Midwest Iowa Outdoors® & Outside Iowa®
With Thomas Allen
(November 21st, 2011)
Instead of buying a Butterball this Thanksgiving, I think I’m gonna have me some honker! I’ll have to get prior approval of course, but I think she’ll go for it. The ultimate plan and ulterior motive is to get out and shoot a few geese so we have some fresh meat for the big feast!
There was a major winter storm in the Dakotas that had the birds headed south in large numbers, and we were right in that path. That same weather system was scheduled to hit us over the next couple days, which was to include rain, snow, and ice. We loaded up the dekes, calls, and hooked the boat up to the pickup with plans to be at the launch by 12 AM the following morning to claim a spot.
The morning was magical; we filled a four-man limit of ducks and geese by 1 PM and enjoyed greasy bacon and eggs with hash browns, made fresh on the boat. (There is no better way to enjoy breakfast than on a duck boat while its chilly out!) We didn’t get any white fronted geese, but had a mixed bag of ducks including a few big mallards. It was amazing and well worth skipping a day of deer hunting.
The weather and time of year are vital to consistently finding waterfowl shoots like that. The storm they had up north really got the birds moving and pushed them south as they sought refuge from the nasty weather. While it wasn’t much nicer here, it was where they ended up and spent a few days to refill their fuel tanks with corn and soybeans.
We have a few marshes that we regularly check when planning for a hunt. This particular slough had 300-400 honkers and as many ducks on it the morning before we decided to hunt it. The forecast was calling for overcast with moderate winds and rain likely, which is uncomfortable for the hunters, but perfect for the birds.
During these northern pushes, the birds are new to your area and are far more susceptible to decoying and calling tactics. Whether you are on a marsh or field hunting, lots of decoys are typically the best way to go. Mix duck dekes with honker dekes and you will be in position to work on filling limits of both, which only sweetens the pot.
These birds have done a bit of traveling by this time and have most likely seen other hunters along the way. If you are field hunting, make sure your blinds are well hidden. If you don’t have a layout blind, use a piece of burlap and weave a few cornstalks or dried prairie grass into it to add realism. Finally, place a few silhouette decoys around your hide as that help in making you disappear.
If you’re on the water, take advantage of the existing terrain or structure like muskrat huts; your duck blind/boat should look like the existing vegetation. Don’t be afraid to move or adjust your set up if what you are doing is just not working. The birds will tell you what they want, and successful hunters listen. You may spook a few birds in the process, but the rewards are worth the extra effort.
The weather is so key this time of year. I watch it like a hawk for my local hunting areas, but also for up north. If big weather is hitting way up there, you can expect birds to be in route to your favorite pond, slough or harvest crop field. When the right conditions are pending, clear your schedule and take advantage of it! These fall northern pushes are as good as it gets and only come around once a year.
From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
(Thomas resides with his wife and two children in Guthrie Center, Iowa. He is a professional outdoor writer, photographer, videographer, and outdoor talk radio show host; for more information visit www.outdoorpursuitsradio.com. If you have questions or comments feel free to email Thomas at tha481@gmail.com)
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