Monthly Archives: December 2012

Merry Christmas from your friends at Dirt Road Dispatch!!!

We hope that you had a wonderful day with family, friends, and starting or continuing traditions!!!

The first migrating Sandhill Cranes of the season have been spotted in Georgia.  Last night, right before dark, two small groups were spotted in central Georgia.  Sandhill cranes are often the early migrants of each year.  Once the Sandhills pass through and the weather cooperates (hunter style), you will begin to see more varieties of ducks and geese.

Reports out of Kentucky today stated that large flocks of Sandhills were migrating throughout the day.  This is great news for the Mississippi Flyway hunters.  Some of the best duck and goose seasons in recent history has been in years that large numbers of Sandhills migrate from November 15th – December 15th.  This is a little later than most hunters would want to see them, but the duck season runs later than in year’s past, so the timing is still very good.

Sandhill hunting is extremely limited and restrictive.  Most hunters have little, if any, interest in hunting Sandhill Cranes.  We use them more as a measurement of migratory birds and enjoy the awkward show that they put on.  Sandhill Cranes seem to get lost fairly often.  They will be flying along and then the flock will spin in circles, fly a little further and do it again.  If you ever get to witness large flocks moving south (or north), take time to watch them.  It is quite comical to see and hear.

*Photo courtesy of www.ducks.org

Kentucky’s 4th bear season just concluded to some new records! For the first time, the quota was met for the season. The season was scheduled for three days, but closed a day early due to meeting the quota. All of the bears were taken from Harlan or Letcher counties and 10 of the 11 were taken by local hunters. The design of the season is to limit the number of bears especially female bears (sows) taken each season. Thus far, only 4 of the 17 bears harvested over the seasons have been females. This helps sustain the seasons for years to come.

A state record bear was also taken during the two days of hunting. The bear field dressed at a whopping 410 pounds crushing the previous record of 350 pounds!

Congratulations to the hunters, biologists, and state on working to make this season a huge success!!!

Source: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resource Website
http://fw.ky.gov/app/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=1204

It is duck season eve and all through the country, not a creature is stirring…

What is shaping up to be the most disappointing start to duck season in over a dozen years for much of the south, is not keeping the hunters at home. Duck hunters will still find local birds and make the best of it in hopes that this pattern will change.

It is discouraging that even in the northern reaches of the US, where duck season has been open for weeks, they recorded record highs as late as Tuesday this week. Fortunately, a cold front is finally moving out of Canada and bringing arctic temps and snow to the midwest. This will not be enough to move the ducks to the south yet, but it’s a start.

Strangely enough, hunters are noticing indications of a colder winter. The last week or two, the “experts” are starting to agree. The indications are showing a snowier and colder winter for the mountain areas. This cold could be exactly what we need to push some ducks to the south. Unfortunately, if it doesn’t snow and get cold in the Midwest most of the ducks will stay in those areas. With migratory birds, it is completely a waiting game. The best we can hope for is miserable cold temps and crazy snow. While we wait, continue getting out and checking your swamps and ponds every day or two. Watch the temps to the north and save a vacation day or two. When the ducks arrive, we all know it will only be for a day or two! Don’t miss our limited opportunities for some of the most fun hunting you will ever have!