2023 Waterfowl Thread

Try to punch them out in front of you.
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Thats usually when I hit them lol. Will hold my fire till the pass over.

I used to shoot trap occasionally and definitely do better on the shots as they are moving away from me.

I need to try skeet shooting to practice for thr crossing ducks
 
In my15 years of guiding waterfowl. I found, in our area, that the major bird migrations revolved around the full moon and temperature drops accompanied with North wind. We usually see two big pushes as the birds only travel as far as required to stay ahead of the inclement weather. Shooting geese in our area is residents at this time of year in South Eastern Ontario. Its both water and green fields. In the proper place it can start and finish in under fifteen minutes as this hunt on Saturday turned out. Three guns and thirty geese.IMG_9575[1].jpg
 

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I would also like to add that in birds that are identifiable, It would be nice to see DRAKES being the primary harvest. Something the USA is way ahead of us. Many places Ive guided clients have heavy fines levied on shooting hens. Its a conservation tool that does work and has been proven. It also makes you a much better waterfowler cuz you have to really concentrate on the target which will improve your shooting skills.
 
Longstud said:
I would also like to add that in birds that are identifiable, It would be nice to see DRAKES being the primary harvest. Something the USA is way ahead of us. Many places Ive guided clients have heavy fines levied on shooting hens. Its a conservation tool that does work and has been proven. It also makes you a much better waterfowler cuz you have to really concentrate on the target which will improve your shooting skills.
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Not necessary in Canada. We don't have the number of hunters and in many places if we waited for plumed birds we'd have to hunt them in spring.
 
medvedqc said:
mostly a question for the spank and stubblejumper but of course any can answer as well lol ... are the birds you are hunting resident ones or the migration already started? because up here we did not saw or heard any flocks leaving the north and i can see some ducks that now are residents here? ...
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The specs are here, so the migration has begun although a lot of the Canadas are local geese.
 
Longstud said:
I would also like to add that in birds that are identifiable, It would be nice to see DRAKES being the primary harvest. Something the USA is way ahead of us. Many places Ive guided clients have heavy fines levied on shooting hens. Its a conservation tool that does work and has been proven. It also makes you a much better waterfowler cuz you have to really concentrate on the target which will improve your shooting skills.
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I don't know about it being a conservation tool that works ( I have never looked into that, but kind of makes sense.), but it makes me a better shooter by forcing me to pick a bird rather than "all of them".
Here in the Lower mainland, by late October, drakes are readily identifiable and we still have 3 months of season to go.
I do understand Spank's concern for his area.
 
Longstud said:
I would also like to add that in birds that are identifiable, It would be nice to see DRAKES being the primary harvest. Something the USA is way ahead of us. Many places Ive guided clients have heavy fines levied on shooting hens. Its a conservation tool that does work and has been proven. It also makes you a much better waterfowler cuz you have to really concentrate on the target which will improve your shooting skills.
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Not in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have plenty of migratory birds and their population is in great shape.
 
medvedqc said:
mostly a question for the spank and stubblejumper but of course any can answer as well lol ... are the birds you are hunting resident ones or the migration already started? because up here we did not saw or heard any flocks leaving the north and i can see some ducks that now are residents here? ...
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Lots coming south towards you. Puddles are about empty near Dawson now. Have heard geese and sandhills flying after dark.
 
A nice mix of locals and incoming from the north around here in NE BC. I missed last weekend but hope to get after them this weekend! Decent numbers around.. the drought has concentrated them onto the larger ponds.

As Spank says, shooting males only doesn't work well at this latitude. Nearly everything is still in eclipse plumage... just a bunch of brown ducks. That said, to an experienced / interested hunter, they can certainly be identified to species as they fly by.
 
the spank said:
Not necessary in Canada. We don't have the number of hunters and in many places if we waited for plumed birds we'd have to hunt them in spring.
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Despite the lower number of hunters in Canada versus the US. The shooting of hens definately has adverse affects on the population. Ask any biologist. A dead hen will never have another clutch! The birds we hunt are the same as those in the US and if they hadnt changed their ways of hunting we would see a big drop in numbers. If they cant be identified well thats different. But here (Your opening) our birds at that time are speculated but still distinguishable from hens. I realize prime plumage occurs for mating but even woodies and teal here are pretty easy to see the drakes from hens unless its very early or very late in the day. To each their own. Have a great season and it looks like your well on your way. Cheers Chris
 
1963beretta said:
Well done Spank. I really need to get one of those shot cams!

Sadly, my season likely came to an end just days before the goose opener. I was up at the lake on the 3rd and built a pretty snazzy blind just in time for the early goose opener on the 7th. Unfortunately just two days later, an unforeseen medical issue came up and I found myself in the hospital awaiting a surgery. Surgery was successful, but with a 6-12 week recovery, I fear my season may have come to an end before it had a chance to start. FACK!! With any luck, I may be able to catch the tail end of the season if my revocer is quicker than expected and the the weather holds out long enough
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Take a run up here in November, Alvaro... I will get you out on some big water divers.
 
Longstud said:
Despite the lower number of hunters in Canada versus the US. The shooting of hens definately has adverse affects on the population. Ask any biologist. A dead hen will never have another clutch! The birds we hunt are the same as those in the US and if they hadnt changed their ways of hunting we would see a big drop in numbers. If they cant be identified well thats different. But here (Your opening) our birds at that time are speculated but still distinguishable from hens. I realize prime plumage occurs for mating but even woodies and teal here are pretty easy to see the drakes from hens unless its very early or very late in the day. To each their own. Have a great season and it looks like your well on your way. Cheers Chris
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Ask any biologist? Well any biologist I've spoken with and I shot skeet with one for over 20 years says the most important factor in duck numbers is water on the breeding grounds at breeding time plain and simple. Ducks are not ungulates.
 
Still pretty sure a biologist will agree ( A DEAD HEN WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CLUTCH)! Like I said before, to each their own. You have your train of thought and I have mine. Looking at your pics of the successful hunts ,I would not be able to identify hen from drake unless they were extremely close. Cheers and good hunting
 
Longstud said:
Still pretty sure a biologist will agree ( A DEAD HEN WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CLUTCH)! Like I said before, to each their own. You have your train of thought and I have mine. Looking at your pics of the successful hunts ,I would not be able to identify hen from drake unless they were extremely close. Cheers and good hunting
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This should make you feel better…
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