Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting

It's all hens this weekend

We got under some massive flocks of Mallards in ND on Thursday and Friday. The groups that were decoying ranged from 20 birds up to about 500. The big flocks of birds were keeping small pot holes open for the roost. By Saturday there was only one spot the birds were still keeping open and the birds were hitting a field that the farmer wanted $100 a gun to hunt so we headed home early. Last year we were a few days earlier and had three awesome hunts at the tail of the migration. This year we only had two. Had the long term forecast predicted how cold it was going to get a little earlier we would have headed out last Saturday. Hunting the tail of the migration is big risk, big reward. Fun trip but cut short.

I hope to get in a few more Golden Eye shoots and maybe fish Muskies one more time before pulling out the ice fishing gear. Going scouting today.

Anyone field hunting mallards yet in Mn? post up some pictures....

h2ofwlr wrote:^^^ Sure would be nice to see a photo of that. Not too often a hunter in Mn can say that he got into the Snows in the fall.

Two years ago shot 7 in one hunt in fall.

Lots of geese following the Zumbro south yesterday while in the deer stand. I will keep my eyes open locally for fields to hunt

[quote="Nershi"]We got under some massive flocks of Mallards in ND on Thursday and Friday. The groups that were decoying ranged from 20 birds up to about 500. The big flocks of birds were keeping small pot holes open for the roost. By Saturday there was only one spot the birds were still keeping open and the birds were hitting a field that the farmer wanted $100 a gun to hunt so we headed home early. Last year we were a few days earlier and had three awesome hunts at the tail of the migration. This year we only had two. Had the long term forecast predicted how cold it was going to get a little earlier we would have headed out last Saturday. Hunting the tail of the migration is big risk, big reward. Fun trip but cut short.

I hope to get in a few more Golden Eye shoots and maybe fish Muskies one more time before pulling out the ice fishing gear. Going scouting today.[/quot


The guy wanted $100 per gun. Man north dakota sure has changed over the years. Where are you going to find open water for muskies? Mille lacs?

I bet that farmer has no idea the second he accept money in exchange for hunting he accepts liability for your well being on his land.

Well it seems some hunters along the IA border are still getting into them. An acquaintance on FB posted up a 5 man limit by 1PM of all Green and Honkers hunting somewhere in SW MN.

Bailey wrote:
The guy wanted $100 per gun. Man north dakota sure has changed over the years. Where are you going to find open water for muskies? Mille lacs?

Yea $100 a gun seemed a little ridiculous. Sadly the guy said people have been paying it. One farmer told me it's illegal to charge without some sort of contract or license but I'm not sure if he knew what he was talking about.

North Dakota has really changed over the last 15 years I've been going, especially the last few years. It's no freelancers paradise like the days of the past. If one of the guys in our group can't get in to canada I think we are going to try SD next year.

I hear Mille lacs is done for the year. I was gonna fish a small river but it looked pretty dicey. Muskies and ducks might be done for the year for me unless I can find some birds this week.

h2ofwlr wrote:Well it seems some hunters along the IA border are still getting into them. An acquaintance on FB posted up a 5 man limit by 1PM of all Green and Honkers hunting somewhere in SW MN.

What's the guy's first name? Or at least first letter of his name?