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Where are the widgeon???
#6551535
11/20/16 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121
shalor
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121 |
I hunt in Hamilton County which is in central Texas, and usually despite mild temperatures have some pretty good hunts early season because of widgeon making it to central Texas in November...this makes the third year in a row we've had virtually no widgeon in November. We had a few in January last year but not near as many as normal. I have enjoyed reading Brazosboyt posts in the past about how most ducks are photo migrators and do not depend on cold weather. I have found this to be very true, but the last few seasons seem to be an anomaly to that theory. Is it because of unusually warm October and November's? Or is it because of too much water on wheat fields in Oklahoma and Kansas(that's what I thought the problem was last year). Or are there just that many less widgeon? They are usually the duck we kill the most of here in my part of central Texas however the last few years I have killed more pintails and mallards. The pintails got here in November last year and seem to never leave. We killed two pintails a piece and watched dozens to 100's pile into the decoys on multiple mornings. Any thoughts? I hope the widgeon are not going to go the way of the Mallard, with the mother load of birds shortstoping way North of us?
Last edited by shalor; 11/20/16 06:45 PM.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6551549
11/20/16 07:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,149
TxDuck24
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,149 |
We're shooting some on the coast in good numbers
Also had a buddy in La shoot a bunch on there rice fields
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6551579
11/20/16 07:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
Have lots in Decatur. Big strings this morning. They were rather spooky though.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#6551618
11/20/16 07:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121
shalor
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121 |
Well, I hope the birds from Decatur make it down here eventually. we have virtually zero widgeon. Seeing a few Gadwalls , mallards, and wood ducks. Also no pintails yet. I am concerned this year is going to be an even worse duck season than last year in central Texas, which was the worst one I can remember in the last 10 to 12 years. We have plenty of water and plenty of things for them to eat. Just really need a real cold front, and not one a wimpy one that blows from the north for one day and then the next day it's 65 and blowing from the south as it is today. I think the birds that to go to the coast fly east of us. I fish on the coast a lot and will see pintails down there way before I ever see them in Hamilton County. Hope you guys have more birds than me.
Last edited by shalor; 11/20/16 07:56 PM.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6551722
11/20/16 09:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
They will be there. Your just in the skid. The coast ducks are down on the coast, and the northern ducks are just barely getting to north central Texas. Hang tight it's going be alright in about 2 weeks.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#6551976
11/21/16 12:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121
shalor
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121 |
I hope you're right Jeff. Your encouraging words have me feeling better. We have some great conditions here in central Texas, we're just not a duck Mecca. Some years they migrate in good and we have some really good shooting with very little pressure, and some years it's extremely tough and I don't go duck hunting very often. But the Widgeon are what have me puzzled. They used to show up reliably in November, and they just haven't the last 2 to 3 years. They are not my favorite duck to hunt or shoot but it is sure nice to have them when nothing else is around.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6552687
11/21/16 03:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 324
Ty Webb
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 324 |
Wigeon have been on my north Texas spots since the week before our opener. I'm actually seeing more fat, plumed out birds this month than I usually see in December.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6553116
11/21/16 08:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 113
quackiller
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 113 |
centex sucks in general. Cant count on having birds until after thanksgiving on a typical year and i would categorize this year as quite warmer than typical. with that being said i have seen a few ducks in good numbers on only a few ponds...figure they will learn the area and find the ones with food in them before long and spread out a bit. Another big push sure wouldnt hurt
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6557739
11/25/16 01:58 AM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,874
brazosboyt
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,874 |
It's definitely been a very different year here in Centex. I have very low expectations for wigeons in our area this year. Over the last 20 years we shoot heavy wigeon numbers on years where we have steady water levels on our ponds. Wigein are grazers and really prefer the millfoil/muskgrass that grows through the summer here. The 13" rain we got here in August basicallydrowbed all of those plants. I told the guys in our group that I have low expectations for wigein this year and so far it's spot on. I checked all my lakes today and saw virtually zero wigeon. Hopefully we get them later in the season when the winter wheat comes up.
While many of these birds are photo migratory, they are also opportunistic. They will go as far south as they need to get to food. Was fun today to see the same groups of mallards on 3 of our ponds that we don't hunt. They have been showing up there between nov 20-28 every year no matter what the weather.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6557977
11/25/16 08:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,753
Nathan Nelson
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,753 |
There are no ducks in Central Texas.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6557979
11/25/16 08:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,045
David Maas
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,045 |
Funny, we been killing steady numbers of Widgeon, several 3-5 man limits since opening morning.
NRA Endowed Patriot Life Benefactor GOA Life Member TSRA Life Member NSCA Life Member
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: David Maas]
#6558006
11/25/16 12:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121
shalor
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 121 |
Thank you for the input guys. Hopefully we have more ducks arriving soon including widgeon. I just thought it's been funny they haven't been around the last few years. I agree with Brazozboyt, when the lakes or stock tank stay relatively full we have more widgeon. Ours have actually stayed pretty full this year and vegetation is in good shape. Also have a flooded wheat location and had about 50-75 widgeon there last year, which was basically the only widgeon I saw in the area. I kept waiting for them to multiply last year but they just never did, hoping they come back with buddies this year.
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6562099
11/28/16 04:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 96
spartanhunter
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 96 |
All in west Texas ... Won't shut the heck up will I'm deer huntin ..
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Re: Where are the widgeon???
[Re: shalor]
#6562188
11/28/16 05:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 248
hunting_guy
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 248 |
The widgeon have been here... and I hunt directly south of you. We've been covered up with teal, widgeon, and gadwall. We saw and killed quite a few Sunday morning.
It's funny, last year we couldn't get away from the wood ducks and this year we can't get away from the gadwall.
I've seen about the same number of widgeon this year compared to last year at this time though.
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