US Drought Monitor: Not Looking Good for Anyone

Breaking records of longest period without rain in Philadelphia area.

Small pond frequented by a pair of mallards has reduced in size .

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Carl

Were it not for some rain last night, the last day of the month, we would have tied a century old record for least rainfall in October. I say tie because you can't have less than 0.00 inches of rain.
 
No argument that it's concerning, but I'm a balance guy. Extremes on either end of the weather scale are what climatologists are saying will happen on a warming planet so I'm betting a new weather pattern featuring intense rain across much of the country sets up late winter, lasting six months or more. I just hope no region is subject to the kind of flooding we saw a month or so ago. I'm also hoping for lots of cold and snow up north, I need to icefish and ride the snowsleds. :D
 
SJ Fairbank said:
No argument that it's concerning, but I'm a balance guy. Extremes on either end of the weather scale are what climatologists are saying will happen on a warming planet so I'm betting a new weather pattern featuring intense rain across much of the country sets up late winter, lasting six months or more. I just hope no region is subject to the kind of flooding we saw a month or so ago. I'm also hoping for lots of cold and snow up north, I need to icefish and ride the snowsleds. :D
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You still in Maine? 78 yesterday, and chilly 71 high today at my house.
 
Jeff Reardon said:
You still in Maine? 78 yesterday, and chilly 71 high today at my house.
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No, in CT to put in an appearance at the office. Ducks open again next weekend.

These temps are ridiculous. I'm really nervous there might not be a winter.

We bird hunted in ME last weekend, two of us had over 80 flushes in three short days. Good numbers of grouse this year. It's amazing what a dry spring and summer does for brood survival, after last years abysmal season. We'll probably go back in a couple of weeks.
 
It was 75 at my sisters place in the Pocones yesterday And 74 at my other sisters place outside of Detroit.
Crazy
 
Carl said:
It was 75 at my sisters place in the Pocones yesterday And 74 at my other sisters place outside of Detroit.
Crazy
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Almost 80 here yesterday and it is going to be 30 overnight tonight. I'm sitting in a tree in the morning.

We have 4" of snow in wyoming and it as been in the teens.
 
Dax

I think you are correct for those of us in the MS flyway. From what I gather even though the overall duck numbers were up slightly the gains were to the flyways west of us and the MS flyway ducks are below last year's numbers. With warm and dry weather in charge I am expecting a complete repeat of last year's success, or lack thereof. I think the season will conclude with most hunters feeling underwhelmed.
 
Eric Patterson said:
Dax

I think you are correct for those of us in the MS flyway. From what I gather even though the overall duck numbers were up slightly the gains were to the flyways west of us and the MS flyway ducks are below last year's numbers. With warm and dry weather in charge I am expecting a complete repeat of last year's success, or lack thereof. I think the season will conclude with most hunters feeling underwhelmed.
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Not feeling quite so bad at this point my girlfriend scheduled us a dive trip right in the middle of season.
I guess she heard me grumbling enough last season she said we’re doing something fun …

I’ve always had that idea that well since it’s booked fate is it going to have it be a jam up season … but with the repeat of last year… not a bad alternative to be in Davy Jones’s locker huffing Nitrox…

But hope springs eternal you always have one of those “ Man you should have been there it was awesome “ trips

Got two friends last year on the west coast who rarely struggle but even their harvest numbers were down significantly and they are both go getters when it comes to the ducks
 
I'm enjoying the lack of moisture but being a forester these CT brush fires (over 110) are getting pretty old. The OT is effectively unlimited, but now that it's running over hunting time I'm starting to get a little ornery.

A spot I normally see 2-300 Brant in the winter was filled with about 2000 last week (very early!). I actually got off the interstate to turn around and see what it was. I assumed they moved south due to their normal haunts drying out
 
We are 7 inches below average here in NW Pa. with no rain in sight. Constant SW winds have killed the hunting here in the last 5 seasons and now we are stuck in that pattern again. I'm glad I am at the end of my hunting career because if I was just starting out, I doubt duck hunting would hold my interest anymore with the lack of birds and the changes in weather.
 
I'm showing some rain here in south jersey in a couple of days but I don't believe it. There are fires in the Pine Barrens now, I was kind of surprised it took so long.
 
There is rain in the forecast for tomorrow and into next week with possible snow. I'm looking forward to that as the inland fly fishing has suffered from low water. The deer hunting has been Fun. Duck season is out at this time. Grey, Black & Fox Squirrels aplenty with the .22 . Meat in the freezer season is here. Life is Good and we are Thankful.


My Health Is Better in November - Havilah Babcock
 
greg setter said:
I'm showing some rain here in south jersey in a couple of days but I don't believe it. There are fires in the Pine Barrens now, I was kind of surprised it took so long.
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We're in trouble here in NJ. Hearing from buddies: No birds, for the most part. Early season teal either skipped right over or are north still. No fresh water to be found.

As for the wildfires, we have them now up here in Passaic and Morris which is not good. The fire departments cant get water where it needs to be due to the terrain.
 
Hi Jay-I was up in north jersey Saturday and saw the fire right off 287 where it goes over the Wanaque river. Good news is that it was on the forest floor. I also saw the smoke from the bigger fire that was near West Milford, which was a much larger fire. I smelled smoke here in south Jersey Sunday morning but it was gone after the rain. Now maybe some more rain later this week. Teal were on the Delaware Bay marshes pretty heavy in early October, but not a lot since from what I hear. I did not hunt the first week, but the young guys in our group did opening day and they got 18 between the three of them. After that, I think it dropped way off.
 
greg setter said:
Hi Jay-I was up in north jersey Saturday and saw the fire right off 287 where it goes over the Wanaque river. Good news is that it was on the forest floor. I also saw the smoke from the bigger fire that was near West Milford, which was a much larger fire. I smelled smoke here in south Jersey Sunday morning but it was gone after the rain. Now maybe some more rain later this week. Teal were on the Delaware Bay marshes pretty heavy in early October, but not a lot since from what I hear. I did not hunt the first week, but the young guys in our group did opening day and they got 18 between the three of them. After that, I think it dropped way off.
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Greg,

You may have smelled the smoke from the fire in Glassboro. Delaware fire agencies were responding to reports of smoke, could not locate any fires and attributed the smell to the fire in NJ.

I have not seen any waterfowl on the local pond or flying in the marsh by me either.

Rick Lathrop
 
greg setter said:
Hi Jay-I was up in north jersey Saturday and saw the fire right off 287 where it goes over the Wanaque river. Good news is that it was on the forest floor. I also saw the smoke from the bigger fire that was near West Milford, which was a much larger fire. I smelled smoke here in south Jersey Sunday morning but it was gone after the rain. Now maybe some more rain later this week. Teal were on the Delaware Bay marshes pretty heavy in early October, but not a lot since from what I hear. I did not hunt the first week, but the young guys in our group did opening day and they got 18 between the three of them. After that, I think it dropped way off.
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I live not far from both those fires. The Pompton one was about 5 min away and W Milford one is about 15-20 min. I'm not worried because they would need to jump major highways, go downhill, and more to get to me...but its still really bad. I've never seen it this dry with this many fire issues at this point in the year.

This morning it was 37 degrees, smoke, blowing wind, and no rain in sight.
 
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