Just Back from Miller, SD

[Lake Itasca]

Well we finally made it over on December 2nd, originally slated for the 10th of November but cancelled due to the winter storm we would have had to drive through. We primarily hunt ditches and we feared a serious loss of hunting area due to the snow. Although the snow was gone from the fields for the most part, the ditches were full with a few exceptions. It was a struggle getting close to birds but finally found enough cover on some fields that held birds. It seemed the majority had made their way to wintering farm lots or shelter belts, or large cattail swamps(all of which are on private land). We managed to scratch out 20 for the two us in four days. Hard to judge the bird increase as you could cover 10 miles with out seeing any and then find 500 in and around a farm yard.

Some images from the trip.....

 

[1pheas4]

Those are cool pics:thumbsup:

There looks like an odd colored rooster in that first photo or is it the lighting? (the second rooster from right)

 

[Lake Itasca]

Good catch 1pheas4! It was the smallest rooster we've ever shot. I actually took a photo of it in my buddies hands to show the game warden in case we got checked. It had just the beginnings of a bump for spurs! It's coloring was very light.

 

[Uncle Buck]

We saw two snowy owls also. Always thought they got out of Canada when they could not get at food, but appears something else is going on. The early cold snap?