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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133
Campfire Oracle
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OP
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133 |
Had a pair of mallards fly up out of the creek by the house this afternoon.
We typically get a pair every spring, but never this early.
Maybe I should get a bag of barley and hep them out.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,083
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,083 |
Early spring might mean early rut this fall
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 908
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 908 |
Two of the "Big'ones" have plowed off the mountain this week. My earliest ever in the yard was March 10'th. This is actually a week or ten days late for the big guys. It is incredible to watch them plow and "porpoise" through ten feet or more of snow. It is a steep downhill plow, but they still have to stop often and rest.
ALASKA is a "HARD COUNTRY for OLDMEN". (But if you live it wide'ass open, balls'to the wall, the pedal floored, full throttle, it is a delightful place, to finally just sit-back and savor those memories while sipping Tequila).
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 11,749
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 11,749 |
Early spring might mean early rut this fall Rut is determined by length of day.light.
NRA Patron
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619 |
Early spring might mean early rut this fall Rut is determined by length of day.light. Incredibly simplistic for here... moon phase coupled with photoperiod was established a long time ago as two major components... but just two.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,482
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,482 |
Anyway.....they'll probably get to rutting before I do.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,426
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,426 |
They were year round in Kodiak.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133
Campfire Oracle
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OP
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133 |
I don’t know where they are nesting overnight. Knee deep snow in the trees.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619 |
lots of mallards overwinter in SC... I suspect they just came up off the tide flats.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,947
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,947 |
Son saw the Swans at the Kenai Lake bridge last WE
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619 |
Son saw the Swans at the Kenai Lake bridge last WE They overwinter, too.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133
Campfire Oracle
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OP
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,133 |
I knew about the swans, but I see then regularly. The mallards is new info to me, not seeing the after late October or so.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. --Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice. --ironbender
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,619 |
Several places here in town have open water all winter and an old lady feeds a bunch of birds just a little SW of Dimond Costco. Right now you can see little flocks of mallards around town banking into their roosts nightly.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,054
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,054 |
They fly over my place daily, all year long. And them damn Geese.
"243/85TSX It's as if the HAMMER OF THOR were wielded by CHUCK NORRIS himself, and a roundhouse kick thrown in for good measure."
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,252
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,252 |
Mike, Had Goldeneyes fly my place a week ago. As to return @ the flats by your place, I do not remember a year where ducks and gees were not viewable there by the 18th. I imagine there are some few of both to be seen around then again this year. White stuff seems to be going away noticeably. . .a few bears are out now certainly. Time to run the jet up by Pothole.
"You've been here longer than the State of Alaska is old!" *** my Grandaughters
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 610
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 610 |
Taught a hunter ed course at the local establishment today...snow was knee to mid-thigh deep in the spruce. The students were good sports and soldiered through.
Jr. and Ranger missed out on spring ptarmigan in our usual spots this year because there was no snow crust and very high avalanche danger. Hope those mallards find some food; the forecast portends at least a week more of "bonus" winter.
Last edited by SpartanGunner; 04/03/21.
If you are going to be dumb - you've got to be tuff.
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 444
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 444 |
Bonus winter indeed. Fairbanks got 10" of snow overnight with more falling. Did see some mallards on the open sections of the Chena though. Thought it was odd
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,828
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,828 |
Saw the first geese of the year tonight.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,786
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,786 |
I was out starting my smoker at about 6am on Easter morning. Heard a couple mallards (surprised the schit outta me) making a bunch of racket as they were flying right down my road. Hot on their azz was an eagle putting the chase on. Kinda surprised me to say the least.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,252
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,252 |
My 62nd winter in Alaska and this is the only one I have ever been so done with It will be over with (in a very good way) when I hear those Mallards! Good on ya Ptarmigan...you made my morning
"You've been here longer than the State of Alaska is old!" *** my Grandaughters
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