I'm looking for a little help and suggestions about the duck hunting on the South Platte, up around the Brush area. I have never hunted this area but hear that it is not that bad. Are any of the SWA better then the next or are they all about the same. Is it worth making reservations at any of the areas? I plan on hunting mid-week and have only chest waders to access the areas. Also I plan on using decoys, about 18 of them. Anyone with some insight would be very much appreciated.

Yes to both your questions MtnLab but you'll need to get up there and figure it out. I'm hunting private but can tell you one of the SWA up there had a whole lot more ducks on it than our place. The first hour Saturday sounded like the Iraqi War, in one particular 15 second span a box or two went off. I figured an army of guys where there, but on second thought it had to be a battalion.

18 decoys are plenty for the river, look for small islands, full bodies work well on the islands if you have some. If you hunt a slough keep half of your decoys in the bag. Last tip is look at a topo of the river from NB to Greeley and draw a straight line. Ducks fly up and down the river but most often in a straight line rather than following the river. Where it crosses an island in a SWA mark an X and give it a try.

Hip boots is all I use and pick and choose where I cross, Pi does the rest. She’s back on R&R with another foot abscess so we’ll miss this weekend. Hope to have her in shape to hunt the last 4 days of the early split.

Good luck and safe hunting.

Try Elliot (sp) and don't tell any one...

I usually hate it when I find/build my blind, set up my deeks, ready to go, and in come a bunch of late comers, set up like 50 feet away (but I understand it is public land, so you have to be nice).
Of course when they sky blast, sort of takes the fun out of it for me.

So, I scouted out the Brush area and further. Up by Sterling there is a SWA named Tamarack.

They have a 1/4 mile between numbered parking spaces. You have the 1/4 mile of river to hunt to yourself and buddies.
How nice to have that separation. You can trailer camp in the grass parking lot or stay at the sterling Super 8, or get up at like 2:00 in the morning and drive.

You don't need a reservation, but suggest you do because you can request your spot.
Slots 13 and above have beaver ponds. Very nice calm water, don't need anything but chest waders (I only ever needed some tall boots).

I even did some jump shooting of some wood ducks when the birds stopped flying. That's always a blast.

A little farther than Brush, but worth an overnight stay.

Hey guys thanks for the info. I'm thinking of hitting up the east end of Tamarack on Monday then going to Union Track of Tuesday. They are calling for snow this weekend up here in Summit Co this weekend. Maybe that will get some birds movingthe first part of next week. I'll let you know how things turn out.

MtnLab, Union Track might be reservation only, make sure you check it out before leaving town.

You know there's some decent hunting along the CO River not too far from your home. Have you tried it down that way?

Have fun and good luck.

Sorry to hear about the foot abscess on Pi Randy. What caused it?

Good luck MtnLab.

Not sure but suspect she picked up a weed seed mid-September while teal and turkey hunting. Her foot was swollen on the Saturday when we finished that up hunt and I got her in to the vet the following Monday. Swelling had gone down and she seemed fine.

Reared it's ugly head this past Sunday while up for the big duck opener. Vet lanced, flushed, probed with hemostate and q-tip several times. She was a real trooper, no sedative or local, she seemed to know we were trying to help her. Didn't see anything come out other than a bunch of bloody fluids. Hopefully weed seed came out with it. Taped her up got her on antibiodics and rimadyl for a week. With any luck will be good to go the last four days of the first split....Went through the same thing on a back paw last year. Fortunately it was during the split season so no down time.

It's about killing me sitting home this weekend, especially with the front that's on us right now. Otherwise I'd either be up there or on the way, I won't go without her.

I was thinking that myself. Fowl weather coming through this weekend. Snowing in Wyoming/Montana will drive the birds down to us.

I did some hunting during the opener up here close to the CO River in Kremmling. The shooting was not to bad the first morning, but the second morning all I saw was 5 teal flying by. Some friends of mine went out today to the same area. They tried doing some jump shooting but the duck didn't want to play that game. They did manage to bring two mallards down. I'm working this weekend so wont get a chance to get out before the season shuts down up here.
From all the info I can come up with it seems as though the Union Tract is first come first serve until OCT. 20. I do plan on stopping by the DOW office in Brush Monday afternoon just to make sure and pick up a copy of the SWA brochure. Vic if you do find yourself with some free time on Monday or Tuesday let me know...970.333.9976.

Thanks MtnLab, but I will be in North Dakota chasing some of those colorful chickens. Good luck!

Vic

On Monday I hit up the Tamarack SWA. Had a few flights of Woodies and teal buzz by. I managed to pick up a couple of each. Talked with another hunter and he said that the river gets better as the other areas start to freeze up. Then on Tuesday went to the Union Tract area. Meet up with an other hunter that morning...said he had hunted the area before. Anyways we both ended up in an area we did not plan on. Set-up and saw quite a few ducks, but nothing close and nothing interested in my decoys. After I picked up and went back to the truck I could see where the area was I wanted to be in. If nothing else learded a few things about the area for the next trip up there.

Yes, a good lake freeze is needed for good hunting on the river on any ol day.
Or a lot of snow up north for a few days will bring more down. Still sounds like you had a good time!

Vic