Took my 2 sons (Max 13 and Dom 10) hunting on the Columbia River this last weekend (11/20 &21). While it was not a barrel burner, it was a memory for the ages. There is a little history to this area we hunted......I used to take these 2 boys here starting when they were about 2 years old. (I got to hunt and Momma got a break)
Well fast forward 8 years since we've been on the west side and now I get to return to these old haunts, smell the familiar mash smells of mud and decaying vegetation, and bring the next generation of hunters to experience the magic of hunting waterfowl......over decoys, wings cupped, and fully committed. Enjoy as we share these personal family moments-
We ended the first session with the wind swithching into our face and killing our am hunt. Total for the first 3 hours was 7 birds.
We stopped for an in the blind breakfast of sausage and eggs prior to picking up our 100+ floater spread and moving to get the wind at our backs for the after noon session.
After our move we had about 3 hours of shooting time left to do some business. We are definately ready for a lab! But the boys were good retrievers.
We ended the afternoon hunt for another 5 birds for a total of 12 for the first day. 10 mallards, 1 widgeo, 1 canvasback.
After a couple of moves, and a full day w/ very little sleep, I was ready to just head back home...Afterall this wasn't red hot hunting - just scratch shooting but the boys had their hits and many misses! Fortunately they talked me into staying for another am shoot before heading home....I'm glad they put the full court press on me - as you will see in morning 2.
After a slow but steady morning of Ducks and a few heart break misses, we have a single Goose float out over our marsh. I call and get a response, he comes, but not close enough, and circles 3 times checking us out and floats away down stream. The boys were laughing at my grunting into the call to get the call to sound as similar to his call as possible. Once they calmed down, we hear him coming back our direction, OK boys I call out, get ready he's ours.....we'll not so fast but after 3 more wary circles he finally commits and is fully cupped bombing in from about 100yrds up. I call the shot the bird is still coming hard and at 30yards Max smokes him with a single shot of BB's. Dom runs out for the retrieve and to bask in the glory.
First Honker for Max and it was sweet all the way around, now back for a few more ducks before we call it a day at noon and head home.
We had another flock of honks work us and Dad scratched one out.
Time to call it a day, total count 12 ducks (8 mallards, 2 widgeon, 1 greenwing teal, 1 gadwall), 2 canada geese.
Memories forever-
Total weekend count 24 ducks 2 geese......yes I was glad we stayed.
drove back over the pass in heavy snow and ice but were greeted by a happy family
And yes they are learning to clean the birds as well!
Since we hunted before this weather front, we can't wait to see what what the post Thanksgiving shooting will be like.
T-Rip, out-
