After Turkey Day Hunt

Took Jafet at the beach spot to see if he has improved any. Unfortunately the wind did not work for us. I noticed the widgeon were gone. I suspect they pushed out during the snow storm. We still got 4 ducks: 2 buffleheads (1 drak and 1 hen), 1 spoonie hen, and 1 pintail hen. There were mallards around but just couldn't get them to decoy.

So this brings my total to 46 ducks and 2 geese:
3 Spoonbills,
2 Buffleheads,
3 Mallards,
1 Gadwall,
1 Common Merganser,
10 Pintails,
6 Green-winged Teal,
20 Widgeon,
1 Speckle Belly Goose,
1 Cackler Goose.

The Elusive Greenhead

Clint, Tim and I set up for another hunt at the beach. The weather was similar to last weekend's weather minus the rain. At first shoot, the widgeon got up and off they went to places unknown. I took down my first cackler geese for the season. It was a lone bird flying to meet up with a flock. I led it for about 4 feet before I shot. It went down for a crash landing.

We lost quite a few birds from diving. It was maddening thinking I had a bird in the bag, only to not be able to retrieve it as they dove and never came back up. We shot at a big group of teal also. Sometime in the morning I finally shot my first greenhead for the season. I was 1 duck short of a limit. Clint got his limit. His last bird came at literally the last minute of shoot time. Tim was also 1 shy of a limit.

So this brings my total to 43 ducks and 2 geese:
3 Spoonbill,
3 Mallards,
1 Gadwall,
1 Common Merganser,
9 Pintails,
6 Green-winged Teal,
20 Widgeon,
1 Speckle Belly Goose,
1 Cackler Goose.

Gadwall

Shot my first Gadwall on Saturday with Tim and Clint at the beach spot. After discussing the weather with Clint, we decided that the blind would be the place to be. Luckily the forecast was right. The wind was perfect and gusting and the birds worked nicely to our advantage. The Gadwall was the second bird I shot in the morning. Cool looking bird and I decided then that I will have it mounted.


We did end up shooting our limits of ducks. I shot my 6 widgeon and the gadwall. Tim had 6 widgeon and a pintail. Clint got a mallard and 6 widgeon. It was an incredible morning. We had the widgeon working to our decoys perfectly. I couldn't ask for a better hunt with 2 of my best friends. Can't wait for the next hunt. The buffleheads are starting to come in.

So this brings my total to 38 ducks and 1 goose:
2 Spoonbill,
2 Mallards,
1 Gadwall,
1 Common Merganser,
8 Pintails,
6 Green-winged Teal,
18 Widgeon, and
1 Speckle Belly Goose.

Another Shoveler

Had another opportunity to try the Chehalis. Went on Friday and had the place to myself. It was foggy though and the birds did not fly. The fog did not burn off in the morning. It was frustrating. I had 1 spoony on the decoys at first shoot and that was it. Saw 2 mallards fly and thought I would get a chance to finish them but they wouldn't go.

Chehalis Quick Hunt

Decided to stay close to home on Sunday. Went to the Chehalis to check it out. Surprisingly there was a boat there already. I couldn't get to the spot that I wanted. I ended up setting up at the bend. Had some missed opportunities but I took down my first Spoonie for the season.

At this time I'm at 31 birds.
1 Spoonbill,
2 Mallards,
1 Common Merganser,
8 Pintails,
6 Green-winged Teal,
1 Speckle Belly Goose,
12 Widgeon.

Matt's Bull Widgeon

Finally got Matt out on his first hunt for 2010. The boy has been busy! Racking up 8,000 miles on his 10 week old Chevy truck. He took a day off so I took the day off too. I picked him up at 4 am and headed to The Point. We had a big tide swing to manage. I knew there would be no water in front of us at shoot time.

While we waited we watched cacklers pile up on the mud. It started out with maybe 20 birds, by time it was all said and over there must have been 200 geese there including some ducks mixed in. As the water the started coming in, so did the ducks. We had mallards to our right which was soon joined by a ton of widgeon.

I got Matt ready to shoot as the widgeon got closer. There was a lone mallard that came up to shore right in front of us. We passed on it and waited for the other birds. Soon they were in ranged and we slammed 4 widgeon. 3 drakes and 1 hen. I drake was a mounter so I had Matt take that one for his mount.

I ended up shooting a merganser. Long shot and I'll take it. We had 2 more Widgeon come in, but Matt was asleep. I took one down and had a gun jam to shoot the second bird. No other action left and we were in the truck by 2:30 and home by 4:30.