Season came and Gone.

A

anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, 2021 duck and goose season was here and now gone in the Hudson Valley. I hunted the most days I have in years, Had some good days and more not so good. But I hunted with love ones and good friends . Ate good ! but it just wasn't duck. So I would not want a redo anything. There was a period where the ice had covered all the ponds. But two days later it was sixty degrees. And that was the end of that. The ducks were piled up on some creeks. But those days for me are over. They have to do something with the seasons setting. Two more years of this crap may loses a large number of duck hunters. We have all walked the talk. But they really don't do as we say. I talked to hunters north south east west all saying the same thing. Sorry to bring back old crap. I do fill the forms out every years send wings in every year . But it falls on deaths ears. Just my Two cents. What is yours. I really like to know.
 
It certainly ended early, the 19th?. Up on Champlain it was just getting good and Vt closed in on the 23rd,a week earlier than the past 3 years. It is getting harder but I still enjoy the later dates. Hunting in October is pleasant but there really aren't birds moving in till later in the month. As you know a computer sets the seasons now, the task force just does Goose,brant,snows,youth/vet days. The season opener for the NE zone in 22 will be 10/1-12/4 to early. I believe 24 will be the first time season setting dates will be revisited. With Eastern Mallard numbers on a decade long decline I wouldn't be surprised to see Mallard days reduced. Sept is now my Goose month, I don't field hunt the regular season.
 
Kevin

I could not agree with you more, September is all goose and worth putting decoys out. I use to put three or more dozen goose decoys out on the river during the later goose season but for one bird. Know way.! I rather end my season with the river being iced over. This year it was 60 degrees and I almost got a sun burn looking into the sun all day. They do not know what they are talking about.Computers are not out there. We are the real eyes and ears of the ducks and geese. When our word meant something the season were a lot better. Sure we were not always happy. But it was so much better. Teal come and go fast. so open that for a few days. then run it right into Janurary or pretty close. Well lets hope next year is better and we are around to enjoy it. Thanks for reading. God Bless.

anthony
 
The NE task meeting will be in March (virtual) I'm sure the SE will also be around then. You can still contact your local zone rep for that region. I was told another survey is in the works for the 22/23 season. Time to put out more wood boxes. I shot more woodies this year than Mallards, a first for me.
 
Kevin

I do have a friend of mind that is in my Club on the task force he been there for years. I send him every year with good information and fact. He give it to them and the just do what they want to do. In the past they really had a say. Wood Ducks is my thing and for years with the help of my Club members and my family and friends we have place well over a thousand boxes out over the years, The past few years have been tough. The State gave me hundreds of boxes over the years. Plus we have made hundreds . But with Covid they stopped doing it. So last year me a few people cleaned out a ton of the old one with success coming in about fifty percent. We judge it by if they were used. So if eggs were founds and nest were made thats a good thing. Wood ducks are by far the easiest duck to help. So anything we can do is a giant plus. I have had emails from all over thanking me and my crew for working so hard to help the wood duck. I have got many people on this site to put boxes out. Not from anything I said just by action. I am 62 now and not in the greatest health but I still can talk a good game. Man Power or kids or ladies help is all you needs. One box is better then none. If placed in the right spot . That could be 8-16 new birds. So you really can't go wrong. Your going to miss on a bunch . But trust me the first time a new coming sees what his work did . He is hooked. Win win for all of us.

Have a great day my friend.

anthony
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