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Well, the honkers are moving-out of mid-latitude SK this morning. Their water is closing-in around here, so the local flock we've been waiting for a good opportunity on was bound to head-out any day.

'Haven't hunted for about a week, trying to nurse ourselves back to health from head colds and stomach viruses - plus it's been alternating between rain and snow for the past week. So, even when I got out to locate and pattern birds, things were changing so fast that patterning was difficult. The bunch I've been wanting to go after just kept buiding in numbers. We thought we were going to have to leave this past Monday, so I didn't even scout. Then later that day (realizing Anne was getting better and that neither of us was ready to 'call-it' yet), I went-out to try to locate the big body we saw the previous day. I never found them. So, the next day I followed them off the lake and they ended-up about a mile from the area they had been, pretty consistently. It was just as well that I missed hunting that day because it was pretty sloppy conditions and it would have been miserably wet and required a lot of gear clean-up. So, we made plans to hunt behind another snow that moved-through last night.

We got set-up by good shooting light. While I went to park the truck, they had a group of 10 break-down and look - then move-on. While I was walking back to the spread (within 100 yds) there waas a group of about 75 breaking-down and gliding toward the spread, so I laid-down in the snow. Trevor's gun didn't fire and Anne got a double. By the time those were picked-up and I was in the blind cramming ear plugs in, another group of 100 was winging their way toward us. They got straight downwind and about 15 feet off the deck and came right in. Another grou did the same thing right behind them and the first 20 landed IN the decoys about 20 yds out, making it easy pickings on the next group backpeddling, and then the covey rise.

I was thinking this was going to be a great way to end the trip - with more birds coming, and requiring no more effort to kill'em other than enduring the 26 degree temps and 20mph North wind, setting-up the spread, and just being out there - getting ready for the next bunch. We had 7 birds at that point because of a gun malfunction on Trevor's gun and the broken part in my Super 90 (occuring early in the trip) than only allows me a maximum of 2 shots when everything lines-up just right. Normally, I only get one shot off. The other thing was - Anne and I both shot at the same birds on 2 volleys - otherwise we could have had about 12 birds in the bag. It IS what it IS.

But then the next few bunches that flew over were high and traveling. Even birds that came from the direction of the lake our birds were coming from seemed to have some other purpose than hitting us and we realized with the apparent drop in temperature (to 18), and the North wind developing more of a 'bite', that birds had had enough, knew something was coming tonight, and were getting-out while they could.

We picked-up the spread and had 3 or 4 groups come from the direction they SHOULD be - from the lake. Trevor's wife texted him to say that she heard the geese coming-out off the lake as she went to get in her vehicle to go to work. We were in a field 6 miles away - and had most of the spread broken-down. Really, we only had one big group of around 130 birds and a couple of 5-bird groups circle us looking for a place to feed. Everything else looked like they were definately traveling.



So, it's pretty-much over for us, here. The high today (so far) was 26......it's now 16 and snowing. Tomorrow's low is to be 2 - high, 12. It'll be like that for 2 days, then it'll warm-up abit. 'Warming-up' up here, means it might get back to 0C or 32 F. I don't see that in the forecast yet. So, off to get gear organized, packed (in 20-degree weather), and figure-out when our best 'window' for a safe departure might open-up. Maybe the sun will come-out for a couple of days and the salt will take its affect on the roads.

You should see a nice increase in bird numbers this weekend.

Happy Hunting, guys!

i am in Billings and it is rolling though here as well today and then into the Dakotas. Difference being it will warm up here my tuesday or so. The birds could stay if they wanted, but with the drought everywhere below here, i expect them to roll most of the way south (at least most stuff besides mallards)

Tough go this year Randy!
Yall have a safe trip home!
Thanks for the update.

Tough go this year Randy!

In some ways, yes. But it's been the best year we've experienced (hunting-wise) in the last 5, by far. Snow and cold always complicate things, but that's why I try to stay up here a month or so - to take advantage of good opportunities in tolerable conditions. Snow and cold also make things 'happen' .....but usually a lot quicker than you can plan for or keep-up with.

Tough go as far as health issues, though. Anne had an allergic reaction to antibiotics for something that she was diagnosed with the day before we left Mississippi - then, had an allergic reaction to Benedryl - then got the head cold and lost her voice for a few days - then I got the 24-hr virus going around town, here. But really, we could have had all that happen at home, too. At least here, we've been able to wait it out, pick our times to hunt (and the conditions)......and have some good shooting opportunities. I'm not complaining one bit. I'll have 2 back-up guns next year (instead of just one, between us). We brought 3 this year, but let Trevor (our host) use one of the Golds......and the pot-metal safety's messed-up on both them. So, I'll plan better for that, next year and bring 5 guns.

I'm also glad we chose to come-up here a week earlier than normal - we've been hitting 'freeze-up' around the 1st & 2nd week of November the last 3 years. This year has held true to that pattern.

Update:

I've been outside for the past 1-1/2 hours pulling stubble off blinds and getting gear dried-out and organized back on the trailer........and there's been a steady flow of honks flying over. I figured some groups might break-down and grab a bite after flying all morning from parts, North......and a couple of them landed in the fields around the house, here.

I imagine I'll hear them all day, today. 'Would normally be a great day to be out in the blind waiting for the next flock but we're done.......and conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Kinda sad, but all [good] things must come to an end.

This weather event is just another stage of migration influences - the second significant one I'e seen since the first week of October. 'Saw the ducks leave about 10 days ago.......[now] the honks are high-tailing it.

The snow cover is taking affect after 7-10 days of them having to dig food out of light cover. Now, it's a bit deeper and it's time to go.

'Should be a respectable season down South if the weather events continue in frequent succession.

I just got a seriuos round of chills reading this....

The anticipation is about to drive me mad!!


Thanks for the reports

Thank you sir for the reports. I look forward to this time every year reading about your hunts, weather, and migration reports. Thanks again have a safe trip. Preciate cha!

Thanks for the update, Randy! I just finished pumping another hole so maybe the next flush of birds will have an extra spot to sit.

Thanks for the update, Randy! sure does have me looking for the season; i think it'll be a goodun.

ya'll make sure and have a safe trip back.

great report!! ARK'y Opener can't come quick enough

As you know we all, always live reading about these adventures up in the great North. Hate that y'all got sick, but glad ya made a good go of the bird hunting! Be careful and have a safe drive home!

Thanks.

When we left - it was 6 degrees and light flurries. Wind was out of the East @ 35km/hr. Roads were in good shape, fortunately. But the snow prediction for Saturday was 12" - 24". That'll sure shut things down up there - glad we scrambled and got out while we could. It's a balmy 40 and raining in MN......lot of open water here. Not sure the same holds for the Dakotas as they should be getting the wrap-around with the artic blast coming. I only saw one group of honks in SK-MB yesterday near Portage le Pierre South of Lake Mannitoba, but saw a big body after crossing the border near Donaldson, ND. There's plenty of open water in MN and no snow. It's also 58 and millions of coots in Albert Lee, MN.....for all you hardcore 'killers'.

So, a lot has to happen yet - to push birds outa here. But each front nudges'em further down. I just know it was getting ugly in SK yesterday, and should move into the Dakotas today.