EASTERN WHITE OUT.  The backside of a slow-moving system will blanket the eastern portion of ND with six inches of snow today and into this evening, putting immediate hunting plans on hold.  When conditions do settle down, we’ve got the tips for when early season hunting suddenly becomes late season hunting in today’s Three Things.

Featured Photo:  Snow is expected to cover much of the eastern third of ND today. Simonson Photo.

 

WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today: Wed 10/10 – 1” Snow Central, 6+” East. Hi 35, Lo 32, Wind N@20, G30.
Tomorrow:  Thu 10/11 – Calming Down. Hi 36, Lo 27, Wind NW@8.

SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):

Sunrise        Sunset
7:54AM       7:05PM

Moonrise      Moonset       Overhead    Underfoot
9:26AM       8:22PM        2:59PM        2:34AM

 

Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent (3% Full)

EDGE HOUR:   2:30 – 3:30PM. If conditions allow, use moon overhead for a bump in the Edge Hour.

DAY RATING:

 

THREE THINGS:

GO DEEP.  When early-season snow changes the landscape, those summer and fall grasses where pheasants were found (you remember – last weekend?) will be matted and covered.  Look for birds in deeper cover like cattail sloughs, pine rows and other places that provide buffers from the wind and precip.

QUIET DOWN.  Treat each hunt after a snowfall like a late season hunt.  The crunch of melting and re-freezing snow will carry on the wind and voices will echo just a bit more.  Communicate with hand signals and use light whistles to steer your pup into birdy areas.

THINK UPWIND.  Consistent flows of wind will bunch birds on the windward side of cover, so work into the gusts and pause in those areas that are just on the edge of cover. Even when things calm down, you’ll likely find birds on the upside of cover on the first temperate day after a windy stretch.
Stay Sharp!