[SkagitFowler]

I've been duck hunting fairly seriously for 3-4 years now (it's my new winter-time religion). I really thought I was getting the hang of it last year, when limits were increasingly common and rarely did I go home without at least a couple ducks. I hunt almost exclusively in Skagit Valley on a mix of public and private land sometimes in a boat and sometimes on land. And, although a working stiff, I still get a weekday hunt in about every week or two. In fact, several days the past two weeks.

So, I gotta ask what folks' thoughts/theories are about this season. My bag-of-tricks, which produced ample number of ducks last year has come up far short this year. It seems that there are fewer birds around to start with and we haven't had the big snow dump like last year. But I'm really wondering if others are having similar results and what you believe the cause(s) might be.

Of course it's always good to get out with friends and be out on the bay as the world wakes up, but I'd like to be working the birds a lot more than I have this year.

Hope you're having a great season!!!

Chris

 

[manchild425]

You're not alone. Same story down here in the Puyallup valley. Not a lot of birds compaired to last year.

 

[SW Washington Hunter]

As tough as i have seen. i usually find a way to scuz up some shooting, but I am just not seeing a lot of birds anywhere. i was on the coast yesterday, maybe be the tide was toooo high, but not the concentration of birds that i am used too, not seeing thr teal or widgeon, I think they are in california. Water is rising here right now, I think could tell you whats goin on by this time next week.

 

[drakehntr]

I am not sure what to think of this season yet. Through most of December I was having record days with lots of good puddler shooting where this time last year I was shooting a lot of Bluebills. But this warm front that blew in sure put a halt to the birds. I went out yesterday and today to the spot where I shot my limit most days in December. These last two days I had only one Puddler (Drake Pintail) work my spread. It landed in my dekes and wouldn't you know it...I missed!! I only saw a few mile high flights of Widgeon, but thats it. So I wish for the cold air to move back in to finish the season strong. Still plenty of time.

 

[planeguy4]

Sure not very productive here in SW WA. Last year we had a really good push of Northern cold air.
I have not seen it yet. Either the birds are just trickling in, or the numbers have seriously declined.

 

[ShaqDiesel]

I usually hunt my parents property fairly regular and in years past the area always produces birds but this year after a couple decent days there has literally been nothing, this has been my worst year ever and I have gone to more areas to hunt too, Im just not seeing any ducks. Unless of course the ones in the tulip fields off of highway 410 in sumner, I saw it absolutely loaded today.

 

[duckslayer727]

Last season I bagged 82 ducks, at the first of the year I was sitting on just 39. Jan 09' was good to me to say the least. This year has been different, I am at 102 ducks right now, I hope that my Jan 10' goeas as well as last years, I should be near 150 on the season if it does. It seemed like last year we really didn't get a decent cold snap until the first week in Jan. but this year we got one in early Dec. and it moved a lot of ducks into the area, hopefully they won't move back out now that it has gone....... South Eastern Washington has been good to me over the years, this year better than most, but not the best of all. This year I have gotten out 24 times, bagged 102 ducks for an average of 4.25 ducks per hunt! :thumbsup:

 

[DaneNorris]

well i've had a good year but not great last year was good as well. this year its all about finding the flocks. i've hunted from ocean shores to anacortes and have had luck. i'm at appox. 80 ducks and 32 canada's so its' not a bad year at all. my only suggestion is that you get a couple of spot in the north and a couple in the south and find the flocks. what i do is scout saturdays and hunt sundays most of the time anyways. if you guys want to hookup and share some spots i'd be willing.

 

[Tealer]

This year s not a hot for me. last year I had slightly over a 5 bird average this yer it is around 1.5. I also missed most of Jan last year. However there are tons of birds that have moved in to my hunting spots in the last couple weeks. I think that Jan will make up for the lack of birds in Dec. I have heard really mixed reviews of the East side. Some seem to be doing really well, other not so much. I am not sure what t make of the season in all. I thought it would be great all season due to the duck numbers being up.

 

[h2ofowlr]

Hunting was really good, then the cold weather came in and frozen things really good. The northerns were just starting to show up. I believe with the hard freeze a lot of the birds bye passed us this season as they are seeing some record numbers in California on some of the refuges. This weekend was hot again. And I noticed the bay was packed with rafts of ducks on Thursday. Lots of wigeon, pintails and mallards. I think January will pick up if it doesn't freeze hard again. Over all, I have had a very good year.

 

[terrellwa]

I agree with H2O this year has actually been good for me but we hunt the same general area. It is good this year to be near the salt. I think this last month will be good for some hopefully most of us. My freezer is full of duck and has room for this last month looking forward to a great end to the season.