[Heart shot]

Heading up to Shanks tomorrow morning. Looks like we are going to need the sledge and saw, but hopefully if we break open enough water we can coax in some birdies.

If you had the choice would you hunt the Sloughs, walk-in, or Mark Twain lake. We do have a boat. I am thinking the sloughs on the big lake might be best since there is more likely to be open water.

 

[Guest]

You wouldnt catch me at shanks i would hit the lake if i was you:cheers:

 

[Heart shot]

[rquote=1515432&tid=105663&author=greenheadsmoker613]You wouldnt catch me at shanks i would hit the lake if i was you:cheers:[/rquote]

And why is that?? It has been a couple of years since I have hunted there.

 

[Guest]

Im not into using a chain saw to cut a hole just not for me there is open water close go there then you will find the birds that havent been shot at and called at everyday for the past month :cheers:

 

[Heart shot]

Hopefully a few new ones drop down with the front today. I guess we will see.

Thanks

 

[MO_BowHunter]

I would think Shanks might have some open water in the back channels or around. If you could find open water or make open water rather easily - then you might find some new birds. The warm weather yesterday and rain up there today helped break things up.

 

[Heart shot]

That is what I am hoping for. Usually do not like the parks too much, but my buddies want to give it a shot as they have never hunted one.

 

[doepee]

Good luck either way! Need to get down here and hunt. Heading out tomorrow morning for our cold front. Suppose to get down in the 50's!:woot:

 

[Heart shot]

Ill let you know how we do. does not look to promising.

Maybe we should hit the lake or our fields. The corn is cut so maybe I can get a goose or two to land.

[Edited on 12/18/2009 by Heart shot]

 

[ASW]

shanks has killed 0 birds the last two day....for what it's worth.

 

[ducks1]

shanks is froze up tight for a fact... twain the birds are real spread ot.. had a group of guys up there today that has been hammerin them on a regular basis just outside of new london.. they said today they didnt see a bird.. they are on their way to truman now so.... thats been another news brief from the marshes...good luck shoot welll and be safe...

 

[jakesdad]

We hunt on the Illinois side across from shanks,both on the river and in fields and smaller ponds.Water is froze up hard except on the main river channel in spots.We hunted this am in a shelled corn field and saw a grand total of 24 geese,in one bunch headed for somewhere else.Most people we talked to have had zero luck the last few days,and its been crappy all year.

 

[ASW]

No res needed...no more draws at Shanks this year...just show up and hunt.

 

[Original Al]

"Due to thick ice covering 100% of the area, a lack of birds using the area, and a lack of interest by hunters to hunt these conditions we will no longer be conducting the morning waterfowl draw at Ted Shanks starting Monday, December 21st and lasting the remainder of the season. Ted Shanks is still open for hunting the remainder of the season, including christmas day. If hunters are still interested in hunting on Ted Shanks they are still required to obtain a daily tag. Daily tags are available at the self check-in/check-out box located by the front door of area headquarters. This will be our last report for the season unless area conditions change. For more information call 573-754-6171 or 573-248-2530."

Lack of birds using the area? They claim to still be holding 62,500 :stickfight:

[Edited on 12/19/09 by Original Al]

 

[JustBob]

62,500 imaginary ducks...

 

[kgdog]

[rquote=1516550&tid=105663&author=JustBob]62,500 imaginary ducks...[/rquote]

Not so ...........sitting on the refuge .....When it gets cold they dont want to leave there water hole for long periods of time ,if they do the hole freezes up

 

[rangerdvr]

From my 15 yrs in Arkansas with frozen water. If the ducks want to be in an area, they will keep some holes open. If you have to make a hole to HOPE some birds will come, your luck is usually not so good. There was a one week period in late season where the AR river backwaters were frozen, Bayou Meto was frozen, and the ducks were not ready to head to LA yet. There was one open hole about a mile+ up some back water and it held Thousands upon thousands of birds. So, we busted ice in 3 boats for the mile+ and blew all the birds out. We parked all 3 boats in the open hole, 2 with blinds one without. and waited 30 minutes later here they came. wave after wave after wave. We were done in a matter of 1 hour start to finish. It was incredible. We did this for 5 or 6 days. We woiuld even go out till 0900, kept it easy on all of us. It was incredible. Point being, they wanted to be in that hole. Not any other place. There were millions of private flooded fields for them to pick from, but for some reason they felt safe there.

 

[kgdog]

I guess the refuge is opened up too .......woo hoo

 

[archer66]

[rquote=1516606&tid=105663&author=kgdog]I guess the refuge is opened up too .......woo hoo [/rquote]

You are kidding right......???? The refuge is closed.