First Youth hunt duck/phes tactics

[Stickerbush]

Hello all, this will be my little brothers first year hunting. I want to take him out for the youth weekend in a couple weeks. He is stoked to hunt! he already saved enough for his first shotgun a brand new benelli nova. I have never hunted ducks this early in the season. Is there anything special I should know? We live around snohomish county but might hunt as far up as skagit co. Or even central wa, as Ive done most of my hunting over there. I'll definately be scouting some spots prior to the hunt

On another note, I'd like to work in some pheseant hunting too, does the wdfw have the release sites stocked with birds that early? or does anyone know of any other good areas especially for the youth hunt? I just want to give him a memorable experience and hopefully drop some birds, thanks!

[johnnyaustin44]

Go out and take a look at Spencer island. loaded during the youth hunt. fifteen shells goes pretty quick in there unfortunately but lots of teal as well as mallards in there during youth weekend.

[bone collector 12]

I know they release pheasant the day before youth hunt here on the eastside

[Kola16]

I know they release pheasant the day before youth hunt here on the eastside

  They release them on the westside also 


And you do not have to go to Skagit Co. if you do not want to. There are good places to go for the youth hunt in SnoCo. 

[Stickerbush]

I know they release pheasant the day before youth hunt here on the eastside

  They release them on the westside also 


And you do not have to go to Skagit Co. if you do not want to. There are good places to go for the youth hunt in SnoCo. 

I'm sure there are, I have barely hunted the west side though I've only been back here for about a year and haven't found many spots yet. But I'll be researching some public land soon so hopefully I'll find some options

[Stickerbush]

plus I'm not crazy about the idea of the westside phes stamp thing, but if its worth it I'll buy it to get my bro into some birds

[Kola16]

I know they release pheasant the day before youth hunt here on the eastside

  They release them on the westside also 


And you do not have to go to Skagit Co. if you do not want to. There are good places to go for the youth hunt in SnoCo. 

I'm sure there are, I have barely hunted the west side though I've only been back here for about a year and haven't found many spots yet. But I'll be researching some public land soon so hopefully I'll find some options

Stanwood  Or as previously mentioned Spencer Island

[Stickerbush]

Well, got back from scouting all day. Started up north near Stanwood and worked my way down, couldnt get into the spencer island area I guess its closed. To be honest the prospects looked dim for duck hunting, was not seeing a lot of birds and everything was pretty dry. Except for the actual ocean and sloughs

So whats the deal with the westside pheasant license, I was reading the regs (pg 13) and am I right that it says you can only hunt from 8-10am at certain locations? But youth hunters can hunt till 4? I have never participated in this hunt can someone plz explain, thanks

[ORCA_SIX]

Stickerbush PM if you want some info.

[johnnyaustin44]

Another good one is mouth of the skagit. When you could walk to the bay I would huntpheasants in the am then after walk to the bay on low tide and pass shoot until I ran outta shells or got my limit. another option if you have a boat. but I would vote Spencer island if you can't get to it.

[jgoetz]

Do you have a boat?  If your interested in Whatcom County I have a few places we could probally hit. 

[Stickerbush]

I have a canoe, no boat though

[Kola16]

I have a canoe, no boat though

A canoe is great for duck hunting if you don't have to go to far 

[Stickerbush]

Update: We just ended up targeting pheasants for the youth hunt. It was a blast though! My bro really need to improve his shotgunning though he could have limited out both days as we ended up flushing about 8 birds total but he didnt hit any of them. He was a little discouraged but I think its good for him, now he has something to work towards and practice on. Look forward to the rest of the season!