Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
West Central NH/VT Border 10-08-2006 18:56
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 50-60 Degrees
It’s been an exhausting but totally satisfying week here on the NH/VT border. Opening day was productive as usual with near limit of wood ducks and mallards. It gets darned near mathematical when you start figuring out what type of duck you can shoot to round out your limit, especially when our birds are in eclipse phase or not far from it.
As usual, the local birds started out stupid but became pretty intelligent within a couple of days. As Pete pointed out, Wood Ducks are plentiful all over. Pre-season scouting showed a very large population of local mallards, but after opening day they became scarce, just like they always do. Canada Geese are our salvation here in the “Far From Stuttgart-150 ducks is a bad year” regions. There are geese all over the place. Hunt em in the corn, on rivers, lakes, where ever you like to hunt best. The geese will be there. This year they are big, fat and friendly.
If you haven’t made friends with your local farmers yet, you are behind the 8-ball. Get on it. Take them a whole plucked prime goose or duck or some venison and take some time to talk about the weather, crops, LOCAL politics and how much you appreciate them keeping their land open for hunting. Most of these folks like hunters and wish they had more time to do some themselves. Offer to take them on a hunt when it’s convenient for them. I bet you’ll not only get some takers but perhaps some new friends as well.
I just delivered a gorgeous November 2005 head shot goose to a farmer. That goose got fat and tasty on my favorite corn field. I kept it airtight and sealed frozen at 5 degrees so that it would be good table fare even now. It took me nearly 2 hours to gut, pluck and process. Those folks are going to remember me the next time I come around asking to hunt their fields. Farmers are your friends.
On a side note, I seem to have rediscovered pheasant hunting, and fortunately for me, my duck dog likes it as well! This gorgeous weather keeps the ducks sitting tight, but it sure makes for an incredibly pleasant afternoon saunter through the fields and thickets.
Hope your early season is going well.
[Edited By Jerry-Nicholson on 2006-10-08 18:58]
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
same place 10-08-2006 18:12
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
well the fog wasnt as bad this morning, saw not as many wood ducks but still saw alot of them saw more mallards today than yesterday, and only saw 4 geese which i missed i did end up with another wood duck and a mallard for today which wasnt t o bad only hunted till 9 am had things to do. but the weather forcast is for a big rain storwm end of week which should help, and the fields are still being cut so we will see good luck to all.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-08-2006 15:51
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Wood ducks are in good supply this year. Scott and I got into them hunting one of the local rivers. The water was down and we were able to easily traverse the river as we needed to in chest waders. Woodies were all we saw and we expected to find big ducks but did not. We heard some geese flying low and several flocks are using grass fields for the feeding area. Some cornfields have been cut. Things should continually improve as the days shorten and freezing temps become the norm each morning.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
corn field on vermont side 10-07-2006 18:43
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
well the scouting paid off set up in that field and it didnt take long at all right at shooting time the wood ducks started coming in got some shots off at those and also some mallards then the geese started coming in lots of different flocks all in all saw about 40 to 50 geese and 60 ducks majority wood ducks ended up with 2 geese and one female wood duck my son shot alot but missed but it was one of the better opening weekend hunts in a long time that is for sure i know i shouldnt but am going there again in the morning. because didnt see much anywhere else except whitfield again jump shooting. good luck to all and be good Mark
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
scouting 10-03-2006 16:34
– – –
well the fields are getting cut by this weekand a good group of them will be done im sure have one scopped out for sat. scouted it last sun am going to check it out again fri afternoon again but pretty sure where im going there on sat morning im sure the other places will be busy so might do some good. good luck to all and be safe. mark
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
all over the north country 09-24-2006 16:36
– – –
well took my son out for youth weekand this weekand, and on sat went to a bog up north set out some decs and had one fly in he missed it, saw a few others land out of the decs to far out then went for a drive and puddle jumped for the rest of the day finally found some birds in whitfield he got some shots off saw 5 geese int he river also thats it for sat. On sun just did puddle jumping started in gorham and went west from there and again didnt see anything till whitefield area jumped some geese out of one area and he got some shots off at some woodies in that area then went to another place and he got a nice wooddie on a passing shot, he upgraded to my 20 ga pump now so taken him some time to get used to it. even after thhis weekand its not looking promising for this season water is down everywhere and still not alot of birds either not sure why. guess we will have to wait and see what happens thats all . good luck to all and see u in the fields. Mark ps. ducks&pucks ill keep my eyes open for u when u are up this way also bud.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 09-21-2006 10:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
There seems to be plenty of resident geese around right now but as always the trick is getting at them.
To me it seems there are more geese moving around than years past. The fields in front of the UNH dairy center have been full of birds. I have seen birds coming and going from the direction of Tuttle’s Red barn as well.
Corn remains standing making it difficult to find a place to hunt them. Talked with a friend last night who reported that hundreds of geese are rafting on Great Bay.
Ducks flights have been spotty.
The youth waterfowl weekend is this weekend.
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
09-14-2006 00:45
– – –
Duckers Day 2006 was held at Wagon Hill Farm in Durham, NH on September 9th. My buddy Mark, his family and I attended again this year and had a great time. It’s amazing that there is a daylong event totally dedicated to us waterfowl hunters right here in NH. You’d expect this in Stuttgart, but its unusual here.
Saturday was a beautiful day – sunny, warm and dry. One of the highlights for me this year was the number of folks that brought their retrievers. There were dogs everywhere. You just can’t go wrong when you’re surrounded by hunting dogs. The retrieving demonstrations were excellent – I’m surprized that they really make the demo retrieves with a degree of difficulty and distance. Very good dog work and handling.
The decoy vendors there really point out the New England waterfowling heritage. The carving and painting harken back to a more distinguished age. Incredible stuff. Deke carvers have a gift…
A traffic situation on Rt 4 prevented us from heading westward for home so we ended up having an early dinner at Bob’s Clam Hut in Kittery. Of course, being next door to Kittery Trading Post meant we had to go spend some money! My buddy bought his kids a sweet .22 rifle. His wife picked up a nifty little .38 snubby for concealed carry. I was amazed to find some 3″ #4 .410 bismuth and bought up a pile. I still have my first shotgun and intend to whack some early season ducks with it.
We should all plan to meet at next year’s Ducker’s Day!
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
conneticut river valley 09-11-2006 16:13
– – –
sorry its late all, well as for the opener on tues. we did ok we got 6 of them one was banded say the whole flock of about 150 to 200 birds looked encouraging for the weekand. Well that was the wrong thing to think on sat had fog and no geese at all heard one small flock that was it and they ddint even come close to us, went scouting after that and say one small flock of 15 or so and they where on the wrong side of the road and didnt see any ducks at all either, then on sun tried again and this time saw some geese like 40 or so but they where migrants and they where up high and going south already not a good sign at all, had one loner come in and my 11 yr old son shot this first canada goose nice 30yrd shot with the 20 gauge am so proud of him. went scouting again and didnt see any geese and a few ducks thats all and that is from dalton to almost stewartstown. not sure where they went or they know something we dont but right now not looking to good at all for either hunting. am thinking that the geese have been educated now and have moved on after getting shot at just that once now not sure, well i am going to the races this weekand so no hunting for me at all then next weekand is youth weekand so unless something changes thats it for me for goose season for now. hope other people have better luck and a good season. bye all mark st. germaine
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
out for a ride up north 08-20-2006 17:58
– – –
well took a drive with the family up north in the conneticut river valley, to try to find some ammo for me man its hard to find 10 ga ammo this yr good thing i bought a bunch from cabelas but wanted some no# 4s for early season goose hunting but no luck at emersons in groveton, but did find some for my son for his 20 ga. then took a ride around the loop still real wet in the bogs still from the wet summer river is down lots of sand bars which is good. looks like most of the feilds got planted this yr only saw one that didnt. as for geese saw 3 seperate flocks total about 200 birds so it was a good breeding season for sure and some of them look like big birds saw a few ducks also so so far so good will keep in touch and looking forward to sept 5th. take care all and be well Mark St. Germaine
