Looks like the Brant have arrived

[John L]

I was out this morning and we were seeing Brant in all the usual places. Not in big numbers yet but they are coming.

 

[Eddie Kershaw]

John
We have them in the s/e of England at essex, but we call Brent, we car,nt shoot them, they are on our protected list.
Take care and God Bless
Eddie and Amber
Its all about Building that Bond.

 

[Geo Kaiser]

Hi John,
Thats good news, seems like only yesterday we talked about them still being around.
We still have 6 weeks for them to come back in full force..!!
What do you think of how they split the season this year on us ?
George

 

[Tim Rousseau]

Hi John,
Thats good news, seems like only yesterday we talked about them still being around.
We still have 6 weeks for them to come back in full force..!!
What do you think of how they split the season this year on us ?
George

Im not a fan of the thanksgiving opener, I don't know why people like it.

 

[John L]

I'm not a fan of the Thanksgiving opener either and don't care for the split season. But at least we get a good number of days to hunt. I'll never understand why they close the season for a week and then open it back up again.

The way the Brant stuck around this past year I thought we were going to see some mating pairs and young birds. I have never seen them stay that long. It seems as though they must have just arrived back in their breeding grounds before turning around and heading back here.
I took a ride from Shelter Island to Fire Island Inlet last week and did not see any Sea ducks or Brant. This morning I left from Port Washington and came around into Jones Inlet and ran east along the state channel. I was looking for Sea ducks in the ocean from Debs Inlet to Jones and looked just west of the west bar over the mussel beds but seas were not exactly calm today so we could not see much. Once I hit the inlet there were small flocks of Brant in all the usual places. I could not really scout much because I was in a 48' boat so I had to stay in deep water but they are here in good numbers already. Now just watch as the flock start to grow into the thousands. Next to start showing will be the seals. I feel like a kid this time of year running around to check out all my spots.

 

[Geo Kaiser]

good thing you were in a 48 footer John, it had to be pretty nasty out there coming around from Pt Washington

 

[Tim Rousseau]

I don't mind the split season, it would be better if it were more than 4 days lol thats a joke. But straight and late would be good like it was a few years ago. The lake infront of my house is filing up with blackducks, mallards, and even a widgeon and a ruddy duck. Gotta grass the boats in a couple of weeks.

 

[Geo Kaiser]

good luck with the grass, I haven't seen much lately and it's all very short too

 

[Tim Rousseau]

good luck with the grass, I haven't seen much lately and it's all very short too

I got my spots, some my dad hes been picking thatch in one spot for 35+ years.

 

[Craig F]

Have a little bit of patchwork to do on my sneakbox as well. I've got my own little spots for grass.

Starting to see some brant show up around Sandy Hook here in NJ as well.

 

[Steve O]

Did they skip over Rhode Island this year? I took a spin by one of my spots this afternoon, and didn't see a single brant.

 

[Al Hansen]

Good luck, John, when the season opens.
Al

 

[Steve O]

I stand corrected. Went by another spot today and saw a small flock of brant. Yes!

 

[John Fraser]

Glad to hear they're showing up John. I figured that they'd be moving soon. I'm looking forward to coming down and seeing them again this winter.

 

[Luke Berkey]

I just saw my first ones today. Only three of them, sitting out on some open water.