2002-03 Season in Review...

[Lured In]

So here we are only a week away from the end of another duck season, a little over a week from the end of chukar and quail, and one short period of goose left here in the permit zone.

For me its usually about this time that I start thinking about what made this season special. Sometimes stopping to think about what happened each season is what helps us to enjoy the next even more.

Here are a few of the highlights and things I learned this year.

1. My now 9 month old Choc Lab is winding down her first season. I am very proud of her and she has tested my patience repeatedly. I can't wait for next year when she will be truley ready for the blind and have the confidence to know what she is supposed to do. Watching her dive for ducks and looking at the sky for birds will always stick with me. Tally for her this year is around 20 solo retrieves with one weekend to go.

2. Learning to hunt Lewis and Clark with my buddy. After getting the boat converted to the duck hunting machine, we prompltly sunk it in 2 feet of water on our first trip down. You could call that baptism by fire to L&C hunting. Needless to say we learned that lessn. Finally tally for 2 trips down was a 16 birds for the two of us(we shot four each while the boat was on the bottom of the river). I can't wait to hit it harder next year.

3. My oldest son's first duck trip with waders. If you have kids and take them hunting, all they want to do is walk in the water/mud. I got a pair of waders at Fisherman's for $40 and figured I could make them fit. It worked. First time he used them he had the biggest grin on his face. Now I just start tossin' dekes out and he turns all the ones over the don't flip on their own. He loves it.

4. Elk season with my dad. Didn't see an elk all week, but I cherish every trip with him.

5. My first big game season in WA. With a little leg work and help from my brother in law, I learned some new areas and got my first WA blacktail.

6. My first solo big game kill. Picking the right place for my stand, being patient and getting my deer on the last day of the season. First solo field dressing (25 minutes). First solo drag (600 yards slightly up hill, 40 minutes). First solo home butchering with my wife. (lots of fun, but took 10 hours.)

7. Getting another year to hunt and spend time outdoors with my kids and friends. :grin:

I am sure that the ifish goose hunt will rank up there too. So how about you guys, what was new/special from this season?

Just think only a couple more months until spring bear and Turkey.

[ 01-21-2003, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: Lured In ]

[Joe]

It was my oldest son's first year hunting. It was a kick!

He killed a three pt. mule deer, filled his Trask doe tag and killed a dandy cow elk in the Lewis and Clark hunt.

As much as I enjoy "my" hunting time it just doesn't compare. His enthusiasm kind of brought mine back. :grin: :grin:

Only problem was having to buy another freezer for all the meat.

[MountainLion84]

It was my sons first hunt as well. He did kill a forken-horn mule deer. Elk hunting was terrible, as we had to hunt the dreaded "spike-only" hunt. I did harvest my first bear during the hunt however. Duck hunting has been terrible.