2019 Waterfowl Reports

Another year, and time to Post your Reports and stories for another great year of Hunting!

I see swans every year migrating overhead, so several hundred in most years. This year none so far I was even working outside all day yesterday.  If I recall right last year I didn't see any migrator swans until later half of November and that's typical for most years.

West Central WI.

 Tuesday set up wrong and it cost me, managed two greenheads, but good number of ducks seen, good mixture of puddle and divers.

Wednesday, two greenheads, two bluebill, 1 ringbill, if I could shoot better, limit was there to be had, decent number of birds observed, swans and geese migrating, ice on shore edges to 20 feet out, 21 degrees at 5:30 am

Today, two small flocks of mallards seen and decoyed, picked off three, otherwise dead. Lots of ice, 18 degrees at 5:30 am.  

Griz, check your PM.

Most years I hunt all 3 WI waterfowl zones.....I am a statewide hunter.  There are 6-7 counties I frequent the most.  I love hunting the big open water.  Have even shot green-winged teal 1/4 mile out from shore on the "big pond" (LM).  Unbelievable to some....but true.

Suspended muskie, what county you hunt?

Are there many swans yet ? Family and I are going out to the river this weekend  . One year we were right on the edge of the ice forming.  Must have seen a thousand or more .

A very light trickle of new birds over the past several days.  A wide variety too.  Yesterday killed 2 green winged teal and a bluebill.....missed a couple of birds also when my Benelli didn't cycle correctly.  Totally disassembled it last night, including rear spring.  Like new this morning.  Today it was gadwalls, a bluebill, and a mallard.  Missed one other bird that was within range.  Saw mallards, gads, pintails, teal, shovelers, cans, bluebills, buffs, and a goldeneye.   Also had a flock of tundra swans pass by.  

Whichever day has more wind would be my choice.

More migrating birds today than yesterday. More swans coming through. My shooting stunk bad today. Seen maybe 3 wood ducks. There pretty much history. 25 degrees this morning with a very light snow dusting. Hunting partner took 3 mallards and a widgeon home. Bella was wearing the vest today...brrrr

Back to work tomorrow...Boo

when to hunt  tomorrow or Thursday????

Limit of geese Sunday morning.  Field was soupy as heck and had to walk everything in.  I did not want to get stuck on my first time out.  No ducks came close enough to shoot.  Was done early and they were trying to land in the decoys as I was picking up.  

Great decoy action this morning. Good chop on the water at go-time.  Flight fizzled after 8am. Bella on a rest morning. Selective shots only.  Few Woodies still around. My barrel swing could not catch up.  The Woodies flew with vengeance and bitterness. There not liking the cold temps. Gadwall and a Greenhead made the morning complete. Swan flights arriving....

WalleyezZ 

Hoodies are quite common up north and they stay around until first ice.  They seem to enjoy the cold.  I could pop them from my pier but I hear they don't taste too good so I let em go.

Hunted a.m. on small backwater of the mighty chip. Water still high. Took two shots today. Passed on a few hens and ones I could not identify at first light. Great morning in the marsh but bring on the cold fronts!

Nice variety SM. Your Mergatroid looks delicious. I vote for a slowww cook in the kitchen. The aroma will be sensational.

Not half bad in the smoker otherwise.

Despite less birds and lack of wind this morning, it was an awesome day to be out hunting.  Crisp, clear, and beautiful.  Actually...any day is a great one to be out.

I was fortunate to be able to bring home what you might call a "sampler plate" of WI waterfowl categories....1 goose, 1 duck (drake lesser scaup), and 1 merganser (hen red breasted merganser).  The goose will become stew, the bluebill will be marinated/grilled with other like ducks (delicious), and the "mergatroid" I will have to utilize my BIL's tried and true merg prep and marinade techniques (a multi-day event...lol).  I will hold true to my rule that if I killed it, I will eat it.