Most of the wild millet has already dropped its seed, check out all that duck food floating in the water. Jap millet should hold onto its seed well into the season which will work out perfect.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Season Prep Continues....
New timber hole blind coming along nicely and the pump is set. Could use a little help from Mother Nature to put a little more water in our "river".
Most of the wild millet has already dropped its seed, check out all that duck food floating in the water. Jap millet should hold onto its seed well into the season which will work out perfect.
Most of the wild millet has already dropped its seed, check out all that duck food floating in the water. Jap millet should hold onto its seed well into the season which will work out perfect.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Setting the Table for 2013
Well, the blog may have gone dormant over the summer but the work hasn't stopped. Duck season prep is underway and the real fun is just starting. Had plans on getting corn planted again this year but the spring floods kept our fields too wet late into the planting season. Good thing we didn't because massive early August flood would have wiped out our crop.
Nonetheless, with a little water level manipulation on our part, Mother Nature takes care of the groceries for us. Our fields are primed with plenty of highly desirable duck food consisting mostly of barnyard grass (wild millet), smartweed, and some japanese millet that we broadcasted in the lower spots.
My dad and Dennis took care of mowing holes in front of the blinds and in our timber holes last weekend. Also mowed some strips in the natural vegetation to show more water, and burned some brush piles in Mickey's hole where we've continued our TSI project.
New blind in the A-hole is framed out and will be working on finishing it up in the next week. Then, cover blinds and flip the switch on the pump!!!
Nonetheless, with a little water level manipulation on our part, Mother Nature takes care of the groceries for us. Our fields are primed with plenty of highly desirable duck food consisting mostly of barnyard grass (wild millet), smartweed, and some japanese millet that we broadcasted in the lower spots.
My dad and Dennis took care of mowing holes in front of the blinds and in our timber holes last weekend. Also mowed some strips in the natural vegetation to show more water, and burned some brush piles in Mickey's hole where we've continued our TSI project.
New blind in the A-hole is framed out and will be working on finishing it up in the next week. Then, cover blinds and flip the switch on the pump!!!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Spring Rains
Coming up on that time of year where the spring rains lead to frequent flooding. Dad and I went down to check on the pipes, stoplogs, and flap gates during the last flood to make sure the timber and west field would drain, and east field hold water. Attempted to drain the fields to mow down the corn before the floods hit but never got close to dry enough. The majority of the migration has already moved through, but still saw plenty of ducks.
Hope we can avoid any major flooding this year to give our local turkey population a little break. Just over a week to go for turkey season! As the forecast stands now, good chance the river will be out of its banks for the opener but we will somehow manage as we do just about every year.
Hope we can avoid any major flooding this year to give our local turkey population a little break. Just over a week to go for turkey season! As the forecast stands now, good chance the river will be out of its banks for the opener but we will somehow manage as we do just about every year.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Post Season Videos
Some videos Jason took in the past week while he attempted to goose hunt. Sure makes it tough to focus on geese when you're covered up with ducks!
(click on the settings button in the bottom right corner and change the videos to high quality)
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Flooded Corn Roost
Typical of many years, the ducks continue to hang around the area in mass numbers weeks after the season has ended. At least we got to enjoy a week of hunting this before the season closed. This just gives us a little more encouragement that flooding standing corn was worth it, and we will continue to keep trying to improve the habitat to see sights like this (hopefully moreso during season if the weather and ducks cooperate!).
The ears of corn are stripped clean, but they continue to hang around and use the field as a roost and feed on what waste grain and invertebrates are left. Jason went down a couple times this past week and took some pictures and video of what was hanging around.
The ears of corn are stripped clean, but they continue to hang around and use the field as a roost and feed on what waste grain and invertebrates are left. Jason went down a couple times this past week and took some pictures and video of what was hanging around.
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