Jon's right.
In fact Umatilla (generally speaking) HASN'T been "good" since before he was old enough to hunt (although he might have gone w/his dad when it was).
It probably hasn't been "good" for about 12 years now, and even then it was spotty.
The main problem is that the area just doesn't have/hold the birds as it did when it was good, which was in the mid 1980s.
At that time, cold winters coupled with the warm water resevoir at the nearby Coal Fired PGE plant at Carty Resevoir (Tower Rd.) and the entire area growing almost all CORN made the difference.
That was a time when the North American count on Ducks was waaay down. But there was a bright spot, right around the Columbia Basin, where there were MORE Mallards congregated than any other place in the U.S.!
Several Refuge managers with $$$ in their pockets to burn on such ammenities as creating a "Wild Game Park" appearance for better viewing by Auto Tourists on the Tour Route, cleaning out all the dense vegetation and habitat, building a roadway that actually bisected the main waterway and the addition of Electric Gates etc. didn't help hunting one bit.
There are MANY variables that have led to the McCormack Slough Unit NOT being what it once was.
Still, under just the right weather conditions and time of the season it can be a worthwhile hunt if you end up in the right blind.
Trouble is, those conditions just don't come together all that often.
Umatilla Blinds?
Not alot of northern ducks down yet, seeing few, but need to wait until we get some weather.
....that place is going downhill fast.
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