Did all the ducks in MN leave???

[dean nelson]

Those poor little shit ducks that have been resting peacefully in the sloughs and road ditches all summer are in for a shock in about a half hour

I don't know about elsewhere but my area saw a dramatic switch from the all LBD lineup last week to most mallards being nearly full color with full green heads now. So there is little doubt a fair few birds have been on the move in the last week. I was also surprised by the size of some of the goose flocks that went from nothing to a few thousand in a week not to mention the sudden appearance of a few hundred sandhill cranes and the first couple dozen swans. Best crane numbers I've seen this early in the last few years.

 

[fj40]

Made a quick trip to little Minneapolis and stopped for lunch in Devils Lake. The restaurant parking lot was packed with Minnesota and Wisconsin plated outfits with dog/decoy trailers. Met many more from DL towards Grandforks.

 

[8andcounting]

Made a quick trip to little Minneapolis and stopped for lunch in Devils Lake. The restaurant parking lot was packed with Minnesota and Wisconsin plated outfits with dog/decoy trailers. Met many more from DL towards Grandforks.

Good . Who cares , it's great for economy in local small town nd . Plenty of birds

 

[Fish whisperer]

Just to clarify, I'm not against non-residents coming to our state. It'd be pretty hypocritical since I fish MN somewhat regularly in the winter. I was more just floored at the amount of rigs on the road...and maybe stir the pot just a little.

 

[dean nelson]

Like normal for pre MEA in my area I saw 4 local to every 1 nonres. Ironically the best spots were in areas traditionally blown to hell but we're void of people today and the normal good areas were a fucking zoo devoid of birds so go figure.

 

[Allen]

What is a shit duck? Coots?

Shovelers

 

[Kurtr]

Shovelers

Once you clean and cook them no one will know the difference they are a puddle duck just the same as a mallard

 

[Duckslayer100]

I'm not sure about just NRs. After resident opener, I'm scratching my head about all the hunters, period. Seems like suddenly everyone hunts ducks. Is it because nobody is getting deer tags??

 

[FishSticks]

Saw a lot of blue plates with boat trailers after our hunts this weekend....All hunting roosts so their probably will not be any local ducks left

 

[snow]

Can't blame folks that have the desire and the gumption to travel to get in on a good hunt,whether its Oh Canada or the dakotas here in the central midwest,but Mn is almost void for a good duck hunt,infact after the youth weekend in sept here most local birds bug out,AND FEW MIGRATE THRU THESE DAYS.

I head west for field hunts,to much work for my beat up body and old age to water hunt these days,actually perfer south dakota as its rare to bump into waterfowl hunters,rez or non rez as the state only allows 3750 10 day non rez tags state wide but the lotto sucks.Late season mallards in nebraska near grand island is a another great area but most private land near the roosting area of the platte river are leased up,helps to know folks tho.

 

[Vollmers]

I refer to them as "shovelers" but I have to be careful. I got in a bit of trouble on FBO years ago for using that term. SDMF probably remembers.

What is a shit duck? Coots?

 

[snow]

I call most divers shit ducks but some guyz like the gamey flavor of these ducks,don't get me wrong shooting bills,cans and redheads over dekes is a gas but much perfer grain fed mallards or woodducks and a few blue wing teal when possible for the table.Mergies buffel head and golden eye will stink the house up while ya cook'em much like snow geese.

 

[Kurtr]

Love me some blue bills and bufflehead. I ate a swan once that was gamy no one else would eat it.

 

[Vollmer]

Love me some blue bills and bufflehead. I ate a swan once that was gamy no one else would eat it.

I would have ate it with ya! I like the gamy taste.