Get Ready

[Iglow]

Polar vortexes/Arctic blasts are usually a matter of "when," not if. As long as it (and perhaps just as importantly, the subsequent warm-up) are before the season ends, I'll be happy.

The melt day!

 

[TnKen]

The thaw used to be a guaranteed barn burner for us, but even that has changed the last few years. I think a lot of the ducks now just wait it out up north and don't feel the need to come any further than they have to. They just hang out on the closest open water and head back north.

 

[Iglow]

The thaw used to be a guaranteed barn burner for us, but even that has changed the last few years. I think a lot of the ducks now just wait it out up north and don't feel the need to come any further than they have to. They just hang out on the closest open water and head back north.

Seasons are closed up there, they got open water and can dry feed all they want....till it locks up and snow covers they food we're screwed.

 

[Bgoodman30]

Seasons are closed up there, they got open water and can dry feed all they want....till it locks up and snow covers they food we're screwed.

Snowing in MO now. Also 3 chances for accumulation in the next 10 days. Single digits temps will send them packing. Also sub zero in the Dakotas. I'm getting excited then I remember I don't have anywhere to hunt this year…

 

[West_Tn]

I hope they show up Monday-Thursday this week while I have a blind to hunt

 

[Chaneylake]

I personally don't see it happening

 

[Iglow]

From the 15th on through that week.

 

[Westtnduckhtr]

Excited, will have the farm to my self for 3 days then family shows up Last time that happened I had a week, hunted everyday and shot 7 limits one every morning for a week, what a memory.

 

[Bgoodman30]

I personally don't see it happening

Come on man! 2 winter storms in 5 days! Got to have some optimism to keep you going!

 

[spoonie]

Gambled and took some Vacation days….. off the 16th-27th, worst case scenario I'll spend my time in front of the wood stove sippin on good bourbon and cooking white beans

 

[Dodge Man]

Gambled and took some Vacation days….. off the 16th-27th, worst case scenario I'll spend my time in front of the wood stove sippin on good bourbon and cooking white beans

Season is almost over, you might as well burn a couple vacation days. You know there is nothing else worth holding on to them for after duck season.

 

[spoonie]

Season is almost over, you might as well burn a couple vacation days. You know there is nothing else worth holding on to them for after duck season.

This is the the first season since I started waterfowling I haven't hunted 40+ days….. I've been on 3 morning hunts total this far
Looking forward to warmer weather and fishing season this year

 

[Bgoodman30]

Honestly the forecast seems to be improving every time I check. Frigid temps with sub zero highs in the Dakotas and single digits in NoMo and LOTS of snow.

 

[Dodge Man]

This is the the first season since I started waterfowling I haven't hunted 40+ days….. I've been on 3 morning hunts total this far
Looking forward to warmer weather and fishing season this year

I can beat you on that, this is the first season in maybe 20+ years I have not hunted a single day so far. Normally I would hunt 20-30 days a season.

 

[WilcoKen]

This is the the first season since I started waterfowling I haven't hunted 40+ days….. I've been on 3 morning hunts total this far
Looking forward to warmer weather and fishing season this year

I've been 3 times. Killed 2 ducks. Most every other season I hunt 20-30 days.

 

[Bgoodman30]

Same here avg around 30 days. 2 days and 3 ducks so far...

 

[Iglow]

I told'em 15th and 16th I'm taking off, my little dog probably good as the weather man at getting the forecast right that far out but better early getting off than late. If it don't pan out I'll go on to work. This may be our best last shot at doing anything, you only get maybe 3 or 4 really good days outta 60 where things line up right. Y'all keep your fingers crossed.
We seen a few more this morning, heard more shooting, I'm gonna take my pup squirrel hunting in the morning, nothing I see about tomorrow makes me think it would be any better than today and we didn't do much today.

 

[yellalinehunter]

Talked with my buddy in Iowa, most their smaller ponds are starting to ice and they have a dusting of snow on the ground. These light snows help cool the ground so when the heavier snow comes it makes a solid blanket. Wife has a friend in N.MO and she shaid they are calling for 6-8" of snow this week.

 

[Bgoodman30]

https://mdc12.mdc.mo.gov/Applications/PublicReportViewer/ReportView/ReportViewer.aspx?report=400

Crazy numbers of mallards up in northern MO still. They're about to get hammered with snow and single digits. Might get silly

 

[Westtnduckhtr]

I bet Habitat Flats will wreck them out of their spring feed and ice eater woods holes. I hunted the Eagles Nest hole one morning in the snow and ice. They had the ice eaters running all night and turned them off 5 minutes before shooting time. With Mark Bloss barking on a RNT Mondo about an hour and 48 ducks later we were done.
My buddy with his world champion lab, his was so good they let us use his lab.