Waterfowl season opened across the St Clair region last Saturday and it was my first time in many years that I shot opening day. The north and east shores of Lake St Clair was dotted with bouncing lights by the time I headed out a 4 am. Remaining quality shooting spots were sparse and a quick census later found that many shooters had set up positions as early as the previous Thursday evening and Friday morning before opening day? they deserved those good spots!
Daylight painted the skies in the east and there was a non-stop bevy of gunfire that could be heard in all directions for about 1 hour. The birds were numerous but obviously shaken as much as me at the initial shock of the season. Birds worked skittishly and seemed not to trust a good decoy set, tuned call or even the proverbial moto-duck decoy before me. I hunted with Pat Martin and Ivan Turmell and we managed to cumulatively down 8 birds... all Mallards aside from 1 Pintail. I called around and got you a few reports form other well known area shooters.
Mike, Steve, Jeff and Jason Parrish and good friend Steve Vankerkhoven set up a position on the north shore of Lake St Clair midday on Friday. They hosted the spot due the announced arrival of north winds. The crew brought down 8 birds, all mallards, at mid morning. "The winds changed to south late in the morning and nearly shut our spot down", said Mike Parrish. "The weatherman forcasted north winds but forgot to tell us that he expected them to change to south by noon".
Greg Turmell and John Rottier set up a moderate rig of 50 dekes on the east shore of St Clair. "It was rapid shooting for most when the sun came up", said Turmell. "We waited a while before we started taking birds". The pair of hunters took a quick limit of all Mallards except for 1 Ggreenwing Teal after they started shooting and stated they were done by 8:30 am. "We limited our calling and the birds came in right on top of us".
Moe Debuck, Jamie Perry and a friend from Essex Ontario set up early on the north shore of Lake St Clair. Joining them was Moe's 14 year old son Wade who hunted under the Province's Apprentice Hunter Program, meaning he has passed the hunt course and the gun safety course, and had to share dad's gun but could shoot his own limit of birds. "We had a very unique spot that was not affected by the wind changes", said Moe. The birds worked well all morning for us and we took a limit that was mostly Mallards with 1 Shoveller, 1 Bluewing Teal and 1 widgeon". Moe told me it was great to have his boy with him who had a chance to shoot some birds as well as practice up on his duck calling. Questioning the secret to their success Moe stated "Using the right call or not using the call at all and reading the birds is what put them down on us".
I also had reports of some good goose shooting north of the Lake in Lambton County by local guide Tom MacLaughlin. The Canada Goose seasoned re-opened there on Saturday with a 5 bird limit. Lake St Clair will remain closed until Nov 1 and re-open with a 2 bird limit. Many geese are present on the Lake right now. I saw about 5000 geese on opening day and 10 - 15000 ducks. Conspicuously NOT present were teal. I saw a few but not as many as in past years. Widgeon sightings were limited as well, but more mallards than I have seen in many years are present. Most are young birds and eclipse drakes.
