WTG Waterfowl Hunting...?

[skahorse]

Hi Everyone,
First off, yes, I am a procrastinator . I have been all of my life. But now that Waterfowl season is getting under full swing, I am getting the bug to get started in the sport. I picked up a Remington 870 Express Magnum 12ga. for $219.00 :shocked: @ Bi-Mart last night and I am ready to get started this weekend.

I have read all of the regulations, top-to-bottom, and because I am a procrastinator I do not have a NW Goose Permit. I also picked up the latest F&H and it has some suggestions of where to go, but I'm sure it's just like fishing, unless you are there @ 3:00am, you aren't going to get in the spot because everyone and thier mother has read the same article.

The F&H also had a good article on jump-shooting. I'm thinking this might be the best option for me as I don't have a dog (I do, but he's only 9weeks old :depressed: ) and I don't own, let-alone know how to use a call. I also don't have dekes, or the money to put into them right now.

So, to make a long story short, I'm looking for some general suggestions as to where to go to hunt Duck or Geese(Geese preferred, but w/out permit, limits my area) around the PDX area, I will stray a couple hours away, but i don't want to drive to John Day :grin: . For instance, I know you can hunt some areas along the Willamette ( I do have a boat) but I don't know where those area are.

Please PM Me with suggestions.

Thanks in advance for the help!

--Skahorse

[ 10-16-2003, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: skahorse ]

[Tulelicious]

I to am in a similar situation, I have Hunted before a couple years ago in the LaGrande area but have no idea where to go locally. I would also like to find someone to hunt with. I do have a couple dozen decoys and can kind-of use a call. I have pretty much everything needed except a dog, a Blind and a good idea of where to hunt.

[Swamp Puppy]

if you want to hunt geese without a permit you need to har out to the eastern zone areas. pretty much everything west of the cascades is the NW permit zone. the regs will have a map outlining the boundrys.

as for hunting ducks in the area without dekes..that is another tough one. i would recommend that you swing into GI Joes and spend around 30 bucks and pick up about 8 mallard decoys. they usually have 4 packs on sale for 14 - 15 dollars. don't worry about a call yet. then, head out to Sauvie Island, check in, toss your dekes in the water, hunker down, and wait. :grin: SI probably has the best public duck hunting that is close to you.

on the west side of the island you need to get into line at least 1.5 hours before shoot time for their "lottery system" of letting people in. i recommend a little earlier. they shoot every other day, (friday will be a shoot day..so will sunday) stop into the ODFW office on the island on any non-shoot day and ask them questions. they are very helpful and will give you all the info you need to know about hunting out there.

drop me a PM if you need further clarification an anything.

[Chromaflage]

Moss, Everything west of I-5 is pretty much in the permit zone. There are plenty of places to hunt geese west of the cascades where you do not need a permit. Especially if you have a boat (hint hint).

I will be going out to Sauvies on a regular basis once coast deer season is over. I have dogs, dekes, blind, calls, a cart, the works and will be posting available seats in my rig as they are available. I am willing to take newbies under certain conditions - SAFETY is #1 for me - and no alcohol, drugs, etc. And it's nice to have someone who can draw an extra chip out of the bag - hehe. Also nice to have someone to help share the work load. I'll keep you all posted.

ORS

[Flatfish]

Go to Nehalem bay.

The little fast ducks are teal. The big birds are pinnies or mallards. Be careful on those. On the hens look for the wing patch color.Even the drakes are still sorta drab this time of year.

The medium sized ones with a quicker wingbeat are widgeon. Taste horrible( duckeroni), decoy OK though. More of them in Tilly than Nehalem. But enough to let you know.


The teal eat pretty good for a duck. And are fairly stupid( decoy well into season). So they are good fun. shoot 4 feet in front of them.

Move the dekes once during the incoming tide.

Let them get close before you shoot. Fetch em ASAP( tide equals moving water. get them fast)

If pup can sit and stay at 12-16 weeks, hunt him. he will be sloppy. But there aint no training like the real deal. You hold pup as buddy shoots. try to let pup see the bird fall. he will know what to do( this assumes pup is a lab or chess). This practice is not too popular. But it turns out wonderful hunting dogs.

mark and the dog.

[Swamp Puppy]

OregonRed - yes, you are right..the I5 corridor is the approximate boundry, not the cascades. too early in the day for me..i was thinking about general deer season boundries. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]


i'll be hitting SI a few times in the coming week. probably tomorrow morning and again next tuesday and thursday.