Posted: 11/19/2011 11:32:10 AM EDT
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Hey all, any other Waterfowlers out there in the Capital Area (North)? I've been out twice this season (11/12/11 and 11/19/11). This is my first season Hunting Ducks, and although I have seen exactly FOUR ducks this year (3 divers and 1 way to high in the sky to ID), I love it. I haven't shot yet as 1 was too high to shoot at, 1 was in the middle of the lake and would have been un-retrievable, and the last two that I saw this morning swam up w/in 12 yds puttered around a bit then swam away. I didn't shoot 'em b/c I didn't see too much sport in sneaking up and blasting 2 ducks in the water that were just feeding. To each their own but I was thinking that the point of it all is to shoot them as they fly in or out of the spot your hunting (I may be wrong).
But I digress, I have not seen very many Ducks in the last two months in the Mid Michigan area around North of Lansing. So where are all the Ducks? I've heard that its still too warm up in the great white north to push the Migration. I know we have had an awesomely warm OCT and NOV, but that doesn't help for the birds flying South. Is anyone else not seeing the numbers of birds that you would think should be in the area with 2 weeks left in the season? I don't have a boat and I have been sitting on a 5gal. bucket w/seat in the reeds near the water. So I am kind of a newcomer to this whole deal. I have yet to get Decoys yet as well. So I am really just hoping for some passing shots and maybe I can call one or two in if I get lucky and they listen to me. I'd like to get a nice fishing Kayak in order to get to the nice secluded spots on the lakes around here too. Any thoughts or tips or if anyone would like to show me the ropes I'd appreciate it. |
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Welcome to the addiction. You must have it really bad if you are trying it without the aid of a boat, dog, or even decoys. My advice.....skip the kayak......get yourself a canoe at the minimum. Cant carry much on a kayak and trust me, before its over, you are gonna have lots of stuff to carry. Your wallet is gonna hate your new obsession. |
| Yeah that's all good, I guess I need to consolidate hobbies anyways. I was gonna go with a kayak b/c they are easier to move by a single person on and off a roof rack. Also b/c I can get it in and out of the small lakes and large ponds over here in the North Lansing area.There is a really sweet Yak made by Jackson Kayaks, the "Coosa" that fits the bill nicely. |
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I've got a friend who is a duck hunter down in SE MI (Plymouth specifically). He has said that the hunting has sucked, and he's not seeing any duck yet.
Had lunch today w/ a customer who said he and some friends took 17 duck out on Drummond Island this weekend, so maybe they're starting south? K |
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I thought about trying to get back out but have decided to take myself out for the remainder of the season. One week of deer camp convinced me that trying to deal with decoy lines and loading a boat with a snarfed up finger just wasnt gonna cut it. Darn splint gets hung up on everything. |