Gotten multiple reports of new arrivals Sunday and yesterday. My spot in Brazos has had some woodys but finally had a few teal show up Sunday. Went back out today and have actual huntable numbers.

Anybody else seeing new birds?

Saw probably ~60ish ducks (mainly gads) on a tiny pond at our place Saturday morning. Most I've seen in one hunt there has been 10-15. I'm sure they've pushed out but it was nice to see. Going to hunt this weekend and find out.

DimeBox17 said:

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Saw probably ~60ish ducks (mainly gads) on a tiny pond at our place Saturday morning. Most I've seen in one hunt there has been 10-15. I'm sure they've pushed out but it was nice to see. Going to hunt this weekend and find out.

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Yall have good grass this year? Hopefully they hold for you.

The larger pond that we typically hunt right off the highway has very little water so none of the vegetation took off. However, the smaller one I was referring to that's up the road has quite a bit of duckweed on it and it has never had it.

Our duck lease is in Grayson county near the Hagerman wildlife preserve. It's slow this year. Ducks are trickling in and even the snow goose population is nowhere near what it normally is on the preserve.

Anywho, I went out yesterday morning and while there weren't a ton of birds coming in, there was a good variety.

I killed a northern shoveler drake and 2 beautiful gadwall drakes. I missed a mallard drake & hen and I passed on some other gadwalls & shovelers and a hooded merganser drake & hen.

We had tons of ducks in the panhandle as recently as a week ago, but in the last few days they've all seemed to disappear, so possibly headed y'all's way!
The geese and cranes have been pretty thick in certain areas. There was lots of grain in the ground this year which seems to have the birds scattered pretty good and hard to pattern.

Y'all must be holding all the crane. We have none in the concho valley to hunt yet.

I've noticed several Lubbock based outfitters driving around plainview here so I assume most of the birds are held up here. I wish they'd move south so I can have my spots back. It's hard to compete with these guys paying farmers 100+ dollars a gun with 12 guys in the blind

I have never seen as many cranes this early in the season south of El Campo. They have been absolutely stacked this year and I have no idea why.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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I have never seen as many cranes this early in the season south of El Campo. They have been absolutely stacked this year and I have no idea why.

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Maybe shifting patterns to avoid the guides further north?

Possibly. Still have a few weeks before it opens and I'm sure they'll inevitably be gone by then lol

Brazos spot looks good Casey. Hopefully TB will, too.

That's funny, I'm in Blessing/Palacios and have seen 2 groups of 3 over head and that's it.

Really doubt it.

Snow geese were hunted mercilessly on the Katy Prairie for years and that didn't move their flight patterns/paths.

Cranes =\= snow geese but same idea applies.

Most likely more concentrated that normal for food availability reasons.

DimeBox17 said:

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....has quite a bit of duckweed on it and it has never had it.

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Gadwall favorite food. I bet you pound them.

These were all between El Campo and Markham. I didn't see the numbers when I hunted in Palacios or outside of Blessing.

Really doubt what?

Edit: I think I got it now that I have had coffee. You're saying doubt they'll move because of pressure. I think that's probably true, especially considering most people down here down really target cranes specifically.

Funny. Guess they love them some solar farm

Or the new wind turbines LOL

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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I have never seen as many cranes this early in the season south of El Campo. They have been absolutely stacked this year and I have no idea why.

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Possible colder weather coming. 3 days before the ice storm a few years ago I saw bluebirds and robins in a pasture I hadn't seen in years.

BCO07 said:

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Funny. Guess they love them some solar farm

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Or the peanuts!

Went to Richland Chambers Friday for standby, no luck. But it is covered!

CS78 said:

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Gotten multiple reports of new arrivals Sunday and yesterday. My spot in Brazos has had some woodys but finally had a few teal show up Sunday. Went back out today and have actual huntable numbers.

Anybody else seeing new birds?

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That's a great looking hole.

Growing up in Bryan I used to have spots in the Navasota bottoms that I had access to Sadly, all those old ranchers have passed and mostly their places have been divvied up and sold. I wasn't much into duck hunting then but would kill to be able to hunt some of those places today.

Who the hell is growing peanuts in Markham?

BCO07 said:

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Who the hell is growing peanuts in Markham?

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Solar farms in panhandle made me think that's where you were talking about.

Man, do I feel your pain there.

TarponChaser said:

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CS78 said:

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Gotten multiple reports of new arrivals Sunday and yesterday. My spot in Brazos has had some woodys but finally had a few teal show up Sunday. Went back out today and have actual huntable numbers.

Anybody else seeing new birds?

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That's a great looking hole.

Growing up in Bryan I used to have spots in the Navasota bottoms that I had access to Sadly, all those old ranchers have passed and mostly their places have been divvied up and sold. I wasn't much into duck hunting then but would kill to be able to hunt some of those places today.

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Same here, in the 70's and 80's used to hunt the area just north of Sugar Land Airport. Now Cullinen Park. Wood ducks everywhere. Plus blue teal and red heads.

CS78 said:

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Gotten multiple reports of new arrivals Sunday and yesterday. My spot in Brazos has had some woodys but finally had a few teal show up Sunday. Went back out today and have actual huntable numbers.

Anybody else seeing new birds?

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I hope so. Going to be hunting for almost a week straight over Christmas week.

I sent you a PM on our other site btw..

I wish, panhandle waterfowl beats the hell out of Matagorda county

Saw 30-40 ducks on our place in the Navasota bottom Saturday around mid day. All puddle ducks.

Also saw 6-7 of these; something I'd never seen before (Limpkins):



(NOTE: Not my picture).

Throw it out there for the chance if you have room...if you have a spot for one more gun I am here in CS and will travel a little ways to hunt.

TRIDENT said:

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Brazos spot looks good Casey. Hopefully TB will, too.

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We ran about 60 miles yesterday and found very few birds. One little spot where we were able to go back this morning and shoot a livewell full. Found a couple little groups of canvasbacks but not enough to hunt and they were in with coots.

goatchze said:

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Saw 30-40 ducks on our place in the Navasota bottom Saturday around mid day. All puddle ducks.

Also saw 6-7 of these; something I'd never seen before (Limpkins):



(NOTE: Not my picture).

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Ive actually seen those same birds twice this last week in spots that seemed odd. I just thought they were ibis.

I saw quite a few ducks on our stock tank last weekend, probably 50 in all on 3/4 of an acre of water
Approx. ratio:
Bluebill - 10
Teal - 20
Hooded Mergansers - 5
Widgeon - 5
Gadwall - 10

Apache said:

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I saw quite a few ducks on our stock tank last weekend, probably 50 in all on 3/4 of an acre of water
Approx. ratio:
Bluebill - 10
Teal - 20
Hooded Mergansers - 5
Widgeon - 5
Gadwall - 10

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Not mad enough at em Apache? Where are you located?