Worst Waterfowl Season in Years?

[PJDiesel]

300 to 500 birds on the river all day long.

 

[gtodave]

I went out on the middle Potomac on X-mas eve and heard Spring Peepers in the distance. Saw about 40 ducks and 40 geese, but only got off two desperation shots. Most of the ducks were mergansers.

 

[mark71211]

I'm going to give it a try on Saturday for geese down in church hill on the shore. Farm said he had about 100 geese on his pond the other day.

 

[Derwood]

Let us know how it goes. I'm not going to bother going out again until I see that it's been below freezing for two consecutive weeks in upstate New York...or the last week of the season when I've got a reservation with a guide. Whichever comes first.

 

[mark71211]

Let us know how it goes. I'm not going to bother going out again until I see that it's been below freezing for two consecutive weeks in upstate New York...or the last week of the season when I've got a reservation with a guide. Whichever comes first.

I live in Edgewater next to the water and I have been hearing/seeing geese everyday now. They are all flying high, flying in the detection of South east and in large groups of 30-75. I think they are starting to come down now.

 

[oupa]

Monday afternoon several huge flocks of high flyers passed here heading SE. Finally pushed out by the recent storm no doubt.

 

[tdt91]

There's been a ton of Geese out on the Susky Flats. Thats where you all need to be hunting.

 

[PJDiesel]

There's been a ton of Geese out on the Susky Flats. Thats where you all need to be hunting.

Body Booting.

Water is nice and warm too.

 

[jtb81100]

Today was the first time we've had more then 6-8 geese show up on the pond

 

[friendlyhippo]

Went to Tom Dodd's with another member today and it was.....atrocious.

Although, some of that could be attributed to a guide who's definitely got a ways to go with his calling. Plenty of other groups that SHOULD have come in and presented a shot that just kept on going.

Clearly, I'm worthless when it comes to calling waterfowl. First person to admit it every time it comes up. I'm terrible. Normally I don't judge others....unless calling is sorta their job.

Still a great time though, and we didn't go home empty-handed. Just a lot more empty than our hands should have been.

 

[mark71211]

Went out today and got nothing. It was a nice cool morning but it was a blue bird day. We saw a bunch of geese but they were flying way to high to even give us a look. From what I saw in number of geese i must say that it looks like the migratory geese have stated to come down but there is still a lot more on the way and hope they get here soon.

 

[Boom Boom]

The geese are all in my neighbor's 10-acre yard. 500+ easy. Looks like a convention.

 

[Sticky]

Hunted yesterday in the St Michaels area, we got five out of a bunch that came in and granted us the opportunity. We are starting to see more this week after the cold and bit of snow up north recently, hope this next cold wave moves some more down...

 

[5amhunt]

With this cold weather moving in how fast can one expect it to starty pushing ducks south? Do we need 3 weeks of this weather or does a couple days make a big difference?

 

[PJDiesel]

With this cold weather moving in how fast can one expect it to starty pushing ducks south? Do we need 3 weeks of this weather or does a couple days make a big difference?

It's not so much the weather here as it is what's going on north in your flyway.

Cold in PA/NY/New England for a few days/week will push them South.

 

[mark71211]

With this cold weather moving in how fast can one expect it to starty pushing ducks south? Do we need 3 weeks of this weather or does a couple days make a big difference?

I think it all depends on how fast ponds and rivers start to freeze up, then when the food starts to run out or get covered in snow.

 

[Derwood]

http://www.intellicast.com/Travel/Weather/Snow/Cover.aspx


The snow cover is finally starting to creep down, but it might be too late.

 

[mark71211]

http://www.intellicast.com/Travel/Weather/Snow/Cover.aspx


The snow cover is finally starting to creep down, but it might be too late.

We still got a little under a month left to hunt and it will only take a couple days for them to fly down here.

 

[_JT_]

We still got a little under a month left to hunt and it will only take a couple days for them to fly down here.

It'll be the same as it's been the past few years. Once duck closes, the huge #'s will arrive the following day. It's Science.

Seriously though, I'd give up the first split or the early seasons just for a 15 day extension on Ducks. There's a treaty or whatever which currently sets the last week of January as the cutoff for duck, and it'd be nice if that could be revisited considering it was drafted many moons ago. And while they're at it lets remove the restrictions on Cormorants because those things are overpopulated and have essentially setup shop year round on the bay.

 

[Derwood]

Virginia already lifted the Cormorant ban, so maybe that will happen.

I'd also be willing to give up the earlier season(s) to have a chance to hunt when there are actually birds around. Hell, I'd be willing to give up an entire year or two if it would mean better numbers for many years after that. But I'm probably in the minority on that second part.