Migration

[You]

What are you all seeing out there today? I'm going to be north of Steele tomorrow not very far. I don't have high hopes, just curious.

 

[Kickemup]

Lots of geese around my area the ducks have thinned down but should be better in a couple days again.

 

[Duckslayer100]

I follow the "hunting reports" that Ducks Unlimited posts with a certain trepidation. It's open access, so anyone can post. Lots of folks saying birds are nonexistent now in ND, but there's the odd duck who is having luck.

But regardless, I can't kill them on the couch. Will be sitting in a slough bright and early Sunday morning. Will report back after.

 

[Kraken]

Geese have been finally moving in the north and western part of the state, Kenmare area with some good movement.

 

[dean nelson]

What kind?

 

[NodakBuckeye]

Saw a couple groups of canadas and put a dent in the gadwall population this afternoon. Felt great, first time out since 2011. Divide County

 

[dean nelson]

Put on 200 miles this morning. Lots of brown ducks and divers but mallards were a little scarce. There are numbers of Canada geese out in a number of fields all of them being chased by hunters and did see my first flock of around 30 snows. Was nice to see it was a third juvie. Did see more hunters today then the rest of the season put together.

 

[Trip McNeely]

drove up to visit the grandparents in nw nd today. saw a few snows mixed in with lessers but overall wouldnt call the migration more than a trickle. swans are moving in. definately enough birds around to hunt but my god for people hunting. every flock on the ground had at least one vehicle lurking around. saw probably 100 and im not joking, rigs on the hwy on 52. granted this is a major travel route too and from canada but if even half of what i saw was coming from nw nd id imagine the posted signs will be up soon up there

 

[CWS]

drove up to visit the grandparents in nw nd today. saw a few snows mixed in with lessers but overall wouldnt call the migration more than a trickle. swans are moving in. definately enough birds around to hunt but my god for people hunting. every flock on the ground had at least one vehicle lurking around. saw probably 100 and im not joking, rigs on the hwy on 52. granted this is a major travel route too and from canada but if even half of what i saw was coming from nw nd id imagine the posted signs will be up soon up there

I see a lot of this traffic coming and going from canada like you say, but it will stop soon

 

[dean nelson]

Plus its MEA weekend.

 

[fnznfwl]

drove up to visit the grandparents in nw nd today. saw a few snows mixed in with lessers but overall wouldnt call the migration more than a trickle. swans are moving in. definately enough birds around to hunt but my god for people hunting. every flock on the ground had at least one vehicle lurking around. saw probably 100 and im not joking, rigs on the hwy on 52. granted this is a major travel route too and from canada but if even half of what i saw was coming from nw nd id imagine the posted signs will be up soon up there

Major corridor to canada..AND goosefest in Kenmare this week.

 

[dean nelson]

Major corridor to canada..AND goosefest in Kenmare this week.

Goosefest the festival with no geese. I know it a risk but man they need to back it up a week. Doesn't matter much anyway since its normally won five seconds into shooting light when a certain roost gets pounded!

 

[Account Deleted]

Weather is not cooperating for us. Nothing going on in Canada to push them down.

 

[You]

yea, saw some flights of mallards, not many, i assume they're locals grouping up. shot a blue wing teal and green wing teal (beautiful) along with some gads and redheads

locals can still be found in solid numbers. might have to fill my greater snow goose tag this saturday. found the MOTHERLOAD

 

[fnznfwl]

Goosefest the festival with no geese. I know it a risk but man they need to back it up a week. Doesn't matter much anyway since its normally won five seconds into shooting light when a certain roost gets pounded!

Hell no. Let em all come now.

 

[dean nelson]

True and like always by the following weekend the snows will be pushing in in force come rain or shine. Things are going to start shifting pretty fast now as we approach the full moon on the 27th.

 

[You]

Brethren, how far N must I go?

 

[NodakBuckeye]

Been hunting in Divide County, got my first ever wigeon Sunday and more this morning. Plenty of gads and a few mallards, hearing and seeing more canadas, but not in great numbers. Headed back out in am, hunting potholes, lack gear for fields this year. Kinda nice actually, couple 3 dekes tossed out and have fun. Maybe be a bit better with another guy or 2.

 

[jdinny]

this is a touch off topic but anyone hear what won the "goosefest" couldn't imagine there was many snows shot unless deans scenario (which usually happens) got into some in extreme northern ND.

as far a migrations hear specks going over every night which is quite normal for the full moon in oct, seen some fair strings of lesser and cranes moving. no snow geese seen or heard NE of Bismarck. I generally try to step out on the deck multiple times a night and give a listen. cold front later this week should push some new birds in but the overnight lows just don't get cold enough IMO to spark a mass migration from Canada.

 

[zoops]

this is a touch off topic but anyone hear what won the "goosefest" couldn't imagine there was many snows shot unless deans scenario (which usually happens) got into some in extreme northern ND.

1st Place - won Rem. 1187 shotguns. Eric Sieg, Mike Schmaltz, LJ Dusek, Kelly Schmaltz. (They shot 18 snows, 20 honkers for 150 points).
2nd Place - won Big Foot Goose Decoys. Doug Miller, Blaine Huff, Gerad Mellum, Eric Seykora. (They shot 22 snows, 2 honkers for 116 points).
3rd Place - won 30" smokers. Lance Trihub, Lonnie Hornberger, Andy Elberg, Tyler Mollerud. (They shot 2 snows, 13 honkers for 49 points).
4th Place - won laydown Blinds. Scott Swain, Travis Bozer, Dave Peterschick, Joel Hollwegner. (They shot 14 honkers).
5th Place - won Shell bags. Arlen Gartner, Clint Voltz, Chad Gartner, Jim Williams. (They shot 2 snows, 9 honkers)


As far as the migration, no huge cool downs predicted even in sask for the next week. Hoping it's not like last year where it was warm up until the tenth of November or so and then a big front came through with single digit lows and most everything went through in a couple days. Run that risk though as we get this late.