Posted By:
silverkitten73
Guest
Sounds like lot’s Of Northerners in Idaho 12-14-2005 12:53
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Was just looking at the reports from Idaho. Sounds like they have a bunch of new Mallards they are seeing in their area. Not sure what it will take to get them into Utah.
My membership expires tomorrow. Not sure I am going to renew as the Utah hunters are not posting on here any more like thay have in years past.
Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member
Locomotive Springs 12-07-2005 19:33
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
We made the trek to Locomotive Springs on Tuesday morning. We jumped large flocks of ducks and geese off of one of the springs. All of the ducks and some of the geese actually jumped first, but we could still hear some geese so we kept sneaking. The geese jumped at about 50 or 60 yards. I was shooting Hevi-shot, so I decided to try to bring one down. After shooting 3 times unsuccessfully, a small group of the geese broke off and came right over us at about 35 yards. I was cursing my empty gun. Other springs that normally produce were empty. Both of the lakes are completely dry. We did jump one other group of ducks off a small canal while driving. The springs were actually more open than I expected. This cold weather will really shrink the springs down and make it easier to pinpoint where the birds are sitting. I will try again Friday or Saturday.
Take care and keep your face down, Braden
Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member
Northern Utah jump shooting hot spots 12-04-2005 23:44
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
I went jump-shooting Thursday morning. We shot a nice bag of mallards. I am always amazed at how rusty I am during that first sneak of the year. We had seen the birds from the road, so we knew they were there, but we still made many mistakes. The jumps later in the season get progressively better. We actually only got to shoot at one group of birds, but I was amazed at how many birds were in the area. Every small piece of open water seemed to have birds on it. It is getting even colder now, and should continue to concentrate the birds. I am going to Locomotive Springs Tuesday morning and will try to post a report soon after.
Take care and keep your face down, Braden
Posted By:
Braden-Mitchell
Web Member
Ogden bay and Harold Crane 11-29-2005 08:47
– – 35-40 Degrees
Joe, I haven’t had a chance to go to Locomotive this year yet. I am going to have to take my scouts out there as well. There is something about that area I just love.
On Thanksgiving we went out on the Great Salt Lake from the 12th street launch at Ogden Bay. Lots of ducks flew out west early in the morning, but shooting was pretty slow. My brother and Dad both bagged swans at Harold Crane that morning. My other brother bagged his swan Thanksgiving evening.
On friday I made the long trek out to Harold crane again, but the swans all flew out about 10 minutes before it opened. Both lakes were starting to get a small layer of ice.
On Monday 11/28, I rode my bike out Harold crane for the evening hunt. The swans are way down. Both lakes now have a solid layer of ice on them. Their were a few ducks flying around looking for open spots in the reeds north toward the Willard sput. Don’t bother with a bike if you go. The mud and snow make riding pretty treacherous and slow.
It is good to hear that everyone is doing well. Jereme congrats on the oldsquaw. I wouldn’t have even considered anyone would ever shoot one of those in Utah. I guess that is what keeps us all going. You just never know what you are going to see.
Take care and keep your face down
Braden
[Edited By Braden-Mitchell on 2005-11-29 08:48]
Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest
11-28-2005 22:43
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Hey Guys — Jereme, way to go on the Oldsquaw! That had to be a thrill… Gooseguts, good to hear from you, heard a little about your goose chasing from Yellow Dog..it’s always great to be out, even if just for the sights and exercise….tried Centerville marshes for the last hour today, but hardly any open water. Ducks had an opening covered out in the middle, a hundred yards from me, and they didn’t want to move. So my little spread didn’t attract anything, except it was fun watching 3 grebes swimming and diving around my dekes…saw lots of huge flocks, but all high flyers with places to go. Maybe Wed. I’ll look at Layton again…Good Luck..JOE
Posted By:
gooseguts
Guest
davis county 11-28-2005 21:52
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
yup, I’am still here, sounds like everbodys doing some good.We went out fri-sat.Friday was suppose to be the duck day but we took one goose and saturday was suppose to be the goose day and we shot pintails, they where thick they were comin by the 50s but that don’t do much good when you can only take one.We did have 3 snow geese deke in saturday but I was out of the spread and my buddys thought they where seagulls till they passed by.Oh well maybe next year.As joe said the ponds in the layton areas are freezing hard we had an half inch friday and i’ll bet 90 percent of the ducks have left this area.
Good luck, and don’t shoot till the feet come down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goose Guts
Posted By:
jereme
Guest
Willard 11-28-2005 17:16
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
Well I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I went out on Willard Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For the most part shooting was slow and steady. By the end of each day most of us had a couple ducks. Lots of swans were flying around each evening. I still haven’t filled my tag. We didn’t see many geese until Sunday and it seemed they were definitely starting to come in.
By Sunday part of the bay was just starting to freeze (mostly slushy).
This storm also pushed some abnormal birds our way. Somehow fate was smiling on me and I managed to shoot a drake Oldsquaw. The Audubon Society records sightings in the state and as far as harvesting one of these beauties I found the following information.
All confirmed harvestings in the state are noted below.
22 Nov 1996 – Bear River Marshes, Box Elder Co., (two females taken)
Dec 1995 – Fish Springs NWR, Juab Co., reported by Jay Banta (shot by hunter)
24 Nov 1950 – Bear River MBR, Box Elder Co., reported by Wilson and Norr (specimen collected)
11 Nov 1949 – Bear River MBR, Box Elder Co., reported by Wilson and Norr (specimen collected)
Fall 1948 – Ogden Bay, Weber Co., reported by Van den Akker (two seen; two more taken by hunters)
Nov 1927 – mouth of Weber River, Weber Co., by Hull (male specimen collected)
Link to photos
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=oldsquaw+photo&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t&fl=0&x=wrt
This guy has a couple of pin feathers that would make a pheasant jealous. My taxidermist has been notified that I am on my way over.
Posted By:
jereme
Guest
Fish Springs Refuge 11-28-2005 17:14
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
I went out to Fish Springs Friday 18th and Saturday 19th. I had never been there before. What an awesome little oasis in the desert. Two of my buddies drew goose tags for Saturday. Before we even go to the refuge we ran into about 20 geese on the dirt road.
All units are very accessible by foot or small boat. We shot lots of Widgeons and Gadwalls (no geese ha ha). Great place just to go down and take some pictures.
You can camp right off the refuge next to the mountain overlooking all the units. I will be making at least an annual trip that way from now on.
We also did some rabbit hunting (off the refuge), collected some topaz and tried to find geodes in the geode beds. It was a good little outing.
Posted By:
Joseph-Morzinski
Guest
11-27-2005 13:58
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Hey Spooner- tks for the info on Locomotive area. We tend to take our scouts pretty close to home this time of year–do you live in Northern Utah? I’ve been in Scouting for a good 15 years now, in different capacities, and have really enjoyed it, especially the camping part. Keep taking them out….Still some nice mallards at Centerville marshes..this is the area that will be put to much better use as our Legacy Highway..hate having those ducks around…..long hiking out to my Layton area, but it is usually worth it..should get better as it gets colder…Hiked the dikes at Fmgtn Bay for a bit this A.M. Friend and I each shot one..lots of snipe out there, next time I’m bringing my #6 or 7 steel along. Tried a few futile shots with my #3’s.
That was a waste, but fun trying. If you guys ever shoot some, they are excellent eating.—-CUL— JOE
Posted By:
cut emnova
Guest
11-24-2005 11:42
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Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially those that are either serving abroad or have family that are serving abroad. Thank You to you all for what you are doing for our freedoms!!!
Darren….daz3825@comcast.net
