Posted By:
Mike F.
Guest
Catch-up Reports 12-15-2004 17:31
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Well for about a week there I was without a membership to this site, but now I’m up and running again.
2 saturdays ago- Dad and I shot 3 geese and a few mallards, and a pair of blacks in the corn.
Last Saturday- Again dad and I shot 4 geese, all under 15yrds, it was amazing. Over the course of that corn field shoot we also took 5 mallards and one black between us.
Mike
Posted By:
bflather
Guest
Ipswich Ma 12-15-2004 09:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
So what happened. Where were the ducks?? I got out this morning on a pond in Ipswich ma., It’s pretty big so it had not iced up yet.(Just the edges). I set up in what I thought was the perfect spot (Wind to back and all) and I had seen loads of ducks in this same spot just on Saturday.. But alas I only saw ONLY TWO ducks total!! 🙁 . I’m hoping I was just a day early and the cold snap moved the ducks that were here out, and that the “BIG push” of new birds is en-route as I type.
Any thoughts?? How did folks do on the Marsh on the North Shore??
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Merrimack River 12-13-2004 15:31
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Hit the marsh this morning expecting a wintery mix and a stiff breeze as the old weather man forcast the previous evening. Just as all the other times this year when the man has said “SNOW” he lied! 🙂 Ended up hunting a mostly sunny day with barely a puff of wind from the S/SW.
Still managed my Black despite the bluebird weather but saw all of 20-25 birds all morning. We definitly need a new push of birds into the area!
Lots of geese around and decent duck numbers. Unfortunately, these ducks seem to be the same ones that were here to open the second half and they have seen enough decoy spreads and heard enough calls to become very wary. Makes for a tough hunt.
Posted By:
Tim-Dulkie
Guest
Mass 12-11-2004 16:41
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Had a great day on the marsh 4 drake mallards one black and a drake pintail!!!
Had a awesome day , partner got mallards as well season looking better!
take look a pic !!!
Thanks Tim
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Merrimack River 12-10-2004 13:08
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Hunted Thursday all morning and managed a goose but had no chances really other than that. It was very calm and the birds just sat and rafted in the river. When I went through with the boat they all jumped up, turned, and went right back where they had been.
Hunted this morning in the mild Nor’easter and took my Black. Had a few birds work but it was so dark it was impossible to tell what they were. One of my partners dropped a drake Mallard but you could NOT tell until the dog was coming up the bank with it! So, rather than get soaked I called it a day at that point.
TONS of Oldsquaw in the river this year. Man they are just everywhere. Still some Scoter around and Eiders are starting to use the river now as well. Had another King Eider sighting this AM. A lone drake, I suspect the same one my friend saw earlier this month, was mixed in with a small raft of Common Eiders near the beach. I seriously contemplated an attempted sneak but with a raging tide and howling NE wind I knew it would be a really hard retrieve for the dog and I am not losing him for a wall hanger even if it is as rare as a King Eider.
Posted By:
CDUNCAN
Guest
plumb island area c 12-09-2004 17:39
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
looks as though scott is the only one hunting lately… my last two outings have been hit or miss early… i went on last saturday carried the canoe about half a mile and then paddled to the mouth of the small inlet set up 6 decoys and got my one black for the day, the oldsquaws were buzzing around about a foot off the water but way out of range. had to pack up and leave early due to the tide getting low and didn’t want to get stuck.. then i went on tuesday with the dog to do a little jump shooting i thought that due to the high winds the ducks would be seeking shelter in the small inlets.. boy was i wrong all the ducks seemed to be heading way inland not staying on the marsh… seems that the only ducks to be had are early and quick. around 8:30am all the ducks have gotten were they wanted to go… i can’t wait until it snows and gets real cold,, we need a really good front to come through.. scott glad to see you are having a better time out there… but just getting out has always been the best part and taking ducks is the bonus… cduncan
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Merrimack River 12-08-2004 12:35
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Another nasty morning. Got out for a couple hours. Shot a Black and saw a bunch of geese. Seems to be more birds around. Looks like the recent front has moved birds to the coast.
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Merrimack River 12-07-2004 14:28
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
With a good Northeaster this morning( 4″ of snow and 28 degrees at my house )I decided to give it another go. Was very surprised to arrive at the marsh and find it bare with a light rain/sleet mix and 34 degree temps. The NE wind was howling though.
Got set up and shortly after the dekes were out a few birds decoyed and my partner and I took our Blacks. Some birds moved but not a lot. With a good storm brewing and no other hunters out the birds found calm spots and stayed there.
I did however see many flocks of ducks arrive from the North on the strong wind and it was clearly some migrating birds. High big flocks in V’s. I also saw the first Eider flocks of the season in the river.
[Edited By Scott-Haight on 2004-12-07 14:28]
Posted By:
Scott-Haight
Guest
Newburyport( Merrimack River ) 12-06-2004 13:50
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
BRRR! Hit the marshes again this morning for a short 2 hour hunt as the tides were awful. Despite the extreme cold of last night( 18 degrees at my home at 4 AM )I was surprised to have to break ice at the boat launch this morning. Nothing serious mind you, just skim sheets, but it is the first salt ice of the season and it made it finally feel like duck season.
I saw a LOT of birds in my short outing today. Many hundreds of geese and a lot more ducks than I had seen since the season first reopened. Either we have got a push of new birds or the cold locked up some freshwater areas and moved some birds out to the coast. Maybe both? Whatever it was it sure was nice to see some good sized groups of birds.
Ended the day with a Black and a couple Buffies but easily should have shot my 4 bird Mallard limit had nature and the tide not conspired against me. The wind and tide eddy swept my decoys further right than I planned when setting them and they wound up behind a tall stand of grass obscuring my view of them. When the Mallards showed later in the hunt they would come to land but when they were in range they were behind the grass and I couldn’t see to shoot.
With just an hour or so to hunt I didn’t want to waste any of it rearranging decoys so I lived with it. Might not have been the best choice but… Oh well, it made for a memorable, albeit frustrating, hunt.
Had a really unique experience happen on the way back to the launch. Ran “OVER” a feeding flock of Oldsquaw. Not sure who was surprised more, them or me, when they surfaced with me running right through the middle of them? No idea where they came from as they just popped up out of nowhere? Was a HUGE raft easily in the 1500 bird range. I personally have never seen so many ‘Squaws in the area before.
Anyway, lots of Blacks and Mallards this morning and a load of geese. Saw quite a few Buffies plus the first Goldeneye’s of the season.
Posted By:
Mike F.
Guest
Sailsbury Marsh / Private Cornfield 12-05-2004 08:31
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The past week has been really tough. Like Scott said, you can get your black duck, but you may only get one shot all day so….dont miss!! I have been seeing small flocks of green heads, acually saw a flock of about 15 saturday. Starting to see more buffies and even some golden eyes. Still some geese around.
