Got Ducks?

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Originally Posted by dean.f

Seems to be plenty of ducks around my area,
Any of you guys know what this one is? I wish I took some better pictures.

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That there is a headless hen wood duck.

Well that's a first for me, I wasn't sure because the feathers were so dark compared to the pictures I could find.

The last few days have been kind of stale, but this weather should bring some new birds. We did ok the last 3 days, but nothing crazy. Too many nice days in a row.

S.

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Originally Posted by Sprite

Don't paint all divers with the same brush! I assume you're talking about birds from the Merganser family.

Bluebills, Redheads and Canvasbacks are some of the best eating birds out there. I target them in November and December quite regularly.

-Nick

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I wouldn't do such a thing, lol.

Mergansers was what I was speaking of. We don't see the Redheads or Canvasbacks here. Usually by the third weekend we are jammed up with ringnecks which I rather enjoy as table fare. This year it seems as though they are just beginning to make an appearance.

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Originally Posted by oaknut

I wouldn't do such a thing, lol.

Mergansers was what I was speaking of. We don't see the Redheads or Canvasbacks here. Usually by the third weekend we are jammed up with ringnecks which I rather enjoy as table fare. This year it seems as though they are just beginning to make an appearance.

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We shot a mess of Ringers around the same latitude as you a few weeks ago. They may be on their way out!

-Nick

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Originally Posted by Sprite

We shot a mess of Ringers around the same latitude as you a few weeks ago. They may be on their way out!

-Nick

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I agree. I also think most guys have no clue about the migration, or what makes birds move on. The time of year has little to do with it. Watch the weather, the winds, and the moon.

S.

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Originally Posted by Sinker

I agree. I also think most guys have no clue about the migration, or what makes birds move on. The time of year has little to do with it. Watch the weather, the winds, and the moon.

S.

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There are still birds that migrate due to photoperiod. We generally get our first wave of ringers within the same few days every year. This year that didn't materialize, but it seems to be the case across the board. We've seen a few trickle through but that's been it. Minnesota gets thousands of the little rockets every October. They have been delayed this year for sure.

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Originally Posted by Northhunter

There are still birds that migrate due to photoperiod. We generally get our first wave of ringers within the same few days every year. This year that didn't materialize, but it seems to be the case across the board. We've seen a few trickle through but that's been it. Minnesota gets thousands of the little rockets every October. They have been delayed this year for sure.

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I agree, were usually into them hard by Thanksgiving weekend. Ive seen 6 total so far.. tonights cold might bring more for tomorrow/sunday.

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Originally Posted by Northhunter

There are still birds that migrate due to photoperiod. We generally get our first wave of ringers within the same few days every year. This year that didn't materialize, but it seems to be the case across the board. We've seen a few trickle through but that's been it. Minnesota gets thousands of the little rockets every October. They have been delayed this year for sure.

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Yeah, but if you have hard south winds during that photoperiod, they won't go. Get a good banging north wind and they will pass us right by and keep on going.

S.

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Originally Posted by Sinker

Yeah, but if you have hard south winds during that photoperiod, they won't go. Get a good banging north wind and they will pass us right by and keep on going.

S.

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I agree. They won't push if conditions aren't favourable, but it's photoperiod and that stage in their breed/molt/migrate cycle that is giving them that urge. "Time of year has little to do with it" just isn't true. There are birds that will hold out and stay north much longer than others, just as there are hearty birds (like mallards and geese) that are capable of doing so but are in Arkansas by November.

We finally got a good push of ringers/ringbills/jacks. 200 in one of our holes Friday. Majority moved on that night though. Still more of them around Sat. than we've had all season and some new mallards finally made an appearance as well. Wood ducks appear to be done though.

We hunt pretty hard the first half of October. It's a fun time to be out and hunt more than a weekend. Sometimes we get crappy weather during that "window" and things get delayed. A break in the weather though and they show. Lack of a south wind and some stars is all they need, and they don't need it for long. We keep a hunt calander at the camp. More than once we've gotten fresh migrants on a new moon. This year was outta the norm for whatever reason.. late spring/breeding spurt, drier conditions out west pushing birds further north, who knows. But they are here now. Some years we don't get ringers at all.. interestingly when that happens, mallards take their place.