Central Illinois Recap

December 23rd marked the end of the Illinois central zone duck season. Many reported this as being one of the worst seasons in a decade! Even the top clubs had few ducks up until the last freeze at the end of the season. From the start of the season, the conditions were less than ideal. Warm weather, then excessive flooding of food sources, and more flooding lead to high water, which allowed some ducks to get out of harms way. Late in the season, ice ended hunting in shallower water areas.

Generally, duck numbers were lower in the Illinois River Valley. The average ducks per hunter was down at most locations. All I can say is, better duck next year!

Ilinois Report

Duck season closed December 15 in Illinois' North Zone. The majority of ducks have moved on, but geese were migrating by the thousands. Though there are still plenty of geese in the northern zone, most of them are now in Central Illinois (aerial survey showed 17,000 plus or minus in Fulton County). Fields are very good. Ponds and lakes are frozen or starting to freeze; river hunting will still be productive for a couple of weeks.

I was out last Friday and Tuesday on the Des Plaines River and ducks were generally slow, with a few good flocks in between. "Blind Jumpers" (trespassers) ruined the hunt, shooting at ducks that were too far or shooting them after they landed on the water. I wish more hunters would stick together and be more sportsmanlike, we already have enough enemies.

All in all, the season has been fair compared to previous years, but it's still good to get out!

Illinois

wow what a change in a week new birds a lot of divers and geese its been nice to shot some new birds the cold and wind helped out a lot wounder lake they are getting birds the fields are good for geese a lot of the fields freeze so they've been hitting the bigger water grass lake is doing ok i here

slow in IL

It's been to slow no birds in long time. Deer opened Friday. It was bad- did not have one come by or see one. I was told 64 deer were shot opening day. It's up from last year. It opens back up on the 2nd so lets see what happens.
We should be good on the birds at the end of the week -snow and in the 20s. Let it come -can't wait! My dog (Bear) hates me. I want to i find some birds but nobody is shooting much here...

Soooo slow in IL

It is so slow im going to work today that is how slow it is . The pheasant youth hunt was good it was hot but we put up birds . The kids had a good time. That's all that matters. But for the ducks we need the north to get reel cold to push them down. Jeff