2023 - 2024. Season

[5 stand]

Thanks, guys!

[5 stand]

Do you usually see Cans in that area or was that a snow storm treat?

Yes, I do... But it was still a snow storm treat...
This morning my buddy says boy I would like to kill a canvasback I've never killed one before... When I put out the decoys I put one canvasback decoy and a Whistler off the one side... About halfway through the hunt, he says here comes a duck and it landed right by the canvasback decoy, and he killed it, told him you just killed your canvasback Drake... He was wearing one of those big ol Grin's we talk about all the time the rest of the morning... We had a big time, just don't have the words to describe it...

[Pennydog1]

good on him for his bucket list bird ive always wanted a purple guallinule to mount but dont know anyone that hunts them to get one from.

[5 stand]

Rick mentioned doves in Darren's thread...
I throw out scratch grain every afternoon for the doves, I have 11 that's hung around all winter... This morning there were nine, and it was zero... Third day in a row it hasn't been above 20, there are tough (Northern?) doves out there just like tough (Northern?) ducks...
As you can tell I'm sitting around bored in the house watching birds (but it's warm in here) ...

[DComeaux]

Those pictures made me cold......

[5 stand]

...

[5 stand]

The momarsh dog blind has a mesh bottom in it and you can put a Buddy heater under it, and in three degrees I can have Trigger steaming within 3 to 5 minutes... It's the berries,

IMG_20240115_091405478_HDR.jpg

[Duck Engr]

Was wondering how you were handling things with trigger. That’s a good setup!

[5 stand]

Figured it out with Triggers mother Teal years ago...

IMG_20180101_081757769 (1).jpg

Fair warning, dirt daubers will plug up a Buddy heater, the reason for the new red one...

[Duck Engr]

Mine has always been a little cantankerous (buddy heater, not dog) and last year flat quit working. Haven’t had need for it since then, until now… June will just have to tough it out.

[5 stand]

Not sure what your "little cantankerous" means but anything more than a slight breeze and I have issues also, so I use that burlap (in the picture) to stop the breeze and force the heat up through the blind if that makes sense...
Around 20°and below depending on the wind is when I start using the heater...

[Duck Engr]

Just means it’s always been kinda finicky to start. Gotta hold your mouth right type of thing. Agree with the slightest breeze

[5 stand]

I understand, I have only had two... After you mention it the first one was harder to start and sure enough finicky... I've only used this second one for three days, but it has started like a new truck... They may have upgraded the pilot or something?
I bought it last year right before the cold snap and got sick and never used it...
And the reason I bring it up is that I gave $84 for it last year, and they have them on (rollback) for 74 give or take at Walmart this year, go purchase one for June (just in case)...

[Rick]

Probably sold out just now.

[Duck Engr]

I’ll check it out, thanks for the tip!

[5 stand]

Rick mentioned doves in Darren's thread...
I throw out scratch grain every afternoon for the doves, I have 11 that's hung around all winter... This morning there were nine, and it was zero... Third day in a row it hasn't been above 20, there are tough (Northern?) doves out there just like tough (Northern?) ducks...
As you can tell I'm sitting around bored in the house watching birds (but it's warm in here) ...

All 11 are back this morning, and it's 3°...

[5 stand]

This cold snap has been colder (below 10) longer than anything in my log since 2010 (when I started keeping a log), so I haven't been able to get the boat in in 3 days... But with the high wind today I can see Open water, and worked on the boat ramp before dark, Trigger and I are going to try to give it a go in the morning... We have probably lost some ducks?

Oh by the way, had 29 doves this evening...

[Duck Engr]

Oh by the way, had 29 doves this evening...

Migration in full swing!

[5 stand]

Trigger and I hunted this morning...
5 mallards, 1 gadwall

IMG_20240120_075129450~2.jpg

Lost quite a few birds, everything is froze...

[Rick]

That's pretty.

[Duck Engr]

Nice!!

[5 stand]

Thank you very much for the comments, I do appreciate them...

[5 stand]

Trigger and I hunted this morning...
1 Mallard, 1 Green Wing Teal, 2 Canvasbacks, 1 Ringneck, 1 (banded) Blue Bill

IMG_20240121_101310803~2.jpg

[5 stand]

See below for the banding information for the reported bird:
Date 08/18/2023
Species Lesser Scaup
Age WAS TOO YOUNG TO FLY WHEN BANDED IN 2023
Sex MALE
Location NEAR MEDICINE LAKE, SHERIDAN COUNTY, MONTANA, USA

[Duck Engr]

Cool! What a nice mixed bag! Don’t see many of those banded

[DComeaux]

Nice hunts!

[Rick]

What? No gray?

[SpinnerMan]

Damn! Quite the day.

[Deltaman]

Quite the season!!!!!! Great reports 5 Stand, and appreciate you sharing with us

[5 stand]

Thank you, for the comments...