Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-16-2005 08:05
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
The bottom line; it’s mid Ocotber and big ducks and geese remain scarce and wood ducks plentiful.
Called a couple of former coworkers at Fish & Game and they are reporting the same thing. One bioligist reported the usual mid October migrants (geese) from Canada are holding in Canada.
The recent rain of biblical proportions has created ponds in every depression so ducks have a lot of places to sit. The biggest group of mallards I have seen have been along the highway.
Saturday the morning flight or wood ducks was strong but my shooting was weak. Sunday morning I set up for geese in a small cornfield hoping the wind might get some birds moving. The first three I saw showed little interest and kept going. Shortly after a group of fifteen came from the North. Nine of them broke off and joined another three coming from the east that had started to work my decoys. On their second pass the lead three had cupped their wings and lost enough altitude to make for two relatively easy shots from a 92 year old double barrel. Nor further birds observed, very few shots heard in the distance.
Turkey vultures are migrating, had 31 of them overhead at one time, weird to see so many large birds flying without moving their wings at the same time.
Let’s hope that as the days grow shorter and the temps cooler the birds grow more plentiful.
Several larger cornfields in the county remain unharvested.
Remember next weekend, 10/22-10/23 is the youth deer hunt, it’s a good idea to have a piece of blaze orange clothing to wear on your walk in and out of the fields and ponds.
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2005-10-16 15:14]
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
back to the same feild 10-12-2005 20:01
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
well on monday went back to that feild again we hunted on sun water went down alot in the river and the puddle we hunted had some woodies come in got one son missed a nice black, had geese land in the field but not near me so flushed them out was like 20 of them, say lots of small flocks of geese going north think they where residents going to eat. they showed up to finish cuttting the feild so hope to hunt that this weekand for geese. take care all and good luck . Mark
Posted By:
Msg&son
Guest
fields fllooded 10-09-2005 18:27
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
well where to start took long weekand off because son had no school on fri so lets start there. saw 13 ducks and 60 geese most in a posted pond. and real warm not alot flying around and found a note from ducks and pucks on my truck hope next year or later this year to catch up to him. on sat the weather changed saw few more ducks got some shots off lost one nice male mallard in a bog, and saw tons on migratory geese all going one way. today set up in a corn field ina puddle only safe place to be connetcut river was real high to dangerous to be around. did well son shot his first male woodie and we got few others saw lots of mallards and blacks big flocks and loads of geese still going the same way far from here. have tommorw off also so going back to same feild again to try our luck, on the bright side not lots of hunters out in this weather either didnt hear hardly any shots at all? so will let u know about tommow tomoorow night and looks like might be getting together with my friends for a goose hunt next weekand to try to get some of those migratorys. good luck to all and be carfull with this high water. see yas in the field Mark
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-09-2005 17:16
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted alone Saturday and my shooting was more stellar than on opening morning, took two out of the three woodies I shot at. Did not see any big ducks except for some mallards in puddle along the highway while driving home. Scott drove home from his annual PA deer hunt. This is the 13th year he has done this and he mentioned to me that while hunting and during the drive home he saw very few geese in PA and NY where in years past he would see tons of them at this time of year.
Sunday morning Scott and I went back to the spot I had success and he took two woodies while I got back to missing again. When the weather service issued a flood warning they meant it. The river had risen at least four feet overnight and was raging torrent.
Finally saw some geese moving as we walked out and did hear some shooting in the distance. I can’t be certain but I think most of the birds were headed to some protected fields in the next town.
Pretty odd weather to say the least, no frost in the seacoast yet, and none predicted for this coming week. I have mixed feelings about it, a good cold snap or two would push some birds down but with home heating at record prices how do you wish for that…….
And on another note, a small and well known honey hole near Dover, which had been bordered by some beautiful fields now has a huge starter castle in the middle of those fields…….as some would say “that’s progress.” Every year we seem to lose more and more to progress don’t we?
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
Sullivan County 10-06-2005 21:29
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – Over 70 Degrees
This year I ended up hunting opening day with neither sons nor my usual hunting buddy, so it was just me and the dawg at first. A couple guys showed up late and I let them hunt on the island as well since it was way too late for them to relocate and there was plenty of room.
We saw more mallards than any year I’ve hunted in this region. They just kept coming. I was glad to have the company since they didn’t have a dawg so Clipper got to do a full day of retrieving for us all.
I’ve heard a lot of geese this week, but none of them have been interested in landing on water. Must have other things on their mind. Its not the draw of corn, I know, since nobody in the valley has really started cutting. I’d give that another couple weeks or so.
Its been extremely foggy over here all week. The second day I had to stay within 10 yards of the bank in order to not lose my bearings! Be careful out there.
Posted By:
shawnpieterse
Web Member
Contoocook river. 10-05-2005 07:46
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 60-65 Degrees
We were all set up and ready about 15 minutes before shooting time. There were lots of beavers swimming around, but we flushed no ducks on our way out. I was a little concerned at this, but what are you going to do. There was some light fog early, and no wind at all. At 6:15 we fired up the spinning wing duck, and started hearing shooting. First we had some woodies come in and one dropped. After some looks out of range by more Wood Ducks, the Mallards started to come in. We dropped 3 Mallards and that was it. Early season lousy shooting is as good an excuse as any, so I’ll run with it. We could have done better, if we were on target more. All in all a fun opener, and looking forward to more.
Posted By:
Bill-Quinn
Supporting Member
wakefield 10-04-2005 18:46
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – Over 70 Degrees
well hope every one had a good day and returned safe we started out today in pea soup fog and when we got to are spot there was someone there this guy was very nice he let us hunt are spot i wish there was more people like him (a real class act) thank you . it was very foggy at first about 9.am we started to see ducks i winged one we saw about 100 ducks in all we managed a few but the best part was when i called in 6 geese and ryan my 8 yr old took down his first ever bird that one is on the wall i dont know if any of you have ever seen a kids face after that but man was that the best i wish i could do that every day for someone (by the way that goose was shot with a 410)not a bad day we’ll try are new spot out agian this weekend till then (be safe and keep gunning)
Posted By:
Bill-Quinn
Supporting Member
10-03-2005 16:09
– – –
well its the night before and were all set to go but i bet i woot get any sleep to night taking my little buddy tomorrow its going to be his first time duck hunting with his own gun ryan is 8 now and i think he’s ready to try his luck on ducks it wont be long and he’ll be sitting in one of peter’s classes well every one have fun and be safe and take a kid hunting (be safe and keep gunning)
[Edited By Bill-Quinn on 2005-10-03 16:11]
Posted By:
Peter-Lester
Field Editor
Strafford County 10-02-2005 11:48
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Went out crow shooting and duck scouting again this AM. Farmers are just now starting to bring in the corn. Do not take for granted the fields you like to hunt will be harvested before the opener, check first. Wood ducks were plentiful this morning with dozens of them zipping this way and that. NO big ducks and geese were scarce, only saw a flock of a half dozen moving this morning. With corn fields either just being cut or not cut at all the birds have not gotten into the habit of visiting them yet.
Under good to know information, written permission is required to hunt on any land belonging to the University of NH (UNH). Written permission can be obtained at the UNH police department (not Durham PD) by showing a hunting license and photo ID.
[Edited By Peter-Lester on 2005-10-02 11:49]
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
Ct. River Valley 09-29-2005 16:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted geese the next to last day of the early season. I got out there around 3pm but didnt see any geese. I did see a good number of ducks cruising past, woodies and teal plus a handful of mallards.
I also had a nature lover admiring my goose dekes – took pictures of em and everything. hehe… He was pretty embarrased when I stood up. I love doing that…
Season opener on the 4th! See y’all out there.
