Posted By: Wildphilhickup
PANHANDLE UPDATE - 01/03/16 09:20 PM
Just spent the last 5 days around Amarillo, +/- 100 miles.
Dumas area had very few flocks, but the flocks were BIG! Most were concentrated around Etter, Cactus Playa Lake. Saw pheasants in the area.
North of Amarillo was frozen over. Reminded me of Alaska.
Hart, Muleshoe, Olton, Nazareth, Tulis, and Dimmit had many back roads closed due to SNOW DRIFTS. I never knew which road I would have to double back on when I could not blow through the drifts. 4 Wheel Drive was a MUST!
East of Plainview was VERY productive. South of Silverton / Turkey, around Floydada and North of Ralls and Crosbyton had Pintails, Snows, Canadas, and Sandhill Cranes by the THOUSANDS! These were the only areas I found that had OPEN water.
*** You do NOT need a guide. 80% of ranchers / farmers gave permission to hunt.
Limits of ducks was fairly easy. The Geese were a little difficult. The Cranes required a good set up.
*** Funny Thing. Ranchers that did not give permission was because they felt the report of the shotgun would scare the cattle. However, they all said they use Propane Cannons to scare the waterfowl off of their fields; where they graze the cattle. I think Shotguns sound like Propane Cannons.
Dumas area had very few flocks, but the flocks were BIG! Most were concentrated around Etter, Cactus Playa Lake. Saw pheasants in the area.
North of Amarillo was frozen over. Reminded me of Alaska.
Hart, Muleshoe, Olton, Nazareth, Tulis, and Dimmit had many back roads closed due to SNOW DRIFTS. I never knew which road I would have to double back on when I could not blow through the drifts. 4 Wheel Drive was a MUST!
East of Plainview was VERY productive. South of Silverton / Turkey, around Floydada and North of Ralls and Crosbyton had Pintails, Snows, Canadas, and Sandhill Cranes by the THOUSANDS! These were the only areas I found that had OPEN water.
*** You do NOT need a guide. 80% of ranchers / farmers gave permission to hunt.
Limits of ducks was fairly easy. The Geese were a little difficult. The Cranes required a good set up.
*** Funny Thing. Ranchers that did not give permission was because they felt the report of the shotgun would scare the cattle. However, they all said they use Propane Cannons to scare the waterfowl off of their fields; where they graze the cattle. I think Shotguns sound like Propane Cannons.