Posted By:
Larry-Olson
Field Editor
Northern Panhandle 11-21-2010 22:42
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Well we took the boat to the lake I mentioned and found the boat ramp so icy before sunrise that I slid backwards the last ten feet into the water with my Wolverines on. After carefully considering the options and consequences of a extremely icy and steep boat ramp, coupled with the multitude of waterfowl that was trading from the water to the nearby cornfields, I decided to just pack a bag of duck decoys and the mojo to the most protected shore where we could reach open water with waders. It was a half mile hike but sure was worth it. My buddy and I quickly shot a limit of ducks even though we had to chase some cripples around for awhile. We waited for my son and one of my adopted sons to give up deer hunting and get there to enjoy the show. When they did show up a hour or so later, they accused me of being nuts backed the boat in and picked us up for a chance at the many geese migrating through. We would end up with five geese and six more ducks before we quit about a hour before sunset. It was cold and some moderate snow flurries at times. There was a TON of mallards migrating today along with good numbers of Canadas and lesser numbers of snows and other waterfowl. The ice was nearly a inch thick along the leeward shoreline and creeping out whenever it got a chance. I think we will need some wind to keep all but the largest of lakes open through this arctic blast for the next few days. I had reports from a couple other groups and all reported excellent success on ducks with lesser luck killing geese. it was definitley a waterfowlers day. LO
Posted By:
bherb33
Web Member
Corn Field tween Valley&Waterloo 11-21-2010 15:20
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Drew, I hunt south of West Shores, just across Pacific. And you?
Posted By:
jdgreen402
Web Member
Norfolk 11-21-2010 14:18
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Post-script. A buddy of mine is hunting the Elkhorn near Norfolk. He said they were finally seeing/getting some ducks/geese working their area. They got five green-heads and a lesser Canadian on sat morn.
Posted By:
jdgreen402
Web Member
Farm pond near Valley, Ne 11-21-2010 14:15
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted Sat morning and late afternoon. Had one decoy able duck. Saw a small flock of bills that were flying higher than normal and had the after-burners on. A couple of groups of canadas passed close and looked like some might decoy, but the lead birds were not having any of it.
Sunday morning, only out for an how before church. A constantly ringing cell phone spoiled an opportunity for a small group of Canadas that I got to swing four times while I was out of the blind. My dad was wanting to know if it was ok to make his way down to the blind. “Might as well, the micro-flock of Canadas that were working got tired of the phone ringing” (sigh). On a positive note, my dad is still game enough to get out and hunt with me — I’ll count my blessings on that basis.
Posted By:
Drew Goaley
Guest
Waterloo 11-21-2010 08:36
– – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Will agree with bherb. Saw ALOT of decoyable cans this Saturday. All seems to want in, but wouldn’t commit. Hunted til approx 11 and watched S&B’s migrate all morning. Managed to bag 3 ducks. Bherb what area are you hunting? We seem to be close.
Posted By:
bherb33
Web Member
Corn field tween Valley&Waterloo 11-21-2010 07:55
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Hunted Saturday till 1000am saw a ton of geese, but the wind was out of the east and could not get any to commit near my tree line. Talked to a friend who hunted Ne. City and he said there were plenty of mallards to shoot and that he saw wave after wave of migrating mallards more than 10,000. Hear that Missourri?
Posted By:
Larry-Olson
Field Editor
Northern Panhandle, North Platte river 11-20-2010 22:38
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
As predicted, the guys that were able and willing to go out today did well. There was spitting snow and fog and low clouds all day propelled by a stiff south wind. My son and one of his friends shot a limit of ducks and five geese off a sandhill lake. The Scottsbluff blind shot 7 ducks and five geese. Reports were all the same, alot of new birds arriving and massing on area wetlands. Protected bays, weedy areas and shallow ponds are all frozen. We are going to try a smaller public lake in the morning. It can be good but conditions have to be right, I think they will be tommorrow. LO
Posted By:
Larry-Olson
Field Editor
Northern Panhandle 11-20-2010 18:28
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 35-40 Degrees
There continues a major push of all waterfowl today. I haven’t yet heard final reports but the guys at Scottsbluff had some luck this morning shooting 8 ducks and four geese. I found all small ponds froze this morning but witnessed a flock of several hundred lessers put in on a larger impounment just south of the highway. I went by a lake near my house and found several thousand geese there as well as a bunch of mallards right at dark on my way home. I think we will try this in the morning as it is only ten miles from here and the forecast is for freezing fog tonight. Lows are forecast below zero by midweek next week so this may be it for us up here. I will update as I get more info. LO
Posted By:
Brian-Peters
Web Member
central panhandle 11-20-2010 14:42
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gary and i shot our limit of mallards this mourn i missed a sprig with my single shot uncleaned missfiring semi auto cant believe i still have to have something like this happen to make me clean my weapon alot of diff birds this mourning i think a push of sandhills birds east wind and big groups were hard to work with some singles sitting on the end of the barrell before we knew they were there good to have a good hunt with the trucker Brian
Posted By:
Larry-Olson
Field Editor
Northern Panhandle 11-19-2010 23:46
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
There was a big push of little geese into the NW corner of the state today. I recieved numerous reports of huge flocks of Canadas migrating. I witnessed several small flocks as I carried the mail but they looked like the medium sized birds. Some college students jumped some mallards at a public lake near here and managed a six pound Canada out of a flock that flew too close. They reported ALOT of birds on the main lake just rafting and all kinds. They said there was quite a few snows mixed in with them. Some of the boys will try hunting the sandhills in the morning. I wish I didn’t have to work. All the ponds on the way to work this morning were mostly iced over and no birds on them so the larger lakes and streams are most likely to hold any good numbers. Predicted lows below zero early next week with highs in the twenties might put an end to the small water success around here. one of my contacts in Saskatchewan just told me that all the geese moved out two days ago. It could be a great season if we can hold them in the state. LO
