Went On A Drive Looking For Ducks Today.

[duckydoty]

Instead of hunting today I decided to drive around scouting and checking on hard water conditions. Headed over to Rockaway Beach and noticed some hard water below the bridge over Bull Creek. The roads to Rockaway were in good shape and the launch was OK. Some ice near the launch about 10 feet wide before there was open water. Drove back to boy scout road and nothing but ice back there. Few ducks and geese along the beach front of Rockaway and all the sloughs and coves down the gauntlet were solid. 3 swans hanging out down by Cedar Point but not much else. Pulled off at the scenic over look just inside Forsythe and did not see much there either. Could still see the swans from up there. Took the loop out of Forsythe to Empire. Pull off at the next over look and could see a few ducks just down from Cockleburr cove. Some guys hunting the next cove down and getting some shooting in but could not see the ducks myself. Went on down to empire and it was loaded with ducks and geese....no place to hunt there....

Headed on down to swan creek and it was froze solid with a small group of geese at the mouth. Decided to head over to Galena and see what the James looked like. When I got there I was surprised. Flowing ice! No way to put a boat in that. Ran on over to Crane Creek for a look see. Got to the lower wire road access and started walking down stream. Did not have my waders but did bring the shot gun. About half way down the stream in the public use area I jumped about 50 ducks. 2 mallards swung close and I flat out missed. Sat there about an hour and had 3 more swing by. I dropped one and the wind blew it across the creek. Wet waded over grabbed it and headed on out of there. Drove over to flat creek where it dumps into the James River arm. It too was froze solid. Crossed the Rock at Bridge port and again nothing but ice. Drove from there over to TableRock dam and that is open water but no rafting ducks. If we picked some up the last couple of days, I sure could not find them except a small number over at Crane.

[BilletHead]

Well you got out and got one. Good for you Duane. I did a little drive and all I seen was some geese on city water. Maybe this rain coming will melt some ice and spread what we have left around. It is about as bleak as I have seen it around here right now. Glad we did what we did when we could. Should of known we were in for something when we had bookoos mallards early over three weeks before South zone even opened. Not complaining at all. It is what it is and we got to field hunt within a stones throw of the house. Doesn't get any better than that,

BilletHead

[Bird Watcher]

Went and surveyed the Tundra myself this afternoon. Too bad I'm not a snow goose hunter. That looks like it would be on fire. Very few Canadas, but a few. Ducks, I saw a few. I can' believe how many have left since Saturday evening. There's just stragglers left.

[Jeff Olson]

Thanks for the report D-D, I was wondering about lower taney today. I scouted out the rock also this afternoon until dark .it was pretty windy but I thought I would see more than the few divers I saw! and a few lrg flocks of geese flying high. hopefully this area is not coming to the end! Oh well, if it is, I guess a guy can start crappie fishing!

[JohnP]

Good but not good report DD . Hunted with the boy sunday afternoon and seen several large flocks of high flying migrators heading south that wanted nothing to do with where we were. Hoping that there's a few stragglers that couldn't keep up decided to rest up for a couple days in the morning .

[duckydoty]

Got another search and seek mission tomorrow…..we will see how it turns out….

[duckydoty]

Good but not good report DD . Hunted with the boy sunday afternoon and seen several large flocks of high flying migrators heading south that wanted nothing to do with where we were. Hoping that there's a few stragglers that couldn't keep up decided to rest up for a couple days in the morning .

Hope you find them JohnP

[Chief Grey Bear]

I saw a field near Afton this afternoon that was solid green. And it wasn't grass! Had to have been close to or over 1k. I haven't seen that many in a while!

[duckydoty]

Thanks for the report D-D, I was wondering about lower taney today. I scouted out the rock also this afternoon until dark .it was pretty windy but I thought I would see more than the few divers I saw! and a few lrg flocks of geese flying high. hopefully this area is not coming to the end! Oh well, if it is, I guess a guy can start crappie fishing!

If it would stay warm a few days, I would not mind chasing some crappie.

[duckydoty]

It has been a good season Marty. I can not complain one bit. There's still some birds to play with on Taney, just wanting a change of scenery.