A207X2
Member
Looking to get some information on late season (January 2024) duck hunting on Reelfoot Lake. How is the shooting in January, and who would be some recommended outfitters? Thanks.
Late season duck hunting at Reelfoot - Any good?
- Thread starter A207X2
- Start date
Big Chief200
Well-Known Member
As long as it does not freeze up on you it can be some great hunting I have hunted there many times but it has been several years. Parkers Outfitting is who i have hunted with here is a link. https://parkersoutfitting.com/
MickThompson
Well-Known Member
all depends on the weather and how stale the ducks are. You can kill about any kind of duck on that lake
A207X2
Member
I would imagine they are suffering from PTSD around that time of the season! 
TNGunsmoke
Well-Known Member
I'd be surprised if any quality outfitter had any openings left open for this season at this point. If they do, it'll probably be mid week dates.
Definitely a go in my lifetime experience. Curb your expects tho. If you like the whole 15 people in a blind and "we" killed X many number of ducks it cool experience once or twice…I want more interactive on my part though and knowing exactly what ducks I killed and everyone else as well so there is no confusion on bands or breeds….
All I can say is good luck. We went a few years in a row. I never hunted the second day after the first year.
10 guy's hunting and I believe the best day / weekend we had was like 12 ducks.
But this is gonna be the year!!!!
10 guy's hunting and I believe the best day / weekend we had was like 12 ducks.
But this is gonna be the year!!!!
12 sounds better than the Missouri pit count LOLAll I can say is good luck. We went a few years in a row. I never hunted the second day after the first year.
10 guy's hunting and I believe the best day / weekend we had was like 12 ducks.
But this is gonna be the year!!!!
Reelfoot was a lot easier though
A207X2
Member
Thank you! I spoke with Jarred on the phone. Wonderful guy. He's booked for the exact dates that I have available, but we've exchanged contact info, and had some good discussion. Will definitely connect with him for next season.
what are your dates? I can see if we have any room in our blinds.... Need number of hunters as well.
good hunting and have fun
And @gasman killed 10 of them if not all 12.All I can say is good luck. We went a few years in a row. I never hunted the second day after the first year.
10 guy's hunting and I believe the best day / weekend we had was like 12 ducks.
But this is gonna be the year!!!!
Yep.And @gasman killed 10 of them if not all 12.
I got a text from Ben Parker last week. He was reaching out to all the old clients about booking some hunts. He had several days open and the prices had dropped back to what it was when we booked the first time in 2018. The lodge we stayed at was nice (minus the one year in a different house) and they treat you good. The duck hunting sucked tho. No fault of their own because they can't control it but Reelfoot is nothing like it used to be. If you want to go stare at blinds 200 yards around you and everybody trying to work the one duck seen all morning then more power to them.
They still have some good shoots there 3-3-4 days a year but it's few and far between.
They still have some good shoots there 3-3-4 days a year but it's few and far between.
A207X2
Member
Thanks for that post rem. Why is it that way? Is the area over-hunted? Too many blinds for the ducks? What's different now on Reelfoot from 10 years ago for example?
TNGunsmoke
Well-Known Member
My opinion, more no-till farming with waste grain left on the ground and not burned off/tilled in is the main culprit. The milder winters we've had have not helped, but everything used to be a food wasteland after the harvest and field prep afterwards that forced the birds to have to move south. Combine that with the milder winters and not enough snow/ice north of the lake, and the birds simply do not have to go anywhere, and after the northern seasons close, there is no pressure on them to give them a reason to go anywhere. There seems to be more pressure around everywhere, so when birds do decide to move, it is predominantly at night.
Dodge Man
Well-Known Member
In 2016 the refuge at Reelfoot was holding around 200,000 ducks most of the season, the same for many years before that. Around that time they changed the management practices of the refugee and different people in charge. Since then the numbers have dropped off a Lot! Now on average that refuge holds 20,000 at peak numbers. Usually way less then that. That is just one of the problems in my opinion. Overall all of the refuge numbers are way down except Whites Lake. They don't flood them nearly early enough anymore and don't leave enough food.
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Same thing with ten mile pond during that time. The new management there completely screwed it as well, birds would refuge hop between ten mile, reelfoot and ballard. 2012-2016 was some good hunting in that triangle. Now not worth a crap most of the time.
Dodge Man
Well-Known Member
Attachments
I think I started duck hunting in 2016. Sorry.
2014
I knew it was about the time it went to crap.
A207X2
Member
So let me ask you all... If you could hunt ducks anywhere within a 300 mile radius from Reelfoot, where would you go? I really enjoy waterfowl hunting, and I'm trying to make up for lost time (68 now, with some medical problems), so not afraid to get in the truck and drive. Thanks.
yellalinehunter
Well-Known Member
Missouri,
Arkansas
Add a tad bit more drive time and look at Oklahoma/ Kansas
Arkansas
Add a tad bit more drive time and look at Oklahoma/ Kansas
I hunt with them every year. Always a good time.
