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Can a productive pond go dead?
#4806513
12/04/13 09:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 223
waterfowlwonders
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 223 |
I have been hunting the same little farm pond for the last 4 years. Always loaded with birds. So far this year, nothing. Seems like most of the birds are hitting bigger bodies of water and I am seeing very few on smaller farm ponds. Anyone else seeing this in North Texas? Could it be that my honey hole has lost it's appeal?
Hoping things change after the split with the colder weather.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: waterfowlwonders]
#4806529
12/04/13 09:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
250 lbs of corn will fix this
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4806558
12/04/13 09:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
a lot more water this year than the last four... my guess is your spot is spring fed and has been one of the only good ones left the last few years... I wouldn't worry so quick yet though season has been slow for the most part
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4806560
12/04/13 09:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 22
Zach Attack!
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 22 |
Tarleton State Texans Class of 2017! Bleed purple!
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: Zach Attack!]
#4806574
12/04/13 09:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 192
Laser123
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 192 |
I have 3 ponds on 1 place that I hunt. One pond is covered up with ducks and the other 2 are dead. Strange year so far.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4806580
12/04/13 10:01 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 301
txhunter08
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 301 |
250 lbs of corn will fix this
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: txhunter08]
#4806647
12/04/13 10:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,864
LarryCopper
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,864 |
I hunted the same pond for 10+ years. The first few years it was a diver hole. All you would see and sometimes tons of them.
Then the drought hit. First year it was still mainly divers but you'd also get a flight of greys hitting that mossy crap they like since it was now exposed.
The last two years it was great hunting. Wood duck was just about the only thing we wouldn't see out there.
This year I'm not hunting it so I dunno.
But yeah they can and do change for a lot of different reasons.
A public place I hunt is pretty confusing this year. There are a couple of ponds not far from each other. One has steep banks and gets deep quick. A little weed around the edges. Another pond looks great, big real shallow grassy areas less than knee deep. Haven't shot a duck on it yet, but the deep pond has been good.
Ducks are nuts.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: LarryCopper]
#4806782
12/04/13 10:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721
Dave Speer
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,721 |
One of our leases has been REAL slow this year, I blame the wet year.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: Dave Speer]
#4807014
12/05/13 12:08 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,396
Pittstate
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,396 |
I wonder if there is less vegetation in it this year? Plant some millet/milo/etc around it and it will produce.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: Pittstate]
#4807034
12/05/13 12:14 AM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,277
duckman10
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,277 |
There are ponds here that hold birds some years and the next they won't. Just how it goes. I've seen some ponds hold ducks for 2-3 days and the. Not another duck on it the rest of the season.
Dry Creek Outfitters - North Texas Duck, Dove, Turkey and Pig Hunts! Widgeons shall now be known as democrats. Living off the hard work of others.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: waterfowlwonders]
#4807156
12/05/13 12:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,489
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,489 |
I have been hunting the same little farm pond for the last 4 years. Always loaded with birds. So far this year, nothing. Seems like most of the birds are hitting bigger bodies of water and I am seeing very few on smaller farm ponds. Anyone else seeing this in North Texas? Could it be that my honey hole has lost it's appeal?
Hoping things change after the split with the colder weather. What was the food srouce before when it was good, and is the food source still there? On my lease, ducks feed on the bugs in the milfoil, if it rains and water rises and ducks cannot get to the food, no more ducks. A lot less ducks on my last hunt, I'm thinking about letting out water to expose more food.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: Guy]
#4807359
12/05/13 01:55 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 336
hunt91
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 336 |
We use to hunt a place that was 10,000 acres and had 40+ ponds on it. There were only probably 5 ponds that consistently held birds. The rest would hold birds from time to time. Some of the best looking ponds would only have birds maybe a week out of the whole season.
But yes, a productive pond can go dry on ya if birds stop using it or you over hunt it.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: duckman10]
#4807409
12/05/13 02:11 AM
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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 |
There are ponds here that hold birds some years and the next they won't. Just how it goes. I've seen some ponds hold ducks for 2-3 days and the. Not another duck on it the rest of the season. ^^^^ this
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#4807543
12/05/13 02:34 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795
dogcatcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,795 |
Blame it on Global Warming.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: dogcatcher]
#4808599
12/05/13 03:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 194
ARQuacker
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 194 |
I heard that the birds were held up trying to get health insurance at www.healthcare.gov Only the ones that met the required levels were allowed to migrate this year. All others are held up at the canadian border
Alan
Green light. GO!
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: ARQuacker]
#4808730
12/05/13 03:59 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 244
bpitcher
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 244 |
As other folks have said, food, water depth, and even soil type plays a big part in how productive a pond is during a given season.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: ARQuacker]
#4808951
12/05/13 05:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765
jskin
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,765 |
I heard that the birds were held up trying to get health insurance at www.healthcare.gov Only the ones that met the required levels were allowed to migrate this year. All others are held up at the canadian border The ones who couldn't afford it just committed suicide.
"While we are postponing, life speeds by"
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: bpitcher]
#4808956
12/05/13 05:19 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201
ETX_Quack-$macker
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201 |
All the above is pretty spot on. I've had the same issue on our ranch this year, past few years were great because we had water and most of NE Texas didn't have much. This year there is water all around and it has been slow. Then again it doesn't really fire up until after the split. Or until i let the ducks out of the barn... You think Canada had a good hatch? We high fenced a duck pond and started raising mallards.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: ETX_Quack-$macker]
#4808986
12/05/13 05:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 389
Number 1 Barnie
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 389 |
All the above is pretty spot on. I've had the same issue on our ranch this year, past few years were great because we had water and most of NE Texas didn't have much. This year there is water all around and it has been slow. Then again it doesn't really fire up until after the split. Or until i let the ducks out of the barn... You think Canada had a good hatch? We high fenced a duck pond and started raising mallards. Must of clipped their wings !!!!
I don't always shoot deer, but when I do, I prefer B&C's. I don't always shoot ducks, but when I do, I prefer banded ducks.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: Number 1 Barnie]
#4809008
12/05/13 05:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201
ETX_Quack-$macker
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201 |
Must of clipped their wings !!!! We have genetically produced birds that can't fly. Kinda like breeding drop tine bucks. Also have a net that covers the top of our high fence... Built it where birds can come in but going out isn't an option.
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Re: Can a productive pond go dead?
[Re: duckman10]
#4809726
12/05/13 09:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 594
TOMCAT21
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 594 |
We have 11 ponds (tanks) on our lease and it seems one or two ponds are hot each year but not always the same ones each year. Think it depends on the acorns and the weeds that grow differently in and around each pond each year.
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