Clatsop County Duck hunting advice ??

[HammondSeaRanger]

Ok [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] ,

I have a 14' aluminum duck boat, shotgun, deeks, and time.

I need advice on where to hunt in the local Warrenton area I don't really want to drive farther than aldrich point, (brownsmead). Can anyone suggest a good spot to start?

I am thinking of the Islands out near Aldrich Point, John Day boat ramp area, or Tongue point?

Also looking for a good beginner video on duck Identification and basic beginner calls ?

Thanks !

[Flatfish]

Hunt the islands. Make sure you understand your boats limitations in rough water, and the motor runs well ( disclaimer).

Duck ID ( and I am color blind, so I tend to rely on stuff other than plumage itself) takes some time. Wingbeats, how long is the neck, how they approach, head shape, how long is the bill, size, how the birds fly in a flock, and color all tell you what they are in the air. This takes oodles of practice. And that's a good thing( duck hunting is practice for duck ID. Right??!!!).

Calling huh? Well as much as I hate to admit it, a mallard hen call works OK . A whistle(pintail drake, bladplate, teal,) will in all honesty, kill more ducks than any mallard call.

The widgeon is a very vocal bird. Much more so than the mallard. The ducks know this. Learn to sound like a widgeon, and you WILL call ducks.

Learn the mallard calls from Buck Gardner vids. The RichNtone guys are real good about telling you what you are doing wrong( toughest call I ever learned was a mallard hen call). Double reeds are easiest to learn to call. Single reeds in the hands of an accomplished caller, are wonderful tools.

The tides on the big river dictate what you hunt for, and where you hunt. Divers on one end of the tide and puddle ducks on the other.

If you don't already have gore tex underwear, might think about getting them before season is here and everyone is sold out. Don't forget your gore tex socks, hat, gloves, shirt, pants, and parkas.

To this pile of clothing get some fleece long johns. Blood and feathers stick to fleece better than any other cloth known to man. A fine quality to be sure. And your wife thinks blood and feathers in the house gives it a warm feel. Gotta keep the ladies happy, you know.

And most importantly buy 2 sets of leaky waders. It would be terrible to get caught in the peak of the season with a gaping hole in the knees, crotch, feet,ankles, and thighs of #1` set of waders without a leaky backup. Spend at least 200 dollars a pair. Put them on. Drive to a blackberry patch. Then jog thru the blackberry patch (lined with barbed wire), while wearing a welders mask( getting used to walking around in your new waders in the dark, and over obstacles will put you way ahead of your buddies come Ductober) and test them to see if they are really tough.If they are really tough, keep testing until both pairs begin to leak. This saves the dry comfortable feeling that wader marketing folks want you to have when you drop 2 Bens on a set of neoprene. I hate realizing that my waders are beginning to leak in the blind. So I make them leak BEFORE I get to the blind. Very important.

Another very important item(s) to have is 7 full thermos' of coffee. You will drink 1 thermos on the way to the boatramp. You will spill 2 into the water/mud. Your worthless buddies( who only bring 1 thermos each!!) will drink 3 , and you will get one full cup in the blind, 1 cup on the boat ride back to the ramp, and 1 cup to and from the bathroom when in the blind.Now 7 is a minimum. 8 or 9 would be best. If you find a beer keg with insulation around it, and a removeable cap, it should get you thru.

"Nuthin' better than murdering feathered critters and having yer pup bring the bodies back to ya as I drink coffee from a muddy cup and dunk cookies into my muddy coffee"

Mark and the mildly hick dog.

[HammondSeaRanger]

Great advice ... (I think) ..lol

I am assuming you are talking about the Aldrich Point Islands. I was hoping to scout a spot this month.

Oh and I forgot to mention No dog ... have to swim for the birds. so keep that in mind when suggesting locations.

[img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[ 08-09-2003, 01:38 AM: Message edited by: BluePig ]

[Flatfish]

Camo the boat, grass is good stuff, so is bamboo. I would get bamboo (home depot garden dept.)and wrap the boat with that. Yeah I know about "fast grass", but it is spendy. So I stick to bamboo. If it shines, lightly rattlecan it with black primer. Don't paint it black, just take the shine away.Then chase the birds with the boat.

Scout so you can get in and out in the dark. But hunt where the ducks are. The best scenario is to be where they were feeding yesterday. But I would rather get on the water at 7am, and watch for where the birds are dropping in, and set up there, than to guess.

The first year down there, you will be learning. But after that it is Killsville.

Have fun.

Mark and the camo dog.

[Capin' Dan]

Don't ever ever leave you boat' Keep it handy and know wwha the tides do. then keep in mind if the river is in flood stage to add a few feet to that. I have been in blinds before and wished that I had stayed closer to my boat.