Will we have the same dates for ducks?

[goose hunter]

Is it too early to make plans for the opening of the duck season? Do you think we might have the same dates as last year? I like to make a guess each year.

[Big Frank 25]

We'll no more in August. I think the meeting is on the 9th of Aug.

[orion]

Ducks will probably be 45 days, maybe 60. If we get the shorter season it will probably be split along with three zone openers. Like Frank said, The NRC will set the dates based on the framework the feds give us and the recomendations of the CWAC. It most likely will be an opener in the south zone close to what it was last year. If we get 45 days and do get a split we will probably get a second opener in the south zone around Thanksgiving. This is all info I got from a couple of friends on the CWAC.

[ytlabs]

I only pray they do not stay the same Give us back a three opener season, and limit opening weekend to residents of the Zone only.

or at least return us in the Northern Lower to an opener with the U.P. and not Northern Ohio ( IE: anything South of I-69).

I really think we in the middle zone got ( the oposite construction item from a Nail ) with the opener set the same as the Southern Section.

[duckman#1]

Back to a three zone opener would be SWEEEET!!!!!!
I better get everything done around the house this summer, because if we do get it, I wont be home for those three weekends! Ofcourse everyone has a opinion on this, But I love that feeling being on the lake on a opening morning right before the sun pops.... OH MAN! I don't know who's more excited, my Lab or me. and to do it three weeks in a row :) did I say SWEET?

[anon1102009]

thanks yt.didn't know I lived in Northern Ohio,but I'm payin taxes in Michigan.Guess all those hotel/motels,gas stations,restaraunts,& sporting goods stores would rather I just stayed home on the other Zone openers.Can you miss afew of your Zones ducks so by time they migrate to "Northern Ohio"
I have something to shoot at?:)

[ytlabs]

LOL
Aw come on SP1187, give a guy a break here we can't pick back and forth and make this fun?

kind of like the "Hey um, I thought we were here to shoot ducks not scare em so they fly faster!"

Seriously I would prefer to keep opening weekends to the Zones the residents who live there though. It has nothing to do with the money or the dislike of people who travel to the area to hunt, it is my total dislike of all the Me ME ME first that seems to always take place.

Honestly how many times have you we all witnessed the impatient and reckless behavior of someone on those weekends?
NO IT IS NOT THE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN USUALLY. that is nto what I am saying actually sad as it may be I usually see the locals being the ones who get into the rush and impatient because they think the outof towners are going to get all the birds. Fact is some may but the other fact is a guy who knows the local area and bird paterns can feel confident that they will be able to slow dawn and still get to the area and set up ahead of and quicker than someone not from the area.

It would also kind of keep it quiet and a little less crazy for that first weekend.

Don't get me wrong here I am also a person who thinks that doe tags should be first for those who own property and pay taxes in that county until the persons who seek one that have physical claim to the county have theirs then the rest should be open drawing, in areas and years that doe tags are issued. Any leftovers then should be first offered again to those who reside and live in the County they are issued.

Not that anyone would get a special thing as everyone would have equal access and chances for the area they reside in.

Think about it all of you in the south Zone would be able to hunt the areas you love to hunt with no out of state people or those of us who reside here but grew up down there ( Liek Myself ) trying to squeeze into Harsens or other choice areas.
:D

[anon1102009]

yt,fun is why I was smilin at the end of the reply.
I understand completely your gripes with opening weekend.I sometimes hunt HAP land down here in Northern Ohio.I get there at 3am and all the slots are taken.Sucks looking for somewhere else to go at the last moment on the opener.When I have gotten there early enough to get a pass,we get guys coming in after all the passes are gone.(tresspassing technically)
Used to hunt Saginaw Bay on the opener.Comical!!!!!One guy actually cussed us out for running thru his dekes.Course he didn't shine us off.I didn't know he was there till I had deke lines in the prop.Just another memorable opener.
Now I'm lucky enough to have found one of those farmers I've always reading about.You know the ones.They welcome hunters onto there property,with no fees.
One other thing.Being a single dad(not for much longer)I can't always get out on the opener down here in Northern Ohio cuz the kids aren't old enough to go yet.So when it was a split season I'd go to Tawas if that opener was an off weekend with the kids and miss the opener here.Have to make the most of the opportunities given to us.
see ya in the duckblind sometime:cool: