Posted By:
Scott-Martin
Field Editor
Ilinois 10-31-2011 00:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Slow reports all over the state. Seems we are a couple weeks behind most other years. Don’t remember seeing all the pintails and wigeon and teal around in the mass bunches at this point before. Though, they are very concentrated in a mere few locales. Lots of little ducks all over but mallards and the main migration are not here yet. NoDak still open. Weather up there looks to be changing later this week. Lows of 22 most of end of week in Bismarck. Potholes will freeze. Some should head our way. Need a push.
Posted By:
2footroper
Web Member
Bath IL 10-30-2011 08:03
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Finally fired our first shots for the season after 2 days last weekend and friday never seeing a duck in range. 1 drake Mallard and 2 Redheads for yesterday. Never in my life have we been skunked for 3 hunts in a row let alone it being the first 3 days we hunted in the season. If a man misses or lets a few sneek by is one thing buy I’m telling you we never even went to reach for the gun!!! Hearing the same story from others as well.
On a side note, trying a Vortex this year and mixed emotions so far. The Redheads came in out of nowhere right to it as well as the Mallard yesterday but otherwise no real effect so far. I’ve never hunted over one in the water so time will tell. The birds that did see it never flared off but also never showed much interest either.
New birds will help but right now I don’t see anything that will improve in the short term.
Good luck everyone and please have a safe hunt.
Posted By:
webmaster
root
10-24-2011 20:04
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INHS Survey Totals Pool 4-14 as of 10/17:
Canada Geese – 16,620
Mallard – 22,935
Black Duck – 10
Pintail – 13,220
Gadwall – 19,775
Widgeon – 13,730
N. Shoveler – 3,560
BW Teal – 320
GW Teal – 11,350
Wood Duck – 370
Red Head – 545
Canvasback – 76,600 (Pools 8 & 9 primarily)
Ringneck 22,685
Scaup 33,105
C. Goldeneye 10
Bufflehead 30
Merganser – 0
Ruddy Duck 13,390
TOTAL Ducks, Geese, Swans – 248,529
[Edited By webmaster on 2011-10-24 20:09]
Posted By:
huntorski
Guest
Pool 12 Miss 10-24-2011 15:34
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I’m with DH50
Took my first skunk in a couple years. Should have a pair of woodies at first light but screwed it up trying to get the double instead of concentrating on the first one.
Saw gadwalls, mallards, woodies and cans. Had the gadwalls work, but wouldn’t finish. Cans were very skittish, watched them flare from a big raft of coot.
Come on weather!
Posted By:
diverhunter50
Guest
nw 10-24-2011 11:27
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
When the local weather man says its gonna be a beautiful weekend with abundant sunshine, no wind and above average temperatures, you would think I would be smart enough to stay home, or at least not haul the big rig out, but I did haul it out both Sat and Sun. IT was not worth the effort. There are birds around, don’t get me wrong, but why move when you have available food and calm water to sit on. Without a change in the weather, next weekend will be a change of tactics, either find a small pothole we can get some early shooting in, or a field for an afternoon goose hunt. How ever if we would get a windy day, I would not hesitate to hit the water again.
Posted By:
webmaster
root
Boone County 10-24-2011 11:26
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Lots of new geese in the area but very few new ducks. Most of the woodies and teal have moved on. Sunday we only saw 2 gadwall and 3 hooded mergansers.
Didn’t hunt Saturday but the football season is finally done for the kids. On sunday, they got limits of geese and we’re going to make some jerky for the rest of the season.
Posted By:
Michael-PhillipsIL
Field Editor
Sw Pike County 10-23-2011 10:28
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Had a great opener with 9 guys getting their woodies along with a few teal and a redhead mixed in. Another spot not a mile away didn’t see a wood duck but limited out on pintails. A couple state conservation agents came by to check us and said it seemed to them that people were having as good of an opener as they could remember.
Posted By:
Kevin-Stallard
Field Editor
Highland 10-23-2011 05:54
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Had a few reports of successful bags on the opener, mostly woodies,teal and a few mallards. Supposed to be in the 70’s next few days but a good cold front here by mid-week. I am still in the timber chasing buck henry buck hope to get after them in a couple of weeks.
Unfortunately in the early morning hours before shooting time two fisherman were out in their small boat and it capsized on the lake so there was a lot of activity on the lake. Their bodies were found several hours later, with the use of sonar appears to be an unfortunate accident. The accident happened on the south end of the lake that is in the southwest zone, but most boaters had to go through the searchers too get to their blind at the northend of the lake. The victims were in their twenties and appears not to be wearing their PFD. The lake has been around for over 40 years and I can think of any other tragedy that has happened on the lake.
[Edited By Kevin-Stallard on 2011-10-23 05:55]
Posted By:
Scott-Martin
Field Editor
illinois north zone. 10-22-2011 00:40
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Had the fortunate opportunity to hunt the Augusta National of duck clubs. The grand daddy of them all – the first class operation. Best I have ever seen. Not many ducks are down yet but those that are here, are there. Not more to add. When you go to the best, that’s all you need to say… Scott
Posted By:
jaemon4
Web Member
Sangchris Lake 10-20-2011 17:57
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Count down is on! 36 hours to shootin time. Jonesin’ for some waterfowl smackdown.
Will be one of several in line for the draw for the opener.
See ya there!
qwackwacker@gmail.com
Don’t shoot ’til you can count their toes! -Jaemon4
