stuw
North Central Minnesota
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| 11/06/2007 9:02 AM |
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We've been getting skunked on ducks that last couple of days...finally last night we got a cold front with snow...this moring the skies were alive with ducks...
Flocks of Bills, Golden Eyes, Buffle Heads and even some Mallards...No pass shooting today...they decoyed in just like on the hunting shows.My two hunting buddies and myself had our limit in just over an hour...cann't wait to see what tommorrow brings....
You folks south of us get ready...cuz here they come....
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Trout Bum
Elbert County, CO
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| 11/06/2007 10:47 AM |
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Sweet Stu, snow makes all the difference in the world! Nice mix of birds, I hope you do well tomorrow!
My guess is the ducks were there but just not showing themselves. There was a decent cold front in Canada a couple of weeks ago and the weather patterns have been pushing across the north since. Not bitter cold, but just right for pushing birds down. The snow geese and Canadian's are starting to show up now in CO, there weren't any previously, other than the local Canadian's.
Our first split closed on 10/22 and opens up again this Saturday through the end of January. Dark Geese and quail opens a week from Saturday and phez opens this weekend. It's looking like we'll have blue bird weather for the opener but may get some snow on Sunday. Should be a whole bunch of new ducks in the spot I hunt.......I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas.  This die hard upland bird hunter has turned into a waterfowl fool. Heck I might even get out mid day to see if I can shoot a ditch parrot for Pi, but will concentrate on the ducks!
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Doc_E
N.E. WA state
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| 11/06/2007 12:53 PM |
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Trout Bum
Canadians are humans.
Canada's are Geese.
Har dee har har.
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Doc E and Cujo Casey boy. |
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Tug&Goose
SW MN
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| 11/06/2007 1:59 PM |
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| I got my eye on the skys!!! Thanks Stu! |
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GMPR Bearpoints Rosco
CPR TROYTRAINED Tugboat "Tug"
CPR Northstars Flying High "Jetta"
Northstars Feeling Tipsy Of HRK "Sway"
Northstars Need For Speed "Meg"
Northstars Follow The Path "Maze"
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Trout Bum
Elbert County, CO
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| 11/06/2007 2:04 PM |
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Thanks for the heads up Doc, good thing you let me know........cuz I'm ready to throw some steel at em and wouldn't want to shoot somebody!
You still getting after the grouse? How's your waterfowl season going? |
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Dunny
Fort Morgan, CO
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| 11/07/2007 1:24 PM |
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| There are NO ducks (or geese) in Eastern Colorado. All of the reservoirs are empty. The river is a trickle. The pheasant population is at an all time low and the covey's of quail have disappeared......
I did NOT see Empire, Jackson or Barr Lake with ANY ducks on them in that past three days. Thousands of geese did NOT fly over my house in the past 5 days. There are no white geese left.
Shhhhhh.
Oh ya, and I am NOT excited for this opener.
Scott |
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Home of GMPR Bearpoint's "Sage" Well Dunn. |
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Trout Bum
Elbert County, CO
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| 11/07/2007 1:31 PM |
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Nice report and nice try Scott, same thing I've been hearing from others......I'll be setup Friday evening and in my spot an hour before legal shooting time, just to see for myself.
You going to be on the river, lake or a pond Dunny? |
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stuw
North Central Minnesota
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| 11/07/2007 1:46 PM |
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Woke up to a blue bird morning...little to no wind out of the southwest...saw a few ducks...but nothing to brag about...never even had a shot...funny how things change in a day....got home and found this article....this is abit scarry...Winnie is about an hour north of me...
DNR: Parasite has killed 3,000 ducks on Lake Winnibigoshish since Oct. 28
Some 3,000 bluebills believed dead on Minnesota's Lake Winnibigoshish; hundreds of coots also die
BY CHRIS NISKANEN
Outdoor Editor
Article Last Updated: 11/07/2007 12:36:12 AM CST
Deadly, wormlike parasites dwelling in banded mystery snails have killed 3,000 ducks and hundreds of coots on Lake Winnibigoshish since Oct. 28.No one knows how the snails, which are popular for aquariums, got into the lake, but it s possible an aquarium owner released them. (Courtesy Steve Cordts, Minnesota DNR) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources biologists plan to return today to Lake Winnibigoshish to collect ducks killed by snail-dwelling parasites.
About 3,000 lesser scaup, also known as bluebills, have died on the northern Minnesota lake near Deer River since Oct. 28, the biologists said. The ducks died after ingesting snails that are hosts to deadly, wormlike parasites called trematodes.
Hundreds of coots also have died since sick and dead ducks began appearing last week on the lake's western shore.
Most coots have left the 58,500-acre lake, but biologists fear more migrating bluebills are arriving daily from their Canada nesting grounds. Lake Winnibigoshish is a known stopover for bluebills, and the waterfowl migration
Live drake bluebills washed up on shore. The ducks are likely infected by a parasites and will die. (Courtesy Steve Cordts) is peaking this week as recent cold weather signals ducks to head south.
"I suspect there are scaup north of us,'' said Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist. "We'll hope they won't go to Winnie."
Bluebills are diving ducks that often feed on mollusks. Two dead bluebills from Lake Winnibigoshish tested positive for trematodes after DNR biologists sent them last week to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis.
Trematodes attack the ducks' lower intestines and feed on their blood. The Wisconsin lab measured 7,000 trematodes in one dead duck, seven times the lethal dose.
"We cut some of the ducks open, and their intestines look spongy," Cordts said. "That's the best way to describe it."
Because of the high levels
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of parasites, the ducks are dying in one to two days, instead of the three to eight days with a lower dose, Cordts said. Most of the deaths are occurring near the Rabbits flowage and Ravens Point.
The 1-millimeter-long parasites have killed an estimated 25,000 ducks since 2002, primarily bluebills and coots on the Mississippi River near Winona, Minn., Cordts said.
The exotic faucet snail is the host for the trematode in the river, he said, but the Winnibigoshish bluebills are feeding heavily on another species - banded mystery snails - that also host the deadly trematodes.
Minnesota fisheries biologists discovered the snail species, native to the East Coast, in Lake Winnibigoshish eight years ago. But Cordts said the snail population on the lake's west shores exploded about four years ago.
No one knows how the snails, which are popular for aquariums, got into the lake, but it's possible an aquarium owner released them, he said. They're found in other Minnesota lakes, too.
The bluebill die-offs on the Mississippi River and Lake Winnibigoshish are adding stress to declining bluebill populations, which are 40 percent below long-term levels. Scientists, however, suspect large-scale habitat changes are the chief cause of the bluebills' decline.
Trematodes are not a known health risk to humans, but the DNR is recommending that hunters avoid eating ducks that appear sick or are acting abnormally. Hunters should also wear rubber while cleaning waterfowl.
Signs posted on the lake warn of the die-off, Cordts said, and no duck hunters were using the lake last weekend. There is nothing the DNR can do to stop the bluebills from feeding on the snails, Cordts said.
DNR biologists have picked up about 1,000 bluebills, but many others are washing up in remote areas. About 50 bald eagles and numerous raccoons have been feeding on the dead ducks.
"I'm not sure we'll ever have the concrete number that died," Cordts said.
Chris Niskanen can be reached at cniskanen@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5524.
AT A GLANCE
Trematodes are a deadly, wormlike parasite found in snails. Each is about 1 millimeter long.
They kill a duck by attacking its lower intestines and feeding on their blood. A duck examined from Lake Winnibigoshish contained 7,000 trematodes, seven times the lethal dose.
The parasites are blamed for the deaths of an estimated 25,000 ducks in Minnesota since 2002.
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Liv2Hnt
Overland Park, KS
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| 11/07/2007 5:12 PM |
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| Makes me sick. Scaup are having enough problems as is. No one can seem to figure out why their populations have been on the decline. We got into some northern ducks in mid missouri today. We killed our first "big" ducks with some nice fat greenheads and one hen that I wont let my hunting partner live down. Im having a blast with my pups first hunting season. Cant wait to get out again this weekend. good luck to you all with your seasons. |
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Dunny
Fort Morgan, CO
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| 11/07/2007 11:52 PM |
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TB,
I have a couple of days to scout but will either end up on big water or the back edge of an SWA that is difficult to get in to. I don't think it matters right now...you are going to get some shooting in. I hunt mostly public but key (for me) is scouting in the evenings.
One of the most memorable days last season was at the most abused SWA in the state (Dodd Bridge Road), I usually never even think about going there but for some reason the ducks started hitting it just right towards the end of the season. As you surely recall it was pretty cold and the ducks were grouped up. Because we had scouted we were able to hunt it several days and have limits very quickly. It definately was the X.
I love this second opener. The bags are always a mix and it can be fun to see what comes in next. No matter what the weather the birds always seem to be moving with all of the commotion in the marsh. Fun times on Saturday.
Ohhhh, but monday morning is looking good with that little cold front coming in. I think I am coming down with a little cough....probably contagious...wouldn't want to give to anyone at work.
Scott |
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Home of GMPR Bearpoint's "Sage" Well Dunn. |
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Trout Bum
Elbert County, CO
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| 11/08/2007 8:11 AM |
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I love the second opener and mix as well, hoping a few Pintails are still around. Had a couple of opportunity last day of the first split for some pinnies that didn't work out. Worked a group of 6 for 15 minutes, they were up 100 yards. After almost 20 time circleing the decoys and us calling had em on the deck and ready to come in. The wind had changed so unfortunately it was at our back. Buddy turned his head to get a locaton on them, they spotted the movement and flared........Wings set, final approach and poof, they're history.!
After lunch and a short nap, went back out and drove the truck right up to the decoys to let out my buddy (he can't walk real well). Pintail drake swiming right in the middle of the decoys!!
Have a great hunt Dunny, depending on that front I might be ill on Monday as well! |
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keskam
Pierce, Colorado
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| 11/09/2007 6:23 PM |
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| Dunny, took these pictures tonight 12 miles east of Fort Collins, about 1/2 mile from my house in my hunting field. Thought you might like them. |
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HR Rocky Mountain Rosco JH
APR HR Lady Satin of Black Forest JH
SHR Satin's Jumpin Jedi JH
SHR Chelsea Snow Angel JH
APR HR KB's Snakey Jake of Poudre River JH
SHR KB's It's Showtime of Bearpoint (Star)
SHR KB's Loaded To Go Allie
KB's Black Diamond Tessa |
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camelcluch
Parker, Co
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| 11/10/2007 1:48 PM |
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| /\/\/\ Now that is just impressive. |
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CPR Black Forest's Zuberant Zoie |
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stuw
North Central Minnesota
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| 11/14/2007 9:06 AM |
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The "cans" finally arrived...we got a couple yesterday..and 3 today... I keep hoping for a banded one to put on my wall...but no luck yet...
I took Earl out for his first duck hunt this morning...it was fun to watch..didnt take him long to figure it out... he doesnt quite have the "style" down yet..but it will come with exposure...I let him watch Ellie retrieve a few ducks than let him go with her...then I sent him by himself... |
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APR Gull Dam Labs Sagebrush Dragon
??R Gull Dam Labs Lady Willow |
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stuw
North Central Minnesota
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| 11/14/2007 9:17 AM |
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Like I said..not alot of "style" yet...
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APR Gull Dam Labs Sagebrush Dragon
??R Gull Dam Labs Lady Willow |
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Liv2Hnt
Overland Park, KS
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| 11/14/2007 9:31 AM |
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| Who cares if you have a pup bringing them back. Like the learn from the older dog approach and sending them both. Pretty cool. Hows this for a little style. My "pup" is a year and a half, but this is his first season. This mallard decided it was going to play hide an seek for 20 min or so until Rid caught him. On he way back I snapped the pick. Kind of looks like "Im going to drown you, you son of a gun" Second pick after a nice "fetch" Style is in the eye of the beholder. Have fun with your pup. Im having the best season in a long time with my new partner. |
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MPR HR McNally's Right Stuff Ridley |
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311Hemi
Mounds View, MN
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| 11/14/2007 2:14 PM |
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Stuw....I emailed you.
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stuw
North Central Minnesota
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| 11/14/2007 3:13 PM |
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Hemi,
Never got it... try stuwange@msn.com
Lv2hnt...great pics |
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APR Gull Dam Labs Sagebrush Dragon
??R Gull Dam Labs Lady Willow |
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2Blackdogs!
Kansas City Area - GO CHIEFS !!!
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| 11/14/2007 3:16 PM |
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| Stuw- That Earl is filling out nicely! |
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Tug&Goose
SW MN
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| 11/14/2007 3:43 PM |
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Stuw,
Earl is looking great growing fast! |
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GMPR Bearpoints Rosco
CPR TROYTRAINED Tugboat "Tug"
CPR Northstars Flying High "Jetta"
Northstars Feeling Tipsy Of HRK "Sway"
Northstars Need For Speed "Meg"
Northstars Follow The Path "Maze"
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