Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Rivers around Little Bay 12-18-2005 15:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Winter’s wrath has come to early in my opinion, cold, snow and ice have made for tough conditions. The warm temps and hard rains of friday opened up a some spots that had been locked in with ice. I got out Sunday morning and the ducks were flying steady from an hour before shooting time until 20 minutes after and then things got quiet. During those 20 minutes steady shooting could be heard from every direction as hunters found ways to get out in spite of the low tide this AM. Although the ducks were moving, mallard, blacks, goldeneyes and buffleheads, the geese were nowhere to found. Perhaps they flew off the bay in another direction that we couldn’t see. We did see the NH Marine Patrol go into and back out of the bay. It was a good reminder to double check the safety equipment on the boat, mine was there, is yours? The boat ramp we used was iced over, there was plenty of natural sand to spread on it but keeping a bucket of sand in the back of your truck is good idea for the ramps and elsewhere. Stay safe the water is unforgivably cold, the ducks are there if you can get out to open water.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
conneticut river 12-10-2005 19:52
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
well went out again on the river hoping for some luck but its all froze over now saw 2 mergs thats all so looks like the end for huntign up north for the yr. heard a few geese but didnt see them river still highbut almost solid all the way down through lancaster. hope the guys down south have better luck . not sure about any one else but this yr was a wierd one thats for sure not as many birds at all thsi yr not sure if weather or theya re changing there flights?? oh well merry christmas to all and happy new year also and wait till next yr i guess bye for now and take care all Mark St. Germanine
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Scouting 12-10-2005 17:22
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Scott was busy with work today and I figured access to where I like to hunt would be difficult. Sure enough boat ramps are unplowed, windrows from plows would be tough to bust through. Brackish waters are choked with ice as you get further from the Bay. May try to toboggan the boat about 200 feet tomorrow to get to water. Depends on Scott, need two for that job.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
12-08-2005 16:11
– – –
just got puter back lets see went out second season opening day frozen puddles and high water on the river saw a few ducks nothing in the decoys all stayed in river, on turkey day went out again in the snow and same thing few birds flushed a flock of geese out of a field in lacaster didnt see them till i was on them becasue of the white out conditions. went out once more that weekand and river was starting to freeze up still ducks and geese around but few and far between, heading out this weekand to finish up river is down but its codl out so we will see still lots of canadas hanging around just in vermont where u cant get to them so hope to cathc them on the river at sand bars will see and let u all know what happens take care and be well. Mark
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
Connecticut River Valley 12-05-2005 18:20
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted the river Saturday morning with only slightly more luck than Friday. I had a flock of mallards pitch into the dekes 10 minutes before first light and those were the only birds worth looking at until noon when we picked up. Lots of mergansers were flying around but neither myself nor my buddy like the taste of fish ducks.
I can only assume that there is plenty of food and open water north of us.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Rivers around Little Bay 12-04-2005 13:56
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Low tides in the early morning seemed to delay or stop hunter activity in my area for both Saturday and today. Some sporadic shooting was heard in the distance. Saturdays winds seemed to push birds into the area we were hunting but with no other hunters out birds were not pushed around and tended to pile up. Shooting opportunties were steady with a good mix of mallards and blacks. Divers were around if one was interested in shooting at them. Scott and I were still short a two man limit but were both pleased to include a banded mallard each in the day’s take. We also observed a mature bald eagle plying the same waters in search of food.
Sunday morning found us hunting the same location with what we thought was a better set-up, adjusting to the birds behavior of the previous day. Light snow and no winds didn’t provide nearly the same amount of activity. We both managed to bring home one today but our less the exceptional shooting, especially at one low flock of geese prevented us from adding some more to the bag. The rivers we hunted were free of ice on both days, however boat ramps can be icy after the tide recedes so be careful.
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2005-12-05 10:49]
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
Connecticut River Valley 12-02-2005 13:53
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
I hunted all morning Friday and never fired the gun. There was a lonely goose that flew by about a half hour before shooting light, a handful of hooded mergs and nothing else! I was sure there would be activity due to the snow flurries and dropping temperatures, but I was wrong. I wonder if the southerly winds are keeping everything at a standstill? We’ll see if this cold front changes things for the better. It was DEAD out there!
On a positive note, pretty much all the areas that were frozen out a week ago are now open again. We might actually have open water all the way to the end of the inland season for a change.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
The rivers around Little Bay 11-25-2005 11:02
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Well after a rather warm fall it turned colder than a witches you know what for the long opening weekend. Hunted Wednesday and today taking a break on Turkey day. Ducks are in good supply in this area. Quite a few more than last year this time. Scott and I have had good shooting. Mostly mallards and blacks but we did see some greenwing teal in both places hunted. Geese are plentiful but there does not seem to be as many as years past. I shot a banded hen mallard today, first banded duck for me in 3 or 4 years. Hunting activity on Wed and today was light. The birds are here for some decent hunting if you have the gear to deal with the cold weather.
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2005-11-25 11:05]
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
11-21-2005 09:17
– – –
Well the day I look more forward to than Christmas is almost upon us, the opener of the second half. Did some scouting yesterday and the brackish waters did have some ducks and geese. Small groups scattered here and there. It gave me hope that we are going to have a good day Wednesday.
For those hunting the tidal waters I found and have been using the following website which is quite useful as it gives tides at various locations around the bay.
Good Luck everyone and hunt safe.
http://www.maineharbors.com/nh/tidenh.htm
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
lancaster frozen fields 11-14-2005 19:25
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
well sun was last day had lots of ice on the puddle in the field had to break that up to set out decoys, saw lots of big ducks mallards and blacks about 40 or so but none wanted to work the decoys all went into the river,othere than those didnt dee any other ducks around only one flock of geese about 50 or so must have been migrants int he field all night feeding with the almost full moon by the time we got to them to jump them they had flown out of the field, so thats all till wed the 23 taken the day off from work again for that day set up on the river or a sand bar ont he river and see what happens hopefully river stays down and not frozen. good luck all and take care mark
