The ducks are here

The ducks are here. Have been for four to five days.

Waterfowlers up and down the Illinois River valley are chuckling and smiling at what is turning out to be a very good duck season.

When last we weighed in on this subject, it was to mention that strip mine hunting was good for the opener. So it was. And after a lull, things have picked back up. This morning I was invited to hunt with Scot Jehle of Elmwood at a strip-mine lake. Despite no wind and less than two hours of hunting we managed to shoot five ducks (OK, four were spoonbills, but in the strip mines beggars can’t be choosers).

And our outing pales in comparison to what I am hearing from many other duck shooters.

Consider that Eric Doubet and his crew, during a recent outing to Banner Marsh, managed 24 ducks out of that site’s best blind. One day earlier, three out of the four blinds hunted had killed out.

Similar good reports are coming from up and down the river.

Limits. Wads of teal and wood ducks. Mallards. Gadwalls. Pintails. Canvasbacks.

Name a duck, they are around. The Nov. 8 count on the Illinois River shows more than 800,000 ducks. That’s big numbers. Here is that report: Illinois_River_ducks_11-8.pdf

My late duck mentor Don Moreland used to tell me the season really started on Veteran’s Day.

Well this year it started a week earlier. My hunch is that means we can expect things to freeze up early. Hey, maybe I am wrong. But if I am right, you better get out NOW! This is working out to be a real good duck season. Take advantage of the opportunity.

Jeff Lampe - Heartland Outdoors