Like most clubs south of Central Illinois, we experienced a late, slow season due to the unusually warm winter. Ducks arrived late and significant numbers of Canada geese didn't arrive at all. We ended up killing 314 ducks, the majority of which were mallards, 102 Canada and white-fronted geese, and 49 snow and blue geese. We had as good a year as anybody on Horseshoe Lake in terms of both ducks and geese, and were encouraged by that since it was our first year as a commercial club. The people who hunted with us were quite pleased and, with very few exceptions, indicated that they will be back next year.
Last season being the first time we flooded the entire farm, we found that the birds used certain areas differently than we had anticipated. We have plans to build two more blinds and install at least one more pit in order to hunt some of those areas that the birds used heavily.
We're in the process of re-creating some old natural sloughs on the fish farm that had been filled over the years that it was farmed. this should add some diversity to the waterfowl habitat on that property. We plan on planting buckwheat on the soil we disturb to build the sloughs. This should total a bit over 20 acres and should help to attract and hold some of the early arriving birds in our area. We've also recently purchased an additional 200 acres, 80 acres of which is located just off the south end of Horseshoe Lake, which will be deeloped and looded to create a couple of additional duck holes.
Overall, I am very pleased with the manner in which the club is progressing and I'm confident that we are making some significant improvements for this coming season. Assuming our season isn't curtailed too dramitcally and that we don't experience another extremely mild winter, I'm very optimistic about our prospects. If you didn't have a chance to hunt with us last year, maybe you can give us a try this season!
John
Maginel
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