Waterfowl predictions

[vandeman17]

How does everyone think this year's waterfowl hunting season is going to play out? I know that last year was probably my best season in a long time with the way the weather played out. My spots seemed to have a good mix of birds staying and new birds showing up most of November and through late December. Hoping this year is similar but with the crazy weather we have had over the first 8 months, anything can happen.

[270Shooter]

I have seen good numbers of local mallards and with the low water year it should make them very concentrated. Which is good and bad. Still hoping for some rain or atleast a bigger snow year. Last year was great for me because of the mild winter and the freeze thaw cycles kept the birds in the valley.

[NW-GSP]

Last year was hit or miss for me. Hoping for a better year now that I have a boat. I'm on the west side.

[vandeman17]

I have seen good numbers of local mallards and with the low water year it should make them very concentrated. Which is good and bad. Still hoping for some rain or atleast a bigger snow year. Last year was great for me because of the mild winter and the freeze thaw cycles kept the birds in the valley.

Agreed. I had some great shoots because the weather was just cold enough to bring in new birds but not cold enough to freeze everything up and send them farther south. Would love to have a similar scenario this year!

[h2ofowlr]

Seeing lots of birds!  Looking forward to the youth hunt first.  I imagine it will be good again!  If it's a little slow, I will go and find them!

[Jonathan_S]

Waterfowl Predictions

1)  They will head South
2)  They will pass over your setup
3)  Other hunters will invade your setup
4)  It will be too warm
4b) It will be too cold

Good luck Waterfowlers, I love reading your threads 

[vandeman17]

Waterfowl Predictions

1)  They will head South
2)  They will pass over your setup
3)  Other hunters will invade your setup
4)  It will be too warm
4b) It will be too cold

Good luck Waterfowlers, I love reading your threads 

We are a different breed, especially the dedicated ones. My buddy and I often joke about it when we are hiking out to our spot at like 4 in the morning in waders, packing gear. "we do all this work to shoot a few ducks" 

[Badhabit]

Goose hunters are the worst of the crazies. Who in their right mind would lay down in the middle of a field in the middle of a snow storm surrounded by 100 or so plastic replicas of a goose waiting for a chance to bag one as a flock is back winging 10' above the ground 30 feet in front of them.

[vandeman17]

Goose hunters are the worst of the crazies. Who in their right mind would lay down in the middle of a field in the middle of a snow storm surrounded by 100 or so plastic replicas of a goose waiting for a chance to bag one as a flock is back winging 10' above the ground 30 feet in front of them.

uhhhh who has two thumbs and would do that...?

[gaddy]

In that scenario, i would call that a triple. Who wouldn't love that?

[Badhabit]

Only a goose hunter can appreciate that. I think of how many hours I've spent in the layout blind in the worst weather possible waiting for the birds to arrive or not.......

[JODakota]

I bet waterfowl will be down and upland will be well...up. It's a drought year.

[EWUeagles]

Probably the same as every year. And that is all depends on the weather during the season. We got such a hard and early last year it messed up my season locally. Good or bad I will be out there freezing and having the time of my life.


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[AWS]

My prediction, "If you sit home worrying about how many ducks there are you won't shoot any".  Good year, bad year I spend just as much time in the field as I can and in 54 years of hunting ducks never had a bad season, just some with fewer birds.

[crabcreekhunter]

Probably like the last 20 years, wake up make some breakfast.. Throw a bag of decoys on the quad.. Quarter mile drive to the creek from the house.. Toss em' out and start stacking every weekend November through January mornings like this..

[rasbo]

we have geese coming in everyday now

[Huskerwannabe]

We had a slow season last year. Part of that is we dont have access to any private lands at this point and we don't have a boat. We did well early season then come January when it warmed up we had a hard time getting birds. It was all fun every weekend I went.

[Commando]

I predict that my spot will be loaded with birds all season because I won't be able to go very much. I am staying home most of the season to take care of my new son who is gonna show up sometime the end of Sept. So guys post up a ton of pictures!

[mburrows]

Im thinking it should a great season. Some small ponds will be a little dry early on because of the lack rain. Cant wait to go shoot some teal on 10/17. Taking my dad and future father in law (will be his first duck hunt) to Eagle Lakes the following weekend. Should be a great start to the season!

[buckandbullminingco]

I predict that my spot will be loaded with birds all season because I won't be able to go very much. I am staying home most of the season to take care of my new son who is gonna show up sometime the end of Sept. So guys post up a ton of pictures!

Congrats!! know the feeling.  my son was born during deer season 2 years go.

[JJD]

Waterfowl Predictions

1)  They will head South
2)  They will pass over your setup
3)  Other hunters will invade your setup
4)  It will be too warm
4b) It will be too cold

Good luck Waterfowlers, I love reading your threads 

We are a different breed, especially the dedicated ones. My buddy and I often joke about it when we are hiking out to our spot at like 4 in the morning in waders, packing gear. "we do all this work to shoot a few ducks" 

Really doesnt have all that much to do with killin ducks for me.
I fooled'em a few days ago, I didn't do worth a darn yesterday, question is always, can I fool'em today.  In otherwords, it's the challenge.
Another big draw is that I get to watch my dogs work most days. Plus I can be successful everyday from mid Oct through end of Jan.

Over here on the far east  side of the state, I figure if you have access to big water or fields near by, you could have a great season.  Birds will be pretty concentrated.   Most of the pot holes that water fowl have roosted on in years past will be bone dry by oct.  There are pot holes better than 6 acres that I have never seen dry in nearly 30 yrs, totally dried up with grass growing in what was once the bottom of the hole.  Was down at Lake Roosevelt yesterday and it is drawn down to springtime levels.
Could be a real challenge.

[kodiak 907]

Probably like the last 20 years, wake up make some breakfast.. Throw a bag of decoys on the quad.. Quarter mile drive to the creek from the house.. Toss em' out and start stacking every weekend November through January mornings like this..

I like to shoot ducks too... can I be invited over?   nice pics!

[crabcreekhunter]

Kodiak 907, family hunts first per usual, always take some friends and youth hunters as much as possible. Not sure how many hunts I'll get in moving to wenatchee but I'm sure a few once the mallards get thick. Lots of public ground around that one can consistently hammer birds, not so much geese everything is pretty leased up there!

[kodiak 907]

Right on. Moving puts a hurt on things. Hopefully I will get sometime to head up to AK and put the hammer on some eiders again this year.