Almost Over

Our last hunt was Sunday the 13th. A late start to the day and one was left to wonder, if the day started too late. While setting up decoys there were about 30 ducks wanting to come in. There was plenty of water and the ice was extremely thick. Settling in after about an hour of setting up in the 40 MPH North winds, the gun was loaded and here comes 15 ducks. Couple swings and a drake dropped right in. Decided to blast him and that was it for the day. Did see some migrating groups of ducks, but nothing huge to speak of. According to the Legends Ditch success, it seems as if the action was in the morning. Oh well, chalk another one up for the ducks. The lake is froze, the pump is off and the deeks are in the mobile destroyer. We've officially completed our first year at the Ditch. We'll be back at it in the Spring for the Great Snow Goose Chase. See what happens then. Have lots of plans and are extremely happy with the inaugural season at the Ditch. We will be mobile until the late season closes and, wives permitting, until the geese are gone or the season is over. Updates will come as we find some fields to go get 'em. May just spend tomorrow in the South Ditch tomorrow just because it's hunting season. Then again, may not! It's friggin' cold! Check back for the latest and greatest and thanks for all the hits.

Birds but no Action

Reports from all over the eastern most part of Nebraska says that large concentrations of birds are all over the place. Migration activity must be happening outside of our watch. All of the sudden there are thousands of birds. Desoto Bend and the surrounding/connecting Missouri River system is packed right now with Ducks and Can's. If you call over there and get a bird count it will be disappointing, but I'm here to tell you there are far more birds around than the one's being counted. We've been tracking birds all week and if you have the time there is plenty of action to be had. For us we haven't had the shooting we would like. Tuesday reports showed success at the Legends Ditch as well as the South Ditch. Old faithful, Professor Binelli, spent all day Tuesday at the South Ditch (snow and ice pic above). I believe they walked away with 3 Mallards and 1 Can. Also, on Tuesday, a new name to the blog, Little Bud was over by Valley and observed thousands of ducks coming off the Platte and feeding into a field just over the HWY. The ducks were wanting in this field so bad that they were landing on the gravel road and walking in. Can you imagine that? By the way, we have permission for that field, but haven't had the time to run over and see if they are still there. Today we spent about 6 hours at the South Ditch, saw very few birds and fired no shots. Weather reports for Sunday look to be very promising for us waterfowlers. Hopefully I can get a chance to cycle my gun. I haven't fired a shot since November 30th. Can you say frustration? That's it for now. Check back for the latest and greatest and thanks for all the hits.

Hay Ditch Turkey Day (a little late)

Fickle Birds

Well today was supposed to be "the day." The #1 field we've been watching was empty yesterday so we decided to check out another one that we had permission on. "Jack Pot." Loaded with birds last night and they've been feeding there since at least last Thursday. Unfortunately, the ducks didn't like our sights and sounds and lit less than 200 yds from where we were set up. Managed to scratch just two while thousands fed in plain sight. We have until Thursday over there to get in on any duck action as the location closes down. Still have a while for the geese as long as we can get permission and find the time to track 'em down. Some weather coming and it's getting real cold up North, this could be the week where we get out last go around in the Ditch. If things hold out, we'll be up there this week for what will probably be our last time until the beloved Spring Snow Goose Chase. Nothing going on around the Ditch or down at the South Ditch. DukMaster and Waterfowl Wizard spent the day around Valley yesterday and scratched 8 Can's while the South Ditch was man'd the entire day. Professor Binelli hung around until close and received nothing in return. For everyone waiting for one last push of birds before calling in quits, it will probably happen this week. That's a wrap for now, well keep you posted. Check back for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.

Timing is Everything

We've got it all planned out. The birds are setting up perfect for the next real hunt unless they decide to feed where we don't have permission. This morning we were set up by about 620AM and waited, and waited and waited. We all had to be at work by 1030AM, so we decided to pick up at 920AM, with not a shot fired. Loaded up and driving out we seen 'em. Too late, again! Just as we were pulling out here they come pilling into the spot we were just laying down. I seached for a picture that closely resembles my imagingation of just what it looked like after we left. News at 11AM reported that they we're still feeding. Wishing we could go tomorrow but we all have to work! Sunday is the day! Made another secretive drive by the field at 450PM tonight and it was loaded again! Sunday is the day! As long as the field isn't empty of food we'll come home as successful hunters. The South Ditch will have hunters tomorrow so I recon we'll get a report. Check back for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.

Hours in the Truck

Well the AM was spent driving around looking for birds. Found plenty but found no cooperation. The area where the birds are floating around has set-ups in every other field. Pretty tough to get in on the action with so much competition. Spent some time at the South Ditch today and nothing. Saw only 4 or 5 bunches of birds all working the river. There was plenty of water despite to cold, cold weather. Around quitting time I managed to run into two fields with feeding birds. After a few hours of phone tag, we got permission. A few guys are taking Friday morning off and hoping the birds are going back to the same field they were observed in tonight before quitting time. See what happens in the AM. Definately worth the chance. Only thing I worry about is the wind switching. Will they still feed in the same direction? Gotta run, check back for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.

Long Day

Woke up at 5AM, looked outside and saw snow and huge North Winds. Couldn't wait to get to the Ditch. Spent about an hour breaking ice and setting deeks. We settled in at 711AM and loaded up. No reason to do that. We sat, and sat, and sat, and sat. I couldn't believe my eyes, there was nothing, and I mean NOTHING FLYING! I can't believe I wasted a day off for this. One thing I guess I should always remember is that a bad day hunting is better than a good day at work. Can't really figure it out, we had a bit of weather North and it just didn't push the birds down. After talking with DukMaster we came to realize that all that's left to the North is Northern Mallards and Can's, and it will take 5-6 inches of snow to cover up their food and unless that happens, they ain't movin'. Also, after talking with Waterfowl Wizard, I realized it was time to get out of dodge for now. We took every decoy that doesn't float out of the Ditch today and threw them in the Mobile Destroyer. We're hoping to catch a few fields between now and the 5 or 6 inch snow that may or may not come to South Dakota. Lets face it, by the time the final push happens all we'll need is a small hole and a shotgun. Not real sure where tomorrow's action, or lack there of, is going to come from. Three options are on the table and I'll know what I'm doing when I wake up. I can go to the Ditch, I can go to the South Ditch, or I can drive around where the ducks are and try my luck with the land-owners. Scouting is the "leaner" right now as we'll have a full staff Sunday that hasn't emptied their guns for quite some time and it'd be nice to set up for a sure thing. That's all for now. Check back for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.

Duck Fever Tomorrow

Not much going on around the area again today. 4 in the Ditch in the AM tomorrow and wouldn't miss it for nothing. Weather setting up for great push day, snow and big winds in SDak and the same here ending around shooting time. The front started in Canada, moved to NDak, in SDak as I type, and here in the AM. We're down to the last 2 weeks and if we don't start shootin' tomorrow or Thrusday, we'll probalby pick up the spread and become mobile for the remainder of December. Check back for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.

Where did they go?

Todays action was light to say the least. We had one hunter in the Ditch today and about 5 groups of migrating Canada geese was all that was observed. Nothing worked! It turned into a short, short day. Again, nothing going on in the path of Migration. The weather reports say there may be some snow with big North winds up North. A front is pushing down from Canada to North Dakota tonight, from N Dak to South Dakota beginning around Noon tomorrow, and then pushing through here on Wednesday. We are due to have big North winds on Wednesday and Thursday so we should see another push. I was ready to say that I would do anything I could to get to the Ditch on Wednesday but I pulled up the South Dakota Waterfowl counts and...wow, WHERE DID THEY GO? The S Dak Game and Parks does a Missouri River flyover every Monday and agian...wow, WHERE DID THEY GO? Last weeks duck count was at 224,600 today it's just over 98,000. Last weeks Canada goose count was 117,000 and today a measley 69,000. Not the info I was wanting to find. I was hoping that the numbers had stayed the same the last week, but not the case. It appears that the birds have been moving out of our sight. We have just 16 days left until we're done with the ducks, I sure hope the remaining 98K find there way past our Ditch. The birds are flying wild over by Valley and as far West as North Bend. It seems right now that the potential is all over there. Grab your laydown, fill up your truck and go find 'em if you have the time. We're still holding out hope for Wednesday and Thursday. By now most of us have logged some serious time in our respective ditches, far too much to give up now. The birds will be coming our way we just have to hit it right. Check back tomorrow for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.