Push

[GET-N-RITE]

Well just got out of a meeting with some guys from Michigan that flew out of Kansas City and they said if was coming a effin blizzard there. As I said last week I think the birds will be here on the 3rd opener. I think I just might be right this time. For some reason I got this feeling that this weekend is going to be the first real turn um and burn um hunt of the year.

Anybody else got that feeling?

[strongriverducker1]

Just left Kansas Sat. was a lot of ducks and geese in the corn fields every day. It's 3 with over 6 inches of snow there this morning.

[Hays Creek]

Third opener is today, right? Don't have to wait till the weekend!

from: http://home.mdwfp.com/ContentManagement ... spx?id=414

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots****
Nov. 27, 2009-
Nov. 29, 2009
AND
Dec. 4, 2009-
Dec. 6, 2009
AND
Dec. 9, 2009-
Jan. 31, 2010

[Faithful Retrievers]

They hadn't made this far yet unless they went via Jonesboro. I was waiting on report out of AR looks like it will be froze up next two mornings.

[GET-N-RITE]

I know the season may be open, however my boss doesn't see it that way, therefore I have to wait for the weekend.

[GET-N-RITE]

They hadn't made this far yet unless they went via Jonesboro. I was waiting on report out of AR looks like it will be froze up next two mornings.

I have a report from NW TN and it is hit and miss. The people I have talked to said they have been seeing tons of high birds all day, also said it was a windy SOB.

[Blackduck]

Went this AM.

Tons of birds at 15 before shooting time. Rest of the morning was pretty slow. Not here yet. No flight birds

Location Mid Delta

[Scully]

Went today- bad slow. No high birds, no big groups. Ended up with 4 mallets, all singles.

[blind-ambition]

went this morning and was sadly dissapointed. Everything we seen seemed to still be locals. Seen a few good groups right at daylight and by 7:30 the skies were virtually clear. Lots of new water in the delta. I dont think things are going to get any better until we get a long period of dry weather. We need some of the fields to dry up. There was way too many crops left in the fields this year and as long as those fields have water in them, the ducks have no reason to move around. Just my opinion.

[Damn_It_Boy]

Just curious as to how one identifies local ducks opposed to migrating ducks in the middle of duck season? Do they where a sign around there necks?

[rebelduckaholic]

High flyers that are flying in the V formation with two extra ducks on the right side

[bigsprig]

Just curious as to how one identifies local ducks opposed to migrating ducks in the middle of duck season? Do they where a sign around there necks?

come on dib. you know to look for their oos plates.

[Anatidae]

Posted November 11, 2009

Then again, November 17, 2009

Once again for the record.....

I suggest folks manage their expectations wisely and be prepared to adjust for extreme disappointment if ducks don't show-up by Christmas. It takes a series of weather events conducive to freeze-up and migration to move significant concentrations of birds. The weather has been a factor in timing of planting, growth, and now harvest. The Dakotas and Iowa have plenty of water and food sources. The only way birds will leave that is if the water freezes and food is covered with a minimum of 10" of snow for extended periods (like a week). Freeze/thaw periods only complicate things as far as mass migration goes. Birds will stay along the freeze line or just below it. Bigger birds like honks and big mallards will sit on ice for a week before they move-on.

We only get the 'fringe' of the lower portion of the mass until Mid to late January - if we're lucky. I hope this is the year we get weather patterns and duck concentrations similar to '97-99. We're definately due another 'cold' cycle.

If you're into weather watching, count the fronts that come out of Alberta. When you get to 10, then you won't have to wonder where the ducks are. If the weather comes from Washington/Oregon - we're screwed again. The jet stream also has to dip way-down to do us any good. Just because it goes to 32 degrees here one night doesn't mean the ducks will be sitting in you hole in the morning. Maybe 3 days of low's around 17 and high's below 35 is more likely to get things moving in our neck of the woods.

Happy Hunting

This is #1 (front #1. that is)........about 6 more like this one oughta do it.....

[Blackduck]

Funny you should post this. I was sitting in the blind today wondering what # front this was. I was thinking two.

[Anatidae]

......you could be right.