Was down chasing pheasants in Jackson county on the 18th and 19th. Very few ducks around but the canadians were pretty thick, we saw flocks moving around thru the weekend taking advantage of the corn left behind by all the JD combines

Came back to Brookings and went scouting the last few days. Had to put on a lot of miles to find birds but the first big groups of mallards and divers appeared last night. This weekend should produce some pretty good hunting again after the 2 week lull.

Spent the first part of last week in Mitchell.. Shot 22 over dekes and jumped another 18.

Second half of last week was in Huron. Shot 25 for a total of 65 and a double banded blue. Birds are TOUGH to decoy. We only had luck when the weather was extra crappy but for a spread of 400 dekes we did OK.

Good luck Jake maybe well see ya out there!

It was the case last week but with the warm spell this area has recieved theres nothing holding them back now. Theres a lot of mixed reports but most are saying that birds are pushing heavy across the border. 7 days from now there should be good huntable numbers. You can call the snow goose hotline out of aberdeen. They generally give accurate reports. (605) 885-6401

Hey wats I was wondering what you would advise for trapping coons around sloughs. Out here in SoDak we see a lot of tracks and other signs of them on the shorelines but havent had any luck. I have heard fish and fish oil works really well so Ill probably get my hands on some in the near future. As for sets weve set up 220s and 160s in front of baited holes weve dug along the shoreline. Should we be targeting other spots? Around trees and brush maybe? Ive been a little intimidated of using drowners for coons looking at the drawings in books but maybe I should try a few. Any advice would be appreciated.

Lardy

Checked the first line one mound trap was succesful the slide trap and the conibear looked like nothing came by. The second mound trap was in the water and only had a foot in it what can I do to prevent this?? I definitely dont want to make a habit out of it..

Have heard and seen a lot of yote activity these last few weeks around the shack in northern So. Dak I dont go after coyotes really but it sure gets the blood pumping anyways!

Report from central So. Dak:

Went out on the 7th some sloughs were completely froze over even big ones as long as they were surrounded by hills to break the wind. Lots of divers mostly redheads ringbills bluebills and buffleheads. Bigger flocks of northern mallards lessers and snows are working the corn pretty good but nothing to get real excited about. If the conditions are right this weekend there should be no reason to shoot any less than a limit. However the main group of northern flocks has yet to arrive.

I just worked out my classes for next semester no class until 3 Pm Monday Wednesday Friday I would kill to have that schedule in the fall but I spose there will be snows to hunt in the spring

Dave,

I completely understand what your saying, the only thing is that we were trapping for management purposes only at the refuge. If the feds were worried about any backlash they would probably go about it differently. If it were up to me we’d check em everyday and see the freshly caught vermin. It sure would beat re-fencing a WPA 5 days a week. I also dont mind hearing about the over curious ditch cougar finding its way into a conibear.

Dave,

I completely understand what your saying, the only thing is that we were trapping for management purposes only at the refuge. If the feds were worried about any backlash they would probably go about it differently. If it were up to me we’d check em everyday and see the freshly caught vermin. It sure would beat re-fencing a WPA 5 days a week. I also dont mind hearing about the over curious ditch cougar finding its way into a conibear.

Thanks for the advice. Im pretty sure the tracks were mink being how small they were and ive seen a few around before. Im actually going to be out in south dakota trapping and ill be keeping the fur in brookings, however I may be able to bring them to minneapolis when I go home.

Thanks for the advice. Im pretty sure the tracks were mink being how small they were and ive seen a few around before. Im actually going to be out in south dakota trapping and ill be keeping the fur in brookings, however I may be able to bring them to minneapolis when I go home.

The two can limit shouldnt have any drastic effect on the birds population. If people are worried about canvasback numbers we should focus on how we can create better and more productive breeding habitiat since in the end thats where youre going to make or break the population. This isnt like the old days of commercial hunting and punt guns. Just because a few hunters will get lucky and be able to shoot a couple extra cans doesnt mean theyre going to dissapear any time soon.

The two can limit shouldnt have any drastic effect on the birds population. If people are worried about canvasback numbers we should focus on how we can create better and more productive breeding habitiat since in the end thats where youre going to make or break the population. This isnt like the old days of commercial hunting and punt guns. Just because a few hunters will get lucky and be able to shoot a couple extra cans doesnt mean theyre going to dissapear any time soon.

I know that Minnesota had fair to poor waterfowl production this year. But the surveys showed areas in canada further north on the flyway did well. I think it may be slower than previous years until the canadian birds start to move through.

I know that Minnesota had fair to poor waterfowl production this year. But the surveys showed areas in canada further north on the flyway did well. I think it may be slower than previous years until the canadian birds start to move through.

How deep of water were you fishing?? Im hoping to get out there sometime this week.

Hunted south of arlington on some bigger water. Water was open early in the morning but froze over our decoys. Despite our best efforts the ice stuck around. We did however get some good pass shooting at some nice northern buffleheads and bluebills we also got some nice mallards with them. Overall the birds were moving pretty well, these clear days have let them get up high and move south. If you can find open water get out and nail them while you can!

Lardy

Hunted south of arlington on some bigger water. Water was open early in the morning but froze over our decoys. Despite our best efforts the ice stuck around. We did however get some good pass shooting at some nice northern buffleheads and bluebills we also got some nice mallards with them. Overall the birds were moving pretty well, these clear days have let them get up high and move south. If you can find open water get out and nail them while you can!

Lardy

Brian I totally agree with your ideas, and our store would have done exactly what you said. Those were the same words my manager used when he described the subject. In the large scale $60 dollars is nothing to the company yet means a lot to the customer so why not just make the sacrafice? I just wanted to let everyone know that deer processing in the city is a little more complicated then what it seems. However, customer service IS NOT and its ashame things went the way they did.

Chris,

I worked at Von hansons throughout high school and I completely understand your reason to be upset. I just wanted to bring up the point that each store goes through literally hundreds of orders which unfortunatley causes mistakes to be made. However, every season many deer hunters would come in and treat the employees with disrespect and would shout about the smallest mixups that could have been easily fixed(Not saying that yours was small by any means)but when the butchers work close to 80 hour weeks preparing everyones deer the last thing they want is a customer screaming at them. Like I said you have the right to be upset about your meat and they shouldnt have messed up, its just unfortunate you decided to give up your business with a good company.

Lardy

Thanks for the comments, if youd like I could email you a full size picture. I had that one set as my background too for the longest time.

Lardy

I agree Brian. Ive used vexilars too and I like them. I think they are very comparable. Ill definitely have to show him this winter what they can do.

Hahahaha good stuff.

Last one of some monarchs. Not the clearest picture but I still like it.

Big honkin mushroom

cattail close up

Half froze creek. To think that was last weekend and today it was 75 degrees!

I kicked up a bunch of ducks when I was paddling down the creek. Tough to take pics and paddle at the same time but this one turned out nice.

another spider web. They look alot cooler when they take up the whole screen