Migration

[dean nelson]

Definitely didn't get remotely as cold up there as it was forecast to so that will definitely help them out some in holding the birds.

 

[Duckslayer100]

Yeah, bird numbers are way down from a week ago here on the east side. Hunted Sunday morning and it was surprisingly slow.

Came home with a nice drake redhead and a couple goddies. Took the 3-year-old on what may have been his last hunt of the fall. We'll see. If temps climb back up we might try once more. But I have my doubts.

 

[snowkiller]

Snows are moving in the northren part of the state

 

[Duckslayer100]

I really think the main push still isn't going to be until at least Halloween weekend, if not deer opener.

Folks I talked to who are hunting SK and MB are still covered up in birds. That snow and cold weather did little to push the main masses further south.

 

[jdinny]

I really think the main push still isn't going to be until at least Halloween weekend, if not deer opener.

Folks I talked to who are hunting SK and MB are still covered up in birds. That snow and cold weather did little to push the main masses further south.

I tend to agree with you slayer, I drive into central ND around the big lake 2-3x per week and theres definitely some lessers moved in. nothing that I would call hot and heavy. few hundred here, maybe 1K there etc. ive read reports on various sites there still banging away by Saskatoon yet.

- - - Updated - - -

i think itll be earlier than some previous years but the bulk i think you pegged it right will be the end of oct into november

 

[fnznfwl]

Not much. Cold weather doesnt hurt, but migration is mostly daylight driven, I wouldn't expect to see a big push for a few weeks. Just like always.

bump

 

[dean nelson]

Saw a couple small groups moving down by 94 this morning with about 50 birds between the two. The birds will be shifting a fair bit this week with the full moon and clear nights. The birds started bailing on the area they were in two days ago out east of Saskatoon. Guys went from covered with birds to 90% leaving in one night. Soon as the clouds cleared out so did the birds. Crapy thing is no one is talking when it comes to the Wayburn and estavan area so it's impossible to know we're the leading edge of the main push is.

 

[snowkiller]

The leading edge is in nw nd.Saw a couple fields that were white.

 

[dean nelson]

Starting to see a fair few reports that the Manitoba birds are peaking just north of the border and a couple reports of birds pushing into ND but don't know the guys so not sure on the validity of the nd reports. If the MB birds got sped up this would be about right for their arrival.

 

[fnznfwl]

I've spent the last 3 days along highway 5 from Bottineau to Crosby. I wouldn't say there's anything close to a decent migration yet. Unless you count the number of trucks with trailers and WI or MN plates heading north. Canada is going to be a busy place the next couple weeks.

 

[dean nelson]

Well the DNR in boissevain is reporting peak numbers so they are not far away. Be curious to see if they leapfrog the northern tier like they have the last few years. Seems as soon as they move in in numbers on the border they show up in big numbers all the way down to 94. Not sure why they started doing this but it makes it allot cheaper on gas for us southern guys if we don't have to drive a hundred miles north to find them.

 

[Motohunter]

Anybody seeing much activity in North Central ND? Been gone the last couple weekends but thinking about heading out this weekend but not worth it if there's no more birds around then there were a couple weeks ago. Would be headed to the Drake area if that helps at all. Thanks for any info!

 

[Duckslayer100]

I saw a flock of specks fly over Fargo last night. Odd sighting out here.

Can't speak for central ND, however.

 

[fnznfwl]

Anybody seeing much activity in North Central ND? Been gone the last couple weekends but thinking about heading out this weekend but not worth it if there's no more birds around then there were a couple weeks ago. Would be headed to the Drake area if that helps at all. Thanks for any info!

Had buddies from MN hunting that area last week, they said it was one of their worst years since they've been coming over. I'm seeing the same. Its typical to get a mid october lull, but this year might be one of the worst.

 

[Motohunter]

That's what we were saying about the first couple weeks it was one the worst years we could recall. Normally we have pretty good luck we've been hunting the same area for 15+ and know what to expect and where we can shift to. I was just hoping activity had picked up. Thanks for the info! Might be better off staying home and chasing some roosters.

 

[jdinny]

ill be heading into central ND for work tommorow will stick to hwys but will post anything earth shattering if i see it...unless of course its that earth shattering that i wont tell you about it so i can hunt it

 

[Motohunter]

ill be heading into central ND for work tommorow will stick to hwys but will post anything earth shattering if i see it...unless of course its that earth shattering that i wont tell you about it so i can hunt it

Sounds like a deal! LOL

 

[dean nelson]

Ran a lap up 14 to denhoff then back down to Regan on Sunday and it was very dead birds wise with a fair few out of state guys hunting birds I almost never see get hunted since it's mainly shit ducks in crapy spots to hunt so guys must be getting desperate. Seeing lots of reports out of South West MB that they are in the main push and a fair few reports from our side of mb border of birds pushing down. My cousin even had a couple large flocks of specks in the DL area which is well outside their normal area.

 

[Traxion]

Guys in the area I frequented in SK are saying things are right on time with past years, even with the snow. That puts big #'s of snows in ND at the beginning of November. And who knows how long they stay. Things just get later and later each year.

 

[Migrator Man]

That's what we were saying about the first couple weeks it was one the worst years we could recall. Normally we have pretty good luck we've been hunting the same area for 15+ and know what to expect and where we can shift to. I was just hoping activity had picked up. Thanks for the info! Might be better off staying home and chasing some roosters.

The full moon is also messing with them. Some areas have some birds but are not feeding at normal times or in big flocks. I have also seen quite a few non residents that may be busting up roosts.