Gadwall, Ruddy, Wigeon, Bluebill, Mallard, Pintail, and a great hunt with Dad.

[Adjhunt]

Yesterday really showed me how great of a waterfowl season I have had!

I got to go out with just dad for the first time this season and we had a wonderful time together!

With a lot of fog in the morning it put a damper on the ducks movement, so we waited it out. At about 11:30 the fog was mostly gone and we started being bombed with waterfowl.

Dad filled his limit with 6 different species, and me with 4 different species.

I had been wanting to bag a Gadwall this whole year which came a reality on this hunt! I saw 2 birds up on our left shoulder and I told dad those are gads! We called at them real soft, then hit them hard to try and turn them around. We lost sight of them in the sun.... then all of a sudden they appear right in front of us with thier wings locked. They come in to commit suicide. I shoot. Dead Gadwall Drake. Dad shoots Dead Wigeon Drake!
Moments like those were plentiful on this trip and something we are still talking to eachother about and will be for the rest of the year.

Dads limit consisted of:
1 Mallard Hen, 1 Ruddy Duck Drake, 1 Bluebill Drake, 1 Wigeon Drake, 1 Wigeon Hen, 1 Pintail Drake, 1 Gadwall hen.

My limit consisted of:
3 Mallard drakes, 1 Pintail Drake, 2 Wigeon Drakes, 1 Gadwall Drake

Shooting a limit of big ol mallards if fun, but there is nothing like a good mixed bag, and this was by far our best!

Here is some pictures to try and capture a little bit of the hunt for you.

[lentz]

Nice!!! Looks like a good time and i bet it was fun to get a hunt in with your dad.

[Tar Heel]

Good job! And a Ruddy Duck. I haven't seen anyone shoot one of those in Oregon.

[lentz]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

Good job! And a Ruddy Duck. I haven't seen anyone shoot one of those in Oregon.

We shot a ruddy up this way about 2 weeks ago!

[jnicholson]

Woof Woof, good boy Dad, thanks for fetching that duck up for me!

What are you doing man that's your Dad! You fetch the ducks for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bucky

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Adjhunt

Yesterday really showed me how great of a waterfowl season I have had!

I got to go out with just dad for the first time this season and we had a wonderful time together!

With a lot of fog in the morning it put a damper on the ducks movement, so we waited it out. At about 11:30 the fog was mostly gone and we started betting bombed with waterfowl.

Dad filled his limit with 6 different species, and me with 4 different species.

I had been wanting to bag a Gadwall this whole year which can a reality on this hunt! I saw 2 birds up on our left shoulder and I told dad those are gads! We called at them real soft, then hit them hard to try and turn them around. We lost sight of them in the sun.... then all of a sudden they appear right in front of us with thier wings locked. They come in to commit suicide. I shoot. Dead Gadwall Drake. Dad shoots Dead Wigeon Drake!
Moments like those were plentiful on this trip and something we are still talking to eachother about and will be for the rest of the year.

Dads limit consisted of:
1 Mallard Hen, 1 Ruddy Duck Drake, 1 Bluebill Drake, 1 Wigeon Drake, 1 Wigeon Hen, 1 Pintail Drake, 1 Gadwall hen.

My limit consisted of:
3 Mallard drakes, 1 Pintail Drake, 2 Wigeon Drakes, 1 Gadwall Drake

Shooting a limit of big ol mallards if fun, but there is nothing like a good mixed bag, and this was by far our best!

Here is some pictures to try and capture a little bit of the hunt for you.

Great mix of birds! But it looks like you need a dog, like this one he comes with an owner/handler.

[Tvfowlhunter]

Nice hunt Andrew! Anytime with Dad makes the hunt a blast!

[Scoots]

A nice shoot for you and your dad, Andrew! Congratulations and THANKS for sharing the pics!!!

Kinda looks like the Mud Lake boat ramp, and with St. Helens in the background I'm going to take a wild guess here .......... maybe Mud 4?

[QH's Paw]

Congrats on the hunt with your Dad Andrew. It makes me miss hunting with my son.
Great pictures too.
It was even better actually witnessing it. I like watching those birds lock in on you guys and they would fall and then the report would be heard. It's amazing how long the shots' sound takes to travel compared to the visual.
If we were just a little closer to your blind, Kodi would've given your Dad a break on those retrieves.
Keep up the good work it's drawing nearer to the end....for ducks.

[Grain of Salt]

Nice hunt....the pic with the two of you in the boat is excellent...great composition.
Father and son and the birds that bring them together...

so I give....where was the camera positioned? Tripod?

[Benny]

Looks like a heck of a day!

[wsuweston]

Nice mixed bag

[Threemuch]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

Good job! And a Ruddy Duck. I haven't seen anyone shoot one of those in Oregon.

I have taken 2. They don't eat great, but I love the way they look. Thick neck, oversize bill, stiff tail they look like the tough guy of ducks.

I would love to mount one that was in full breeding plumage, but I don't think that happens until late spring.

That sounds like a pretty fun hunt! Congrats!

[MarshBum]

Nice shoot. Some time a mixed bag brings it's own kind of satisfaction.

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

Good job! And a Ruddy Duck. I haven't seen anyone shoot one of those in Oregon.

I think a big reason why is that, while not uncommon, they aren't super easy to ID with the non-breeding plumage.

We see them quite routinely but they are mixed in with better divers (blue bills, ringnecks, etc...) so opt to shoot the bigger birds.

Geoff

[Austin1321]

Thats awesome! Nice work!

[Wingman Or.]

I'm jealous... Not for the birds but for the time you got to spend with your dad. Looks like a fine day on the island.

[Eric Strand]

Congrats Andrew, great pictures, thanks for sharing.

[nevermiss]

Beautiful photos. Makes me wish my dad was still around. We got after all kinds of Oregon game together, but I think ducking was his favorite, and he was a great shot. (Honed his pass shooting skills at Summer Lake.) That looks like SI to me as well.

[Nw dukn]

Looks good Andrew..

[AtItAgain]

Looks like a great day with dad! Congrats...

[rrust1]

I see you are sporting the "high roller". I bought it last month with a gift certificate at Joes. I was skeptical at first, but have been really impressed with that gadget in the whistle. Nice shoot. I really need to get my pops out more...

[DukAddict]

Dude Andrew, that blind is what its all about! Thats an awesome blind and even better hunt. Tell your dad I said hi

Brett Neffendorf

[Adjhunt]

Thanks so much all of you!

Anytime I get to hunt with dad its going to be a good one!
And as for the dog....... I was getting all of the birds, and dad finally wanted to go get them, so I was out getting his bird and he got my closer one and I snapped the photo while I was coming in with the other bird!

Brett- Dad said to say Hi back! And yes, we spent some time in making the blind. That's one of the best parts of the hunt, right? Ducks didn't know we were there until they were 15 yards out and a few feet above the water.

rrust1- I really like the sound of the whistle too! It does an awesome wigeon and mallard! not to mention teal and pintail!

Grain of Salt-
Glad you liked the picture! I was holding the camera back behind me

Mike - QH'sPaw
It was fun witnessing your hunt too! We were rooting for you guys every time some ducks were working you. We would have gladly accepted Kodi's help!
Oh and I loved watching your ducks fall, splash,............................Bang!

Thanks again everyone, glad you enjoyed the pics. I have more from today! But you've probably seen enough of my pics

[sprigkiller09]

Good work Andrew!! That hunt is what its all about right there variety and time with Dad!!

[AtItAgain]

Originally Posted by Adjhunt

Congrats on the Gadwall. Once you really start looking them over they really are a beautiful duck. I was lucky enough to harvest 2 drake Gadwall this year.

The above picture is what I still need this year. Until opening day this this year I had never taken a pintail and that one was a hen. I have one more hunt day this year and am hoping I am lucky enough to take a nice January bull Sprig.

Congrats again on a great hunt with your dad and getting the Gadwall you were after.

[D3smartie]

nice work buddy

[Adjhunt]

Thanks!

I have to say, I really like Gadwalls now!! Wigeon Drakes are my fav, but gads are close behind!

Got 4 more gads yesterday