Lots O' Ducks - 12-11-02

wetaline · 12-11-2002, 02:53 PM

Its been pretty descent all year (as of November) but today was the first day I was seeing large flights of birds in the fly ways and working the dekes'... We had 4 limits by noon. The storms are pushing new birds into the area.

50/50 Mallards and wigeon w/ a few teal... There were Several groups of Pennies working the area too.

We were North of St. Helens

MountainLion84 · 12-11-2002, 06:29 PM

That's good news. I hunt down stream from St. Helens, and last time out it was pretty slim pickens. we did okay in the fog one day, but that was a couple of weeks ago.

wetaline · 12-11-2002, 08:27 PM

Ya we were having good early morning fog hunts, but last week the sky was a giant desert..... 20000000 % turn around this week.

Tilla · 12-11-2002, 08:59 PM

It was pretty good today, and I expect tomorrow as well. I think all the Pintails and Widgeon have evacuated the coast. Big blow this Sat too! Now the problem will be that there are too many spots for ducks to go with all the flooded fields.

Labsforme · 12-12-2002, 04:28 AM

I want to thank Tilla for being a gracious host goose hunting.Really had a good time.I hope next time out though you'll show me Mary Jo's
special "cackler" dog. :grin:

wetaline · 12-12-2002, 02:12 PM

I went back out today - took a guy that doesn't get out much.... started out slower than yesterday, but the empty sky's were full of birds soon enough - lot more mallards moving today too.... We were there at opening but it really wasn't to hot till 10ish... stayed good till noon when we filled 3 limits... birds were still pouring in when we were leaving. My dog will sleep well tonight! My bag included 5 mallards and two wigeon... shot the wigeon early when it was looking like it was going to be a bit slow - then the weather moved in - easily could have had all mallards had I not shot those first two...

[ 12-12-2002, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: wetaline ]

Booja 1 · 12-12-2002, 07:46 PM

Wetaline.....Great job on the ducks again..good quality too...was it so good at the end you guys were picking drakes only...when you say north of St Helens do you mean down river or the Washington side of the Columbia..Thx and way to sack em up......

Tilla · 12-12-2002, 08:07 PM

Started out slow but soon as the wind/rain picked up the skies just opened up. Had one of those days where the goose and duck calls were in the same hand working alternately. This means switching from 3's to BB's and back and forth ******* shells onto the ground and stooping and finding the right ones to switch again

. Not complaining though.

wetaline · 12-13-2002, 08:09 AM

It would have been fun to do an all drake shoot and definitely do-able, but my buddy I brought down had to be at work by 1pm.... and like Tilla said - they didn't start pouring in till the rain and wind showed up... which was closser to 11 than 10... but around 10 birds were still moving.

I'm on the oregon side just inland from the columbia

King Fisher · 12-13-2002, 10:09 AM

Anyone interested in putting a hunt together next week. I've got a few doz decoys and a puppy in training. It would be good to have him around some good trained dogs.

Bill Monroe · 12-14-2002, 06:08 PM

Tilla,
We've been taking two guns, one for duck loads and one for geese...I checked with OSP and was told it's all right as long as you're not John Wayne and shooting both at the same time.

GutshotApe · 12-14-2002, 06:25 PM

Bill - Does that mean you could have your wife go along on hunting trips as the extra gun bearer and reloader? :whazzup:

Would the extra 3 shots be worth it?

:grin:

Tilla · 12-14-2002, 10:30 PM

Bill,
I am only allowed to destroy one gun at a time.

. Today I had two piles of shells, 3's and BB's. . Picked up the live rounds off the floor during the breaks and put them in the appropriate piles.
Pretty slow for being a stormy day but finished quite nicely.

Bill Monroe · 12-15-2002, 03:17 AM

GSA...it would take more than three shots in each of two guns to bring my wife down...we made a deal a long time ago...I don't go shopping and she doesn't hunt ducks...
(I sent you an email...how'd you and don and john do?)

Heading back out today to scappoose. Lots of wind and rain yesterday and actually saw more ducks than we have all season, but they were all high...I figured they were coming in off the coast...

Getting to the point where I have-goose-floating decoys, will travel if anyone has seen better numbers than we have.

If I weren't so forgetful I tend to jam a three-inch into a 2 3/4 chamber, I'd still be jamming back and forth between threes and BBs...this just seemed easier.

steelheadslayer · 12-16-2002, 02:28 PM

Did you guys make it out this last weekend? While goose hunting the lower columbia, we saw thousands of ducks and geese heading inland during the high winds and heavy rains. Did you guys happen to get any of them? When I can get out again I'll try and deplete their population by a few birds. It was awesome watching wave after wave of birds flying overhead. Reminded me of Eastern Washington. :smile:

wetaline · 12-16-2002, 04:09 PM

I had more christmas parties than I could handle this weekend - never maid it out... Havn't heard any reports either. I'll be out again on Wed. I'll give a report then.