Sauvie Island 12/23

[cwh]

Anyone headed to the Island in the morning? I'll be on the west side drawing a chip and then possibly heading to the east side if the chip really sucks. Let me know if you want to team up on the draw.

I'm just hunting in the morning - have to work in the afternoon. Say hi if you see me - Black F150 with a dog crate.

[cwh]

Figured I should post a report so you all know what you missed by not hunting with me

It was brutal. Drew #172 on the westside, so headed for the east side. Trucks were backed up on the paved road for 50 yards when I got there, so I headed to the north unit. I would have stuck around on east or west, but I only have the AM to hunt. Oddly enough, I got set up and ready with 20 minutes till shooting time, probably because I forgot to set up the jerk cord. Shooting time at 7:16, foggy and nothing flying. Fog burned off about 9 maybe, pintails gave the dekes a few looks, but no committers. Couple people blasting at them 50 yards up. I think they must have killed one, but he didn't come down where I could see. I set up my jerk cord, and that seemed to entertain the pinnies as much as my calling - still nobody wanted to join the decoys.
Lots of geese and swans, not many ducks. Couldn't even find a teal to break the skunk.
So, at 10:30, I started pulling decoys, packed it up and headed for home/work. All in all, I skipped half a day of work to hang out in the swamp, and it was definitely worth it Got dog #2 out for her first duck hunt of the year. I'm not sure she entirely understands what we were doing out there other than standing in the water, but it's good for her right?

[duckboy]

Hey man,

Any day in the swamp with your dog (with or without birds) is better than a day at work.

You have no clue how many days Ive watched the morning sky emerge, with nothing but the sounds of the river freighters to listen to.


Some days are just like that, and there is no way around it.

I believe that even on the slowest dfay, there are lessons to be learned out there, and sometimes it is just " The Almighty's" way.

Everything happens for a reason.

[waterfowlin101]

How's the water situation out there? I'd have figured with all this rain the birds would be using the area pretty good.

Jon

[cwh]

duckboy, you're right on. I just put out the decoys and do my thing - sometimes the birds are there, and sometimes they aren't. If you can let them have all day, your chances improve, especially on the island where pressure moves them around.

Jon, the water is definitely huntable. Water right up to the edge of the lake (although I guess that's what makes it the edge). Tide was coming in this morning, so I was over waist deep pulling dekes when I left. Of course there is also a foot of mud under that water. Everything looked good to me, just no ducks