Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

11-27-2007 13:57
– – –
miss read, the post. I must need some glasses!!!!

Thought the turduckin said ton of I guess???

I don’t know what I was reading I must be goin crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

11-27-2007 09:10
– – –
I re read my post and I don’t see where I wrote that I killed a ton of birds. I said there ate a lot of birds in the region, both Yakima Valley and the Columbia Basin. What are you referring to?

If you are referring to the Turduckin……it’s a joke. A Turduckin is a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey all cooked together. They don’t exist in the wild, but you can get good cooking instructions on foodnetwork.com. 🙂

[Edited By Hugh-Carney on 2007-11-27 09:14]

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columbia Basin/Yakima Valley 11-26-2007 12:05
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Bird numbers have increased dramatically over the past 10 days. Seemingly mallards more than other puddlers or divers. The situation looks like this…many birds are in safe refuges until just at dusk or later…bad news for hunters, for now. This is often where the scouting and watching the weather comes in handy. These ducks will get into the pattern of moving late in the day or at night until the weather makes them change. That is usually wind or a front. Once they move you have your chance to get in on a good shoot usually on the first or second day of that weather change. I have also found that if you are close to where they want to roost and the fog moves in, they will get disoriented and you can get a good hunt for a day or two.

The other good news is that with more birds in the region, there is always the opportunity to get more birds. That might sound dumb but we often complain about no birds to shoot or not enough birds. We can’t use that as an excuse now. They are here, we just have to wait for them to move. I guarantee that there are many spots that the birds are using and they aren’t just private land.

Now that the Thanksgiving weekend is over the hunting pressure should subside for a while. I find that a relief that as the bird numbers grow in E. Wa, the hunter numbers decrease.

Snow is expected Tuesday and Thursday and temps are expected in the 40’s for highs and mid 20’s for lows turning colder by the weekend. This will freeze small water and then the big numbers of birds will be more restricted.

This is the modern good ol days in E. Wa.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columbia Basin/Yakima Valley 11-26-2007 11:43
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Killed a Turduckin over the weekend. Boy was it good.

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

RES. Upper valley 11-25-2007 10:53
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
We got 11 mallards today jump-shooting some private land that has some drainditches flowing through, not as good as we thought, only got 2 jumps when we usually get 3-5. There was 100-120 on the drian itself, ducks seemed to move out over night and I think they may have been pushed out with cold weather and freeze out conditions. Gun clubs did’nt shoot much either.

Watch those Sunrises and Whack ’em!!

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

res. 11-23-2007 20:07
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
went on a scouting/hunting mission today to see what is frozen, the ice sucks!! I didi kill 3 mallards and a greenwinger on a drainditch. Saw a deccent # of birds and we’ll do good tommorow morning jumpshooting.

Stopped a feild tonight near Toppenish that had about 10,000 landing and feeding in it, WHAT A SIGHT!!! Very neat and very worth the trip!

Good luck tommorow

Watch those Sunrises and Whack ’em!!

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

RES. 11-22-2007 16:14
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Well our Thanksgiving hunt was kinda slow, jumpsot 5 of em today (mallard, 2shovlers, and 2 greenwingers) Lot’s of ducks and geese on river, but it’s high right now and you can only shoot 1 or 2 on each jump so the dog can get em before the current washes them away.

LOTS of stuff is frezzing and it’s gona get tuff for awhile, gona try some deccoying tommorow I think, going to a better spot tommorow.

Quite a bit of shooting today but I think they were mostly uplanders getting out and stirrin it up.

Good luck tommorow and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

11-20-2007 13:54
– – –
yah, I know I was in a hurry. I actually hunted the Yakima river and that’s where hunting partners killed limmits on Saturday, I hunted Sunday.

I saw all the birds on the Columbia River just above the Priest Rapids dam.

Sorry for the crappy reporting!!

Gona hunt alot this long weekend, good luck to ya that are hunting too.

[Edited By Kwack Wacker on 2007-11-20 13:57]

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

11-20-2007 09:18
– – –
Nov. bird counts should be published soon. There is always a lag time between where the birds are at the time of the count, and where they are when the results are published. WDFW should have those numbers out soon.

Lower temps in Canada should add to the numbers as well.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

11-20-2007 09:14
– – –
Freezing fog is in the forecast for the coming week. Lots of moisture on the ground from the weekend rain and snow. Icy driving in spots. Dense for in spots should burn off by afternoon and redevelop over night.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

11-20-2007 09:12
– – –
Kwack:

Hard to follow what rivers you are talking about. Sat. was on the Yakima river? Sun you were along the Columbia?

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

RES. 11-19-2007 14:10
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted yesterday afternoon on river, not a ton of birds left, I bagged 3 greenwingers. Hunting partners killed their limmits in the same area Saturday morning easily, must have ran em’ out. saturday I was as I said, helping my grandpa kill a deer, he did (170 class) noticed a TON of birds working the Priest Rapids pool near where we killed the deer. We figured at least 30000 of em’, divers and puddlers. The guys huntin em were lighting it up big time.I was wishin I was down there!!

good luck on Thanksgiving hunts!!!

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columbia basin 11-19-2007 10:59
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – –
The storms from last week looks like they have move birds around but not out. It looks as thought from I saw in the field this past weekend, there are fewer birds where they were previously concentrated in mass, and more birds where there were none before. I noticed a particular increase in mallards and redheads.

The weather was miserable for E. Wa. Rain on Sat AM then all day on Sun. turning to snow in the Yakima Valley. the birds will willing to fly in moderation on Sun.

The 4 day weekend coming up is usually more of a challenge dealing with other hunters in the field that it is finding the birds. With the birds seeming to have spread out it may ease the crowding issue a little more. Temps are expected to drop this week with lows in the low 20’s and highs in the upper 40’s. There is snow on the ground in parts of E. Wa. and by the weekend there may be some icy spots left in shaded areas. The farther east you go the more snow there is.

Be safe and have a happy Thanksgiving.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Yak. valley 11-16-2007 19:42
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Good luck this weekend, jumped abut 30 ducks today hunting the last hour of shooting time and knock 3 down finding 2 of em’, they looked like possible migrators. Heard some other guys had good success last weekend on the RES. as well. Hopefully it will go again this weekend, got to help my grandfather shoot a deer on the Firing Center tommorow but hopefully I can get out on Sunday.

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Yakima River 11-15-2007 21:04
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Had a good hunt Sat. on the RES. I limmited and dad did as well, the other guy that we were with knocked his limmit down but lost a couple. Deccoyed a few in the morning and got a few mallards and then finshed up jumping a few sloughs and channels, we saw a few more woodies this time and bagged a few. Shot a wiegeon and the rest were Greenwingers. By the way deffinatley had some of those little butterballs migrating through. After my limmit was filled we jumped a flock off the river that had to be around 600 strong, I’ve never seen a single flock of teal that big. Saw a good # of mallards as well (biggest bunch was about 300) and there was plenty of geese working a section of the river, if we would have been there in the morning we would have got into em I’m sure. If we would have been set up on the backwash we jumped the teal out of at shooting time we would have had our limmits done in the morning.
Quite a bit of shooting 1st 1 hour or so.

It was a great hunt. Northeners should be coming in #’s soon!!

Any reports for the Snake yet???

The bands I was talking about last week were all form one guy and he had killed them that week hunting the atfernoons on the Toppenish unit.

Posted By:
guyg
Guest

East side of Basin 11-13-2007 22:43
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Sunday, east basin singulary devoid of waterfowl. Few ducks, fewer geese. Hope this front moves in new birds and the guides can say “the northerns are in” and not be lying. Saw this a few seasons ago, pretty dead for early season, a few days were great and then winter set in.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columbia basin 11-13-2007 13:37
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Numbers are still good in the western basin but the huge wind we had on Mon. may have moved them. It has been a pattern in the past that the birds get moved around with that kind of heavy, extended wind. By the same token, new birds may be pushed in. It’ll take a few days to see what settles out.

We were lucky to get off the water on Mon. before the big gusts. By noon the water was being lifted and thrown hundereds of yards. Swells looked to be 4-5 feet. Dust made for worse driving conditions than any fog or snow I’ve been in.

Minor systems are expected through the week into E. Wa. Low temps are expected to dip into the mid 20’s and highs in the low 50’s. No big wind at this point but rain is expected off and on.

Had a drake Old Squaw in the deke’s at one point. I have never even seen one before, let alone in E. Wa, although I have gotten a hen Old Squaw, so it’s not out of the question.

I drove into the WB 10 ponds in the White Bluffs area. Much of the vegitation was wiped out in the fire this past summer but the ponds look to be okay, although I didn’t walk all the way back from the parking area. The parking area looks unused. I am curious if the area is getting hunting pressure.

Quail seemed active this weekend too. I stumbled into some Hun’s as well. Good time to be in E. Wa.

-Hugh

Posted By:
jsdod04
Guest

11-11-2007 11:02
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – –
did those bands go to one guy or is that rummer because i was on res oppening and group next to me shot around 70 birdsand they were saying that they got that many bands no 100 doller ones thou stoped in saterday afternoon perty quitedid not see one bird their for three hours

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

weather update 11-09-2007 13:43
– – –
Newer weather info for E. Wa:

Yakima valley hgih winds to 30 MPH

Columbia basin winds Fri.PM to Sat. AM upto 15 MPH. East of the Columbia dense fog is expected.

Pick your poison.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columbia Basin 11-09-2007 09:38
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Duck numbers are very strong in the basin. Diver numbers have steadily increased over the past weeks. Calm and warm days allow the birds to sit in very large numbers on big water and we need something to get them to move.

A weak front will move through the region this weekend and rain is expected on Sat. and cooler temps may get the job done. Wind is only expected on friday. May be a good weekend to get after it.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

yak. valley 11-05-2007 14:09
– – –
been doing fairley well, got a hoodie drake the other night and 3 geese as well. Seemed to be some new geese moving in?? Not many woodies on the Res. this year, I don’t know why, usually it’s the main species this time of year, only shot 2 or 3 myself this year. Seems like I’ve been seeing some pairing activity lately. Heard a guy got 8 bands in one week near Toppenish!! LUCKY!!

going to hunt the Snake this month on lake Bryan, anyone hunt this pool for em’?? Any info would be good. I have friend that owns a good point there and I was thinking on going and giving it a try and maybe shooting some quail/pheasant if the waterfowl did’nt work out.

Posted By:
Ralph-Engle
Guest

snake river 11-02-2007 21:40
– – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
The ducks have not arrived on the Snake River yet. Spent the day there today and saw a very limited amount of ducks.

Ralph

Call em in close and shoot the BOY DUCKS

Posted By:
John-Kruse
Field Editor

Central Washington 11-02-2007 13:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Just got off the phone with Mike Meseberg. He reports clients on his “Duck Taxi” guide service got limits by 9 AM today on Potholes Reservoir. Main bird bagged was mallards.

When asked, he said the mallards were northerns and they are beginning to show in good numbers. In his words, “Here we go!”

Could be a good week to get out. I’ve had some of my best hunts just as the northerns come in.

If you are interested in booking a trip with the Duck Taxi you can do so through Mar Don Resort at 1-800-416-2736 or www.ducktaxi.com.

Another guide who hunts this area is Aaron Echterncamp. His web site is www.easternwashingtonguides.com. He has been around awhile but I have not yet been hunting with him.

If you are freelancing on your own a boat trip into the sand dunes from the south end of Potholes Reservoir or Crab Creek in the north end could be a good bet. Walk-in Hunters will also find plenty of water to jump shoot or set up dekes on on the north end of the Reservoir among the dunes or along Winchester Wasteway. Winchester and Frenchman’s wasteway in the Desert Wildlife Area also offer boat hunting if you know where you are going.

Good luck to all this weekend.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

E. Wa 10-31-2007 09:22
– – –
Here in Cent. Wa. we are begining to trend toward an inversion which almost always means fog in the fall and winter. There has been fog in spots but unless we get a front to move through we could be foggy by the weekend. temps are pretty steady with highs in the 50’s and lows in the 20’s.

Last weekend was fairly active with bird flights on Sat with a little wind to move them, but Sun. was very still and although there are a lot of birds around they didn’t move. Middle of next week a storm is expected to move out of Canada and into E. Wa which may bring new birds and move the ones that are just milling around.

Divers continue to make a strong showing right now. we got a couple of nice Cans over the weekend and saw many Red heads. Red Heads less willing to decoy.

Haven’t heard much from the potholes, patterson, wb-10/white bluffs or the snake river. Anyone willing to give a general condition on the bird population and movement?

-Hugh

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

N/A 10-26-2007 11:09
– – –
I’d guess some of you are like me and it’s hard to get going in the AM because of a bad back. My problem is siatica (sp). Medication helps from time to time but it really slows you down and keeps you grumpy and my take away from the fun of the hunt, especially on cold days. I have recently tried the stick on heat patches and medicated patches the night before the hunt and it helps to get a better sleep and motion is much improved in the morning. It helps the entire day. The heat patch helps with the warmth during a cold day on the water too. It might be a cheap aid that will improve your hunt a lot. It has made a big difference with me.

Got out yesterday and had a quiet little hunt, just me and my dog, over a dozen Galwall/Wigeon spread. Finished in a few hours and ended up with my first wood duck. Very nice drake. I saw a few woodies moving around at first light. In over 25 years hunting the areas of the basin I frequent and I have only seen 1 wood duck before. I know you guys that hunt the res. get em all the time but they’re rare in the basin.

The cold front has passed and the cold is setteling in. Nothing too severe but lows in the mid 20’s and highs around the upper 50’s. Expect clear and calm for the next 4-5 days. Not much wind either.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Yak. 10-25-2007 14:10
– – –
Jumpshot 3 Buffleheads on a small irrigation lake near home. Going to mount them. Also shot a pheasant. And saw a good # of mallards flying around.

Can’t wait for the Northeners!!

Good luck on the future Wackin’!

Posted By:
Ralph-Engle
Guest

North of Spokane 10-25-2007 13:01
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 45-50 Degrees
The second weekend was slower than the first and the bag was smaller also. I heard very few shots from any where around me both days.

Ralph

Call em in close and shoot the BOY DUCKS

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Yakima 10-23-2007 13:54
– – –
Went deer huntin Sat and dad and i got 2 nice public land bucks 30min. from home!!

Sun. i shot 2 rosters 5 quail and a ringneck hen.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columbia basin 10-23-2007 11:04
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Only got to get out one day over the weekend. Sat. I had to drive to Portland and the rain was sideways. I saw some guys out hunting along the river. It must have been miserable.

Sunday was my day out and we saw lots of birds moving in the moderate wind. We were finished by 9:30 and the wind quit by 10. With the still atmosphere the birds settled and flights stoped. With Thursday’s and Friday’s storm came more birds. Diver numbers have increased dramatically and mallard numbers were strong as well.

This week is expected to be unusually warm with highs in the low 70’s early week and into the upper 50’s and low 60’s in the late week. Lows will start dropping below freezing through the later part of the week as well. Thursday PM and fri. a cold front is expected to move through central Wa. May be the next best chance to get some.

-Hugh

Posted By:
3SHOTMGEE
Guest

Stanwood 10-22-2007 11:58
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted our favorite area on Sunday.Done with decoying Snows by 11am, 12 birds and really close ones. The guys on Boe road sure were shooting a lot both days. I only hunted on Sunday. My son got some good decoying birds on Saturday and we enjoyed another glorius Snow hunt on Sunday together. On Saturday he got some really big white birds and Sunday we only got young birds, but it sure was fun to get the large flocks to come in.

Posted By:
John-Kruse
Field Editor

Potholes Reservoir 10-19-2007 17:28
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 50-60 Degrees
Okay,

I said I was done as a VFE and I’ve got to admit that I’m less than pleased by how Waterfowler.com has kept up on their promises. But….There is something to be said for communicating our love of waterfowl hunting online. With that in mind – Here’s the Opening Day Report:

I hunted Saturday, Sunday and Monday on Potholes Reservoir. The opener went pretty well, with 13 birds for 3 hunters. Sunday tailed off dramatically with only two birds shot by us. However, one of those was a banded bird (that my friend has not called in yet).

Monday I went out with three other hunters and a guide on the Mar Don Duck Taxi. The company was good the but the shooting was slow for us (and everyone else in the area). We managed 5 ducks but did have a fun airboat ride getting into and out of the dunes (going over land in a boat is a very unique experience).

I put together a You Tube video/ slide show about my experiences with the Duck Taxi over the last couple of seasons. You can view it by logging onto the link below:

Meanwhile, the WDFW has posted a bird hunting report for North Central Washington in their latest Weekender Report. Here’s the pertinent info:

“Waterfowl hunting opened Oct. 13, when WDFW wildlife biologist Rich Finger and waterfowl specialist Mikal Moore checked duck hunters on Potholes Reservoir and the Columbia Basin wasteways. Hunter averaged 2.5 ducks per person, and the harvest was mostly American wigeon, mallards, and green-winged teal.

“Early morning fog on the wasteways obscured visibility and limited success of some parties,” Moore said. “But few went home empty-handed. Hunters should watch the weather reports closely as cold weather and wind brings new birds to the area.” Moore said the early migrant species, including northern pintail and green-winged teal, are arriving in large numbers and can be found in association with shallow seasonal wetlands, and local cinnamon teal have largely migrated to warmer climates.

Moore reminded waterfowlers there is additional opportunity to harvest canvasbacks this year, with the daily bag limit doubled to two birds due to exceptional production in the Canadian prairies.

Pheasant hunting opens Oct. 20. The number of wild roosters in Grant and Adams counties should be similar to recent years, boosted periodically throughout the two-and-a-half-month season with game-farm-raised roosters at WDFW release sites. See release site details at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/ewapheas.htm.

Meanwhile quail and partridge hunting, under way since Oct. 6, has been fairly good in some areas. The highest densities of quail are in the dry land portions of Grant County, but huntable numbers are available at some locations in the irrigated parts of Grant and Adams counties. Good opportunity for Hungarian or gray partridge is in central Adams County on WDFW Hunter Access Program lands.”

I hope all of you have a great season and I’ll drop in from time to time with more reports and news.

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Yak Valley 10-19-2007 13:51
– – –
Seems like a few more ducks movin around this week after a little rest from the barages of the weekend, jumpshot a couple teal the other night, I have a feeling this next week will improve, Good Luck once again this weekend I’m sure some guys will a get limmits, hopefully me!

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Yak river 10-19-2007 13:47
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 35-40 Degrees
First day was good and we got limmits including a Drake redhead. 2nd day was slow for us but we still scratched out a few woodies and a banded hen mallard.

By the way the youth hunt was great for us and we got 28 ducks during the 2 days and 7 species.

Good Luck this weekend and wahck em!!!

Posted By:
Ralph-Engle
Guest

North of Spokane 10-18-2007 14:59
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 40-45 Degrees
First report of the year. The hunting was good on Sat and much slower on Sunday. Talked to several others who had a good Sat. but slow Sunday. Hang in there! They will come, after all we have built something haven’t we?

Ralph

Call em in close and shoot the BOY DUCKS

Posted By:
westsidequackwacker
Guest

10-18-2007 11:25
– – –
hey all opening weekend was good here around the sound out on the flats in nisqually limited on mallards and wigeon on saturday and sunday..lots of birds still showing up weather is getting colder and wetter..have a good weekend all and shoot em in the beaks!!!!

Posted By:
dabears101
Web Member

cherry valley 10-17-2007 23:05
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 35-40 Degrees
went out today and got 2 one of my own and one that my friend got it was his first duck EVER so that was pretty cool being the one that called it in for him

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Basin/Yak Valley 10-17-2007 10:51
– – –
As usual the reports for the opener are all over the board. What looked like higher than average numbers didn’t pan out in all areas. The reports from the lower Yakima Valley show that it was really slow on Sat and Sun. The area I hunted was ave. on Sat and really slow on Sun. but scouting helped us limit. With the warm and quiet weather any flying was done by 8:30.

I took the late afternoon on Tuesday to look around and it was barren in the western Basin. Not only a few ducks in the air but almost nothing to be seen near or far. We are expecting strong wind and rain the next few days and that may change things. There is even a forecast for snow in the overnite hours in some parts of the Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley. That changes again for the extended forecast and temps back near 70 by next Tuesday and Wed.

Season is closed Oct. 18th and 19th so they may settle back into some areas and Sat could be a bit better.

-Hugh

Posted By:
westsidequackwacker
Guest

puget sound 10-11-2007 13:38
– – –
looks good for opener here on the west side lots of ducks starting to show wigeon are starting to show in some numbers diver are worken there way down green wing teal and lots of local mallards around should be a good opener. looks to be a blue bird weekend but heck it opening day!!!!!!!!!

shoot’em in the beak!!

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

C. Basin/Yak. Valley 10-11-2007 10:40
– – –
Don’t forget the bug spray. The temps for the weekend are expected in the low 70’s and calm in the Yakima Valley and mid 70’s and calm in the basin. There hasn’t been any significant cold to kill the bugs so they will be in force. Watch for bees nest particulary ground nests, too.

-Hugh

Posted By:
dabears101
Web Member

10-10-2007 19:43
– – –
Just a couple more days, i myself cant wait that long but me and a friend are going to go out sunday morning before the hawks game and hopefully get some shooting in before all the pheasant hunters come in. Hope everyone has a good opener.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columboa Basin 10-08-2007 12:54
– – –
Went out to scout the western half of the Columbia Basin and the Yakima Valley yesterday and I was very impressed with the number of birds. In 25 + years in the region I have never seen this many birds in Oct. Not just good numbers but good color too. I suspect an early movement of birds which may translate into a slower late Nov. and Dec. but since every season has it’s original aspects, I’ll take what comes and enjoy a good opener.

I am hearing reports of strong phesant numbers and wild phesants in abundance. This fall has been much cooler than normal. Maybe that has something to do with all this good bird news.

Take some time before Fri. afternoon to be sure you have fresh batteries in all your equipment and you’re ready for the opener. The weather for the weekend is expected to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and highs in the low 60’s, lows in the 40’s.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Ralph-Engle
Guest

Eastern WA 10-05-2007 14:20
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Well first report of the year. I didn’t do the early geese, hadn’t seen many and the doves were calling my name. Get to shoot your gun alot even though sometimes not much dies.
Today in Spokane was the first good frost of the year, yard and rooftops all white and the thermometer say 32 degrees, the trees are changing and I am ready to go.
Got the decoys all cleaned and the boat loaded and can hardly wait until next weekend. I will give a report after the weekend.
GOOD HUNTING and have fun!!

Call em in close and shoot the BOY DUCKS

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

10-03-2007 09:22
– – –
Weather’s very fall like in E. Wa. and it seems that birds are more on the wing lately. This coming weekend will likely be the last walk through for the opener.

For those of you that may be more focused on the eating of the birds, there was a good episode on Good Eates last night on the Food Network dealing with preparing and eating duck. The prep. was simple. It called for an easy brine solution, steaming of the bird, then pan searing it for a short while. I’m sure you can get the full story and recipie by going to the Food Network web site. It’s worth a try.

-Hugh

Posted By:
westsidequackwacker
Guest

puget sound 09-26-2007 18:44
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 50-60 Degrees
hey all well the weather is changing cooler nights and a few cold rainy days..the ducks are starting to show have seen some wigeon and surf scotors out on the sound-that are starting to show up–early goose was a really good 3 guys we all limited out in the south sound before it got to warm out–looks to be a good season a few more weeks to go!!!!!shoot”em in the beaks!!!!

[Edited By westsidequackwacker on 2007-09-26 18:45]

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

09-20-2007 10:48
– – –
Unseasonably cool tems continue in the Yakima and Columbia Basins. Be prepared on the normally warm youth weekend. It may well be very cool in the AM but warmng to the mid 70’s by mid day.

This would be a great scout time too. Take that kid and look for spots for the coming weeks. Irrigation will continue to flow at least until mid Oct the the ditches will slowly empty over the following weeks. Seepage and run off may create early opprotunities for puddlers in some areas.

Harvest is in full swing now too, so watch for lots of farm trucks on the road and take some time to stop at a road side stand to gather some bounty.

Hope to see some field reports from this coming weekend. Also need to see some good hunting slaes reports. I haven’t been to Wal Mart lately but shells should be coming on sale if they aren’t already. Cabella’s online store has some good opprotunities now too.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

odds N ends 09-13-2007 13:55
– – –
September’s slow transition to fall is shaping up as normal for E. Wa. Record lows in the Yakima valley this week with highs increasing 50 degrees or more by mid day. Those hot temps will slowly decrease in the coming weeks as the season approaches.

Recent news in the Yakima valley is that Cabella’s has purchased the soon to be vacant Costco store in Union Gap. Neither Cabella’s or Costco will comment, but other sources confirm the purchase. This will mean I will have to get an additional job.

I have recently watched a few new hunting videos. I try to limit the number I buy but I often borrow from others. There is a site I recently found called callingducks.com that has a section for reviewing videos and other hunting related stuff. Not all videos are on there but some of the more popular ones are. It’s interesting to glance at

If you are interesting in increasing your chances of bagging a banded duck this season you may want to head to the lower Yakima valley. There have been a record number of birds banded this summer and they will stay around for some time before they move on.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

CORRECTION 09-10-2007 15:12
– – –
The huntings days is put on by Sportsman’s Warehouse on Oct. 6, but will be at Mid Valley Chystler/Dodge in Grandview.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

09-10-2007 09:49
– – –
You can almost set your watch by the calander. Sept. shows up and the temps drop. East of Yakima this morning was 37 degrees and on my way to work there were many flocks of geese on the wing and for the first time I saw groups of ducks where ther haven’t been before.

The E. Wa. early season goose sounds like it was reasonable while the dove shooting remains very good from what I am hearing from personal reports.

Check for ticks if you’ve been out, too.

Lastly, it looks as if Sportsman’s Warehouse in Kennewick will have a “hunting days” special on Oct. 6th from 11am to 3pm. Locals may want to scout the basin in the morning, get to SW late am then scout the evening for the next weekends opener.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

General Info 09-04-2007 10:59
– – –
This is my first time checking in for the upcomming season. Looks to be the good ol days are still here. Bag limits are strong. Habitat looks strong. Bird numbers are good to very good in many parts of the state.

Cool morning temps and constant barage of Cabella’s and Mac’s magazines are a sure sign that the shooting soon begins.

Dove opener sounds like it was good in some areas but it took a long day to do it. Quail should be excellent state wide as should early goose if you scout it out. Some traditional goose areas are a litle slow right now but othere are very strong.

Hope to start seeing some reports coming in soon.

-Hugh

Posted By:
westsidequackwacker
Guest

08-26-2007 13:06
– – –
was out fishen for salmon in the manchester area this mornin seen a few flights of birds looked like wigeon….gettin closer!!!!!

Posted By:
Ralph-Engle
Guest

07-30-2007 14:10
– – –
CANADA GOOSE SEPTEMBER SEASON
BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:
Western Washington, except Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties and that part of Clark County north of the Washougal River: Five (5) Canada geese per day with a total of ten (10) in possession at any time
Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties and that part of Clark County north of the Washougal River: Three (3) Canada geese per day with a total of six (6) in possession at any time
Eastern Washington: Three (3) Canada geese per day with a total of six (6) in possession at any time
WESTERN WASHINGTON SEASON DATES: Sept. 8-13, 2007; Sept. 6-11, 2008. EXCEPT Pacific and Grays Harbor counties: Sept. 1-15, 2007, and 2008
EASTERN WASHINGTON: Sept. 8-9, 2007; Sept. 6-7, 2008.

Posted By:
RUNINGUN
Guest

07-29-2007 20:09
– – –
So how do you know when early goose is when they meet 8-2-4-07 in Anacortes
I hope you are correct because it can’t come soon enough

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

07-23-2007 20:58
– – –
50 days till youth duck and 37 till early goose and 21 till dove!!!!

The time is startin to count down!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

07-23-2007 20:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
I’ve been bandin quite a bit with the local Biologists, we have banded 45 the other day and 32 today and put 5 $100 reward bands on mallards-gadwals, they have banded 400 ducks so far and they will be at 1000 by the time they are done.

It’s really cool and really fun to do-especially means we have banded birds where I have shot ducks before!!!!

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

06-12-2007 10:35
– – –
Hey, I actually got a response from Doc Hastings after I sent an e-mail response regarding the WRP. He was very encouraging about trying to keep the program alive in congress.

Hope others sent e mails too.

Posted By:
Ralph-Engle
Guest

WA 06-04-2007 17:32
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is in jeopardy of being eliminated

——————————————————————————–

We all need to do this to save this vital program.

The ducks need your help to keep a critical waterfowl habitat program alive. Congress is working on the Farm Bill now, and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is in jeopardy of being eliminated.

The Wetlands Reserve Program has restored more than 2,000,000 acres of wetlands on marginal farmland, providing critical habitat for waterfowl and many other wildlife species. WRP is integral in helping to offset the 80,000 acres of wetlands that continue to be lost in the U.S. each year. It is a totally voluntary conservation program.

WRP funding will be eliminated by Congress unless you take action.

The House and Senate Budget Committees must address the lack of funding for WRP. If they don’t, drastically fewer acres of this country’s fragile wetlands will be restored.

An additional $1.9 billion is needed to save WRP. Unless that funding is made available, WRP will be entirely eliminated. Supporters like you must let Congress know that WRP needs to be saved.

Please click the buttons on the right to send a brief message to Congress and let them know they must ensure funding for WRP.

Two Ways to Take Action:
1. Call your members of Congress .

Click URL below for contact information for your Congressmen.
2. Email your members of Congress.

http://capwiz.com/ducks/issues/alert…831711&type=CO

Thanks,

Ralph

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Hanford Reach 04-10-2007 10:39
– – –
In an ongoing adjustment to huntable areas in the Hanford Reach there are some options and comment opprotunities available to the public as of April 9th.

Of concern is the Humane Society of The U.S. objection to allowing any hunting on refuge areas. The F & WS has proposed some options to the HSUS objections and this will likely be decided in court. Worst case would be no hunting on any refuge lands. If you think this dosen’t effect you because you don’t hunt this region, you are mistaken. If hunting is disallowed on this refuge, it will be the beginning of the end of hunting on all refuges.

There is a comment option on the following website to voice your support to keeping hunting open in select areas of this refuge. It’s easy to get to. Go to http://www.fws.gov/hanfordreach/planning.html and look for the hunting plan comment area.

The entire document is very lengthy but by going to the table of contents you can select certain areas of interest.

One option that was proposed, then declined, was the possibility of opening hunting on the north side of the Columbia in the Reach. This would include Saddle Mtn. Lake and many heavily water fowl populated areas. This option was decided against but it would have been nice to have that for a year or two until the comprehensive plan is finalized.

Take some time to skim the document and comment.

-Hugh

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

03-13-2007 17:28
– – Over 70 Degrees
Hey that sounds great, Can always use a Sportsmans closer to home!!!
Looks like we’ll have a decent amount of water this year for the hunting and definatley enough for the hatch. It also looks like we might have a early hatch and the birds will be colored up better in the youth season.

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

03-12-2007 13:46
– – –
Yes, they have a site.

They contacted me late friday. Seems like slow customer service, but the project was completed.

By the way, word has it that Sportsman’s Warehouse or GI Joes will be moving to Yakima at the site of the current Costco as soon as Costco re locates.

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

03-09-2007 17:18
– – –
have you tried e-mailing them, or do they even have a site??????

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

03-05-2007 10:40
– – –
I am having a heck of a time getting a hold of Avery’s customer service. I have called 4 times in the past week and left messages for a return call with no luck.

Any one have any ideas of a better way to reach them?

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Odds and ends 02-09-2007 13:30
– – –
A few weeks back I incorrectly gave dates for the Yakima Sportsman show. The correct dates are Feb. 16-18.

As an update on an robbery of firarmes from the parking lot at McNary as disussed a few weeks ago….I called the refuge twice and left messages with a return number and never got a returned call. If anyone has any updates on this issue please post up.

The Columbia Basin and the Yakima Valley should be in very good shape for the spring hatch. There is a lot of water in the ground and locked up in ice as well as rain in the forecast for the next week. The snow pack is well above normal in the Cascades and there should be great nesting opprotunities for birds. The heat of the summer always determines the early fall hunt, but things are setting up good for right now.

Thanks to John and Ralph for helping keeping this board going at slow times. We could use some more field editors if anyone is interested, just follow the proceedures on the home page.

Have a good pre season.

Hunting season prep started Jan. 27th.
-Hugh

Posted By:
Sordhunter
Guest

REMINDER!!! 02-02-2007 09:56
– – –
Due February 15:

Bandtails
Western Wa Pheasant
Brant
Sea Ducks
Snow Geese

Turn in your cards.

Posted By:
Slando25
Guest

Burbank 01-29-2007 17:41
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Went out thursday,saturday, and sunday,
Thursday saw a quite a few ducks ended up with 11 mallards. Saturday only shot a couple gadwells.Sunday went on a goose hunt
sat in the pit all day ended the season with two geese. Can’t wait until next year
to try some new spots , deks, and ideas.

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Lower Yak. Valley 01-28-2007 20:32
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Well it’s all over. We jumpshot 12 mallards, teal,and widgeon today. gun clubs really lit it up this morning. It’s been a great season for us. We shot 9 different species and I saw around 300 ducks fall from the sky this year. I had a lot of nice sunrises shared with family and friends this year and a lot of firsts including my first goose. I’m going to miss duck huntin after living and breathing it for months. now we can look forward to next season and a whole new year of the hunting of a waterfowlers life.

wack em’

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

Lower Yak Valley 01-27-2007 20:16
– – 40-45 Degrees
4 of us jump shot 16 mallards and teal today.
Kinda foggy in the morning then turning to 45 and sunny as the day went on. saw a really good # of ducks but it seem like they stayed in the corn all day. Gun clubs seemed to shoot quite a bit, especially the one with the flooded timber along with flooded corn

one more day, kinda sad! but lets have a safe and succesful last day tomorrow and Wack em’ !!!!!!!!!!

Posted By:
John-Kruse
Field Editor

Wenatchee 01-27-2007 10:18
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Last weekend of the season. I’m working – but I hope some of you are out in the field.

As I mentioned in my last post, the Columbia River should be a good bet this weekend between Vantage and Brewster. Lots of divers and wigeon, along with Canadian Geese.

I’m unsure whether or not I will be re-upping as a VFE for the 2007-2008 Season. However, I would like to say it has been a real pleasure sharing the passion of waterfowl hunting with all of you on this forum for over five years now!

Feel free to contact me to talk about hunting and fishing any time. My web site is http://pacificnorthwestoutdoors.com

Good luck and God Bless –

JK

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

01-24-2007 21:55
– – –
shot once did’nt knock it down. screwed up on my jump 6 mallrds got up to far. saw a few more birds today.
can’t wait for this weekend it might be hard but if we can find some water it could be ugly for the ducks point of view

Posted By:
Kwack Wacker
Guest

YV 01-23-2007 20:25
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Shot a couple green-wingers. did’nt shoot to well and should of had a few mallard tonight. hunting in the middle of a cow pasture and used a watertrough for a blind. Still a nice evening to be out. Stuffs definatly melting
Hi Corry
Wack EM’ !!!!!!!

Posted By:
Hugh-Carney
Field Editor

Columbia basin 01-23-2007 12:18
– – –
Okay, last kick at the cat. The bitter cold is gone and some pools of water are opening up. The most recent freeze was pretty intense and don’t expect all water to be open. the temps are only in the upper 30’s and low 40’s so the melt is slow but if you get the right spot it could be good.

I have seen birds turn on and off to areas within 24 hrs over the past couple of weeks. There one day and gone the next. The numbers were obviously stronger 4-6 weeks ago but it is still worth while to try the last weekend. There were lots of hunters out last weekend and it sounded like moderate success was had. Geese are still the strong point in most of E. Wa.

Yakima sportsman show this weekend in the Sundome if your looking for something after the hunt.

Good luck, and would it hurt to put your hunting stuff away befoe the end of Feb.?