By:
lambdasig
Guest
Harsens Island 11-16-2009 08:25
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Got out again Sunday and got picked 34 of 43, so much for the deer opener thinning out the hunting parties. The winds started from the WSW and worked toward the WNW throughout the morning and picked up to about 12 mph. Hunted a marsh instead of the flooded corn this morning. Saw even more birds fly over and avoid us and every other hunting party as they went to the refuge, ugghhh. It turned out to be an exercise in futility and continued to see a significant amount of skyblasting. I know they limit hunters to 18 shells, but I sure wish there was some oversight and people were kicked out for taking ill-advised shots.
Posted By:
lambdasig
Guest
Harsens Island 11-16-2009 08:21
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted Harsens Island for the 3rd time on Saturday, picked 28 of 41. Weather was sunny and winds about 10 from ESE. There a lot of birds holding on the refuge, but that is where they stay. This place is a mecca for skybusters and very disheartening. Without new birds or cold weather and winds to stir them up, they almost fly the other way when a duck call is blown and its amazing how high they fly to avoid being shot. Its an awesome sight to see so many birds but just frustrating when nothing is responding or working the decoys. Did manage to have two work late in the morning, but thats it.
