This program still alive? Can't find much info on the WDFW site. Looks like they closed at least a few of the better ones in Skagit Co.
I don't know. They seem to be just like most non-game-managed lands. Hit or miss. I have hunted a few of them over the years that were lights out shooting on occasion. The locations change a little bit and a few of them were very nice. Quality doesn't necessarily mean "limits every time". It means less competition for the blind, perhaps a shorter walk, the opportunity to field hunt without knocking on a million doors, no hunters busting through your spread at shooting light, a decent blind to hunt out of, a reduced amount of skybusting from that location, that many less spots inaccessible to hunters, that many less places the ducks have to avoid pressure.kcidkcus said:At least the state has a sense of humor about their "quality hunts" :hammer:
Really? That doesn't sound all that bad. I personally have never hunted at one. But I have heard about them and some guys claim they are a nightmare lol Guess I wouldn't know unless I tried sometime. We don't have many of those in NE WAShade said:I don't know. They seem to be just like most non-game-managed lands. Hit or miss. I have hunted a few of them over the years that were lights out shooting on occasion. The locations change a little bit and a few of them were very nice. Quality doesn't necessarily mean "limits every time". It means less competition for the blind, perhaps a shorter walk, the opportunity to field hunt without knocking on a million doors, no hunters busting through your spread at shooting light, a decent blind to hunt out of, a reduced amount of skybusting from that location, that many less spots inaccessible to hunters, that many less places the ducks have to avoid pressure.kcidkcus said:At least the state has a sense of humor about their "quality hunts" :hammer:
All in all I think its a good program that will only get better.
I use them quite often up here and have spent some time talking to the guys who work on them for the state. They actually care about the blinds, placement, and whether birds are working the areas. I have found that early to mid season they are pretty good, but as the birds get edumacated with the areas, they get tougher to draw in. But they are that way everywhere. I wouldn't mind seeing them given rotating rest days just to keep the birds guessing.Shade said:I don't know. They seem to be just like most non-game-managed lands. Hit or miss. I have hunted a few of them over the years that were lights out shooting on occasion. The locations change a little bit and a few of them were very nice. Quality doesn't necessarily mean "limits every time". It means less competition for the blind, perhaps a shorter walk, the opportunity to field hunt without knocking on a million doors, no hunters busting through your spread at shooting light, a decent blind to hunt out of, a reduced amount of skybusting from that location, that many less spots inaccessible to hunters, that many less places the ducks have to avoid pressure.kcidkcus said:At least the state has a sense of humor about their "quality hunts" :hammer:
All in all I think its a good program that will only get better.
Definitely. Or even a 12:00pm or 1:00pm cut off time to allow birds to rest/feed in the afternoon. Maybe a schedule like geese in area 4.... Only huntable on weekends, Wednesdays, holidays, and all week the final week of the season. I think rest days on a schedule will be more feasible when the state is able to pick up more land owners willing to participate in the program. With about double the 2012 number of units, they could have two different rotating schedules allowing hunting every day of the season on QH units and still allow rest time.skagitduckwacker said:I wouldn't mind seeing them given rotating rest days just to keep the birds guessing.
Chris or Brad?somethinsmellsfishy said:I was at the sept meeting of WWA in Conway and the speaker ( guy that helps run the quality hunt program said that there may NOT be a snow goose program this year!.)
Sorry cannot remember his name, some from Skagit county may know whom I am talking about.
Fishy
I see your point, but will be bummed if the program goes, living down in Bonney Lake doesn't allow me to pattern birds as easily. With the QH program I at least had a spot to throw out my spread and run some traffic, which resulted in a few birds at least on my hunts, which worked for me. I'll have to see if I can convince some property owners to grant permission.h2ofowlr said:Chris or Brad?somethinsmellsfishy said:I was at the sept meeting of WWA in Conway and the speaker ( guy that helps run the quality hunt program said that there may NOT be a snow goose program this year!.)
Sorry cannot remember his name, some from Skagit county may know whom I am talking about.
Fishy
This could be a good thing. Maybe it would thin out some of the people that run around chasing them. Many of them were pushed off the island, so we shot most of our snows in other locations in the valley. I think I only hunted them maybe 10 times on the island. The other spots we hunted them, was like the old days when it was fun. :thumbsup:
Some have been up for a month. They can't be hunted until the signs are placed unfortunately.skagitduckwacker said:The blinds are in place. I have been scouting the locations the last couple of days. No signs yet though.