Getting ready for 2023-24

[Duck Engr]

“East is least” for us here as well.

[5 stand]

Just give me 10 mph, I don't give a rip about the direction...

[don novicki]

You're right 5 stand. Need a good blow to get the ducks moving.

[Rick]

For us the east wind is the kiss of death

“East is least” for us here as well.

I'll still take all of y'all's I can get.

The fellow who founded one of our region's biggest outfits, the Hackberry Rod and Gun Club (initially the Catch and Kill Club), Terry Shaughnessy, had enough shit to him that I seldom paid attention no matter how loud he got. But something that hit me just right was, "Wind from the east, the action is least. Wind from the west, the action is best. It's a lie, but it rhymes."

Can be such a crap shoot I'm not really sure why I've even bothered logging wind, weather and moon phase. Know I quit fooling with barometer, the oft said most reliable predictor, years back. And when what will show up is becoming more of a guessing game every year. Gonna go like it goes, and you have to go to know.

[5 stand]

Three or four years ago I was watching a video of this guy talking about killing ducks on sunny days or cloudy days... He really liked sunny days and so he thought his log would reflect that, but it ended up being half and half...
I also like sunny days and I thought boy if I go through my log it will show that I'll kill more on sunny days... One Saturday morning dug through 9 years of log, ended up being half and half or nearly that... I sure was surprised, still to this day think that it's easier on sunny days?

In my case, where I hunt, it's all about the scouting the day before...

[Deltaman]

Might just be me, but I have a harder time seeing them in the sky on sunny days, and prefer clouds for background to blue sky.

[Rick]

Might just be me, but I have a harder time seeing them in the sky on sunny days, and prefer clouds for background to blue sky.

It's harder for me to see them against the big blue screen, as well, but I'm convinced it's harder for them to see us, too, thanks to shadows and glare - least if you're not facing the sun.

[don novicki]

Date: 10-30-2023

Time: 06:30

Weather: overcast and rainy, steady rain at times

Wind: NNE @ 10-15 mph

Location: Just off Route 20 in Girard Pa township, chopped corn field

Hunters: Just myself

Clothing: Farmland Cornfield Camo, some real old school stuff. Who remembers it?

Firearm: Remington 870 shooting 3" #1 shot


Went out early in a pretty steady rain and got set up for Honkers. I had seen 3 flocks of Woodies flying close by this field on Sat and Sun when I scouted and they didn't disappoint again today. Unfortunately they were flying West and headed to a small wetlands about 1/2 mile from my position. So I continued to wait, and wait and wait, finally at approx 09:30 the first flock of Honkers came from the West and never came near enough to get any kind of shot and proceeded to part East. The second flock did the same thing. After that it died. I waited until about 10:00 and called it, never firing a shot, and being soaked through I headed home. Back out tomorrow to my swamp to see what I can get into. Good to be out no matter what.

[don novicki]

We are victims of the SW wind again so far this season. Warm temps have slowed whatever migration is in progress and our inland season is over Dec 2. Presque Isle opened 11-6 so maybe it will get cold sometime and bring in the divers. Mallards are scarce to non-existent here and the Woodies are gone following the two cold days we had over a week ago. Hope everyone is doing well afield.

[don novicki]

Sat at Presque Isle on Thursday, from before sunrise until 11:00 am and never shouldered the gun. Very limited action from a couple of blinds at the head of the bay but that was it. Not only did I not fire my gun, there were dam few birds flying all morning. Not sure if the migration has stalled or has even started yet. Weather is too darn warm and we are supposed to have a string of days coming up that are warm and sunny with temps in the high 50's or low 60's. Looks like another bust of a season so far. Looking at the DU migration map, the NY/Pa. corridor, as I call it, has zero posts, which does not look good going into the future. Oh well all you can do is try, but now my waders are leaking and I'm reluctant to spend any money on new ones unless it looks like I'm going to use them.

[Rick]

Never know 'til you go, Don. And at least you're doing that...

[Duck Engr]

I’ll second Rick’s notion. And we certainly appreciate your reports, good bad or ugly!

[don novicki]

I know an Ohio guy that comes to P.I. to layout shoot, They were at P.I. last Sat. and killed the following birds and was done with a 3 man limit by 09:30, : Can, Buff Head, Blue Bill, Pinnie, Ringer, Scoter and Golden Eye. So I can't say there aren't birds here now but layout shooting looks like the only way to get at em. Additionally I have reports from guys at Geneva swamp and Hartstown swamp that have been successful for puddlers. I haven't been successful at all but I'm going to hit P.I. hard and see what I can do. Maybe Jeff will invite me along for a layout shoot some time. I'll be getting new waders to finish off the season. Some of the prices are ridiculous.

[Rick]

...layout shooting looks like the only way to get at em...

Like green timber, big water layout gunning is one of the things all God's waterfowlers should experience at least once. Glad I've done it, but it's certainly not for everyone.

[5 stand]

I hope you get that invite...

[don novicki]

11-20-23

Time- 07:00

Place: Cranesville, Pa., private swamp

Weather: Bright, Sunny SE wind 10 mph

Temp: 34 degrees,

Conditions: Dry, visibility: clear

Water: with some skim ice on edges otherwise wide open

Gun: 870

Decoys: 12 Flambeau Storm Front Mallards, weighted keel with 1/8" diamond braid x 4 foot line/10 oz strap weight

Birds seen: None other than a Red Tail Hawk circling the swamp for a while. A few Tweeties here and there.

I basically went out this morning to gather my decoys and call it a season. The Woodies are gone, the Mallards are no where in sight, and although we can hunt until Dec 2, Rifle deer starts this Saturday so I am basically done inland hunting for the year. I can still hunt Presque Isle until Jan 7.

As far as goose hunting goes we are done once deer starts and then it opens back up Dec 11 until Feb. Some corn is coming down but the honkers are not here in mass. The warm temps have stalled things and it doesn't look like we will get any weather in the near future. It's all messed up. My wife's flowers are starting to bloom again. Seriously considering getting out of hunting here and maybe just take a trip or two per season. It's bad here.

[don novicki]

Lake effect snow storm headed our way with W & NW winds in the 20-30 mph range. I plan on hitting Presque Isle Mon. and Tues. if I can get there. They are predicting 18", which isn't too bad, but we could get a heck of a lot more. Excited to use my Ariens Deluxe 28, finally. If I make it down I'll post up a report. Maybe the Cans will blow in.

[Duck Engr]

Sounds like some ducky weather Don! Good luck!

[don novicki]

11-27-23

Presque Isle state park, blind 42

Weather: cold blowing snow WSW wind at 20+, overcast

Decoys: 2 dzn G&H weighted keel B2 Bluebills, 1 dzn Flambeau weighted keel mallards

Gun: 870, ammo Federal 3" #3

Sat at P.I. all morning and never shouldered the gun. Several blinds had a few shots but overall it was quiet. Despite having the weather for once the birds are not here. I'll bet I didn't see more than 30 ducks all morning, and all of those were well out of range. Not many hunters this morning as most everyone is probably at deer camp. Tomorrow is supposed to be cold and windy again but I can't make it out. Warming up this weekend with temps back in the 50's. Goose season closed until Dec 12th. Not many geese around either. Wish I had a better report.

[don novicki]

Weather coming for Monday, cold, snow, NW wind. Honkers are here and corn is finally coming down. I just secured permission to hunt a bunch of different spots owned by one farmer. You need written permission from this guy, something I wish more land owners would do, and he sent me permission to all of his properties. I've never hunted these places but they are covered in corn and out there close to the Ohio line so there aren't many guys out this way. I'm hoping I have some success Monday. I'll post up regardless but boy would I like to knock down a few. A band would be even better.

[Duck Engr]

Good luck Don! Speak it into existence!

[5 stand]

Good luck Don! Speak it into existence!

Yep, good luck Don...

"Speak it into existence!"... I like that, I believe a person can created his own luck (wish for)...

[Deltaman]

Nice having permission to more than one spot, and I hope you hammer'em Monday!

[don novicki]

Thanks guys. Too bad everyone here is from all over the place. Would be nice to have a goose shoot during the season with all of younz ( that's Pittsburgh talk). I'll do my best on Monday. I think being old helps me get on a lot of places. Finally some benefit from being a senior citizen.

[don novicki]

Date 12-11-23

Time: 06:30

Weather: Cold, cloudy, no snow, light NW breeze ( we were promised 20 mph)

Location: Close to the Ohio line in Amish Country

Hunters: just myself

Equipment: Ithaca Mag-10 T-shot, 2-1/2 dozen Carrylite 33" Canada Mag shells, 2-1/2 dozen Canada Avalanche fully flocked silhouettes, 6 Deadly Decoys wind socks Canadas, and 1 dozen Outlaw Mallard silhouettes, Jet sled (gotta have it) Big River Long Honker, my old faithful call still can bring em in.

Where: Corn Field Albion Pa.

Got there early and got set up and then proceeded to wait, and wait and wait. Never saw a duck or goose all morning, hung in until 10:30 and then called it.

I guess it's better to try than sit at home watching tv. Maybe next time.

[SpinnerMan]

Would be nice to have a goose shoot during the season with all of younz ( that's Pittsburgh talk). I'll do my best on Monday.

That would be fun.

Unfortunately, I just don't get over to PA in the winter any more. Back when I used to go home for Christmas and most Thanksgivings, I'd go hunting. So you would have been more or less along the way and I'd already have my PA license and my gear with me.

[5 stand]

Don, that's a lot of decoys for a "senior citizen" to put out by himself, kudos to you buddy, AA for effort... Big River long honker, brings back good memories with my little girl Ebony... Good report, look forward to next time...

[don novicki]

I was tired and sweaty from dragging all that crap out of the field. But in a good way, and yes, it gets harder every year to move all that around. I have pared down my spread from the old days when we could drive into the fields. Used to put out 4 dozen 42" Super Mags and 4 dozen 32" mags shells. Can't do that anymore and I sold the supers a few years back.

[don novicki]

Geese (not a lot) in the corn feeding this evening. Snowing now with more to come, supposedly. Going to try an afternoon hunt tomorrow as I have Dr. appt. in the a.m.. NW wind at 20-30 and Lake Effect snow tonight and tomorrow. I'm greasing up the Mag-10 now. Full report, good or bad, tomorrow.

[Rick]

When I lived in Canada country, snow was a very good thing. Hope it is for you, too.