Let the season begin
- Thread starter Mark W
- Start date
Mark W said:
Another week wait for those of us directly south of you. Hope you have a good day.
My opener is Monday. Went out today for a quick scout. I hunt the same spot every year. It's a walk-in, and that usually lets me have it to myself even on opening day. The stash canoe has survived another year..
I was down mid-afternoon and chased out several bunches of woodies in the usual places. There were little piles of feathers in the other usual places.
The beavers have the water level raised at least a foot from where it's been the last few years, and there are beaver choppings all over the shoreline. The overhanging tree I use for an early season blind was on eof the casualties, so I'll have to improvise a bit. That makes for easier paddling, but usually less-productive hunting. Muskrats also seem to have exploded--there were food piles all over. The loons are still on the pond, but no sign of the family of otters. Last year I had as many as 5 swimming through my decoys some mornings.
It'll be interesting to see what shows Monday. Warm and muggy--the blue winged teal may still be around this year!
I was down mid-afternoon and chased out several bunches of woodies in the usual places. There were little piles of feathers in the other usual places.
The beavers have the water level raised at least a foot from where it's been the last few years, and there are beaver choppings all over the shoreline. The overhanging tree I use for an early season blind was on eof the casualties, so I'll have to improvise a bit. That makes for easier paddling, but usually less-productive hunting. Muskrats also seem to have exploded--there were food piles all over. The loons are still on the pond, but no sign of the family of otters. Last year I had as many as 5 swimming through my decoys some mornings.
It'll be interesting to see what shows Monday. Warm and muggy--the blue winged teal may still be around this year!
Mark W
Well-known member
It was a good day. The three of us that went to our usual spot filled out in a couple of hours. It was a different bag this year. Hadwell and woodies were mostly what we ended the day with and maybe half a dozen teal. The shooting was slop at open wing hour and was just spotty but consistent of this makes sense. We also had the slough entirely to ourselves which was very odd.
My guess is the 10 day early teal, followed by the youth hunt the prior weekend, and all on top of early over water goose season definitely educates the birds. They were shy to the call and avoided dekes. We usually shoot ducks coming right into the dekes and this year it was mostly pass shooting.
I was a fan of MN having their first early teal season but am having second thoughts. All this hunting before the real season begins makes opening not as exciting for me as it has always been. I remember the mile walk in S not being too difficult but now, I may find a simpler place to go. These old.bones have a tough time these days.
Came back to the same spot this morning only to find a group of three who came in from somewhere else. We had to move and the spots left were deep muck and high water. My. Issues stayed at that place and I walked to another area where there are a couple smaller sloughs to find one Hunter on one of them. I am set up on the other one but not expecting much. We shall see. At least I have a comfy chair and am halfway back to the truck where I might be shortly. Oh well, yesterday was good and my shooting was straight. If my gun doesn?t get fired today I will be heading to our cabin Tuesday and hunting for however long I have the desire. That hunting is from a bit and I can keep it tied up down at our dock. No more walking in carrying a heavy load.
Good luck to everyone else. Hard to believe another season is upon us already.
Mark
My guess is the 10 day early teal, followed by the youth hunt the prior weekend, and all on top of early over water goose season definitely educates the birds. They were shy to the call and avoided dekes. We usually shoot ducks coming right into the dekes and this year it was mostly pass shooting.
I was a fan of MN having their first early teal season but am having second thoughts. All this hunting before the real season begins makes opening not as exciting for me as it has always been. I remember the mile walk in S not being too difficult but now, I may find a simpler place to go. These old.bones have a tough time these days.
Came back to the same spot this morning only to find a group of three who came in from somewhere else. We had to move and the spots left were deep muck and high water. My. Issues stayed at that place and I walked to another area where there are a couple smaller sloughs to find one Hunter on one of them. I am set up on the other one but not expecting much. We shall see. At least I have a comfy chair and am halfway back to the truck where I might be shortly. Oh well, yesterday was good and my shooting was straight. If my gun doesn?t get fired today I will be heading to our cabin Tuesday and hunting for however long I have the desire. That hunting is from a bit and I can keep it tied up down at our dock. No more walking in carrying a heavy load.
Good luck to everyone else. Hard to believe another season is upon us already.
Mark