Ducks in the desert

skein · 10-06-2003, 05:46 AM

I like hunting ducks over in the desert, usually targeting Warner Wetlands for the opener. However, this year Warner is not very wet - at all - so that's not really an option.

I've found another place with three fairly significant bodies of water, all reservoirs, about two to three miles from each other as the duck flies. Two of these aren't big reservoirs, in fact small enough that it's not likely the ducks will just fly to the other end when they get shot at. They will most likely vamoose, hopefully to one of the other lakes.

I'm hoping that the "triangulation" theory will work here. Birds from res-1 will get spooked and fly to res-2 and get spooked and fly to res-3, etc. I actually see getting more shots at birds arriving than at residents, and I'm hoping that the distance between lakes is not a problem, i.e. they will know about the other lakes and head for one or the other.

Anybody else play this game? Any thoughts?

Skein (and Mattie the lab, who senses the change in the weather)

SLEDDER · 10-06-2003, 05:52 AM

Ducks have sharp eyes, not brains. Your plan would probably work for awhile. Have fun!! :grin:

nitrobass · 10-06-2003, 07:09 AM

Years ago when Silver Lake still had water we had that situation going on at Summer Lake. It made for some great hunting and lots of opportunities if you could find some out of the way irrigation sloughs that werent getting hunted.

My vote is with Sledder on this one - I bet you can get a few good rounds at them but if its a small body of water they will wise up fast. And unless its Klamath there really isnt a lot of new birds coming down the east side after the opener(geese excluded)