Goose Hunting. Any Geese around after Snow & Cold

[HuntFish4life]

Was hoping to get out one more time this year, but I have talk to a lot of people and no one is quite sure if the geese hung around weather we have had. I heard there are a few geese still on the Lake. Anyone know if there are any around Washburn. Not looking for specific info just if there are still geese around. Thanks for info.

 

[Fritz the Cat]

There are a few around from the Tail Race to Washburn. Much snow is blown off the fields so they do have access to some pickings. Trouble is that same snow is blown into sections etc.

 

[jdinny]

its a lot slimmer than a typical late season. there is some bunches of birds around but access is the biggest issue. even when the fields are blow off on the hilltops getting into them via the approach 9/10 is blocked from the plows or drifted in anyhow. there is obviously some spots a guy can get in at as people are still killing geese but finding a huntable field is one thing getting into said field is quite another.

 

[snowkiller]

yup.what he said

 

[Downrigger]

Would this help?

 

[jdinny]

sure would for some, but then when your decoys are set are you gonna laying in -30 temps or sit in the ATV to keep you warm???

ill just stay in good with the numerous locals and landowners I work with and do it that wayThumbs Up

 

[Fritz the Cat]

Dang, a high of -10 this coming Saturday. Has anyone looked at the extended forcast for the last half of December?

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/hazen-nd/58545/december-weather/334997

In just 7 days 33 above.

Nice...........the geese have to just hang in there a couple more days. Or any wildlife.

 

[Downrigger]

sure would for some, but then when your decoys are set are you gonna laying in -30 temps or sit in the ATV to keep you warm???

ill just stay in good with the numerous locals and landowners I work with and do it that wayThumbs Up

Ground blinds with little buddy heaters is how we did it in MN but I've never done the ND late season. Don't have the decoys setup to do it here.

 

[HuntFish4life]

dress in layers and rotate hunters in the field.

 

[snowkiller]

I know of 2 fields that are full of geese but you cant get to them.There are geese on the big lake all the way down the river to bismarck.Have not been south of Bis

 

[dean nelson]

To much snow to get to them or land people can't get on? When you need snowmobiles to get to the birds you know the migration isn't remotely like it was when you were a kid! Haven't seen any geese near my place since just after the first storm other then birds up high and heading out. Mind you I haven't been putting in much effort to look either.

 

[snowkiller]

To much snow

- - - Updated - - -

Anybody been by nelson?

 

[dean nelson]

Cant say for sure but still looks frozen on the satellite images.

 

[jdinny]

went for a drive today during my lunch and the river is pushing ice pretty heavily at washburn. I can hardly see any birds on the sandbars but they hide pretty easily. like the consenus is saying theres birds around but its pretty dam slim compared to the years past. makes a guy wonder when the juice isn't worth the squeeze anymore.

we had our way last sat with them too but without the landowner bringing his truck/plow to punch the approach for us I woulda stayed home. I have a couple guys that I keep going back to there fields but when theres run dry/cant get in anymore I'm hanging it up for the year.

 

[snowkiller]

Is the lake frozen?

 

[SDMF]

Wasn't yesterday. It was steam as far as you could see to the NW where 1806 bends south W of the dam.

 

[dean nelson]

Is the lake frozen?

This was yesterday with a nice little lake effect snow band coming off her.

 

[jdinny]

I looked at that too dean yesterday and that crazy how open it is yet. Washburn was pushing big chunks of ice yesterday. And I bet these next two nights obviously don't help it. Just shocking how open the lake is. The birds bailed more on snow depth pack as opposed to open water then.

With th that being said I haven't been up around the lake just around the river

 

[svnmag]

It's not sporting to shoot retard waterfowl.

 

[dean nelson]

It's not sporting to shoot retard waterfowl.

Well when it's pushing -30 Sunday morning we can have the debate on who is dumber for being there the geese or the hunters! Quite frankly I think it's a toss-up.