Well, this will tell the tale.

[Iglow]

We got 18 days left and an extended shot of cold air, I've seen bad seasons turn on a dime or rather a jet stream change, what's your plans?

 

[Smashdn]

Too late. In a "normal" year, I'd be wanting that jet stream you mentioned to give me that SW flow now along with some gulf moisture.

I am afraid if it rained an inch a day from now to close it would make very little difference. Not to mention there aren't all that many ducks south of us comparatively speaking.

 

[WilcoKen]

A man can kill a lot of birds with a frigid jet stream and 4-5 days of the right weather. Maybe the season can be salvaged..

 

[tickweed]

Problem for west Tn. Is a couple days lows in upper teens, high upper thirty not enough. We need some cold that will stay below freezing for several days, need some ice to move some around, a big rain to put some slash water in fields would help. It will feel more like duck season , but to a duck not so much. Im afraid time is gonna overtake us. But, l will be there. Never know when my Jack Miner mite show up. I been waiting on it for 40 plus years. But maybe one day. Lol

 

[Displaced_Vol]

I need a frog strangler of a rain. That's it. other than that, cold, warm, snow nothing else is going to make a difference.

Usually in late January I want a nice warm up, south wind and sunshine.

But who knows at this point anything different is better so maybe it moves some around but I do not think this will be enough to push and "new" birds down from anywhere to the north.

 

[Westtnduckhtr]

Headed to Nebraska for 5 days this week, then to Arkansas and finally hunt the last three days in WTN. Gave up on the home turf for much of the remainder of the season.

 

[Popcorn]

Lowering water in our holes, plenty of ducks coming out of the refuge yet and this weather will be enough for a good push and a good season end.

 

[Displaced_Vol]

Lowering water in our holes, plenty of ducks coming out of the refuge yet and this weather will be enough for a good push and a good season end.

Explain lowering the water please, Popcorn. You will have more shallow water in the holes if I understand, correct?

 

[Popcorn]

Our holes are standing corn and rice with some volunteer millet and of course weeds around the edges. They have wiped us out of standing food and our holes are knee to waist deep. With the millet and rice as well as a lot of smartweed and other weeds are on the bottom. I know this from the volunteer crop I get every spring (it a lot). Lowering the holes will provide better access to that food, a lot of food.

 

[Displaced_Vol]

Our holes are standing corn and rice with some volunteer millet and of course weeds around the edges. They have wiped us out of standing food and our holes are knee to waist deep. With the millet and rice as well as a lot of smartweed and other weeds are on the bottom. I know this from the volunteer crop I get every spring (it a lot). Lowering the holes will provide better access to that food, a lot of food.

Awesome thanks for explaining!
I know you take good care of your place so I was just curious because I felt like I most often hear about trying to raise water levels as the season goes on to provide access to food that was dry before. Hope it works out for you all and you all end up strong!

 

[Popcorn]

Awesome thanks for explaining!
I know you take good care of your place so I was just curious because I felt like I most often hear about trying to raise water levels as the season goes on to provide access to food that was dry before. Hope it works out for you all and you all end up strong!

Thanks we have taken the pains and expense to near level our main holes. One is 8 acres with just 6 inches of fall to the outward gate, another is 16 acres with 12 inches of fall over the field but because we run water around it to flood 2 other holes we created a canal giving the hole a better method to drain out as well as us the ability to fill other holes before flooding this one. Next year I plan to fill one hole at a time and bring them up incrementally.

 

[WaterSwatter]

Headed to Reelfoot this weekend. Hoping the incoming weather helps but going to have fun and eat well either way.

 

[Union Co. Boy]

Headed to Reelfoot this weekend. Hoping the incoming weather helps but going to have fun and eat well either way.

I'll be right there with you! Hope y'all have a great trip.

 

[WaterSwatter]

I'll be right there with you! Hope y'all have a great trip.

Same to you. What part of the lake will you be on? We'll be in upper blue

 

[spoonie]

Same to you. What part of the lake will you be on? We'll be in upper blue

Good luck! We have a draw starting Monday.
I've heard of some pretty good reports this week on that side of the lake

 

[Union Co. Boy]

Same to you. What part of the lake will you be on? We'll be in upper blue

We'll be heading out of Walnut Log. Hunting with Quake Lake Outfitters. Great bunch and always a good time with good food.

 

[tn clyde]

Hunted 36 at Reelfoot this morning with some friends that drew it from today till Monday. 3 dozen decoys in the hole someone left. Name and number on the decoys. Left chairs and shells in the blind. Thinking boat trouble and could not get back or just said the heck with the horrible hunting and went home. I'm almost positive it didn't get brushed this fall. Looked decent around Labor Day weekend from last year's brush. We always take some with us to fill in holes but it would take 4 boat loads to make it even okay. Killed one greenhead. Saw 3 more mallards and 4 jacks total. Heard maybe 10 volleys. No bueno!

 

[Westtnduckhtr]

w

Headed to Nebraska for 5 days this week, then to Arkansas and finally hunt the last three days in WTN. Gave up on the home turf for much of the remainder of the season.

Found them in Nebraska!

 

[Westtnduckhtr]

Also as a note, no flooded corn. Birds everywhere, even Cracklers which would normally be gone south. Weather has not been cold here, thousands of birds around. Wind today was 30-45 mph with gusts to the 70's mph with mid 30 degrees air temperature. Birds flew very low on the deck and at times we so low the just appeared in front of the blind (pit).

 

[Smashdn]

I'm almost positive it didn't get brushed this fall. Looked decent around Labor Day weekend from last year's brush.

Pretty sorry of T-dub not to brush. I don't care that water might have been low and made it not easy to get in there to it. When they took them over they took on that obligation.

 

[tn clyde]

Pretty sorry of T-dub not to brush. I don't care that water might have been low and made it not easy to get in there to it. When they took them over they took on that obligation.

Wish the drawings were in February and a list of people who drew the blind was available. You could maybe organize a couple of work days with everyone. I know everyone who drew would not show up but some would. Could keep each other in the loop about conditions and whatnot. I only drove an hour to get there. If I came in from East Tennessee, rented a place for 4 days and saw condition of the blind, I would be very unhappy.

 

[West_Tn]

Pretty sorry of T-dub not to brush. I don't care that water might have been low and made it not easy to get in there to it. When they took them over they took on that obligation.

We hunted 74 at Camden and the brush job was absolutely horrible, and that was with a couple groups I know of that added their own brush when they had it too.