North Dakota update

Just got back from West of Devils Lake. Basically Snow Goose hunted all weekend. This is the first time I have done it. Simply amazing. We were scouting and seeing 7-10,000 birds in some fields. Our luck wasn’t very good though (that is Snow Goose hunting from what I hear). We ended up with 13 for the weekend, and a couple of ducks. Hardly any Ducks around in that area. A few divers are beginning to show up, but nothing for Mallards.
Talk about bad luck. Monday morning, we set up in a field where the previous night we watched close to 10,000 birds feeding. Next morning, in the middle of a snow/rain storm, we set up 400 decoys. In a 45 minute span, we had well over 10,000 snows go over. Trouble was, they wanted nothing to do with our spread, and opted for a field about 1/3 mile away. I told my friend that Snow goose hunters must be a little mentally unbalanced !!

The weather was changing quickly again as I left. I would imagine the push is coming from Canada.

We had the same problem with snow geese in canada a few years ago. We found out early on if we were to put out decoys we needed to get at least 100 yards away for the best shooting. Most times by playing the wind, we were able to get to the ‘sides’ of the decoys and shoot the flocks as the decoys split them up. Just plain weird.

We had the same problem with snow geese in canada a few years ago. We found out early on if we were to put out decoys we needed to get at least 100 yards away for the best shooting. Most times by playing the wind, we were able to get to the ‘sides’ of the decoys and shoot the flocks as the decoys split them up. Just plain weird.

I hunt the white things.
…..Mentally unstable? ABSOLUTELY !!
What happened to you,… happens all the time.
450 or more decoys every morning. ….Same thing most of the time. They land 400 yards away – or the next field over. It’s when it works though – that really blows you away. ……10,000 landing on your head all at once and you only get three shots!!!!! ……UNSTABLE????
……….ABSOLUTELY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hunt the white things.
…..Mentally unstable? ABSOLUTELY !!
What happened to you,… happens all the time.
450 or more decoys every morning. ….Same thing most of the time. They land 400 yards away – or the next field over. It’s when it works though – that really blows you away. ……10,000 landing on your head all at once and you only get three shots!!!!! ……UNSTABLE????
……….ABSOLUTELY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey nubbin, I’m from Minnewaukan. It has been really tough duck hunting here this year.

I’m a diehard and right now I am dead and 6 foot under. I had a corn field with I guess about 5 thousand mallards in the day before the snow hit and only had 4 flocks come in the decoys the next day. I use about 7 dozen outlaw silouhette mallards, two mojos and also tossed 7 or 8 bigfoot out for good measure and lie in gooseview destroyer blinds. The ducks circled the field once 200 yards high (it was a half section field) and flew off. I think I saw all 5 thousand in about two hours time. The ones that decoyed came right in and dropped their feet.

I have checked that field and several others out now for three days and nothing. With 4 inches of snow it is over for the most part. It doesn’t look like it will open up. I haven’t found any fields with enough birds to go through the work of putting out decoys.

The snow ends about 40 miles east and I don’t know how far south. It is very close to freezing up. Lows 4 above tonight. The biggest waters are still open. Lots of divers on Devils Lake. I hope we freeze up fast and clear!!!!!! Time to get the Jiffy and Otters out!!!!

I don’t even try the snows anymore. I go after the blacks. Maybe I can find some more blacks yet.

Hey nubbin, I’m from Minnewaukan. It has been really tough duck hunting here this year.

I’m a diehard and right now I am dead and 6 foot under. I had a corn field with I guess about 5 thousand mallards in the day before the snow hit and only had 4 flocks come in the decoys the next day. I use about 7 dozen outlaw silouhette mallards, two mojos and also tossed 7 or 8 bigfoot out for good measure and lie in gooseview destroyer blinds. The ducks circled the field once 200 yards high (it was a half section field) and flew off. I think I saw all 5 thousand in about two hours time. The ones that decoyed came right in and dropped their feet.

I have checked that field and several others out now for three days and nothing. With 4 inches of snow it is over for the most part. It doesn’t look like it will open up. I haven’t found any fields with enough birds to go through the work of putting out decoys.

The snow ends about 40 miles east and I don’t know how far south. It is very close to freezing up. Lows 4 above tonight. The biggest waters are still open. Lots of divers on Devils Lake. I hope we freeze up fast and clear!!!!!! Time to get the Jiffy and Otters out!!!!

I don’t even try the snows anymore. I go after the blacks. Maybe I can find some more blacks yet.

Here is a pic (yeah, a little late) from last fall’s first trip up there.

Here is a pic (yeah, a little late) from last fall’s first trip up there.

Anyone headed out to ND this year? I was just invited to the Bottaneau area from the 16-20th. Hoping for more water and <80degrees that we experienced last year!

Anyone headed out to ND this year? I was just invited to the Bottaneau area from the 16-20th. Hoping for more water and <80degrees that we experienced last year!

I hunt mostly to the east of Devil’s Lake about an hour west of Grand Forks. I was up in Bottineau this past weekend for a wedding and there were a lot of birds around. I never got off the main hiways to look but all the puddles and potholes I did pass were full of ducks and a even a few geese. I saw a lot of birds in the air too. Good Luck when you head out there.

Josh

I hunt mostly to the east of Devil’s Lake about an hour west of Grand Forks. I was up in Bottineau this past weekend for a wedding and there were a lot of birds around. I never got off the main hiways to look but all the puddles and potholes I did pass were full of ducks and a even a few geese. I saw a lot of birds in the air too. Good Luck when you head out there.

Josh

Nubbinbuck:
I drove through there a week ago and there was “a lot” of water and birds – especially Canada’s. It was still pretty hot though. I was on my way back from a week long trip over Manitoba’s opener. I’m going back again for a week on the 15th….. in hopes of cooler weather too! I also hope the crops are out by then. I’ll post an update when I get back from there. Until then,…. it’s MN woodies & teal and bowhunting & SKEETERS!
Splitshot

Nubbinbuck:
I drove through there a week ago and there was “a lot” of water and birds – especially Canada’s. It was still pretty hot though. I was on my way back from a week long trip over Manitoba’s opener. I’m going back again for a week on the 15th….. in hopes of cooler weather too! I also hope the crops are out by then. I’ll post an update when I get back from there. Until then,…. it’s MN woodies & teal and bowhunting & SKEETERS!
Splitshot

Nothing is for certain, but we are going to hit a perfect weather change. Devils Lake forecast calls for snow/rain and lower 30’s by end of week! Bring on those Northern Birds!

Nothing is for certain, but we are going to hit a perfect weather change. Devils Lake forecast calls for snow/rain and lower 30’s by end of week! Bring on those Northern Birds!

Best of luck to everyone this weekend!!! I’m headed to Bottaneau tomrrow AM. Will report in next Thur.

Weather definitely looks 100% better than last year.

Best of luck to everyone this weekend!!! I’m headed to Bottaneau tomrrow AM. Will report in next Thur.

Weather definitely looks 100% better than last year.

I just returned from my Bottaneau trip. Interesting to say the least, especially after reading Buckshot’s Manitoba post.

We arrived on Sat. afternoon to do some scouting. What we saw REALLY disappointed us. Refuge had birds (obviously), but potholes were largely baren. Canadians were nearly nonexistent, and this was echoed by some locals we spoke to. We did see 1 flock of 1-2K Snows, but that was it.

Sunday morning, we set up in a barley field next to a river. Weather was frigid cold, with driving snow and a east wind. Had a few ducks work us, but very slow. Bad shooting on those few chances resulted in getting blanked. More scouting in the PM and no changes in duck/goose counts.

Monday morning – set up in the same field, with a HUGE Surpise. A HUGE push of birds must have come in overnight. Over the course of the morning, we had at least 3,000 mallards, etc working us. We obviously limited out that morning. It is simply amazing to see 100-200 ducks come down out of the sky and commit to a field. You could tell these birds were hungry and tired/naive, as they just wanted in. It was one of those hunts that I may never see again. PM scouting saw a few more geese in the area, but really nothing to get excited about at all.

Tuesday morning – same field. Worked by close to same amount of ducks, but they were wary and wouldn’t commit. The big flocks would work us a couple of times, and off they went. We had better luck getting singles/doubles to come in. We shot 9, but again, should have limited out. Hunters set up in a field above us limited out in about 1 hr. It was like WW III from legal shooting time. They were lucky enough to set up where the ducks were landing the day before. Perfect case of being on the ‘X’. PM scouting saw a few more Canadas in fields. Also, all the potholes that were baren on Sat. were filled up.

ON my way home yesterday, there definitely were more geese in the Rugby/Leeds/Devils Lake area. Those potholes also held more ducks.

I would not hold my breath down here for a big push. Weather reports indicated a warming trend in ND again this week, with highs in the 50’s and 60s.

I just returned from my Bottaneau trip. Interesting to say the least, especially after reading Buckshot’s Manitoba post.

We arrived on Sat. afternoon to do some scouting. What we saw REALLY disappointed us. Refuge had birds (obviously), but potholes were largely baren. Canadians were nearly nonexistent, and this was echoed by some locals we spoke to. We did see 1 flock of 1-2K Snows, but that was it.

Sunday morning, we set up in a barley field next to a river. Weather was frigid cold, with driving snow and a east wind. Had a few ducks work us, but very slow. Bad shooting on those few chances resulted in getting blanked. More scouting in the PM and no changes in duck/goose counts.

Monday morning – set up in the same field, with a HUGE Surpise. A HUGE push of birds must have come in overnight. Over the course of the morning, we had at least 3,000 mallards, etc working us. We obviously limited out that morning. It is simply amazing to see 100-200 ducks come down out of the sky and commit to a field. You could tell these birds were hungry and tired/naive, as they just wanted in. It was one of those hunts that I may never see again. PM scouting saw a few more geese in the area, but really nothing to get excited about at all.

Tuesday morning – same field. Worked by close to same amount of ducks, but they were wary and wouldn’t commit. The big flocks would work us a couple of times, and off they went. We had better luck getting singles/doubles to come in. We shot 9, but again, should have limited out. Hunters set up in a field above us limited out in about 1 hr. It was like WW III from legal shooting time. They were lucky enough to set up where the ducks were landing the day before. Perfect case of being on the ‘X’. PM scouting saw a few more Canadas in fields. Also, all the potholes that were baren on Sat. were filled up.

ON my way home yesterday, there definitely were more geese in the Rugby/Leeds/Devils Lake area. Those potholes also held more ducks.

I would not hold my breath down here for a big push. Weather reports indicated a warming trend in ND again this week, with highs in the 50’s and 60s.

Sounds like a cool shoot Mike. Reminds me of some of the last day one duck season several years ago. No ducks one day, then the next here came the weather and along with it a huge push of northerns. Simply awesome to see.

Sounds like a cool shoot Mike. Reminds me of some of the last day one duck season several years ago. No ducks one day, then the next here came the weather and along with it a huge push of northerns. Simply awesome to see.

nubbinbuck:

Headed to ND on Wednesday night. Plan to be put in good location Thursday a.m. and then go from there. Have had seemingly good reports so far as we will be southwest of Devil’s Lake in the Harvey area. Have friend that just left and he will be 45 miles south of us just above 94. First time out of state hunting in a long time and am looking forward to getting my dog into the action. The temps look to be going down from what I had seen earlier, but still not enough to get a guy really excited. After we get there, it could snow and be nasty, but I don’t think they are calling for anything through Nov.1 to under 40* for daytime highs.

Mark

nubbinbuck:

Headed to ND on Wednesday night. Plan to be put in good location Thursday a.m. and then go from there. Have had seemingly good reports so far as we will be southwest of Devil’s Lake in the Harvey area. Have friend that just left and he will be 45 miles south of us just above 94. First time out of state hunting in a long time and am looking forward to getting my dog into the action. The temps look to be going down from what I had seen earlier, but still not enough to get a guy really excited. After we get there, it could snow and be nasty, but I don’t think they are calling for anything through Nov.1 to under 40* for daytime highs.

Mark

nubbinbuck:

Check out my post in “Anyone else out there waiting..”. I posted about what my ND host told me yesterday.

Mark

nubbinbuck:

Check out my post in “Anyone else out there waiting..”. I posted about what my ND host told me yesterday.

Mark

Just got back from North Dakota and it was great. We hunt mainly ducks with the occasional goose that comes in. Thursday morning was our first day and we were limited out on greenheads(minus 1 due to one mistaken hen) by 9:30. They were landing around us as we picked up the decoys, It was one of those days you dream about. The next 3 days were much slower but there were still Mallards to be shot you just had to work for them. We were hunting potholes in the Pettibone area. I love North Dakota! We hunted a couple of big sloughs and the most we had any morning was us and one other group and usually we had it to ourselves. I will try to get the boy to post some pictures.

Just got back from North Dakota and it was great. We hunt mainly ducks with the occasional goose that comes in. Thursday morning was our first day and we were limited out on greenheads(minus 1 due to one mistaken hen) by 9:30. They were landing around us as we picked up the decoys, It was one of those days you dream about. The next 3 days were much slower but there were still Mallards to be shot you just had to work for them. We were hunting potholes in the Pettibone area. I love North Dakota! We hunted a couple of big sloughs and the most we had any morning was us and one other group and usually we had it to ourselves. I will try to get the boy to post some pictures.

Redneck:

I have a friend of mine who is in Pettibone right now. They will be there all week. Looking forward to talking to him as we will be in Harvey just 45 miles to the north and a little west. We have a host and some friends who have hunted there in the past. Where did you find most of your ducks (N,W,S,E of Pettibone)?

Mark