Opener

[Leeland]

I was just wondering where everybody is heading for Minnesota Opener?

I have to work Saturday morning, but will be out late afternoon and Sunday around Evansville near Alexandria. Not sure what to expect, but the beans are pretty much done and farmers are started on Corn. Whatever birds are around, we should be able to find.

[Daisybuck]

Funny story about that. For some reason I got it into my head that I could go this Tuesday (tomorrow) and was making plans for a run out near Litchfield when my Dad said ``doesn't it open next weekend?'' In the words of Homer Simpson ``D'oh!''

Thank goodness I didn't tromp out there. But I bet competition for good spots would have been light...

My Dad just laughed and told me of a time decades ago when he and his brother were hunting along the Iowa/Minnesota border in a driving snowstorm -- they really made a killing on the ``Iowa'' roosters so they headed north to Minnesota. When they didn't find the border they realized they had accidentally crossed into Minnesota during the storm (season had been closed for a few weeks) and been hunting the whole time.

``That explained the strange looks we were getting from the locals driving by,'' he said.

[birdshooter]

Harvest reports as of Oct. 2nd: Corn - 6% harvested. Beans 35% harvested.

http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_...1/cw100311.txt

I'm going to sit this one out and wait for more corn to come down.

[Daisybuck]

So at what percentage does it become worthwhile, in your opinion? Not trying to be a smarty-pants, just relatively new to the sport and trying to figure it out.

[birdshooter]

I wouldn't necessarily say that it's not worthwhile going on the opener, just that with the low bird numbers and a fields full of corn, your chances of harvesting a bird will increase as the corn comes out. Just too much cover to hide in. On the other hand, for many, it's a family tradition as was the case for me growing up.

Forecast is for some wet weather this week and we need it. This dry weather does mean the crops will most likely come out sooner this year providing we don't experience some October monsoons.

Personally, I just like to wait a couple weeks or so as I hunt mostly public lands and normally on opener the public lands are pretty crowded. With any luck and an on time harvest, by Halloween a good chunk (50% +) of the corn should be harvested and you will see more birds.

[Tbear]

8 of us will be headed to SW MN for opener. Just need to get out if we only shoot a few thats fine still better than sitting on the couch. If you are going to hunt public land get there early. Like Birdshooter said there will still be a lot of corn in. Our group will try and find a pc of public with no crops around it. Worked for us last year and hopefull will this year as well. There are definetly a lot of VERY young birds around with no color.

[GustavDaGSP]

Ill be with a bunch of labs and guys walking with guns In sw and my lonely Shorthair Mr juan man army Gus Good luck and good and good hunting ROOOOOOOSTER.......... B A N G !!!!

[Tbear]

Originally Posted by GustavDaGSP

Ill be with a bunch of labs and guys walking with guns In sw and my lonely Shorthair Mr juan man army Gus Good luck and good and good hunting ROOOOOOOSTER.......... B A N G !!!!

Come on now. Its going to be a good time. You can show me all your honey holes.

[goldeneye]

Originally Posted by Daisybuck

Funny story about that. For some reason I got it into my head that I could go this Tuesday (tomorrow) and was making plans for a run out near Litchfield when my Dad said ``doesn't it open next weekend?'' In the words of Homer Simpson ``D'oh!''.

If you would have made it out this far I would have invited you over for a drink so it would not have been a waste of a trip.


We are headed up north for some grouse hunting then I hope to make it back for a morning duck/goose hunt I think its a little early for me to hunt the phez I like to wait till after deer season cooler temps.

[GustavDaGSP]

Originally Posted by Tbear

Come on now. Its going to be a good time. You can show me all your honey holes.

Show you my honey holes ahahahaha its gonna cost you a beer or four Is it saturday yet