Northern Iowa Ducks

Boyd S.

Active member
Another season has come and just about gone here in norther Iowa. It's 10 degrees outside right now and the ponds are all ice covered. The ducks haven't arrived from the north yet, so it looks like it will be the usual flyover around here. When the ducks finally migrate, either the season will be over, or the water will all be frozen, so they will just keep going south. We haven't had a duck season to talk about around here for quite a few years. The early season duck hunting is the only thing that we have anymore.
 
That sucks, Ice and ponds SUCKS! Sure glad we have the Mighty Mississippi to gun around here freeze
takes longer I still dont think we will make it another 8 days either though. COLD COLD nights is going
to pur a hurtin on us. I did get out for 3 hours yeasterday mornin did good 9 ducks for the short trip
buffs, cans and a GE - BUT IT was cold sittin out on the pool with the North wind that was for sure.

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BUT I sure am glad im not a Mallet huntin die hard / Anti Diver hunter person,,,, cause Id be twiddlin
my thumbs back in the calm water and my dog would go nuts lol.
 
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Attempted to go out Pheasant hunting today. I didn't see this many hunters even on opening day. I guess that's why they call Thanksgiving weekend the second opener!
I did see two flocks of Canada geese and a large flock of ducks heading south today though. The river here was full of slush ice. Most of the marshes and ponds around here have 2" of ice on them already. Three nights in a row of 10 degrees will do that I guess.

Your dog looks like a good one. I wouldn't want to be swimming in the Mississippi that's for sure!
 
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Dave,

I've said it before and I'll say it again... that is one great looking lab!!! Hope you keep him warm once he crawls back into the boat!

What camera do you use to take such great, clear pictures??

Hope it warms up in Iowa, since I will be out there in about a week; 30-40 degrees F would be great.

Good hunting,
Craig
 
LOL - Gordy loves it but yes Today we had both propane heaters runnin in the boat and that kept the inside temp a nice
level for sure. he is sure warm under his vest but man they need to make Testicle covers or sumthing... YIKES on that
cold water lol.

Good day today 12 ducks - 6 GE's and 6 buffs and one BIG OLE Red Breasted Merganieser :) another gordy first of species.
DONE AT 9:30am

Camera is a Minolta 5d with a minolta 300mm f/4.0 Lense great glass, glad I purchased it when the MINOLTA going out of
business scare 2 years ago its gone up in value now X2 lol.

heres a couple from today for thoes of you under the hard water.

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We had a flock of 4 Ge's come divin into the spread and we droped on in the decoys and one was hit
and flew out to 140 yards by the range finder. after gordy got the close one I walked him out to 60 yards
Where I had to stop and sent him back to the 2nd duck. He got warmed up on that swim. Brought the
Drake back on the deck and then jumped back in to do his ritual "PICKIN UP THE CASINGS" and getting
them all safely on the front deck as well. Nice to have an environmentaly conscious (sp) dog ya know.

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Sometimes you grab'em wherever you can lol

Last one not as good as I could had hoped but to much trees inbetween me and him above the boat
watching our decoys for about 30 seconds.

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Was a great day on the Mississippi, if the season ended tomorrow Id be
fully satisfied thats for sure. Its been a great year and lots off good memories.
 
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Went out Pheasant hunting today and got few. It was good hunting and the dogs did well again.
It was a flight day today. You boys down south in Missouri should be seeing some new ducks and geese arriving in the next day or so. I saw several flocks of Snow Geese heading south, along with a couple large flocks of Canada Geese.
 
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