Duck Hunting -Tualatin River

[dlgobeavs]

Is there any duck hunting available on the Tualatin river? I've seen duck clubs all around in the farms bordering the Tualatin (out towards Sherwood). Is there any reason a guy couldn't hunt the river from a boat? Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated :smile:

[greenbuttskunk]

yes there is, and it's great. It's been a few years but I did a jump shoot a few years back Took the canoe and put in at the sanctuary near scholls? We floated a number of miles and got into many mallards and woodies. It was a kick.
Only draw back is you might run into some some debris jams that require moving around or over, but the river changes every year so it's anyones guess.

[Wreckless]

The Tualitian gets hit pretty hard and the ducks get boat shy pretty quick. It's a great area with lots of wildlife and you'll see some ducks, but there are better areas. Occasionally some "new" birds show up and give you some shooting and if it freezes the rivers can be good.
Last time I drifted I was passed by a 19' VS sled on plane!!

I hope this helps.

Dennis

[King Fisher]

How would a 17' flatbottom do there. I'd be willing to take a couple of hunters on a jump shoot who know where to go.

[Wreckless]

The 17' boat would be OK if you can get it into the water. GBS is right lots of "snags" and debris in the river...bring extra shear pins.

I musta been behind you GBS on those trips when I didn't see a lot of birds!!!

It's a fun trip, either way.

oh yeah....GO BEAVS!!!!

[rainrshine]

Just thought I would throw my .02 in here. I do know that there is a boat launch at cook park if that helps anyone. Not sure how far either way you would have to go to find birds after launching but at least its a half way decent launch. Good luck!!

[Rusty]

The boat launch at Cook Park is not open during the Winter until 8AM. Was there last Monday! As a matter of fact, the sign said NO Vehicles beyond this point during the Winter. I'm not sure whether or not it's legal to use the put in during the Winter?? The sign confused us.

We did put in at the next put-in below Cook Park but I can't remember the name. It is next to a railroad bridge.

Rusty

[Tagster]

sorry...double post.

[ 11-18-2003, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: Tagster ]

[Tagster]

I can't remember for sure, but, I think there is a ramp under the 99w bridge on the Tualatin side... I know that a lot of kayaks launch there. Don't quote me on it...

Tag

[Erich_870]

Hopefully this goes with out saying, but if you decide to float down the river in a canoe or kayak, make sure you are wearing your PDF. My dad and bros and I hunted a field that becomes a lake in the winter from the Tualatin, and another hunter put in the river there, and only made it part way to the river before he capsized. He was very lucky he was seen by a passing car, he didn't have a PDF and almost drowned!! There are lots of snags and log jams up where he began, so its your duty to your family to tell them where you are going, go with a friend and always wear your PDF.

[Small Fry]

There is a good / big ramp at the new rood bridge park on Rood bridge rd just past Hillsboro high school. Go toward the merieweather golf course. You have to get to it from River rd because their still working on the bridge.

You could call the hillsboro park dist to find out what time they open the gates.

[onstep]

You can launch up stream from cook park on the tualatin park side. We used to do our river tests there. The people who live on the river really don't like it when you fire up a 22' Inboard incendently. So be prepared to maybe ruffle some feathers. Just remember what you are doing is perfectly legal.

[blast and cast]

In the past, I hunted the Tualatin almost every day (miss those college days). I am lucky enough to have a private launch on the river. Be prepared for LOTS of log jams, stumps and obstacles. Over the years we have- broken 5 props, cracked one lower unit, broken one transom on a boat and knocked a motor off a boat. BTW we run the river in an effort to get over the log jams. In addition, we carry a gas axe to cut our way through.

I do not hunt it much now, most of the farms we have access to have been leased or sold. There are lots of wood ducks on the river and when the river floods lots of mallards.

[Wreckless]

Last year "they" closed off the ramp at Rood Bridge once the water got high enough to put a motor boat in . I talked to some of the "powers that be", but I felt like they were going to block it off again this year...who knows.

Cast&Blast is right LOTS of "dead heads". But fair / good wood duck hunting!

[Fishy-Fingers]

I float the river many times in my canoe but have not hunted it that way. Like many have said, there are a lot of snags, submerged logs and debis. I have felt like I was canoeing in a swamp with the obsticals, slow water and the moss hanging from the trees. I have seen some small motor boats in the river below Roy Rogers and the city park in Tualatin. I had a hard time understanding how they motored around without messing up their props. I guess carefully.

Last duck season, at the bridge on Roy Rogers, I picked up a couple of very wet and cold guys who had tipped their canoe and lost their gun, hunting vests and gear. On the way taking them to their truck, they had a horror story to tell about wearing waders and falling in the river. They said they weren't even going to go back and try to find the gun.

Be careful, wear life vests and tie a 6 ft cord from your gun stock to an empty bleach bottle (lid on). I have fallen in rivers while floating them and at least you can find the gun when you see the bottle bobbing on the surface. I also take a change of clothes and fire starter in a doubled Heafty garbage bag. It has saved my rear from freezing to death. I have had to build a fire just to thaw out my gun not to mention my bones.