West TN Duck Reports

[Bgoodman30]

Just wanted to start a rolling thread for season. This past weekend seemed stale already mostly the same ducks from mid November. I heard there was good counts at refuge. Not a lot of mallards moving and tons of spoons around. Need new birds.

 

[drawforce]

Best start in several years for my group

 

[Swampster]

I don't duck hunt but a week ago shortly after getting in my deer stand I saw seven wood ducks in a large puddle about fifteen yards from me. As it got lighter they all took off.

 

[Remington700]

I have not gone this year. Friends have done alright so far. Mainly just killing local ducks as it has not gotten cold enough to push much down yet.

 

[cbhunter]

Slow start for us, we really need the river to get out where we are and I think it will improve. I envy any of yall that can hunt when you want. Being a weekend warrior makes it tough

 

[Bgoodman30]

I have not gone this year. Friends have done alright so far. Mainly just killing local ducks as it has not gotten cold enough to push much down yet.

It certainly got colder earlier than most years. Had good numbers show up after fronts in mid November. I am afraid if West TN doesn't get some water they might pass us on by and it might suck until after Christmas...

 

[Smashdn]

Birds are farther down the flyway this year than in the past several years. The key will be weather between now and solstice. We really need about two more really cold blasts between now and then to drive birds down out of mid MO and Illinois where they seemed to be more or less stacked. Have heard southern Iowa is pretty loaded as well and think their season is already closed. The Missouri counts released last week are impressive (as usual compared to KY and TN) but markedly better than last several years at this time. Same for the Forbes Biological Station reports.

Might go without saying but in addition to the cold blasts that freeze stuff up and give them the NW wind that assists them with getting south, we need significant (5"+) snow cover for several days to cover their food and force them off the big and moving water.

 

[Bgoodman30]

Birds are farther down the flyway this year than in the past several years. The key will be weather between now and solstice. We really need about two more really cold blasts between now and then to drive birds down out of mid MO and Illinois where they seemed to be more or less stacked. Have heard southern Iowa is pretty loaded as well and think their season is already closed. The Missouri counts released last week are impressive (as usual compared to KY and TN) but markedly better than last several years at this time. Same for the Forbes Biological Station reports.

Might go without saying but in addition to the cold blasts that freeze stuff up and give them the NW wind that assists them with getting south, we need significant (5"+) snow cover for several days to cover their food and force them off the big and moving water.

Yep they are stacked just north. Dakotas froze earlier and sent them south. Seems like MO is having a bang up year but with weather conditions turning mild I think it might stagnate other than a possible calendar migration. If we get some new water will also probably bring the birds.

 

[Displaced_Vol]

It certainly got colder earlier than most years. Had good numbers show up after fronts in mid November. I am afraid if West TN doesn't get some water they might pass us on by and it might suck until after Christmas...

We definitely need water in our west KY spot too. I don't think your scenario is absolute worst case though- obviously I want as many at my latitude as I can get, but once we roll into January if we can't have them I think I'd rather them be south of us than still north-

Cautiously optimistic about weather still, just hope for a good rain and if these cold fronts still keep hitting frequently enough to keep things frozen above us things may work out OK

 

[Displaced_Vol]

On this topic I've looked a couple times for the TWRA waterfowl counts from their refuges but it doesn't look like they have any yet from this fall? Are they behind or am I maybe looking in the wrong spot?

 

[Westtnduckhtr]

I have not gone to our place yet to hunt this year. Plan on going over on Friday to hunt Saturday and Sunday. Just got back from a sunny 80 degrees in Palm Beach, hope it's not to cold

 

[JagwalCrush]

Our numbers are up compared to the same time last season but we've shot many more woodies this year too. I would say our big duck numbers are "fair" at this point. Drove to Tennessee National one day last week and wasnt too impressed with the amount of water or number of ducks seen either. Saw many more snows and specks than ducks. Theres a lot of areas they could of been sitting that I couldnt see too.

 

[Displaced_Vol]

I'm holding out a lot of hope for the rain we may get this weekend & early next week

 

[Westtnduckhtr]

Looks like rain for the weekend! Hope it will finish filling our place up! Maybe we can shoot a few while we wait. Going to head over in the morning to get ready.

 

[drawforce]

Less ducks today first hunt without a limit