Posted By:
Out of Season 10-05-2003 15:02
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
A bluebird day with high winds today and more migrating geese on the wing. A quick drive by several setbacks on the CT north of the Wilder hydro darn on Saturday revealed large groups of both mallards, a few blacks and teal (fresh birds pushed in over the last few days?) Spent the afternoon today loading the boat. Less than 48 hours to go for the CT River zone. Finally…
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-10-05 15:03]
Posted By:
Out of Season…but very close 10-03-2003 18:16
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Well, I don’t know what anyone else saw today but this was a big day for movement in the Upper Valley. I was outside (not working, thank God..) for several hours today and my wife, my kids and me counted over 2500+ geese on the move (including the first migrators up in the slipstream as well as three groups that totalled 350+ that bombed low over the Ottauquechee River headed for a fresh patch of cut corn just down river. Met up with a fellow DU Chapter Sponsor who was tempted to drive back up his road for the gun before he checked his calendar. Funny how the first big cold front rolls through between resident and regular season…? Seems like we have several cold fronts trailing through in the next few days but yesterday’s front was a big violent one and definately put the first wave of big birds on the move. I did not make it close to the CT River today but expect that, given what we saw last weekend, they’re stacking up out there too. Fresh cut corn in our area was holding MAJOR numbers of geese. Oct 7 is first day on the River and I would think that all the boys, VT & NH should be pretty pumped. Would also like to implore any other fowlers who cover Champlain, NORTH & SOUTH as well as INLAND hunters to step up to a VFE position so we can trade some info on bird movement and make this a livelier forum. Where else are you going to get the info…?
Tight chokes.
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-10-04 06:56]
Posted By:
davemazur
Guest
morrisville spots? 09-24-2003 12:37
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I’m new to the morrisville area (just building) and am looking for some duck hunting spots. Generally hunt out of a camo kayak. Any marshes, lakes in the area that see birds? Also looking for info on Champlain. Anything near the boat launch going to S. Hero?
Posted By:
CT River North 09-20-2003 12:50
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 60-65 Degrees
CT River early season goose hunt. On the water, two dozen Bigfoot floaters and a few mallards. The only geese we saw were a string of about 30 a mile up and headed north. Outrageous numbers of ducks- Mallards in profusion, green and blue winged teal, woodies and even a few very large black ducks putting down in our spread all around us. A real test of our restraint and willingness to be good law-abiding waterfowlers. Not sure I’d be able to go through that kind of waterfowl display without firing the gun again any time soon. Blew the calls, watched ’em cup up and splash down next to the boat but not a shot fired. October 7th cannot arrive soon enough.
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-09-20 12:51]
Posted By:
Interior Marsh- Barnard, VT 09-07-2003 09:23
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
A terrific early Saturday morning shoot on a very secluded highland marsh in Barnard. No decoys, just calling, group of four circled twice and on the third pass were low enough to fire on. Took one. The local flock down the road has almost doubled in size in the last week. Plenty more good early season shooting ahead…
Tight chokes…
Posted By:
CTRiverguy
Guest
Herrick\’s cove &N. Springfield Lake 09-05-2003 11:03
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 50-60 Degrees
Tue. 09-02 hunted Herrick’s Cove. Not nearly the geese I had scouted the prior weekend. Never fired a shot. Another party took a passing shot at a flock but missed. Wed. 09-03 hunted N. Springfield. Nothing early. 0745hrs a family group of 7 decoy’d nicely. We collected three. There are alot of local ducks around. Looking like woodies may actually be around in fair numbers for the first time in a few years…
Posted By:
CT River Valley/Interior 09-03-2003 09:16
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Reports back from the opening day of resident goose season indicate good hunting over the local birds. The farm ponds and rivers saw the first action of the season. We’re looking for more imput from the State’s waterfowlers this year and encourage all to post hunts to make this an active forum.
Tight chokes…
Posted By:
Season Dates for Vermont 08-24-2003 17:35
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
2003 VT Waterfowl Hunting Season by Zone and species: Lake Champlain Zone: Ducks Oct. 11-Oct. 13 & Oct 25-Dec. 20// Pintail Oct. 11-13 & Oct. 25-Nov. 20// Cans Nov. 1- Nov. 30// Canada Geese Sept. 2- Sept. 25 & Oct. 25- Dec. 8// Snows Oct. 11-Dec. 31// Interior VT: Ducks Oct. 11-Dec. 9// Pintail Oct. 11- Nov. 9// Cans Nov. 1- Nov. 30// Canada Geese Sept. 2-25 & Oct. 25- Dec. 8// Snows Oct. 11- Dec. 31// Connecticut River Zone: Ducks Oct. 7- Nov. 9 & Nov. 26- Dec. 21// Pintail Oct. 7-Nov. 5// Cans Nov. 26- Dec. 21// Canada Geese Sept. 2-Sept 25 & Oct. 7- Nov. 9 & Nov. 26-Dec. 21// Snows Oct. 7- Dec 21. The State F&G site should have the details posted. Already feels like fall up here on the hill…Tight chokes…
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-08-24 17:37]
Posted By:
Burlington Annual Waterffowl Meeting 08-18-2003 10:04
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The State annual waterfowl meeting was well attended. I’d guess there were probably 100+ folks there. The State board (VT and NH for CT River hunters) will set the dates officially this Wednesday, August 20th and I’ll post all of the results as soon as I get them that day. Looks like the regular season will open October 11th and there were two options proposed for a short split right in the beginning of the season for Champlain. Big news for CT River hunters this year is reciprocity between New Hampshire and Vermont on licensing. For the first time this year, you can now legally hunt all of the CT River with just a Vermont license and stamp- a good move forward between the two States. Look for official dates for all zones to be posted Wednesday or Thursday.
Tight chokes…
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-08-18 10:07]
Posted By:
None 08-18-2003 09:49
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Andy-
Thanks for message. There are some great spots on the Connecticut. I live just north of Woodstock and know the Northern part of the River in this area best. But there are great setbacks and marshes all along the River- the challenge is finding a productive spot that’s not too close to either houses or the interstate. I would love to hear about where you think a good spot for taking some resident geese during the September season might be. I understand that there are tons of them down in the southern part of the state- a hunting buddy mentioned Sadawga Pond near the Whitingham reservoir. Know anyhting about that area?
Best rergards,
Rick
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-09-10 15:34]
