Season Feedback Requested Please

[rsimms]

I'm going to be writing an article about the status of waterfowl hunting in the region. In East TN and North AL (where I hunt mostly) we are into the second absolutely HORRIBLE season in a row. We went through several years of outstanding hunting (albeit mostly gadwalls) from 2010 - 2016, but now our wintering population of ducks has plummeted.

Of course last year was one of the worst seasons in history for everyone in the Southeast. I hear reports from West Tennessee and Arkansas that this season has not been great, but far better than last year.

I'd like to hear some feedback (for the record) on your duck season to-date. It doesn't matter WHERE you're from or where you hunt, let me know how it's been so far this season compared to years past. Real names included please (but not required if you want to remain under the radar.)

Thanks in advance.

 

[RUGER]

I am hunting in a top 10 and probably more accurately a top 6 blind at Gooch WMA.
Granted we are not every day hunters, just weekend warriors for the most part.

As of last week there has been a total of 25 ducks killed out of our blind that I know of.
18 while we were there.

I hunted Reelfoot last weekend for the second year in a row.
This year the group killed 8 the first day and 3 the second.
Four out of the 10 people there only hunted the first day due to different reasons.

I would say this year is better than last year but not by much and that ain't saying much.

 

[Chaneylake]

hunting is picking up at Chaney aka Hatchie River, we now have fresh back water and we expect some success.

36 mallards on 4 morning hunts so far. we rely on natural rain water and the Hatchie River flooding.

Mallard Estates had picked up 200 ducks through the first 13 days of Tn season according to what one of the guides told me. these guys at Mallard Estates have
large corn fields that are real close to or join Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge.
the 2017/2018 season they picked up about 2200 ducks - - harsh cold January - - everyone in our area was killing ducks
the 2018/2019 season they picked up just under 700 ducks - - the mild winter hurt everyone in our area this particular season

Ray Powell, owner of Chaney Lake Hunting Club, 731.780.4320

 

[TNGunsmoke]

Camden Bottoms has been horrible. Its as bad as last season, if not worse so far. And we have a blind with corn in front. 5 opening day, and since then has mainly been ones and twos, if we don't get skunked.

 

[Dodge Man]

I hunt in West TN, Forked Deer /Tigrett bottoms. We started off the season with some good hunts. We were not seeing a ton of ducks but a lot of what we saw would work and we killed several limits. The first 2 weeks were my best in several years. We have killed 270 ducks so far but the past 10 days it has been 2-3 a day. Since it has warmed up the ducks have quit moving as more or left the area all together. What is left is the same stale ducks that pass by every day.

Brandon Jones


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[rsimms]

Thanks very much. When article is posted I will share the Link here.

 

[Chaneylake]

We picked up 5 ducks this morning.

Heard way more shooting today than any other day since season opened.

We didn't see many ducks.

There is plenty of water in Hatchie Bottom now and it's still rising.

12/30/2019

 

[Dodge Man]

Slow week we could not get many people to go today. If we would have had a blind full of shooters it would have be another big day.


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[cmn]

Reelfoot so far...Better than last year but that is not hard to accomplish. 7 days of light and variable winds with clouds.... Don't understand why but last Friday cloudy no wind lots of ducks killed...deer were up and walking also. Yesterday good day with wind and sun as it should be. Go figure! I wish I had the answers but then nobody could afford my rates... See you on the 8th

 

[rsimms]

https://newschannel9.com/sports/outdoor ... r-new-year

Thanks again for the help.

 

[tickweed]

l have a private blind which joins Tigrett, have had 3 good days since season opened. Seems ducks have for most part vanished. Doesnt seem as consistent as years past. Not sure we have numbers feds claim, however lack of cold weather may be real reason. Took 15 today.

 

[Bgoodman30]

I don't like publishing numbers and I don't own our club but we are seeing about the exact same thing as Dodgeman with the same numbers at that time in the Obion River bottoms close to whites lake. I think we have killed around 48 ducks in January not much hunting this week.

We started off better than ever and January has been hit or miss. Usually December is just a warm up round and all the killing is in January.

Last year was not that bad for us and I think this year will end up better than average. When the coming great flood starts to recede should set us up.

I predicted this year we would hold less ducks due to less food on the refuges but we would kill more.. Its actually been about the same duck numbers with more kills even with the same terrible weather. Its interesting we are seeing a ton of ducks hold on private ground that's not being shot, our neighbors have there own little refuge going and its been hunted once or twice..? I think the lack of food is helping some and hurting others.. If we had the weather this year it would be lights out with the food shortages but I don't think that's happening..

Hopefully this weather pattern is temporary..

Brent Goodman

 

[Chaneylake]

We have for years done exceptionally well on "sunshine Saturday's".

This year is no exception.

Sunshine Saturday we kill ducks, always our best day. We contribute this to more hunters out keeping ducks in the air.

The next day is usually at least half of what Saturday was.

We are proving this again this season.

 

[Chaneylake]

We have for years done exceptionally well on "sunshine Saturday's".

This year is no exception.

Sunshine Saturday we kill ducks, always our best day. We contribute this to more hunters out keeping ducks in the air.

The next day is usually at least half of what Saturday was.

We are proving this again this season.

Last Saturday, 15 mallards, 1 gad, 1 woodie

Sunday 5 mallards, 1 gad

 

[Bgoodman30]

We have for years done exceptionally well on "sunshine Saturday's".

This year is no exception.

Sunshine Saturday we kill ducks, always our best day. We contribute this to more hunters out keeping ducks in the air.

The next day is usually at least half of what Saturday was.

We are proving this again this season.

Last Saturday, 15 mallards, 1 gad, 1 woodie

Sunday 5 mallards, 1 gad

That's funny we had same thing killed 28 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday (worst day of season). I really thought Sunday was going to be good with that south wind but they just didn't fly?


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[Southern Sportsman]

We have for years done exceptionally well on "sunshine Saturday's".

This year is no exception.

Sunshine Saturday we kill ducks, always our best day. We contribute this to more hunters out keeping ducks in the air.

The next day is usually at least half of what Saturday was.

We are proving this again this season.

Last Saturday, 15 mallards, 1 gad, 1 woodie

Sunday 5 mallards, 1 gad

That's funny we had same thing killed 28 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday (worst day of season). I really thought Sunday was going to be good with that south wind but they just didn't fly?


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Same. I hunted a spot in the backwater (Obion bottoms) by myself Sat. Killed a limit picking out greenheads and messing with decoys half the time. Went back Sunday with a buddy. Ostensibly better conditions (more sunshine, south wind, slightly higher water). Saw 1/3 as many ducks and most were high.