Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 11-23-2006 16:17
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Opening day brought a pleasant surprise, more ducks than I anticipated. However gunning has been spotty. A fair number of boats were out yesterday and today. On both days we observed hunters who either didn’t fire a shot or did not bag a bird. Like real estate, location has been everything and as always a little bit of luck thrown in goes a long way. For the two of us success came because we happened to be in the right spot and looking the right way at the right time. Missed opportunites came frequently too, and some were rookie mistakes. You would think after 30 plus years we would be beyond that, it happens to everyone. Low tide in the morning hampered the ability to get boats out and for some hunters just a few minutes late meant losing out on the days best shooting. So far the morning flight has brought the best gunning of each day. Black ducks have been dominant but mallards are around as well as some teal. Geese seem plentiful.
Posted By:
shawnpieterse
Web Member
Sea coast near Hampton Beach 11-20-2006 15:28
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted for sea ducks on Sunday off of Hampton Beach. The water was a little rough so the shooting was tough. We saw mostly scoters, a few eiders in the mix and the old squaw started to show right before we left around 0900. There are lots of birds out there, but with the water as rough as it was, I think they had a hard time seeing the dekes since they fly so low. We also saw quite a few puddle ducks flying high as well as a couple of large flocks of geese all heading south. I’m looking forward to getting out there with some flatter water so that we can deploy the layout boats. Good luck out there, and be safe!
Shawn
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Pre Season Observations 11-16-2006 07:11
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Geese are coming off the Bay and heading inland in waves this morning. Steady, every ten minutes or so another flock can be heard.
We are less than a week away from the opening of the second half and we experiencing some abnormally mild temperatures and lots of rain. Long range forcast does not include a cold snap. My duck sightings have been spotty and when I have seen them it’s been in odd places like flooded areas next to a highway. Until the weather takes a turn for the worse I believe hunting the brackish waters of the Bay and rivers that feed it will be spotty. There is lots of open fresh water around and the birds are going to spread out.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
groveton and lancaster area 11-07-2006 16:48
– – –
well on sat went to the field in vermont and it was cold out had to break ice of the puddle in the field saw 1 duck that was it and then jumped about 60 or so geese out of a corn field just couldnt get close enough belly crawling to them. on sun went to groveton in a field same thing had to break ice, saw 3 good flocks of ducks and tons of geese all going to a pond on the vermont side ,i think most where residents. water still high and freezing up so we will see what happens when it opens back up in a few weeks might just be field hunting when it does. Not sure why but not alot of ducks around this year i get the feeling that they might have changed there migration a little it seems to happen from time to time every few yrs. am seeing lots of male mergs already and you dont see those till late in the season so who knows. i hope everyone else had good luck and hope you all have good luck second season. am excited for dec am going to maine on a guided 3 day sea duck hunt so we will see what happens there. bye all for now , deer hunting this weekand and work around the house to keep the wife happy.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
11-02-2006 16:28
– – –
well last weekand took the muzzleloader for a walk in the rain no luck there and didnt even bother going out on sun either with the high water and winds im sure nothing was moving around to much plan to go out this weekand supposed to be nice with cool mornings so we will see
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
flooded field 10-22-2006 16:38
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
well wanted to go to groveton this morning but when we got there the river went up even higher and instead of a puddle was a lake so ended up going to lancaster instead in a flooded field. figured we would see some birdes and we did all going south, with all the water around and no hunters about it is hard to find the birds and they sense the other front coming in for the begining of the week so not a good day at all or weekand for that part. on sat set up in the field in vermont again in the rain and blowing snow the randolpd and jefferson area had like 3 inches on the ground. still had high winds for the better part of the morning and also only saw 4 geese and like 10 ducks and that was it. not good at all they are calling for rain and snow till wed. up here in the north country and rain for sat again already so who knows what that will bring. just hope everyone else is having good luck. be carfeull around the high water the conneticut river is flowing over its banks up here. be good all. Mark
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-16-2006 09:49
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
Geese were on the move and looking to feed Saturday morning. We saw many small flocks coming to the fields. We were able to observe hunters in one field shooting time and time again, apparently unable to quickly hit their targets or shooting out of range. Often we would hear gunfire as we watched flocks over that field at twice the hieght of the trees. It it too bad that a few spoil it for so many by “educating” flock after flock before taking their limit.
For those that are interested crows are migrating in a big way as well.
Geese were around on Sunday morning but nowhere near the number of flocks were spotted as the day before. I would chalk that up to a combination of blue bird weather and an education from hunters lacking in wingshooting skills.
A few more big ducks were seen but the frosts and front that came through last week may have pushed some of the woodies south.
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2006-10-16 09:49]
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
Ct River Valley 10-15-2006 18:42
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Mark and Peter hit the mark with their reports of migrating geese. We have been seeing flocks of 100+ Canadas headed south. I was even able to turn one of them but they just didn’t want to finish. Must be my calling needs some work? 😉
Local birds are pretty scarce, having moved on with this last batch of cold weather. Still seeing some woodducks and teal blasting through though.
Corn field goose hunting has been hard work – the birds seem smarter this year! It’s really tough getting the flocks to finish into gun range. I suspect that successful goose hunters this year will have invested in good full body dekes and will have practiced their calling a lot.
Good luck out there.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
puddle in a corn field in coos county 10-15-2006 17:26
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
well went to what i hoped my little honey hole when the rains come in and make puddles in a corn field i know of , that didnt happen saw one black thats all, saw few flocks of geese and they had no intention of coming in my spread at all either. had another group of guys i know in the next field up that where set up for geese to and didnt hear any shooting from them also. so was a early day for me today. as for sat. went back to the field in vermont again besides being frosty, the fog was horrible worst than last weekand had one nice flock fly over us but couldnt see the decoys because of the fog and they where low could hear the wings but not see them, saw a few ducks my son got a male mallard that was it, the front worked to good the local birds left and no new ones came in just yet, more rain slated for mid week so we will see what happens for the weekand most of the fields are all cut now. am working in shelburne and have been seeing flocks of geese migrating everyday down there so maybe i might stay close to home this weekand who knows glad to hear everyone is doing good and having fun. btw drove in blowing snow this morning on my way down to the field brrrrr! good luck and take care Mark St. Germaine
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Geese on the move 10-12-2006 06:44
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 45-50 Degrees
Geese have been on the move this week in a big way. I have observed many flocks of high flyers headed south indicating their migration is well underway. While walking into work I heard a couple of flocks this morning, around 7:30AM, that were low and headed inland to feed. It would be a good day to be out this morning.
