Wow! what a Roller Coaster of a week and a half here in the Duck Factory! Birds are on the move.
Peak Pressure!
A week and a half ago was peak pressure week here on the Northern Tier of North Dakota. North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin all held their “No School” Teacher’s Conventions on this weekend and it brings a lot of Blue Platers and Wisconies out to the prairie to chase Ducks(I say those two terms with nothing but love for our neighboring states to the East, some of my best friends are former or current Blue Platers and Wisconies). This added pressure usually coincides with some cooler weather and we really see a movement of birds.
This held true, as Thursday and Friday were ‘bumper crop’ days. Craziness in the spread and quick limits.
No Fooling the Veterans of the Flyway!
Saturday and Sunday it was as if someone hit a switch and there just weren’t the same numbers and the ones that were here were ‘Veterans of the Flyway’ and very decoy leary.
We were still able to scratch out a few and most everyone went home happy.
Another Gem of a Wigeon, I just love these little mid-air acrobats!
Our final day, Sunday, bean field hunt while covering in the standing corn allotted one of our party the opportunity to fill his Swan tag, always a festive event. Those things are huge!
Rookies need not apply!
Fast forward to this past weekend and what a difference in both bird numbers and bird behavior. If we were dealing with elementary school ducks during the first couple weeks, middle school and high school ducks last weekend, we had our hands full with Graduate School ducks this past weekend. Decoy allergies and flaring at 200 yards.
Stale as Yesterday’s Bakery Donuts!
When this happens to our birds we say they are ‘stale birds’ and we need a new crop of fowl, meaning it is time for some migration. This is the time of year I really start to watch the weather to the north for two reasons. ONE, below freezing temps to the North means newcomers of the flyway and TWO, the smaller ponds will start freezing and when water freezes, we can walk on it and when we can walk on water I get REALLY excited!!
Happy Belated Halloween everyone, and get out in the field for one or two more hunts up here in the Duck Factory!
