You may be one of those hard-core, ice-fighting duck hunters who plans to spend the final days of the 2010 season on the last liquid water in the state. You could be heading for the river bottoms in southeastern Minnesota or planning to brave the big water on Winnie or Leach. But for me and my duck camp west of Alex the end came last Friday night. The temp dipped to nine degrees and capped my 60-acre slough for the winter. No ducks were present to witness the coming of the ice man.

In fact, no ducks present pretty much summarizes my Minnesota season. Oh, there were a few bluewing teal and mallards around for the opener but nothing to write home about. I traveled to North Dakota and South Dakota for the second and sixth weekends of the season. But my duck camp partner hunted our place those weekends and had no joy to report.

My best Minnesota hunting was on the weekend of October 23-24. Two ringnecks, two gadwall and one Canada goose made up the bag. In the 60's and 70's that kind of shoot would have sent me home with my tail between my legs. But by 21st century standards it was a pretty good weekend.

My river rat friends who hang out in the Weaver and other Mississippi bottoms reported a fairly good season. Especially after the Big Wind in late October. And I heard tales of better-than-average dipper duck shoots in the fields and wetlands around Morris. But at my place it was mostly a season of watch and wait.

I had diver food. After a kill off of fresh water shrimp in my slough last season they were back this year. Big Time. While picking up decoys one Sunday morning mid-season I counted over 50 shrimp on the bottom of one goose decoy. But the bluebills, ringnecks, cans and redheads missed Douglas County this season and the shrimp got a free pass.

There were memorable meals in duck camp and wonderful camaraderie around the campfire with kindred spirits and gun dogs. But for meat in the freezer it's going to have to be wait til next year.