Hunting in ice
 

I usually hunt at a duck refuge, but this year it froze over early, really early. I don't know where to go now that i can't go there. should i still go there and try to break the ice, or should i try somewhere else? we have tons of lakes around here. Should i just find a point, or field... what do you reccomend? I'm lost.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

If it's a good spot, go ahead, trek in, and bust out a big hole in the ice...if everything is frozen over, put dekes in it and ducks should come into it...

Lemme know how it goes...good luck!

RE: Hunting in ice
 

If you can break the ice by all means get in there and do it! ive done this and it believe me if ducks are around and see that open water they will come in consistantly. if you cant break the ice, weve put clear plastic sheeting on the ice and put goose dekes on it.


Froman,, I take it your the same Froman from the "Fuge"?

RE: Hunting in ice
 

First make sure the ducks/geese are still around and want to come into that pond. If not, what's the use?
I went scouting today and have decided to hunt the Pack River. All my favorite ponds and pot holes are frozen over too. I found a gazillion ducks/geese on the Pend Oreille river but no boat launch for several miles.
Good luck!


critch

RE: Hunting in ice
 

Critch, How did it go at Pack river? I'm up in Bonners Ferry and the refuge is frozen in for the season I think. We do hunt the river up here, but I'm always looking for new places that are close by.
Good hunting,

Michael

RE: Hunting in ice
 

woodsboy, I'm going to the Pack tomorrow. I'll try to get back here and let you know how it went.

critch

RE: Hunting in ice
 

Ya i was talking about the refuge in bonners! what a small world eh? So you think that it is done for the season? Where exactly is the Pack River? I have heard of it but I have no idea where it is. I don't have a boat i can use so i am kinda unlucky in the aspect that i can't get out to the duck in the middle of Pend Oreille. So i need a place that i can hunt from the shore...

RE: Hunting in ice
 

I don't have to hunt over ice often here in TX but I read an article just the other day in Waterfowl Hunter Magazine that said to make a 20 yard hole in front and slightly upwind of your blind. It said to jam it full of dekes leaving just enough room for passing birds to drop in. It also said that the dekes should be tightly bunched up and not worry about them bumping together. The reason being, in cold weather, open water is at a premium and ducks naturally bunch up tight.

Good luck and hope the tip works for you.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

great tip! i wonder if that would work in bonners? i will try it if i get a chance to go this weekend. Thanks.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

How was the pack river critch? What do you think my chances would be at the refuge in bonners this weekend?

RE: Hunting in ice
 

Hey Idaho,

How'd that tip work out? I'm curious to see if I should apply it when the situation warrants it. Like I posted, I read it in a magazine.

Thanks,
TX

RE: Hunting in ice
 

If the ducks are hanging around the refuge still, try breaking ice and setting up. However, if it is frozen for a while, the birds know this and have probably moved to other places locally or left altogether. First think of any open water, such as lakes or small rivers/creeks. Then head out and look for birds. We do some of our best shooting on tiny creeks when everything is frozen up because that is the only open water and the birds are concentrated in them. Look for the birds, then you will know where to hunt. Late season is the best in my opinion, so good luck and have fun.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

I agree with what everyone is saying. At the Horicon marsh it frooze it early. We went out there and broke ice. The ducks were seeing open water and coming right in. So just brake the ice.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

TX ... I was stuck doing X-MAS lights this weekend except for a few hours sunday. I jumped over to an iced over section of a tiny lake and had geese and birds fying right in... most of them flew over initially and then doubled back down. Thanks for the tip.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

I have done some stupid stuff on icy water. I hunt shallow swamps that freeze up quick. Usually the birds will be there a day or two if you can get a hole open up for then. Some of my best days have been on the only open holes. I have also found out when the shallow swamps freeze up find the nearest lake and get on it. It takes longer for the large bodies of water to lock up.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

thanks for the advice everyone... i am going to go out tomorrow for a quick hour and see what happens.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

That's right. If it's been frozen for a while, more than likely they've found somewhere else to go. But... if there are ducks flying over, and you've broken a hole in the ice, no doubt you'll have some come in.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

I actually got out and hunted 2 weeks ago on the morning that a marsh we were hunting first froze. The ducks were around, and we broke ice, yet the birds flew over the marsh and looked unsure of what to do, since the whole thing was frozen. Had we been the only party hunting, I think we would have done better. But the birds didn't work well at first and then worked better later as ice melted and the wind broke it up. Many of the spots that had done well the previous day, didn't do well at all the day we were there, in my opinion due to the ice, despite the fact that hunters were breaking holes and setting out dekes. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Hope you have good luck.

RE: Hunting in ice
 

critch. woodsboy... any idea how the refuge is doing? i was thinking about giving it a try..