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2013 migration report.

9K views 73 replies 32 participants last post by  mauserfan 
#1 ·
Lots of Canada's moving into the clay/OTC area the last 2 days. Also lots of bigger groups of doves moving out.
 
#4 ·
Seems like some geese have moved into the area around Crookston, I can hear them flying at night all the time. I drove the countryside for about an hour and half before dark and saw very few ducks, and no geese. Kinda disheartening but I think It will be good tomorrow.
 
#7 ·
Didn't get out yet this weekend...was too busy winning a robotics competition with my students! Going out tomorrow and will see what the birds give me. I'll update tomorrow...hope to see a bunch of bills.
 
#10 ·
Pretty sad where I was at near Ortonville and Clinton this weekend. More geese but very few ducks....only shot a few shovelers and a goose. Saw some BWT, Mallard, and a few divers flying about. The dog even looked at me this morning and gave me the look like "what are we doing here". Oh well, hopefully it's better next weekend. Mn jonboatguy pm me if you want to hunt over in this area next Saturday.....don't have any honey holes per say but I live in the area!
 
#11 ·
Pretty in uneventful today. One ringer and one lawn dart (hoody). Missed on a group of three ringers that committed hard but that's all I really saw. Was pretty bummed. Heard some shooting around the area but not much.
 
#12 ·
Just got back from Manitoba. Areas I have hunted for over 15 years are still awaiting Northern birds. Bluebills were almost non-existant. Lots of real young juvenile mallards confirm a late hatch. Local mallards and Canadas saved the trip.

 
#13 ·
Was near ortonville fri-sun and we were shooting a wide variety of birds. Canvasbacks, Redheads Ringers, Bluebills, Buffles, Gadwall, and Mallards and one Shoveler. One hooded merganser (oops) Definitely geese around but none of them gave us a look. Saw a couple groups of snows too. We had some strong NW wind and temps in the 30s and there was definitely a push of birds this week and weekend. The guys who hunted the same spot last weekend didn't see crap, so we're definitely getting new birds
 
#14 ·
Was out last Thursday night for a quick hunt, and got one mallard...same spot on Friday night, didn't fire the gun...had a hen Can land in the deeks while I was picking up. Saturday was a dud, as well. Sunday morning, we got into the wood ducks, shooting a two man limit...was expecting to see some divers, but none to be had...the other groups on the lake didn't fire a shot....

Same lake, some jack wagon left a nice bull buffie at the boat landing...
 
#16 ·
Hunted near Litchfield Friday - Sunday and didn't fire a shot. Saturday saw a lot of divers but of course I wasn't set up for that. It was fun to watch though. Sunday, hardly a duck in the sky. Mallards have been scarce this year. Oh well, can't expect to kill something every time. That is why I bring good coffee and good company.
 
#18 ·
Lots of geese around Alexandria.

And as long as you can find a farmer that doesn't want to get paid, you can have a great goose hunt.

Me...? Not so lucky.

Left last Wed. Shot 1 goose and 2 ringers from then to Sunday afternoon (Holy weather Batman). VERY SLOW.

The geese were on the refuge by the farm we hunt. 1000 birds, best guess. They would lift off, circle, then go back into the refuge. Heard very, very little shooting, and when they are bunched up like that, with nobody busting up the flocks, you'd better be on the X (unfortunately fields in the refuge were being cut that week, so...)

So close... but yet so far...

It was a great show, but a certain farmer left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sending him a Cabelas mixed sausage pack, as I will take the high road...

d!ck... :grooving:
 
#19 ·
Few Birds around not in great numbers. Saturday I got 2 a drake redhead and a drake can. Saw large flocks of geese and a few migrating high flocks of ducks. Sunday only got a hen redhead. I struggled hitting any thing on Sunday. I had a flock come from the heavens to my decoys and missed. Had a few bills give me a good look and missed. It was fun seeing the birds that were around gave me a look and even saw some wood ducks not huge numbers but some still around.
 
#20 ·
Went out Sat, Sun, and Tuesday mornings in South Metro. Saturday was pretty good, we shot 2 greenheads a Gadwall, and a goose. Should have had a few more of the gadwalls and mallards. Steady number of ducks, thought we would see a few more divers though. Sunday was slow, warmer and no wind. Had one big group of mallards decoy real well and peel off to one side for some good shots for 1 guy whiffed all three times lol. Tuesday was real slow. should have took a greenhead, but thought he would swing in on the next pass, never fails. Weather man killed me, said the wind was to be NNW and was SE. Kind of screwed up the morn, oh well.

Heading out west near the SD border in Ortonville area. Anyone been out there this week? Gonna be out there Fri-Sun

Remember kids, just say no to Quack
 
#22 ·
Big groups of mallards are starting to move in up here, or at least thats the word on the streets. I'll find out if its truth in a couple hours. Saw one dude flaunting a few dead mallards in his truck in the student parking lot today, yes its that ******* up here.
 
#24 ·
I also heard that Canada has been cold.

I hope it sends some down soon cause I'm 90 miles from Canada and it's gotten stagnant up here for ducks but geese on the other hand have been increasing steadily. Shot 3 mallards this morning but was feeling merciful and let a few hen swim around in the decoys for a while instead of filling out my 4th lard. Saw very few ducks this morning.
 
#25 ·
Had my first slow morning of the year today, numbers are down considerably in the North Metro. No geese flying which was a big suprise. Only had 1 bird give us a chance this morning and it was a big ole greenhead. Thankfully, he was more suicidal than a scaup so he came right in.
Trying a different spot tomorrow morning, hopefully it's not as crowded as I think it's gonna be.
 
#26 ·
I know this week was the week to hunt with the cold moving birds, but I just wanted to go chase pheasants and deer (the deer never happened, something about waking up early after being awake till 2am didn't jive). Although, my dog did kick up a hen pheasant which made her resalize what she was supposed to be doing out there... 2 minutes before sunset, lol. That walk back to the car she was sniffing EVERYTHING like crazy.

sent from a phancy fone
 
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