Union

Hunted Union the day after xmas. It was a bit of a paddle to the state provided blinds, but we made it. Setting up the long lines in the wind was a pain in the ass. But once they were deployed, they looked good. I need to change to a mainline that the clips won't slide on.

I shot at a passing mallard but missed. Saw some pintails, widgeon, and a bunch of divers. I passed up on the buffleheads. I called it done when the wind really started howling. Good spot for divers, but need to spend time to pattern the birds a bit here.

Stale ducks

Went out at the beach and it was slow. The widgeon flew out of the area and onto the lake as usual. We need new ducks at this spot. Nothing is coming over to the blind. All the ducks tend to stay at the west side of the pond. Only one teal for me today.

So this brings my total to 74 ducks and 2 geese:
7 Spoonies (Shovelers),
5 Buffleheads,
4 Bluebills (Scaup),
7 Mallards,
1 Ringneck
1 Gadwall,
2 Common Merganser,
10 Pintails,
9 Green-winged Teal,
28 Widgeon,
1 Speckle Belly Goose,
1 Cackler Goose.

Can't get them all every time

Headed to the beach with Clint. Weather was milder than usual. We shot at some honkers at first light. I sailed one to the tree line but couldn't find it. Clint sailed one also but it flew out of the hunting area. Damn! That would have been my first honker. No other action at first light. We were forced to move. I set up at the marsh on a log at the west side of the pond and took down a mallard and a widgeon. Clint hunted at the west pond and the ditch and got 6 birds including a huge white wing scoter.


Went to the Point with Clint and it was slow! I did shoot my first ringneck. Clint took 1 teal and 2 buffleheads. Had an interesting thing happen. Saw some geese and I blew my call and peeled a cackler off the flock. It circled us twice before it actually landed on the duck decoys. It stayed with us until we picked up all the decoys to pack up.

Went back to Willapa and this time we hunted the river side in hopes of getting some geese. It was an interesting morning as I forgot to grab my waders when we left the house. I had to drive all the way back form Aberdeen to get the waders. It sucked. We made it to the Willapa right at shoot time. We brought a dozen full-bodied lessers. We set up but turns out we were on the wrong side of the field. Lesson learned for the next time. We opted to just hunt ducks to salvage the morning. I ended up taking 1 bufflehead, 1 widgeon and 1 mature and fully plumed out drake merganser which I will get mounted.

The next day, we headed to the beach. I wasn't too jazzed about the weather forecast. The wind was good, but it was sunny and very few ducks flew. Tide was also high and we couldn't get across to the other side of the area. We got skunked and called it a day at 9:30 a.m.

So this brings my total to 73 ducks and 2 geese:
7 Spoonies (Shovelers),
5 Buffleheads,
4 Bluebills (Scaup),
7 Mallards,
1 Ringneck
1 Gadwall,
2 Common Merganser,
10 Pintails,
8 Green-winged Teal,
28 Widgeon,
1 Speckle Belly Goose,
1 Cackler Goose.

3 days, 3 Limits

Clint and I went to the Willapa to hunt the river side of The Point. We brought our Marsh rats and paddled to the river fork. We had high hopes, but did not see too much action. I took 2 bluebills, 1 widgeon, 1 teal and 3 buffleheads. We had some mallards before shooting time but they never got close. Nevertheless we learned a new spot and observed the geese trying to use the field.

The next day I turn around and head to the beach with Lito. The wind was holwing and raining sideways. We had widgeon on our side of the pond but they kept hanging up and never got close. We kept patient and actually was able to shoot our limits. I took a walk and jump shot a mallard and 2 shovelers. Finally tally for me was 2 bluebills, 1 mallard, and 3 shoveler and 1 bufflehead. Lito shot 1 bluebill and 1 golden eye and the rest were buffleheads. It was tons of fun even though we got soaked.

Sunday, I headed back out to meet Clint and Tim at the beach. The wind was howling and raining in sheets. We set up our decoys and hunkered down till shooting time. We had ducks in the decoys at shooting time and had a good shoot for the first hour. After that, the birds just wouldn't fly our way until the wind finally let up mid-morning. Clint and I took a walk to jump shoot and it payed off. I limited out at the marsh area. I took 1 shoveler, 1 mallard, and 5 widgeon. While we wre away from the blind, Tim limited out on widegeons. Clint also got his limit.

So this brings my total to 67 ducks and 2 geese:
7 Spoonies (Shovelers),
4 Buffleheads,
4 Bluebills (Scaup),
6 Mallards,
1 Gadwall,
1 Common Merganser,
10 Pintails,
8 Green-winged Teal,
26 Widgeon,
1 Speckle Belly Goose,
1 Cackler Goose.

Slowing down

Spent the weekend hunting while Kandi is away. Went to the Willapa on Sat with Lito. Tons of Geese and probably could have shot my limit, but I was not willing to do all the requirements so I left them alone. We had our opportunities to shoot but just couldn't capitalize. I got a greenhead on the first shot of the morning. I also got 1 bufflehead and 1 teal. Lito got a bufflehead and teal also.

Sunday, I hunted with Tim and Clint at the beach. Slow. I missed everything I shot at and had some unfortunate malfunctions with the gun.

So this brings my total to 49 ducks and 2 geese:
3 Spoonbills,
3 Buffleheads,
4 Mallards,
1 Gadwall,
1 Common Merganser,
10 Pintails,
7 Green-winged Teal,
20 Widgeon,
1 Speckle Belly Goose,
1 Cackler Goose.