Sauvie Island Ducks

mallard0311 · 10-24-2002, 10:20 PM

I promissed myself I would not go back out to the West side again because the last 3 times I have been it has really sucked and gotten worse. Went out today and there wasn't even an opening blast or two. I got a Scaup and chased it half way across mud lake. It is so dead that I drew 192 out of 200 and got mud 4.

1pump · 10-25-2002, 12:13 AM

Yo mallard,

Don't lose faith in the west side. It always sucks early in the year & especially in this weather. 192 & you still got Mud 4?

How was the water level? Was it up to the willows on #5 yet? I'd be shocked if it was.

Water levels are the biggest factor out there (next to the bird count) and you can never get good info out of the ODFW guys at the check station. They don't look at anything that they can't see from the road. Matter of fact, I don't think they look at anything, period.

bigshark · 10-25-2002, 03:48 PM

Mallard 0311

If you have a little time go over to the east side. While not red hot, it is not dead by any means.(mostly wedgies and pennies but it better than raking leaves)

[ 10-25-2002, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: bigshark ]

1pump · 10-25-2002, 05:52 PM

Mallard,

They moved the blinds again?? They moved them a few years back (I think about '95) and if I remember right, they moved 1 over towards the old 2, then 2 in to the little "corner" where the old 3 was. If 4 is where 6 used to be, that means they're really spread out and there's 4 blinds on a lake that used to have 6. #6 was kind of the dividing line between the two main parts of Mud Lake. So now #4 is? Where's 5? If they moved 5 out of there I'm going to be really pi$$ed off, since it was the most consistent blind. I wish I could post a unit map on here so you could show me where you were hunting.

mallard0311 · 10-25-2002, 07:55 PM

I will email you a map and anyone else that would like to see the changes. Not just mud lake either. I know the East side is better and my son in law and his buddie run in. I have enough of a problem pushing my cart in the fog,cold, dark rutted trail. Plus at my age I don't get upset with drawing a high number. That means I don't have to put my self thru this passion and kick my ass. I just go to the Decoy club for the $1.99 hunter's special, then go home and fall asleep. And where old Mud Lake #1 and old Mud lake #6 they have only 1,2,3&4 with 5 on the point by the lagoon. It really spreads things out.

MikeT · 10-25-2002, 08:20 PM

1pump,
The changes to Mud Unit are summarized below. Three blinds were eliminated (#1 & #7 on Mud Lake; #8 on Round Lake), and three new blind locations were established. Two of the new blinds are between the old #7 and #9, and a new one is between the old #6 and #7.

Changes
#1 gone
#3 now #1
#4 now #2
#5 now #3
#6 now #4
#7 gone
#8 gone
#5 is new
#6 is new
#7 is new
#9 now #8
#10 now #9
#11 now #10
#12 now #11

Overall I think the changes will be good. A lot of guys may be annoyed that #1 is gone, but the skybusting pass-s******* too often got in there and ruined the hunt for everyone else on that side of the lake. Ron got a lot of complaints about that, so I guess the solution was get rid of it. It was a good spot; too bad a few jerks ruined it for everyone.
#7 and #8 were pretty worthless, so few will miss them. The 3 new locations on the west side of the lake may turn out better than the ones they replaced.

For those that are new to hunting SI, you can check out the hunt results posted at: http://159.121.5.20/ODFWhtml/InfoCnt...ie_huntres.htm . As you can see, results for the West and East sides have been about the same so far this season (poor).
regards.....Mike

[ 10-25-2002, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: MikeT ]

mallard0311 · 10-25-2002, 11:06 PM

Hey Ipump, The water level on the west side is pretty low. They changed all the blinds on mud lake and eliminated the old mud #1. Mud 4 is now the old #6 Mud 1 now is between 1 & 3. You can tell if you get #192 and even get to hunt, let alone mud lake how dead it is out there. Will try to be patient. Want a Scaup anyone?

1pump · 10-26-2002, 09:04 AM

Thanks for the info. I haven't hunted the west side since 2000, and I hate wandering around in the dark trying to find my favorite blind which seems to have disappeared. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]
The reason for the first time they moved #1 was that too many hunters were encroaching on the refuge, since it right on the edge of the gap. And skybusting

was a problem too.
I gotta agree that #7 & especially #8 were a waste of time, so no loss there. I better get off my butt and go check it out........you didn't say anything about 13,14 & 15 so I'm assuming they haven't moved. No reason to, since they're not on Mud Lake, but ya never know what the ODFW guys are gonna do when they get a wild hair... :grin:

mallard0311 · 10-26-2002, 10:26 AM

My partner and I have hunted mud one at least 20 times. in the last couple of years we found it better to lean against a tree in the blind with our backs to mud lake & catch the ones coming into mud lake at tree level. I heard a story of a guide who took his jet boat and ran it all around sturgeon lake scarring up the ducks to get them on the move. Any one else hear about that? I know who he is but just heresay at this point.

1pump · 10-26-2002, 02:38 PM

Didn't hear about that one. The ODFW dudes would blow a gasket if they heard about that. I chased a wounded goose halfway across Sturgeon Lake once. My intentions were good, but I broke about six laws doing it. :shocked: I did scare up one impressive flock of birds, though.

mallard0311 · 10-26-2002, 03:09 PM

Chasing birds out of boundary when their wounded is now allowed.