Tri-City Ducks

bigshark · 01-04-2002, 05:23 PM

I have an urge to hunt over around Pasco at Wallola Lake. Thought I might give it a try for a couple of days during next week. Can anyone share
info on how its been for ducks over there. Not interested in geese, just ducks. Thanks

greenhead · 01-04-2002, 08:41 PM

Headin to Yakima tonight,huntin Honker in the morning,and sunday.Will post sunday nite.It looks very prommising.

jberry · 01-05-2002, 08:43 PM

The duck hunting around Burbank has been the worst in recent memory. I've been hunting there for the past 15 years and have never seen so few ducks. Apparently I'm not the only one, USF&W waterfowl counts have been reported to be at some of the lowest levels recorded. Word is that due to the drought a lot of farmers opted to skip the corn this year and accept Government assistance for not using their water rights. The effects of this are evident now with not many birds holding in their usual areas. Goose numbers are decent but ducks aren't worth the time. Our bird totals are down by more than half from last year between our group of friends. I doubt the bird per gun average is over 2 in the McNary/Burbank area this season. :depressed:

bigshark · 01-06-2002, 04:37 PM

Jberry, thanks for the imput...it is such a strange year for so many of the hunters in almost all areas. We have a couple of clubs doing well here in the pdx area but it is unusual for them as well because of the type of birds they are getting. This should be an interesting topic for all to express their experience. I have a couple of buddys that have hunted here for more than 60 years each and they have never seen the likes of it. For example: we cleaned 8 mallards day before yesterday and all were stuffed full of millet. Thats right millet, the first week in January..that feed should have been gone long ago.
And my idea of the ducks skipping down to Calif. is blowen to heck with the ODFW saying to us there are 178,000 ducks on S.I. Wow I need a time-out as I just can't bring myself to believe it. Well, what I think dosen't count anyway but it sure is a strange season. The only club that I know of on the island that is up in birds harvested are shooting mostly widgeon there on the west side. Oh well, its just another year to learn what you didn't know before.

[ 01-06-2002: Message edited by: bigshark ]</p>