Birds.....they comin' or what?

[duckkiller]

well grimreaper I say we bait the mcrappie up this week what ya think?

[Anatidae]

Austin - don't give away all your secrets........make folks learn from experience.

Just a few comments about sharing info on the web (for what it's worth):

I too, am all for civil discussion - I am not inclined to discuss what's happening where I hunt (for my own reasons), therefore, I respect other folks' desire to keep discussion about hunting around the places THEY hunt for the same reasons.

Folks are only loyal to one thing.......whatever it takes to get a strap of fatheads. They'll run over you to get what they want.

Information is only as good as it's source. Reliability is the key. Most information is offered in an attempt to make the proovider appear 'in-the-know'.

Information is a two-eged sword - what may be good information to folks that don't know anything may be the bain of those who have something worth protecting......i.e. a decent place to hunt within 30 minutes of their home, devoid of overcrowding, free from joy-seekers, and a semblence of solitude. So, you just left Stuttgart and saw a lot of birds. Maybe the folks there would hope word doesn't get-out so more OOS'ers will stay home......giving the locals a chance to enjoy a decent quality of hunting expereince.

Few people are trustworthy enough to share information with in your own hunting area. Everybody wants the same thing. It gets competitive......would you share a secret with someone if it could diminish your chances of success? Draws hunts.....just cause it's a draw doesn't mean your chances of getting a permit increase with a flood of publicity about said area. Be smart - duck hunting is not a social event....
(unless you blab so much that everybody knows about the place that you coulda had to yourself if you'd kept quiet about it).

I think the best policy is to ask a question and let folks respond by PM if they want to be helpful. Otherwise don't post or flame at all. Bullsprig's post is well-intended. I disagree with statements by some that information is a good thing and should go unchecked. Information is what made some of our public spots go 'draw' and why other places have become a contest with the prize going to folks that care more aboout keeping score than the hunting experience for themselves and others around them.

Chose your hunting partners wisely and be respectful of the local guys. Once you've been burned, you'll understand....only, in most cases...it's too late.....the damage has been done and you can't un-do it.

Happy Hunting.

[bullsprig]

Anatadie......i could not agree more.....i too have been burned by "sharing info"........

my main point is that i am sick of these internet dingalings that think it is cool or funny to bust somebody's chops over a post. my daddy all ways told me that if you dont have anything good to say then dont say anything at all. i think the point is made but all i want is for people to offer help if they want....if they dont want to offer help then MOVE ON!!!!!!!! PM is a great way to offer help.....

i am so glad that MICAH (or whoever) changed the classifieds. great move. i got tired of the "well u can buy it for 25 bucks at so and so".......... it just really bugs me that people think that they are cool just because they have a few people on a forum who think it is funny to make some SA comment about stay home or whatever.

internet advice is just as you said.....not too much to lean on. i am not getting up and driving 2 hrs b/c of some tip i got a duck forum but general duck chat sure is fun. we get 60 days to do what we love.......we wait the other 305 for it to get here. a little chatter about ducks on the move sure helps the blood get rushin!!!

[Anatidae]

I'm with you....and I appreciate your efforts to restore civility. Hope the new baby is doing well.

Happy Hunting

[GulfCoast]

Ducks are hitting the big sheet water fields pretty good in my little part of the world, folks shooting tons of spoonies, and some mallards. I have seen very few grayducks compared to what we normally see by now.

[Anatidae]

Excellent example of helpful, non-incriminating information that doesn't diminish anyone's chances........from a reliable source. Thanks, Mark. Well-done.

[Faithful Retrievers]

Ditto on the fields with big sheets, thought we had a few as of Friday but after a decent hunt scattered quick. We are just buying time hoping for a good January, but who knows. I had expected to see more bird movement after last week, but I didn't. I do believe the report that the spoonies are up 33%.

[blind-ambition]

Its sure is good to see that theres still some "good folks" on here that are willing to help folks out with out picking apart every comment thats made. That gets old.

[Anatidae]

The kind of weather event that puts birds on the move (like, heading Southward) is shaping-up in Iowa right now. Go to any weather site and plug-in Councile Bluffs, IA and look at the 5-day........lows from -4 to +19 and highs below 30 for the next week (mind you, it's a forecast). That's the sorta thing that pushes ducks out. If they haven't already started moving into and out of Iowas by now, they'll proobably overshoot it and end-up in the bootheel this week.

We're due some colder temps around Christmas with maybe some wintery mix precipitation. There's snow in the midwest. I like the prospects right now - just gotta remain patient and be ready to welcome them when they show-up.

[cannonw22]

I have a cousin that deer hunts riverside management area in yazoo. He said there were tons of ducks around there. I'm serious too. I don't have time to get up there and try it out.

[Anatidae]

......and this is an example of information that local folks wouldn't appreciate......but take into consideration, it is from an unknown (therefore, unreliable) source.

If there are ducks anywhere in Mississippi, I'm happy for those that benefit from their arrival. But I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in information from someone who doesn't even plan to hunt at 'said' location. Go figure.

From the hunters that fully understand and appreciate how damaging any mention of a specific location can be - please refrain from giving even general location. If the place is private.....lurkers will think those ducks will show-up at local WMA's and other public areas......and affect the qualitiy of hunting for those that hunt there on a regular basis.

Take an active role in preserving the hunting heritage you claim to cherish by any implication that you are a genuinely concerned 'duck hunter'.

I hope that is civil-enough.

[donia]

...eloquently put, and without needing to be coy or crass! if only it would sink in to those for which the message is intended...if only.

......and this is an example of information that local folks wouldn't appreciate......but take into consideration, it is from an unknown (therefore, unreliable) source.

If there are ducks anywhere in Mississippi, I'm happy for those that benefit from their arrival. But I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in information from someone who doesn't even plan to hunt at 'said' location. Go figure.

From the hunters that fully understand and appreciate how damaging any mention of a specific location can be - please refrain from giving even general location. If the place is private.....lurkers will think those ducks will show-up at local WMA's and other public areas......and affect the qualitiy of hunting for those that hunt there on a regular basis.

Take an active role in preserving the hunting heritage you claim to cherish by any implication that you are a genuinely concerned 'duck hunter'.

I hope that is civil-enough.

[teul2]

...eloquently put, and without needing to be coy or crass! if only it would sink in to those for which the message is intended...if only.

......and this is an example of information that local folks wouldn't appreciate......but take into consideration, it is from an unknown (therefore, unreliable) source.

If there are ducks anywhere in Mississippi, I'm happy for those that benefit from their arrival. But I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in information from someone who doesn't even plan to hunt at 'said' location. Go figure.

From the hunters that fully understand and appreciate how damaging any mention of a specific location can be - please refrain from giving even general location. If the place is private.....lurkers will think those ducks will show-up at local WMA's and other public areas......and affect the qualitiy of hunting for those that hunt there on a regular basis.

Take an active role in preserving the hunting heritage you claim to cherish by any implication that you are a genuinely concerned 'duck hunter'.

I hope that is civil-enough.

Ditto

[rbsdrake]

I hunted friday and saturday. saw good bird numbers (mallards) but had a gun malfunction right at shooting time so i only killed one. they worked great. went to the same place saturday and didnt see much.

[Marty N.]

Spent more time the last few days scouting than hunting, no large numbers of anything other than Spoonbills and Teal in sheet water in fields. Recieved email from friends and clients in Northern Illinois, Wisc., Michigan that said they had just finally started getting large numbers of Ducks and Geese over the last 3 or 4 days or so. We usually run a week or even two behind when it comes to large numbers dropping into our area after the birds show up in Ill.

Glad we still have more days left in the season than than we have used, just wish we had less water in the fields in my area.

Marty