Crane Praire Duck hunting question

newportfisher · 09-14-2005, 03:08 PM

I have heard that Crane is a pretty good duck hunting spot close to Bend. I was wondering if anyone has ever done it. Where Do you like to go? Is there a certain time that is is legal there? I know is I was fishing I wouldnt want people shooting their shotguns at me, and if I was hunting I wouldnt want people running their boats threw my spread. Can anyone give me a little help on the spot?
Thanks, Cameron

waterfowlin101 · 09-14-2005, 03:50 PM

never hunted it....

but here is my take. Go out and scout for birds. Watch for the area most highly used. Use bino's. Then, when you find "the honey hole", go hunt there. On page 9 in the synopsis you can find legal shooting hours. As for the boaters/fisherman, you probably gotta live with what they are doing and they gotta live with what you are doing.

They will probably help you by moving birds around.

Another tip...call th district bio and ask for information. They should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Jon

billc_sbio · 09-14-2005, 05:28 PM

There are some other lakes over in that chain of lakes that may be even better (some have cattail marshes if you find them).

The trick is, by Duck season, often the draw down is so great there's barely any water left in them!

I've hunted in that area before. Scouted it 2 weeks before the season, things looked great. Showed up FOR the opener and there was barely enough water to hunt (on the edge of the marsh).

And...there are others who know and hunt these lakes too. You'll probably have company in most places you try to hunt. :shocked:

Two Fister · 09-14-2005, 09:00 PM

Newportfisher,
There's lots of good spots to duck hunt at Crane. Do you have a boat or are you bank bound?

If you don't have access to a boat lots of guys will build brush and tule blinds in the cove just to the south of Rock Creek Campground. If you head past Rock Creek to the south there are a series of roads that head towards the reservoir. Try to find a spot out by the point on either side of that bay and you'll get good numbers of birds to a spread.

If you have a boat, I'd just motor around before the season and look to a good spot that you can get away from folks and pull into some tule areas. A good tule pop up blind and a little bit of the natural stuff will get you into birds big time.

If you have a good dog, I've had some great jump shooting on the Upper Deschutes above Dillion Falls. It an easy hunt to do before work and the numbers of ducks and geese up there will surprise you. Shoot me a PM when you want to head out and we'll knock some birds down!
TF

DukAddict · 09-14-2005, 09:56 PM

I told you the exact same thing that Jon did, Cameron. Get out there and find out what the birds are doing... AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. Let me know how you do.

Brett Neffendorf

Critr Gitr · 09-15-2005, 03:49 PM

there ain't no birds up there .......

and remember goose opens later than duck - OSP will be out there this opener - saw too many geese fall out of the sky opening day last year...

newportfisher · 09-15-2005, 04:06 PM

I got no intention of shooting one of those. Especially out of season. I would if it was in Range, and i knew i could kill it.

No birds....But one Mr. Cameron McGuire Freezing his man hood off. O cant wait!!!!!

designated netter · 09-16-2005, 10:30 AM

I've hunted Crane since the 60s.many great memories.many lonely cold blustery days as well as some great Indian summer days.Sometimes never fired a shot,but what atmosphere to hunt in. Used to get lots of widgeon. Then like everything else the word finally got out and the last few times I went opening weekend it was almost like Summer Lake,so I have passed it up and make a few trips later in the year for memory sake. I really enjoy Wikiup with a dog.You can walk the coves in November and with patientce you can have a good day.

PullShootExplode · 09-23-2005, 12:58 AM

Hey you can try Crane or just drive down the road to Davis and after they get busted off of Crane you can pick them up at Davis. At least that's what I have done in the past. If nothing else have fun. Oh yeah Fister is right there is some great jump shooting on the big D. You can also check out the canals east of town early season and also when they do a "fill" run. you can pick up a few.

HuntNFishAddict · 09-23-2005, 10:21 PM

Davis is going to be tough as there is very very little water. I have a buddy that was over there on Tuesday and said it was a couple hundred yards from the boat ramp to the water.
Not much cover to hide in.

baltz526 · 09-24-2005, 05:40 AM

some of the best days i have ever had duck hunting, have been at wickiup reservoir, but it all has to do with access. with the closure to motor vehicals from the dam to gull point boat ramp. us duck hunters have been locked out of a big chunk of access, to drop our decoys from the truck, then drive back to the tree line.there is still a couple of spots on the reservoir to do it but, we lost a couple of the best areas in oregon to do a large decoy spread with the closure. at davis, with the low water level, a way to hunt it is to build a snow blind and surround it with decoys on a point, the camo fabric also helps in the blind building, if there is no snow. at davis there are some historic sensitive areas, so be careful of just slogging around in the muck, submurged canoes start showing with the low water levels