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Where are the birds?

3K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  JFord56 
#1 ·
Is anybody seeing anything? I've been hunting around packs(upper santee), jacks, and right before the canal to moultrie(lower santee) an haven't been seeing anything for the past two weeks. This has hands down been my worse season, so if anybody has any info thanks.
 
#3 ·
I don't understand having all this water on the coast, and I haven't seen a raft of divers yet. And when I say raft I don't mean 20 birds. I mean 200 or 2,000. Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida are loaded with divers. I'm not sure about ga, I just got stationed in sc, and as of right now I can't wait to leave. It's going to cost me a lot of money driving to fla and nc every weekend.

If anybody knows some areas where diver hunting is good please pm me if you want a hunting partner. I have a layout boat and about 7 dozen bluebells rigged on longlines. Ready to hunt. Also if any body in beufort area wants to split gas with me and hunt fla or nc pm me. I know both places well.

Also have a dog that is part otter, cripples have no chance
 
#4 ·
How many plantations along the coasts of fl and nc are managed for waterfowl? Our diver populations are in the private plantations the ,managed wmas, anout 3 miles offshore or inland on the big lakes...the lakes produce ducks but are crowded and with all the rules and what not is it worth a 2 hr drive? Thats my issue with hunting there..i can drive two hours to try.and find some birds after a hunt and dealing with crowds or i can drive 20 mins..and run into some ducks....the second split this season has been rough..the birds justhavent seemed to show back up since thanksgiving...there should be at least one more great push before season goes outthat will make fora decent end of the season...just hard to figure whats going on....
 
#5 ·
My buddy and I have been to packs twice and seen 4 ducks total. We have been to jacks creek once and shot 6 times brought home 3 ducks. Went to the potato creek hatchery and barely saw a handful of ducks. We have been thinking about a trip to moultrie to see if any ducks are there. We are dumbfounded.
 
#6 ·
Woodie, there are dozens of managed impoundments at plantations and clubs along the NC coast, not sure why you would think there were not.

Managed impoundments exist all along the coast, rivers, and lakes in nearly all Atlantic flyway states,

One reason NC hunting is better is because they have licensed blinds on most major bays and sounds,

Blinds must be spaced at 500 yards and are licensed, so no first come in most areas.

They do not have the problem in those areas we have with 200 trailers at major landings on opening day competing for 4 duck holes they have all scouted when nobody else was there.

They do have those same problems in public lakes and rivers where blind laws do not exist, just read the recent NC forum posts about Jr Duck Commanders.

Good luck where ever you hunt, work hard at the game and you can find birds, even if it means leaving SC to do it.

I have hunted nearly all states in SE and several in Miss Flyway and hunting pressure is the same, but those that know how will find some birds.

Good hunting, be safe, and happy New Year to all. :beer:
 
#7 ·
They should be here this Sat morning. If all that cold doesn't bring 'um down - then they are not coming. :yes: I'm in dire need to smell some power burn and got some new gear to try as well. Will report back - besides they are shooting the refuge that morning too.
 
#8 ·
They are not on the coast where I've been going. I've had 2 or 3 bad hunts in a row in what is usually a diver honey hole. If this freeze doesn't push the birds down, I don't know what will. Biologists said there would be less birds this year than last, really starting to show.
 
#9 ·
This past Sat was a bust! :sad: It was for sure cold enough. One bluebill and rocked a goose that did not fall. That was it until 10:45. Saw a bunch of new birds coming and going but, way high and not looking. One thing that was really weird for around here. We had a Old Squaw and a few minutes later three sea scooters buzz the outside of our spread?? Both were just barely in range for a second and by the time we figured - what the heck is that - they were gone! :huh: Never got off a shot on them.
 
#11 ·
My buddies went without me this morning. I had to go to doc for some relief from a sinus infection. 2nd day of the deep freeze. Wiffed on a flock of Bluebills and later bagged 3 out of a flock of Redheads. Saw a good bit of bird coming and going all directions but all high.
 
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