Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Scouting 12-26-2004 15:18
– – –
The only thing I could do today was a make a quick road survey around 10AM. People were out and bustin ice to get at the birds. Two out of the three rivers I scouted had hunters on them. Saw some birds here and there, a couple of dozen blacks and a few mallards on the Oyster along route 4. Nothing on the Bellamy and a few hunters made it out on the Salmon Falls but at least 150 feet of ice and moved in or formed behind them. Sheets of ice are an incredible pain as they tangle and drag decoys along. One pond where the birds get fed regularly held only 40 to 50 ducks which is not much for this time of year.
I sure would like to have gotten out more but my father (who was in a nursing home with alzheimer’s) fell and broke his hip shortly after my last report. I was at his side when he passed away on Tuesday and I have had a hard time finding the desire to get out. Time heals all wounds and I am sure I will try to get back at them if the weather and ice allow.
Be safe!
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2004-12-26 15:20]
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
*** ICE OUT *** 12-22-2004 18:21
– – –
Hunted in Mass this AM and was iced out. On the way home I did a road tour of the Hampton Marsh and the Bay. Looks like the Bay is locked up while Hampton Marsh is about 75% open. The only launches I found accessable were Hilton Park( barely )on the Bay and the Hampton Harbor main launch.
Hampton Marsh looks like the only real viable option at this point as it is not all clogged up with pack ice. The Bay is full of huge sheets of ice and could pose some real serious issues for decoys as well as boat safety issues.
Hopefully this forecast warm front and rain will help us out?
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Great Bay 12-13-2004 15:38
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted the Bay Sunday afternoon. Had some snow flurries and cloudy weather, plus a pretty good West wind( much more than the weather guy said! ). Felt like a duck hunt.
Tried a new spot I have always wanted to try. I am a creature of habit and always say I am going to try that someday but end up going with my traditional, tried and proved, spots. With a middle of the day hunt however I decided to try one of those “maybe one day” spots.
Jumped up an incredible amount of geese heading in( one of the reasons I always wanted to hit the spot )and quite a few ducks. Also put up a very large flock of Lesser Scaup. Got set and in short order had a couple drake Mallards in the boat.
Unfortunately, with no real shoreline cover and a big flood tide my boat ended up bobbing around like a bathtub toy just when the geese all came back and my day ended with the 2 birds. All in all however it was nice to hit a new spot.
Definitly a LOT of geese using the Bay. Some stay all day and roost and feed there while others head out to feed( some stay out all day others come back within a few hours ). If you have a big spread of floaters and a decent blind there are plenty of geese to be had!
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Brackish Rivers 12-13-2004 07:26
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
My friend Scott and I got out after a two week layoff, seems both of us have a lot of “stuff” going in our lives. Saturday morning seemed like great weather and there were a few more ducks around the brackish water and a lot more geese. I took a black duck early and Scott got a goose. We jumped a group of blacks and mallards under some oaks as we motored home so we quickly headed over to that spot, threw out two decoys and waited for some to come back, none did. Usually setting up in spot where the birds were forced to leave as an “inconvenience” rather than shooting is a smart move as the ducks tend to drift back within 10 to 20 minutes. Oh well. Ever optimistic I am hoping this week’s predicted cold weather will put more birds in the salt water.
Posted By:
ducksnpucks
Guest
Kingston 12-11-2004 21:04
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted a local pond this A.M..Not much movenent.Birds decoy and CALL shy.Don’t understand why guys don’t realize this!The less calling (good or bad) that is done,the more successful the hunt will be.Birds decoyed but flaired at calling that was too loud.A feed chuckle and a soft “three quack” will keep them interested without flaring ’em. Just what I noticed today. Good luck, Pete
[Edited By ducksnpucks on 2004-12-11 21:05]
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Seacoast, NH 12-09-2004 03:12
– – –
Well, I haven’t hunted NH now for a while. Have been hunting the salt marshes of Massachusetts. Made some calls however to check on bird numbers with friends who have hunted the various areas of the state over the last week and with my commercial fishing/lobstering friends.
Inland waters nearer the coast are starting to close up after these last few days of snow and cold( although with this warm front moving in they probably will reopen for a while anyway )and the birds have moved out to the coast. The Bay and marshes along the coast are holding more birds.
Although not covered with ducks there are good numbers none the less and a lot of geese right now. The ducks are call and decoy shy however so effort is required to get prime shooting. With so many geese that is easier.
On the Sea Duck front there are good numbers of birds. Coastal NH waters are still holding good numbers of Scoter( all 3 species ), Oldsquaw, and the Eider numbers are starting to build. Best success has been reported off Rye Harbor, Little Boars Head, and when safe the Isle of Shoals.
Be safe and shoot straight.
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
Upper Valley Area – Ct River 12-04-2004 16:14
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
My youngest and I got out after em this morning, and saw a fair number of puddle ducks and a few flocks of geese. Unfortunately, VT deer season is over and apparently, NH deers hunters all scored their deer already. This meant all the fair-weather waterfowlers were on the river in huge numbers. I’ve never seen that many duck hunters on the river. Ever. There were so many hunters we left early.
If that kind of hunting pressure continues I might just call it a year!
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Bands 12-02-2004 06:09
– – –
Green bands have traditionally been used as reward bands valued at $100. I have heard of a couple other guys locally taking them as well this year. VERY RARE in these parts! A real trophy for your friend and the $100 is a nice bonus.
The reward band program was started to try and help ensure that hunters returned the band info.
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
In and Around Little Bay 11-28-2004 15:02
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
It seems that the opening day pressure along with lots and lots of fresh water being open has scattered the birds we found concentrated on opening day. Thanksgiving morning the predicted wind and rain was not there. Our pond hunt only slightly successful with Scott taking a black and later that morning I jumped a pair of mallards and shot a the hen when she came through an opening in the trees. Scott also jumped a small deer that came out in front me at 20 yards. Friday morning found us trying our luck on another river and the morning flight north out of the bay didn’t happen. We had a little bit of shooting and we started our first missing of season. In spite of less than stellar shooting Scott managed to get a black. Saturday was a down day and we got out again this morning and went back to where we had opening morning success. No other hunter activity was observed and again ducks were few and far between. I took a greenhead early and a couple of hours later scott got a banded greenhead. Speaking of bands, anybody shot a duck wearing a green band? Rumor has it that a number of ducks were banded in late summer 2004 with some colored bands, and the bands have a monetary value. I have heard of one hunter getting two mallards with these green bands and each band brought a $100 finders fee.
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
conneicut river 11-26-2004 18:28
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
well went scouting this afternoon, and wow the river is up and moving fast, saw one flock of mallards in the river about 40 or so pushed them out, then found about a flock of 150 geese ont he river also, pushed them also no shots would be afraid to send a dog int o the river right now. am going to set up ina field tomorrow for geese they seem to like this spot they where in today. as for wed went out nice weather river normal but no ducks just mergs. and lots of them . well we will see for tomorrow thats all good luck to all and hope ua ll had a good turkey day. Mark
