Duck Clubs

Most of us had high expectations for the 10-11 Season, partly due to the lack of success and good hunting weather days of the previous Season. We did see good numbers of migrating ducks and geese and the white front goose bag numbers were way up in the early going of the season. Due mainly to the late rice harvest and early fall rain which delayed flooding for duck hunting.

The lack of decomp water in the first 4 to 6 weeks of the duck season made for better than average duck hunting for rice clubs that had water and the public areas that were flooded-up for refuge hunting. Most of us rice hunters had to wait until December to see any kind of duck water in our fields. To make matters worse, it takes a week or two after flood-up before the stomper gets finished with the field.

When I look back on it now, I can say we got ready to hunt, decoys out and blind brushed, just in time for the great hunting from mid December through the end of the season.

Clear days and nice weather is what we saw for most of January. That made great conditions for fog and we saw plenty of it, along with some very cold mornings with iced over rice ponds. On those cold mornings mid day and afternoon hunts were great.

Other than the very late start to the duck season, it wasn’t all that bad. We had some very good days and good limits were had. Even with the fewer days hunted last season, due to the late rice harvest and the weather, more ducks and geese were taken than the 09-10 season.

This is the first time I can remember January being as dry as it was. We did not see any rain or wind until the last week of the month. You can usually count on some good duck hunting stormy weather with a strong south wind in January. That just didn't’t happen last year. I think that was a good thing. The ducks stayed around in the fog and when it lifted the hunting was great.

Let’s face it, we all like to shoot limits but just being able to enjoy what we all love to do is worth it for me. I am happy with 3 or 4 ducks when I go to the blind. Last season my average was way up from the previous year.

If you are in a position that allows you to run to the blind when the weather is good, you will be successful. Granted, not all of us have that opportunity but I really think that’s what it takes to kill limits in this day and age. Not to mention your ability to hit your target but that’s another subject all together.

Until next season, keep your ammo dry and your shotgun clean.