Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor
ND 09-30-2011 22:26
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Went south tonight looking for cranes and such. After much looking, I found a good group of them to hunt in the morning with a few ducks and dark geese sprinkled in. There seems to be less ducks south but also the first occurence with a non-resident. While Magoo(my pup) and I were walking in a field, I noticed a truck sitting on the prairie trail where we came in on. I did my business, loaded up and tried to drive out. Well the trail was blocked with water on both sides. I drove right up to the truck and the guys just looked at me. I got out of the truck and he yelled, Your’e in my field. I said what are you talking about, its not posted so anyone can hunt it. He said, I have been hunting this for 6 years and it is mine. I said, move your truck or I will push you in the ditch. After a few choice words, he backed up and I drove away.
Quite simply, it is everyones land unless it is legally posted. This had nothing and I hope people realize that crap like I dealt with tonight do not make Non-resident concerns any better. I was a NR for many years and have seen that relationship dwindle for various reasons, but come on people.
I go out of my way to help people, ESECIALLY ethical good guys who are NR’s because I was in that same position a few years ago. Its not fun driving a whole bunch of miles to find posted signs and landowners who are not very friendly. So with that I shall leave it.
There were good number of swans down there too, anyone having a Swan tag and wanting a heads up let me know, I will quietly tell you where they are!
Guys heading up here from Tennessee as I write, they are first timers excited as all hell which is great. As I told them, come with expectations to work hard, enjoy the fresh air and the magical world of waterfowling, shoot a few birds, miss many more and enjoy the time of your life because there is no place like North dakota in October!!
Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor
ND 09-29-2011 21:13
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Temps have cooled but not much. There seems to have beeen an influx of cranes. I found a field filled with them tonight. Plenty of ducks scattered around, they should start jumping with more pressure this weekend. I wonder why they havent started havested beans yet?
Thanks for the thoughts on Shadow, he is now walking some, continues to eat well, but sight may still be lingering, but he is ok.
Posted By:
callmaster64
Web Member
ND 09-29-2011 18:57
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Keep up the good reports pluckaduck I will contact you before we hit the road. Hope Shadow is coming right along and gettin better by the day.
Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor
bottineau Area 09-28-2011 21:44
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Starting to cool a little bit, highs in the 70’s today. Went out after work, found some birds, not large bunches but nice groups scattered. They were in shallow water with grass to deep sloughs. Many ducks are still brown and hard to tell colors. One suggestion to anyone coming out, bring waders instead of hip boots. I walked into two sloughs tonight and both were waist deep, right between hip and waders. Water is not too cold yet, but it will get chilly in a hurry. Did manage to bring back 3 ducks, 2 Gadwall and mallard.
Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor
ND 09-27-2011 22:22
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Was warm today, in the 80’s so we went fishing. Perch were biting, but oddly on the way home I drove by about 15 sloughs in the hills and they were void of ducks. Kind of odd but maybe they were loafing where I couldnt see. Long range forecast is no cooler than 40 for next week so if coming, bring bug dope!
Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor
Northern ND 09-26-2011 21:37
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Was out first time tonight. Lots of birds scattered, ducks, dark and light geese. Bugs were bad but cold weather this week should get rid of them.
I walked 2 sloughs, water was maybe knee deep but footing was very solid. Access to both sloughs was very good right to open water through cattails.
An update on Shadow, he started walking somewhat today, his appetite is fantastic and it appears he is slowly on the mend.
Anyone heading to manitoba, I got a poor report on light geese up there but plenty of specks and dark geese and ducks were marginal in western Manitoba/eastern saskatechewan.
Posted By:
Trial Lawyer
Web Member
09-26-2011 15:02
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Pluckaduck,
Best wishes for Shadow’s full recovery.
Posted By:
pluckaduck
Field Editor
ND 09-25-2011 21:39
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Thanks to those who wrote me with my buddy. He is back at home and trying to recover, which could take two weeks or not at all. Magoo my 5 month black will be learnign the ropes for a while.
Traveling back through ND to Dunseith, there is lots of ducks all over the place with good numbers or dark geese from just east of Rugby on Hwy 2 to about 20 miles north of 2. After that I ran out of light. Got a call from a friend who did great this weekend, limits of Mallard, Pintail and Woodies field hunting. In fact he said green heads were easy to pick out.
Weather calls for much colder by mid week. I plan on getting out each evening and will report when I return. Take care and thanks again fellow waterfowlers!
Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor
N. Dakota 09-25-2011 11:54
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PLUCKADUCK
My thoughts are with you and shadow.My good friend Rick there in N. Dakota,your other VFE lost his dog at way too young a age.I would guess 99% of true waterfowlers with a dog would miss opening day if their dog needed them.Not the same hunting without that dog.Here is the best for you and shadow.
Posted By:
callmaster64
Web Member
pluckaduck 09-23-2011 23:04
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Take care of shadow bud we will talk to ya later
