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Releasing water
#9008155
02/19/24 10:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75
CSD
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75 |
For those of you who can control the water in their flooded fields and sloughs, when do you release your water. As of yesterday I have half a dozen or so mallards sitting in my flooded field. I'm guessing most ducks are starting to head north or will be soon if they haven't, excluding resident ducks.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: CSD]
#9008296
02/20/24 04:12 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 340
claypool
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 340 |
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: CSD]
#9008499
02/20/24 04:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 156
OTL91
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 156 |
In southeast Texas a year or two ago, we started draining the flooded fields on the last day of duck season and had a slow drawdown just due to the size of the pipe and flow of the water. The number of bluewings still using the mudflats and shallow trapped water in early April was mind-boggling. I figured they would have been gone by mid march.
Last edited by OTL91; 02/20/24 04:43 PM.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: CSD]
#9008503
02/20/24 04:52 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 103
Bois D'arc
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 103 |
We don't drain our ponds since the droughts we have been getting make the water go away for us. I also do not like to throw away free water or already pumped water. That said we had blue wings into early may last year. We like to keep the table set and the birds around as much as possible.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: CSD]
#9008538
02/20/24 05:46 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75
CSD
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75 |
Thanks fellas. I don't have the option not to drain. I still have more dirt to move to enlarge the project and I will need to get it planted in time for next season. I have ponds that I don't manipulate their water levels that hold water all year. I guess I will let the ducks tell me when to pull it.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: CSD]
#9008657
02/20/24 09:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 955
DUKFVR
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 955 |
Mid April at earliest. Let the migrating bluewings have a place to rest and feed.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: DUKFVR]
#9008989
02/21/24 03:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 681
Sinkey
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 681 |
Mid April at earliest. Let the migrating bluewings have a place to rest and feed. This! I normally start pulling my gates in early May. Allows time to reseed before September, and also shows me where or if I need to add seed in August. If you have have flooded timber, you will need to pull water off about now. You dont want water on them in the spring when they start to bloom.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: Sinkey]
#9013101
02/29/24 06:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,163
BarneyWho
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,163 |
If you have have flooded timber, you will need to pull water off about now. You dont want water on them in the spring when they start to bloom. This! If you have flooded timber you want to water off while they are still dormant. We pulled our water off last weekend. ![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2024/02/full-692-414855-ubox_img_20240225_09262929_3_118_.jpeg) ![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2024/02/full-692-414856-ubox_img_20240228_12272020_3_118_.jpeg)
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: BarneyWho]
#9013159
02/29/24 08:35 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,911
LarryCopper
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,911 |
If you have have flooded timber, you will need to pull water off about now. You dont want water on them in the spring when they start to bloom. This! If you have flooded timber you want to water off while they are still dormant. We pulled our water off last weekend. How'd your first season go up there? I got a few buddies that went up there and road the freeze line back around Christmas for several days, stayed on moving water. They wore 'em out, but I had work to do and couldn't go... of course.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: LarryCopper]
#9013582
03/01/24 08:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,163
BarneyWho
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,163 |
How'd your first season go up there? I got a few buddies that went up there and road the freeze line back around Christmas for several days, stayed on moving water. They wore 'em out, but I had work to do and couldn't go... of course. I'll update my other thread. Been busy with work. We finally got water right at the end of season, but then it froze solid. We had birds, but never a big enough number where we felt comfortable hunting it as we wanted to imprint birds. We got that accomplished after season was over. I think on my buddy's original place we were at 450 birds for the entire season. I wasn't on everyone of those hunts but several of them.
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: CSD]
#9028146
04/02/24 03:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 298
Teamjefe
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 298 |
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Re: Releasing water
[Re: CSD]
#9028533
04/03/24 01:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75
CSD
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 75 |
Thanks for the links and info Jefe. Will definitely give them a read.
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