Quality Hunts?

[Bucks2Ducks]

How does everyone else out there feel about the waterfowl Quality hunt sites that WDFW has up? I like the idea of them, but after visiting all the ones in Whatcom County in the last couple years I haven't been to impressed. I feel like the majority of the blind location's are in un-ideal places. Many of them may only get enough water to hunt them for a few week's out of the season (last season-Feb), are there on ditch line's that don't generally produce a large # of birds, are you are merely trying to intercept them as they flood into neighboring private property. Just curious what other peoples thought's are?

[Atroxus]

Tagging this thread. I have not hunted one yet, but I have been thinking about it, so I am curious what others who have think.

[Stilly bay]

don't just pic a spot and hunt it. scouting pays off big time. sooner or later most of the quality sites will get used by ducks and then they will get pounded and move on.

I agree than many of the blinds need work.

[hntrspud]

  scouting does pay off. I have hunted alot of them and have had sucess in some, but not others. There will be a good time in each one, just when and where is the key. Get to know them all and then you will know best which will produce at what time of the year.

[h2ofowlr]

They would hunt better if they regulated the days they could be hunted.  Birds would sit if they didn't get pounded so hard.  Some of the spots get hunted most of the day or at the minimum morning and close with some being seven days a week.  You get what you get with no restrictions.  I used to hunt quite a few of the spots prior to QH fields and if they were hunted once or twice a week it was quick limits.

[CP]

The good spots get pounded until they become not so good spots.

Many of the fields never hold any birds; I can’t imagine why the WDFW pays good money for them. 

Most of fields confine you to hunting out of the blind only and the blind is placed in a less than optimal location.   

But at least nobody sets up 50 yards from you.

[scottcrb]

there are a lot to choose from which is good but only a handful are regularly decent, and yes the blinds could use a bit of work on location and cover.  they tend to be better when the weather is really rough too.

[Oldguy]

I see that the WDFW is getting ready to instigate an online reservation system for the QH blinds. How is that supposed to work in regard to "no shows?"

[Stilly bay]

I see that the WDFW is getting ready to instigate an online reservation system for the QH blinds. How is that supposed to work in regard to "no shows?"

that has train wreck written all over it.

the current system isn't so hot but its pretty much fool proof and you can't argue with an empty parking space.

[Skagit_Hunter]

I see that the WDFW is getting ready to instigate an online reservation system for the QH blinds. How is that supposed to work in regard to "no shows?"

that has train wreck written all over it.

the current system isn't so hot but its pretty much fool proof and you can't argue with an empty parking space.

When they did a drawing for the snow geese. That was a joke. If they go that route again, That would be just like the WDFW has always done. screw the ones supporting it.

[Skyhigh]

How does everyone else out there feel about the waterfowl Quality hunt sites that WDFW has up? I like the idea of them, but after visiting all the ones in Whatcom County in the last couple years I haven't been to impressed. I feel like the majority of the blind location's are in un-ideal places. Many of them may only get enough water to hunt them for a few week's out of the season (last season-Feb), are there on ditch line's that don't generally produce a large # of birds, are you are merely trying to intercept them as they flood into neighboring private property. Just curious what other peoples thought's are?

Keep in mind the last 2 seasons have not produced the precipitation that is typical during waterfowl season..equals no sheet water..
When they set up a unit they have to keep in mind that the public is using it, not a couple of private indivduals, so blind placements have to account for safety of adjoining property, noise, and zone of fire..

I have enjoyed using the units this year with the early flooding we recieved in October which has resulted in plenty of water, plenty of birds and rarely an occupied spot resulting in me to go to plan B unit. Many of the units do not show their potential from the parking area, one has to actually walk to the blind location!

I would suggest that if you have complaints about the Whatcom units or any unit, voice them via email on the WDFW Quality Hunt website. Ask them specifics about the unit or units along with, why it is set up the way it is and report back to us about what they say.

[Kola16]

I hunted in a quality hunt spot today that I had never hunted before. It was the best spot that I have ever hunted..........if I were hunting swans and seagulls 2 ducks came in before legal shooting light, and 1 15 minutes after, and that was it for ducks. 1 flock of canadiens flew over me and that was it. (There were more birds off in the distance, but they were not coming to where I was.)

[TheSkyBuster]

 I haven't seen any quailty hunting spots this year. other than fir Island but I haven't been looking for them either. Last season alot of the quality hunting fields in this area had big tall boxes in the middle of open feilds they called "blinds" which you were required to hunt from,  the "blinds" stood out like a sore thumb and the majority of ducks and geese would stay well away from the eye sores weather they were occupied or not.  So I did they same thing as the birds and stayed away.   I don't think the problem was the location of the blinds.  It was the "blinds" themselves.   There were also some "open field" quality hunting fields.   Some of my best hunts last season were in the quality hunting (15 shot) area just down the road from my house.    They opened it up twords the end of the season but I never saw anyone else hunting it.    There wasn't really any water just mud.   I would throw down a dozen field decoys in the mud, hide in the grass, and pick out fat Mallards  I Dropped 2 banded greenheads the last day of the season out of that spot. 

And Kola16, next time your going hunting on a friday shoot me a P.M. 

[Kola16]

And Kola16, next time your going hunting on a friday shoot me a P.M. 

I have been out every Friday of the season, and I don't plan on changing that pattern. Will do