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..