MN Split season

  • fishinallday
    Montrose Mn
    Posts: 2101
    November 28, 2006 at 3:04 pm #212904

    I for one would like to see MN go to a split season for ducks. Most years we miss the best shooting due to our close date. Whats you opinion?

    blue-fleck
    Dresbach, MN
    Posts: 7872
    November 28, 2006 at 3:16 pm #26042

    Quote:

    Yes. We miss the best portion of the season most years.

    Beyond a doubt! I quit buying Duck Stamps for that very reason. If they’d start the season 2 weeks later, they’d be heading in the right direction.

    blue-fleck
    Dresbach, MN
    Posts: 7872
    November 28, 2006 at 3:16 pm #504183

    Quote:

    Yes. We miss the best portion of the season most years.

    Beyond a doubt! I quit buying Duck Stamps for that very reason. If they’d start the season 2 weeks later, they’d be heading in the right direction.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    November 28, 2006 at 3:20 pm #26043

    I dont want a split season, the weather is too unpredictable here. SOme years(this year) it might be ideal, but other years things freeze up early and it just takes a chunk out of the season.

    The split season would only be beneficial to field hunters… even with the late freeze this year, the season end today and we have what… 2-4 more days of open water? I dont see the benefit to anyone but the field hunters. Your only allowed to stockpile 2 times your daily bag limit which is a pitiful 4 ducks/day this year.

    So no, I dont want to give up a couple weeks of mid season when I have lots of opportunity to hunt to have more very late season hunting with everything frozen(besides river 95% of time).

    We still have late goose, pheasants, and grouse to shoot at for a while.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    November 28, 2006 at 3:20 pm #504185

    I dont want a split season, the weather is too unpredictable here. SOme years(this year) it might be ideal, but other years things freeze up early and it just takes a chunk out of the season.

    The split season would only be beneficial to field hunters… even with the late freeze this year, the season end today and we have what… 2-4 more days of open water? I dont see the benefit to anyone but the field hunters. Your only allowed to stockpile 2 times your daily bag limit which is a pitiful 4 ducks/day this year.

    So no, I dont want to give up a couple weeks of mid season when I have lots of opportunity to hunt to have more very late season hunting with everything frozen(besides river 95% of time).

    We still have late goose, pheasants, and grouse to shoot at for a while.

    adloos
    Winona, MN
    Posts: 344
    November 28, 2006 at 3:23 pm #26045

    Great topic, there is something that definatly needs to be done here in MN. I think they should split the state and have the lower part of the state start a week later. Its just not fair that the people hunting up north get to pound at those big mallards and we dont get to at all down here, due to the fair weather right now. But as I look at the weather report, tomorrow looks like a great day, oh thats right,,, the season will be closed then.

    adloos
    Winona, MN
    Posts: 344
    November 28, 2006 at 3:23 pm #504187

    Great topic, there is something that definatly needs to be done here in MN. I think they should split the state and have the lower part of the state start a week later. Its just not fair that the people hunting up north get to pound at those big mallards and we dont get to at all down here, due to the fair weather right now. But as I look at the weather report, tomorrow looks like a great day, oh thats right,,, the season will be closed then.

    mallard_militia
    Fulton County, Illinois
    Posts: 1108
    November 28, 2006 at 3:24 pm #26046

    I would prefer a later start with a split season. It is truley a sad day today…

    mallard_militia
    Fulton County, Illinois
    Posts: 1108
    November 28, 2006 at 3:24 pm #504189

    I would prefer a later start with a split season. It is truley a sad day today…

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    November 28, 2006 at 3:34 pm #26051

    We will have to start this topic every year and see the difference in replies when people are already ice fishing by thanksgiving in the northern half of the state, and things have been froze too hard for the last 2 weeks in the central portion. The southern part of the state usually has options throughout the season.. so I would feel different if I lived in Winona, etc where theres a billion ducks stacked up right now.

    I a sure the attitudes would change year to year. I am like many, I wish it would never end, nothing like blasting birds coming across the decoys, but I dont want to lose hunting time in the mid season when the early migrators are coming through when I know there will be open water.

    Its difficult to scout and gain last minute field access to where the birds are if you dont live in the area or know somebody, its time and money that might just turn into a long drive for nothing if you cant aquire permission.

    Next year it might be all over by opening deer hunting.. I have hunted through a few of those years.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    November 28, 2006 at 3:34 pm #504200

    We will have to start this topic every year and see the difference in replies when people are already ice fishing by thanksgiving in the northern half of the state, and things have been froze too hard for the last 2 weeks in the central portion. The southern part of the state usually has options throughout the season.. so I would feel different if I lived in Winona, etc where theres a billion ducks stacked up right now.

    I a sure the attitudes would change year to year. I am like many, I wish it would never end, nothing like blasting birds coming across the decoys, but I dont want to lose hunting time in the mid season when the early migrators are coming through when I know there will be open water.

    Its difficult to scout and gain last minute field access to where the birds are if you dont live in the area or know somebody, its time and money that might just turn into a long drive for nothing if you cant aquire permission.

    Next year it might be all over by opening deer hunting.. I have hunted through a few of those years.

    cdm
    Oronoco, SE. MN.
    Posts: 771
    November 28, 2006 at 3:45 pm #26053

    Split season or seperate Northern Mn. from Southern Mn. and have different opening dates.

    cdm
    Oronoco, SE. MN.
    Posts: 771
    November 28, 2006 at 3:45 pm #504205

    Split season or seperate Northern Mn. from Southern Mn. and have different opening dates.

    blue-fleck
    Dresbach, MN
    Posts: 7872
    November 28, 2006 at 3:45 pm #26054

    Quote:

    so I would feel different if I lived in Winona, etc where theres a billion ducks stacked up right now.

    That’s me!! 20 miles or so south of Winona wishing the season was at least as long as the WI season….

    blue-fleck
    Dresbach, MN
    Posts: 7872
    November 28, 2006 at 3:45 pm #504206

    Quote:

    so I would feel different if I lived in Winona, etc where theres a billion ducks stacked up right now.

    That’s me!! 20 miles or so south of Winona wishing the season was at least as long as the WI season….

    fishinallday
    Montrose Mn
    Posts: 2101
    November 28, 2006 at 3:55 pm #26056

    I am a central MN guy and can find birds into Dec from StCloud south. No field required. Not to mention my personal favorite. “Have gun will travel.” There are far to many opprotunities that are missed with the early close. In my opinion there are atleast one or two weeks mid season that are all but worthless in central and northern MN. Many of our locals will move south. IE southern MN, IA ect…

    Again, this is my opinion. I would rather work rear off and freese than sit in 60 degree days hoping for a few teal. Give me them big greenies!

    fishinallday
    Montrose Mn
    Posts: 2101
    November 28, 2006 at 3:55 pm #504212

    I am a central MN guy and can find birds into Dec from StCloud south. No field required. Not to mention my personal favorite. “Have gun will travel.” There are far to many opprotunities that are missed with the early close. In my opinion there are atleast one or two weeks mid season that are all but worthless in central and northern MN. Many of our locals will move south. IE southern MN, IA ect…

    Again, this is my opinion. I would rather work rear off and freese than sit in 60 degree days hoping for a few teal. Give me them big greenies!

    lars
    Rochester, MN
    Posts: 308
    November 28, 2006 at 4:23 pm #26061

    Ice fishing by Thanksgiving?? I’m only 28, but I don’t think I’ve ever thought about icefishing by Thanksgiving. Though I have been icefishin’ in late december and seen thousands of mallards fly over my head. Makes a guy think, split the state and the damn season!

    LARS

    lars
    Rochester, MN
    Posts: 308
    November 28, 2006 at 4:23 pm #504227

    Ice fishing by Thanksgiving?? I’m only 28, but I don’t think I’ve ever thought about icefishing by Thanksgiving. Though I have been icefishin’ in late december and seen thousands of mallards fly over my head. Makes a guy think, split the state and the damn season!

    LARS

    duckilr
    Mississippi River
    Posts: 997
    November 28, 2006 at 4:46 pm #26063

    I’d rather take my chances at breaking ice for a late season mallard then sweating my a$$ off for an early season teal!

    duckilr
    Mississippi River
    Posts: 997
    November 28, 2006 at 4:46 pm #504236

    I’d rather take my chances at breaking ice for a late season mallard then sweating my a$$ off for an early season teal!

    waterfowler99
    Midwest
    Posts: 1514
    November 28, 2006 at 5:09 pm #26065

    being from wisc and hunting alot in min….i love it the way it is

    waterfowler99
    Midwest
    Posts: 1514
    November 28, 2006 at 5:09 pm #504253

    being from wisc and hunting alot in min….i love it the way it is

    fishinallday
    Montrose Mn
    Posts: 2101
    November 28, 2006 at 6:46 pm #26083

    Quote:

    being from wisc and hunting alot in min….i love it the way it is

    fishinallday
    Montrose Mn
    Posts: 2101
    November 28, 2006 at 6:46 pm #504302

    Quote:

    being from wisc and hunting alot in min….i love it the way it is

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    November 28, 2006 at 7:23 pm #26088

    I dont mind breaking ice.. I’ve busted my fair share in 20 years, and I will break more. I enjoy late season hunts as much as the next guy, an I get as frustrated as the next guy when I go to back the trailer into the water(looks like) and have the trailer/boat sitting on top of 2″ of ice at 5 a.m… I’m not about to break 2″ of ice and hope I dont rip the hull, and I dont care for my lower unit playing pinball in the upper mississippi river on low water years when I am desperate.

    There is no perfect answer that will suit everyone, but the way things are now, I dont think anyone should have a problem having what is legal sitting in the freezer at the end of the season when any effort was put into the season… even if the limit was bumped back up to 6(why the HE!! did it drop to 4 anyway?). I am sure many hunters dont really care what the possession limit is when the hunting is good and the opportunity still exist for good hunting.

    BTW guys… lots more than teal flying in the mid season, I dont see many except for the 1st week. Woodies and
    Mallards are by far the majority.

    david_scott
    Twin Cities
    Posts: 2946
    November 28, 2006 at 7:23 pm #504321

    I dont mind breaking ice.. I’ve busted my fair share in 20 years, and I will break more. I enjoy late season hunts as much as the next guy, an I get as frustrated as the next guy when I go to back the trailer into the water(looks like) and have the trailer/boat sitting on top of 2″ of ice at 5 a.m… I’m not about to break 2″ of ice and hope I dont rip the hull, and I dont care for my lower unit playing pinball in the upper mississippi river on low water years when I am desperate.

    There is no perfect answer that will suit everyone, but the way things are now, I dont think anyone should have a problem having what is legal sitting in the freezer at the end of the season when any effort was put into the season… even if the limit was bumped back up to 6(why the HE!! did it drop to 4 anyway?). I am sure many hunters dont really care what the possession limit is when the hunting is good and the opportunity still exist for good hunting.

    BTW guys… lots more than teal flying in the mid season, I dont see many except for the 1st week. Woodies and
    Mallards are by far the majority.

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    November 28, 2006 at 10:09 pm #26115

    Lars, as his post says, northern MN, ice fishing on thanksgiving. This is not uncommon. We were just talking about how we would be skating on the lake on thanksgiving, and our crazy neighbor, would push his canvas house out on thanksgiving. This was on a lake by Richmond,MN. We most definitely were ice skating on the swamp, and more so than not on the lake.

    big g

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22538
    November 28, 2006 at 10:09 pm #504423

    Lars, as his post says, northern MN, ice fishing on thanksgiving. This is not uncommon. We were just talking about how we would be skating on the lake on thanksgiving, and our crazy neighbor, would push his canvas house out on thanksgiving. This was on a lake by Richmond,MN. We most definitely were ice skating on the swamp, and more so than not on the lake.

    big g

    lars
    Rochester, MN
    Posts: 308
    November 28, 2006 at 10:18 pm #26118

    Well there you have it, split the state then.

    chriss’ post said that he can find birds into DEC. from St. Cloud on down—no field required. This is a never ending battle in the marsh, forum, ect., etc. But I don’t like hunting in 50 degree weather, like I did last week in ND.

    Also, it gets really frustrating watching mallards bombard our goose spread during the late-season goose hunt!

    LARS

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