Portland suggestions for duck hunting areas

Lured In · 09-17-2003, 12:10 PM

There are lots of places to hunt, just not very many that actually have ducks.

First I would get the book from ODFW title "Game Bird Hunting In Oregon.) I believe it cost around $10. It outlines much of the public hunt areas that are well known, including Sauvie Island (30 min NW of Portland).

Also get a copy of the Willamette Greenway book. Several of the greenways are open to hunting and one of them is only about 20 minutes from you.

There is also St. Louis Ponds south of Woodburn. I have never hunted it, but it is an option. Also, much of the Willamette (above the falls) and Columbia Rivers are open to hunting. Be sure to check the regs and use common sense when setting up. (avoid residential areas, hot fishing spots, etc).

Good luck.

rockn'reel · 09-17-2003, 04:43 PM

I have tried the St Louis ponds and had no luck at all. Then again the season was kind of crap anyway. You could always go out of claskanine (sp?) just make sure you don't go onto closed islands.

steelhead22 · 09-17-2003, 05:54 PM

I've shot a few ducks from St. Louis Ponds, but it really isn't worth the drive. Sometimes it can be good, but it's rare, I think the most I've shot in a day is 4. Then again, St. Louis Ponds has a bunch of little ponds for you to jump shoot at. Sauvie Island seems like an obvious choice, although not a lot of jumpshooting opportunities (Maybe the North Unit). There's a lot of hoops to jump through when hunting there, I found that it's better to have someone show you the ropes if that's what you decide to do. Sorry I don't have more info., seems like any private hunting land is kept very private around Portland. Lots of hunters looking for a place to shoot, ya know.

SH22

Swamp Puppy · 09-17-2003, 09:54 PM

Sauvie Island probably has the most of what you want....though it is a real hassle to get it. check in though the lottery system on the west side and hunt the crane unit with your boat. it will probably take a few times out before you get to learn the place, but i know a few people that hunt it with good success.

1pump · 09-17-2003, 10:04 PM

IMHO, SIWMA is not a real hassle, unless you're stuck hunting on weekends. You just gotta know how to work the system.
It gets a bad rap, some of it deserved, but you'd be hard pressed to find a more productive area close to a large metropolitan area.
The private land out there rules, but it's generally big $$ unless you get in some of the clubs at the south end of the island where there's not as many birds.

Best Fishes · 09-17-2003, 11:48 PM

Hello duck hunters. I am looking for public or private areas to duck hunt near Portland. I have a drift boat with a motor or I also enjoy walking and trying to jump a few ducks. Any ideas near Portland?
Thank you,
Best Fishes

Best Fishes · 09-18-2003, 08:24 AM

Thank you all for the replies. If any of you want to share you areas ...I would love to become your buddy for day. I have a drift boat with a motor and I can get away most weekdays. I am reliable. I have a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who is learning to retrieve but she is a true novice.

Best Fishes

greenbuttskunk · 09-18-2003, 01:44 PM

sandy river basin. there is an aricle in H&F news.
They are a bunch of knuckleheads though, the maps says "best fishing" areas, and it's about waterfowl. :blush:

1pump · 09-19-2003, 09:03 AM

IMHO, F&H News is the equivalent of the "National Enquirer". :tongue:

rockn'reel · 09-19-2003, 11:40 PM

Best Fishes, sorry I have not called to come see the dog! I have been fairly busy but now that my fishing is starting to come to a close, I will be in full swing for hunting! Let me know if you want to go out hunting sometime. Most individuals don't like to hunt with others who have a dog that is not fully trained, but I am going to be letting my lab run the paces for the first few trips and would love to see your's in action. My buddy has a new lab that will be raw, but I know he will take him out. it would be fun to go out and train dogs together if you have the time. This next week I am going to go out and do teh fee hunting for phesant on sauvie's. If you would like to join, let me know.
One the whole thought of duck hunting, I have not been having any real luck the last two years. I have even gone east without luck. Usually, I will head out of claskanine but that has not been very productive in the last year for me. I know of a few spots and have a buddy who is willing to show me around the longview area for some hunting so I will hopefully have a few options for you. I know the mouth of the sandy can produce if you know how to do it but it has been a few years since I have done that so i will be rusty the first few times. Once I figure it out I will let you know.

Swamp Puppy · 09-20-2003, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1pump:
IMHO, SIWMA is not a real hassle, unless you're stuck hunting on weekends. You just gotta know how to work the system.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">i agree with the assessment that SI offers a tremendous opportunity close to portland. which is probably why i hunted there just about every shoot day for the last half of the season. though i can't tell you how many days i was stuck out on blind NB #11 (that is "no birds #11"..which is the farthest blind out in the no birds unit...ha ha ha) becuase i had a high chip.

the "hassle" i referred to was the being in line 1.5 to 2 hours before shoot time hoping that you get a low enough chip to get a decent blind.

aside from that..SI almost always gave me a chance at some birds. which is probably why i'll be hunting there again most of the time this season as well.

1pump · 09-20-2003, 05:24 PM

Yeah, I preferred the old "first come, first served" system on the west side. I suppose the draw is more equitable, but I liked going out there the night before and "camping out". If you were one the first 4 or 5 cars in line you knew you would get a killer spot.

If you get a high number, you're better off being one of the first on the wait list and taking a nap for a few hours while you wait for somebody to limit out early so you can grab their spot. Better than hiking out to Holman Point when the water is 300 yards away from the blind and listening to everybody else shoot. :depressed:
Maybe we'll get lucky this year and it'll flood like it did in 95-96. When it's boats only hardly anybody hunts out there. :smile:

Swamp Puppy · 09-20-2003, 08:51 PM

do you hunt on the west side alot? that little place right next to the check station that they opened up this year was a good little option if all the better places were taken when it is your "turn". steelman #1 was the number and it was a little flooded timber area with 3 sloughs and it got a few birds. you could roam around a bit and jump shoot a few. i wouldn't make it my top choice of places, but when there was nothing else, i could always count on 1 or 2 fat greenheads and then a big breakfast back home. i am just sorry that i didn't find out about it until the season was almost over.

1pump · 09-20-2003, 10:19 PM

I used to, but I haven't been out there in 2 years. Hunted it faithfully for 20 before that.
I love the west side. Any wienie can hunt cornfields. Gimme those flooded willows!
It's best when the water is high and I can take my boat out on Mud Lake.
If I hunt Steelman I like #11. Never tried #1. When it was open in years past I heard of it getting hot for a couple weeks, then the weather or water level would change and it would go dead.

[ 09-20-2003, 11:23 PM: Message edited by: 1pump ]

Swamp Puppy · 09-21-2003, 01:01 PM

i haven't tried the east side yet...and probably won't at all this year either. i think i am going to concentrate on learning where to hunt up in the crane unit this year. i met a few guys that know their way around that area and always get birds..and the beauty of that unit is that even with a high chip there always seems to be spots available.

1pump · 09-21-2003, 06:47 PM

There's usually spots available in Crane because it's a long hike in there.
I don't know if you know this, but they split Crane into 2 units a few years ago, adding North Crane. You can check into North Crane at the eastside station if you have a boat. The ODFW doesn't like to broadcast that, but there's tags hanging in the eastside check station. Saves you a lot of driving.
Be careful of the mud in Crane Lake. A couple guys got stuck out there a while back and had to be rescued.

Swamp Puppy · 09-21-2003, 06:58 PM

i knew about the north crane unit, but wasn't aware that you could get there from the east side. i really need to go out there and hike in to the unit from the parking lot and see just what i am up against. i may scratch that whole idea if the hike is really out of control.

on the mud issue. yeah, i've heard that.

1pump · 09-23-2003, 09:35 PM

The hike isn't bad in street clothes. Just remember you gotta carry dekes and gear while wearing waders. :depressed: And the tide makes a BIG difference in the water level, especially late in the year when the water's high.

Back in the early 80's there were a couple of guys who always hunted Crane early in the year. They were usually first in line, usually 12-18 hours before check in. I asked one of them why they always got in line so early when nobody else was hunting there. He said they had to be first in line in order to get out there and set up by shooting time because the hike took so long.
Which is why I always take my boat. :smile:

Swamp Puppy · 09-24-2003, 07:27 AM

yeah, i hear that. some of those blinds are fairly long walks. Seal #1 and #2 are a bit of a hike.

Jeremy · 09-24-2003, 08:37 AM

Does ODFW have any info on hunting SI online? Like blind locations and rules and all that stuff or is it just all posted out there???

Bounty Hunter · 09-24-2003, 10:39 AM

Jeremy,

The only information I am aware of online is hunt success numbers (dead birds per hunter and stuff like that).

The best resource is to drive out there and get the unit maps for the east, west, and north units. I think they even have them at the ODFW office on the island. There is tons of land out there, but tons of hunters too. They best way to explore the areas are in the afternoons after people start bringing their passes back. (Plus it's not as unnerving as in the morning when you feel like you should be hiding in the brush instead of looking around.)

Don't forget the island parking pass which you can only get during daylight hours at a few stores on the island.

Bait Bucket · 09-24-2003, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mossberg_3.5:
yeah, i hear that. some of those blinds are fairly long walks.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Can't be any worse than those Jungle Birds. :grin:

Swamp Puppy · 09-24-2003, 07:24 PM

nope...jungle birds are still tops on the difficulty meter. :grin:

i found that a quick stop in to the ODFW office on the island was a great help. they had maps for both east and west side units and spent alot of time going though each area and showing hunt success numbers. they were very helpful and i picked up my pass at the same time. i found that the annual pass was the way to go. it only costs 10 to 15 bucks..don't remember exactly, but it was a whole lot cheaper than buying a day pass each time you go. (if you plan on going a few times that is.)