Open Water Lakes

Each lake that was voted on at the hearings last month was approved by the congress today at our convention.

Does anyone open water hunt with a dog? Either out of there fishing boat or some kind of layout boat? Just wondering if its possible..

Was up in Horicon this afternoon from 11:00 till 4:00 did not see a duck. The only thing I saw where cranes.

To get their count, they will ussually do a "fly-over", take photo's of certain areas and then "average" the count for that area. Same thing they do for the deer count. How accurate this is.....? Gives them at least an idea of what is here.

Drove down hwy. 49 yesterday on my way back from northern WI. Lots of geese, not lots of ducks. Only saw a few flocks of mallards in the refuge. I expected to see more due to the "aerial survey numbers." Does anyone know how they go about their count? Is it just me or do these numbers seem a bit high for what we are seeing around the area?

With nearly 185,000 birds at Horicon as of last week, one would think the guys are shooting limits everyday! I know those birds are probably in the refuge but with that many birds in the area, you would think the birds must be thick! Does anyone field hunt for ducks around Horicon, that must be amazing action!

wanted to try it next week but looks like cold days and even colder nights may sock things up by next week, looks like river goose whackin time.... goodhuntin all!

Do any of you guys put stock in the Ariel surveys conducted by the USFWS on the Mississippi or Horicon marsh? I am going to supply a link that shows the Horicon numbers. Just look at the main flight of Mallards that visit the marsh. I actually found this almost staggering. Being as I have heard from so many guys lately that "Oh ya, we have a lot of birds here" and when asked what a lot is, 200 seems to be the common answer. Questions come to mind how this one location can hold so many of the flight Mallards that visit our state. http://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/waterfowlcountfall2013(6).pdf

The late season mallards have not come close to showing up. I hope this weekends front will start em up!

I do believe a lot of birds have come and gone, but I don't think the big push came yet. I have a feeling the season is gonna close before they come. gonna give it a shot this weekend and might skip deer hunting to stay after the ducks. good luck to ya.

The malards haven't been very thick I don't think the big push has came down yet

Yea pretty much the same I had sone shooting at shooting time and then nothing till 8-9 then after 9 dead again. Since about tuesday I haven seen much other than mallards.

about what time did u get your mallards on poygan? I was out last Friday and a lot of birds were kicked out of the canes that we were in right at shooting light. it was a slow morning till about 8 or so than the mallards came back, from fields im guessing. just wondering if you experienced the same.

I have been on poygan probably 4 times in the last week. Few buffle head n a few mallards. Seems like from the last 2 mornings there isint much left other than mallards. I tried hunting a bay of a small river just off poygan the other day but the ice was way too thick.

any body been out on either poygan or shawano lately...?

bologna, find anyone to drag you out on the bay for an open water hunt yet?? I mean, you made such a name for yourself protecting Poygan from open water hunting, I imagine everyone with a layout rig is lining up to bring you out to the bay.