Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Little Bay 12-09-2007 14:53
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Snow on the ground, cold temps, ice and low tides first thing in the morning to contend with. Hunted Saturday and Sunday, saw more ducks Sunday, saw more hunters Saturday. Never saw a goose on either day which seemed strange, I know there are some around. Ducks consisted of mostly mallards and some blacks. Buffleheads were a constant and some Goldeneyes were whistling around too. Our shooting consisted of knocking down a few pass shoots and a few decoying birds, missing both kinds of shots at other times and of course the usual missed opportunities from looking in the wrong direction. Overall we did not see any large morning flight either day. Most boat ramps remain open in spite of snow and ice.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 11-25-2007 12:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
The Wednesday opener saw a fair number of ducks around the brackish water. Tides have been low in the AM keeping many boats from getting out. Lots of geese roosting in the brackish rivers overnight but I have not seen them using any local fields. Black ducks as or more plentiful than mallards in the locations we hunted. Spent most of the day hunting on Saturday, slightly late start as we waited for the water to come up so we could get out. We saw 80 to 100 ducks fly out in the first half hour while we waited. Very few moving about the rivers for the rest of the day. We only had one shooting opportunity at ducks. We found two crippled geese on our way in. Wednesday we watched a couple of guys again with no clue on range estimation as they consistently took 100 to 120 yard shots on ducks. No other boats were out in this area on the first Saturday of the season. Hunter activity is extremely light. Birds are without a doubt rafting up and not being pushed around. Cold temps at night should keep inland ponds frozen and hopefully more birds will start showing up on the salt water as time passes.
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2007-11-25 12:15]
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
conticut river vt side 11-25-2007 07:55
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
this is for thurs morning went out had to break out ice on river bank to set out decoys got all set up and saw only 6 ducks go buy had one come in and got it a nice mallard thats all didnt hear any geese at all and then went for a drive and checked allt he fields down to lancaster area and saw nothing at all no ducks or geese. talked with afew hunters who hunted local in gorham area and they are very discouraged also this yr not alots of birds one hunter is thinking of giving up on waterfowling because of the decline. not sure im going to go that far but again this yr not a very good one up north not sure why and with gas being so high and everything almost frozen up already might be a early season up hear also wait and see maybe try next weekand not sure yet but if not glad to see guys down statte are doing well take care all and bye for now
[Edited By Msg&son on 2007-11-25 08:00]
Posted By:
shawnpieterse
Web Member
Cheshire county 11-22-2007 10:13
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 35-40 Degrees
I hunted the same spot today as I did yesterday. 15 minutes to get a limit of mallards and blacks. It is really on!
Posted By:
shawnpieterse
Web Member
Cheshire County 11-21-2007 14:41
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
I hunted a flood control area today. Only saw seven ducks all morning. Lucky for me only one of them left. 4 Mallards, 1 Buffie and 1 Merg.
Posted By:
shawnpieterse
Web Member
Seacoasy 11-19-2007 05:16
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted the coast Saturday for sea ducks. Great numbers this year. I think they are catching on yo the big whitr boat trick though. I’m hoping my layout boat arrives this week for some serious sea ducking. Don’t forget that the seaducktion hunt is coming up Dec. 8&9.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
groveton 11-04-2007 08:56
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
went to a field and set up in it and in a pudle saw one duck fly by that was it saw large flock of geese they where in a field norht of me lifted up and went inot that pond on vermont side where they always go and where they are safe from hunters. about 200 total. went for a ride and saw nothing after that either so this ends the first part nothing to write home about this yr wow hope second season brings better. at least i got my fall turkey son lost his ran away. turn to deer i guess for now see ya soon.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-29-2007 07:21
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
There is no truer addage in waterfowling than “be where the ducks want to be”. Scott and I got it right on Saturday morning and in a span of 15 minutes or less we put 7 mallards in the bag. They were trying to land on top of our position with only two decoys out. I was shooting a 20 gauge and even with IC choke it was almost too much gun, ranges were short. There is good shooting for both ducks and geese for those who have done their scouting. Scouting is critical and you need to be at the right place at the right time. Hunting activity remains light and as a result birds at rest are rarely disturbed to take flight beyond the usual morning activity.
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2007-10-29 14:50]
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-22-2007 07:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Slow but steady shooting prevails. The patient and persistent waterfowler will be rewarded with opportunites. Wood ducks can still be found and more mallards are in the area. Geese are moving from roost to feeding. Saturday found Scott and I wating for geese but shooting ducks. Sunday we changed fields had three small flocks of geese work our decoys before we filled our limit. I heard a little bit of shooting in the distance yesterday and heard none Saturday. Hunter activity seems incredibly light as both areas we hunted have generally had competing hunters nearby on the weekend. Not this year.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-15-2007 08:51
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Geese remain plentiful and on the move, a good number of birds moving about locally and I have seen several high southbound migrating flocks. Wood ducks, teal and large puddle ducks are also providing good shooting. I have not seen many hunters out and have not heard much shooting in the distance.
Saturday morning I had something happen I had not seen before while goose hunting. I shot a big canada goose and it was a dead fold in the air. As it fell to earth it collided hard with another goose that was flying well below it and leaving the field. It hit the escaping goose square and nearly knocked it to the ground. It was strange to watch.
