Snow Storm on SI

steelheadslayer · 12-04-2008, 08:49 PM

Had my 1st experience this morning, actually all day, on SI. Hunted with a of jokesters, actually one jokester and one QH's PA. Aaron and Mike who I've hunted with both before but not on the same day. The 2:45 AM wakeup is earlier than I'm used to but the fact that Mike (QH's Pa) got there yesterday at 1:30 and was fifth in line astounded me. I had no idea how SI worked or what I was in for.

We get our blind assignment and head out. Set the dekes and wait for action. The fog settled a little lower and it was awhile before we had any action. Birds would come straight in and then flare at something. A quick movement of the FB mallards and brushing up the back of the blind proved to be what was needed. I can't remember exactly how the shooting went, but we traded off and ended up with some birds which my pup Lily and Mike's Kodi traded off retrieving. We ended up with 6 greenheads and 2 pinner drakes.
Here's Lily and Kodi with the bounty, I tried to get both dogs to sit and look at the camera but Kodi had his mind on other things.

We did have one drake mallard sail off quite aways and I took Lily to try and find it which she did. Aarons mallard already had the breast and neck ripped out by some other hungry critter, so 1 for nature.

I just can't understand why we can't shoot snow geese any day? It's not like they're going to be mistaken for a dusky. Any way, this next pic is why I question the thinking.

This next one is about 50 yards directly behind our blind:

We could have easily shot at least 100 snows today between 25-40 yards up, out and dang near sitting on us, you didn't dare look up without squinting when they flew over for possible bird grenades hitting home.

It was a great day with some great friends and I can't wait to do it again. Thanks Aaron and Mike for a great day and introduction to the big 'city' hunting.

Fishnfire · 12-04-2008, 09:08 PM

Sweat day

Can't promise you that next weekend but it is looking better every day. I am heading out this weekend to look for some more quail.

HonkerKnocker · 12-04-2008, 10:47 PM

great picture stealheadslayer....I had a friend out there today who said he saw wave after wave after wave of snows coming..Must be getting cold up north eh?? What Im confused on is why the snows and specks count towards are dark goose limit in Washington but not in Oregon?? As well as, if there is such an issue with depredation in the tundra because of the snows why isnt it open liberal limits all the time?? go figure...

BanannaMan · 12-05-2008, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HonkerKnocker

if there is such an issue with depredation in the tundra because of the snows why isnt it open liberal limits all the time?? go figure...

Because, they are cute just like seals and seagulls...hey wait a minute maybe if your name starts with an S...

SuperVee23 · 12-05-2008, 06:28 AM

Honkerknocker, the snows that winter here and the Skagit valley are from Wrangell Islands, not the tundra. The population of Wrangell Island snow geese has gone up and down for years and there is not near the numbers of birds as the mid-continent population. Those birds up there aren't destroying their nesting grounds that I'm aware of.
As far as the specks go, I hunt Saskatchewan ever year and they go against your dark bird limit up there also.

FeatherBusterOSU · 12-05-2008, 06:38 AM

Looks like you guys had a fun time. Thanks for sharing.

Dave Smith · 12-05-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelheadslayer

I just can't understand why we can't shoot snow geese any day? It's not like they're going to be mistaken for a dusky.

On SI, yes, they could get mistaken for duskys

sprigkiller09 · 12-05-2008, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

On SI, yes, they could get mistaken for duskys

ROFL. Anything is possible at SI.

Adjhunt · 12-05-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

On SI, yes, they could get mistaken for duskys

you know thats right! lol

Looks like a fun hunt! I was just down the way from you guys yesterday, and yes there were tons of snow's! Also a lot of swans.

I wish the fog would have stayed longer, but once the sun came up it was gone. And after that it was just a nice day

jokester · 12-05-2008, 08:10 AM

You really didn't get the FULL Sauvies Island experience. You actually need to hunt Mudhen for that

Holy smokes, there were friggin' buttloads of snows! We didn't dare look up when all those geese took off...just tucked head and waited till they cleared

No eye goobers for me

I had a great time with you guys yesterday

We'll do it again soon.

The quote of the day from steelheadslayer came after watching TONS AND TONS and rows and rows of snows fly over, and hearing him comment about how he wishes he could shoot 'em. I think it went something like, "This is sickening...you guys are making me ill!"

-jokester

steelheadslayer · 12-05-2008, 08:10 AM

I'm sure that when my hunt partners chime in they will have some interesting comments about my comments and reactions yesterday. YEAH, we did have some swans come over at 30 yards but they looked just a little bit bigger than the snows. And, with the little canadiens flying amongst them I can see where accidents will happen.

I was just frustrated because the geese presented tons more opportunities for shots than ducks did. But in our defense of shooting skills, we had the one sail away. The rest ended up canine retrieving dummys.

AtItAgain · 12-05-2008, 08:36 AM

Thanks for sharing the pictures Earl. It looks like all of you had a fun time. It also sounds like your pup is coming along quickly. Dogs sure make hunting more enjoyable!

RainierRiverRat · 12-05-2008, 08:56 AM

Looks like a fun hunt. Congrats.

nevermiss · 12-05-2008, 10:31 AM

Must have been a good 20 years ago my late father and I saw a field full of snows looked just like one of your pics. Weren't close enough for shooting, but we could have stalked up on 'em if was necessary. Reminded him something of Summer Lake where he used to get plenty of 'em. And here I'd thought the rumors of snow geese at SI was just a myth. WRONG!
Looked like you had a fun day, just the same!

Hunt'nFish · 12-05-2008, 12:31 PM

Way to get out there after them guys....wish I didn't have to work.
Hunt'nFish

SImudBogger · 12-05-2008, 01:17 PM

we saw them from where we were hunting too, same flock. Pretty incredible amount of them for SI. I've seen big flocks down on the lower river, but never like that at SI. Lots of cacklers also.

OpeningDay · 12-05-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokester

You really didn't get the FULL Sauvies Island experience. You actually need to hunt Mudhen for that

-jokester

oh man isnt that the truth!

Adjhunt · 12-05-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

we saw them from where we were hunting too, same flock. Pretty incredible amount of them for SI. I've seen big flocks down on the lower river, but never like that at SI. Lots of cacklers also.

man, all these guys were out there and I didn't see anyone... lol

But yes there were a ton of cacks.

This one came into my spread at 10:00 am and stayed till 4:00 when I walked him out

ogrejager · 12-05-2008, 02:43 PM

We saw a few snows, but did have the usual "infinite cackler display."

Yes, I was out there working on my sun tan, too.

SImudBogger · 12-05-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OpeningDay

oh man isnt that the truth!

"they're within 110 yards, take em!!"

Adjhunt · 12-05-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

"they're within 110 yards, take em!!"

You gotta be joking!

There's no way the birds get that close!

QH's Paw · 12-05-2008, 05:44 PM

Had a great time with you guys out there and scratched out a few birds for a bonus.
Earl's new pup Lily is gonna turn out to be a great dog. She's off to a great start for an 8 month pup.
Kodi and I are lookin' forward to the next outting with you guys(Lily included). Maybe we should plan for a goose and diver hunt. There is always the westside, since Earl hasn't had a chance to draw chips yet, we could cash in on the newcomer luck for one good draw, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokester

You really didn't get the FULL Sauvies Island experience. You actually need to hunt Mudhen for that

-jokester

You got that right. Mudhen, SI's skybusting capital.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelheadslayer

I was just frustrated because the geese presented tons more opportunities for shots than ducks did. But in our defense of shooting skills, we had the one sail away. The rest ended up canine retrieving dummys.

I'm guessing if we could shoot at the snows there, they wouldn't hang out there.
What is really crazy is they were this close.

They didn't even care when we were shooting at ducks. They would raise their heads and then just go back to feeding.
Here's another pic of the snows down the way.

Tulelicious · 12-05-2008, 07:03 PM

Earl,

glad you got into them, I shot my first SI bird that day too. Good pictures and good story. I was fun seeing you in line that morning too.

We ended up with 10, Mixed bag of Mallard, Pintail, and Wigeon.

Some of those snows, Cacks, and even swans were so low I swear I could have knocked them out with the butt of my gun. I loved watching them fly over and land out in the field.