Porter

Decided to take the day off for one last go at ducks. Marc called me and had a private field lined up down in Porter. I couldn't pass up an offer to hunt a field that doesn't get hunted. We met up at 5:30 a.m. and crossed the fence right by the road. This field was close to his house. No long hikes. We scared some geese that was roosting at this flooded field. We set up 2 dozen duck decoys and some floating geese.

Right around shooting time, birds just started dropping in. Unfortunately they kept dropping on the other side that was just at the edge of my confident shooting range. Marc took down a nice sprig. The birds kept working for another 20 minutes. Pintails and widgeon mostly. Some of the birds finally swung close enough that I took a shot and took down a hen pintail. It was steady flight of birds all morning and this spot seemed to be the first water they look at to try to land.

We moved the decoys a bit farther out to the other side to try and push the birds closer to us. It worked, and soon we had some birds in range. I shot a hen widgeon. We called it a day at around 11 a.m. OF course soon as we start picking up the decoys birds started to show up.

Last Mallard

I borrowed Mike's Aquapod and headed to the Chehalis to try again. It hadn't rained all week and as suspected the trail leading to the south end of the field was high and dry. I ended up paddling out to the south end through the main pond.

I was the first one there and wasn't sure if I would be able to find the spot in the dark and in thick fog. Somehow, I got to where I wanted to go. I used the power plant stacks as a guide with it's light beacons.

I set up at the slough and could hear birds everywhere. I saw three pintails fly through before shoot time. Shoot time came and went without much action. I heard lots of geese fly overhead but with the thick fog couldn't see them.

The fog was thick until about 10 a.m. at which time a lone greenhead dropped in on the dekes. I took him down on the second shot but he still swam to the other side of the slough and into the tall grass where I spent the next 15 minutes looking for him. I finally managed to root him out and tossed him in the pod.

Two teal dropped in but I didn't get a shot off as they got spooked by a shot from the distance. This might very well be the last hunt of my season. I'm at the Puyallup Sportsman's Show next weekend helping out Matt.

Chehalis Valley

I had a 4 day weekend. I took a day off just to clear my head and take a breath. It was pouring rain but I decided to go do some scouting. I headed for the Chehalis valley and to one of the game units I've been curious about for some time now. Despite the rain, I went for a walkabout and discovered some great areas to hunt. I took note of the flooded marsh and a field I saw geese using as a rest stop. I would be coming back the next day.

I couldn't sleep for some reason. I was basically up at 2 a.m. in the morning. I didn't leave my house, though, until about 4:45 a.m. It was a fairly short 45 minute ride to the spot and I was surprised that there was another truck already there and shortly after arrived another truck showed up with a small boat in tow. We said some greetings and disclosed my plans to hunt the south field. Those guys were hunting in the ponds and clued me to the other truck whose owner is already out on his favorite spot somewhere in the middle of the main pond.

I set out on my long walk. I had 27 decoys on my pack, my gun, and my blind bag full of ammunition. Needless to say, I was a bit heavy. As I made my way to the trail, I soon discovered that the entire trail was submerged - it certainly wasn't like that the day before. I had some doubts in my mind, but I pushed on. I got to the south end of the field and had some difficulty getting my bearings because of the fog. I thought for a second about retreating, but I pushed on. I made my way west and soon found my bearing to the spot where I wanted to set-up.

I arrived at the spot and surveyed the area for the best position along the old fence line, the flooded field and the pond to the north. I decided to set my dekes on the east side of the fence line and towards the corner. Not more than 10 minutes after I set my dekes that a lone drake mallard dropped in 10 minutes before shoot time. Then, 5 minutes before shoot time, cackler geese flew over my blind at tree top level and landed about 200 yards from my spot.

Legal shooting time was quiet. Then, 5 minutes later it was game on. I can hear shots being fired from a distance. I decided to leave my blind and try to use the fog to sneak up on the geese - that idea was short lived, as the geese busted me before I got close to take a shot.

There were birds in the area. I could see geese flying around looking for spots to land without being shot at. I could see ducks flying also looking for a place to land. I had 2 mallards try to set in on my dekes as I was coming back. I missed both. I had another mallard land about 50 yards north of my dekes when I was away from the blind. I sneaked over the other side of the fence and before I could get a shot, the bird flew. I had another chance with a lone mallard, but although I got close enough, I still missed!

I came away from this place with a few lessons learned. Although I didn't hit anything, I still felt that I had a productive hunt and learned a new area - the hard way. I will need a kayak of sort to get around this spot when it's flooded.

I had plan to hunt 2 days, but decided against going back to the valley without anything I can float back in with, especially with the predicted downpour.

Bufflehead City

Was able to get out hunting the weekend after New Year's day. It was very disappointing to say the least. Didn't really see a lot of birds at our spot and we even tried the airport. We got to shoot at some buffleheads and that was about it. Clint took down 6 and I took 3. No drakes. I sky busted a couple of lessers that flew over us...I was getting bored.