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.

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!!!

As the River Rises...

Just a few Reconyx timelapse movies from some the usual spring flooding....

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.

 

Slow Start, but High Hopes

Off to a relatively slow start so far this year.  As usual, seems as if Mother Nature just doesn't want to cooperate.  The ducks are in the area, but with temps in the 50's, 60's, and even 70's for the majority of the season they just don't have a reason to move much.  We had a good migration last Sunday night when a big cold front pushed through, and the hunting was good that morning in the rain and the following Monday morning, but other than that things have been relatively stale.  Just waiting on another big cold push to stir things up, but as of right now the forecast doesn't look too promising.

Between planting corn, and the dirt work we did last year, the wetlands are looking better than they ever have.  I still have high hopes for the season if the temperature ever drops.........

(click on an image below and use arrow keys to view full size pics)