Getting Frustrated!

[kglacken]

I have been studying, researching and talking to veterans about tactics and ways to hunt and kill ducks. I have done my homework and was hoping to get some good weekend hunts in before the end of the season, and I thought today was going to be a good day. I finally found a spot that would work for me. I dont have money for a lease, no dog since Duke died in November  and no boat, so my areas to hunt are somewhat limited. I was awake by 4 this morning, everything was packed and I was pumped and ready to hunt. I drove down the place I hunted last weekend and when I pull up, there are already 3 rigs there and in the dark it is hard to tell where they are going to set up.  I drove to some other places, but without a dog or a boat, it would be impossible for me to get ducks if I shot them.  Sorry about the complaining, but even though I am prepared to hunt and have everything ready to go, it doesnt matter if I dont have a place to hunt  Anyone else have this problem?

[Jellymon]

Float tube! Works great, just watch out for seals in the inlets!

[sakoshooter]

Unfortunately waterfowl hunting is an EARLY morning sport. That is if you're going to hunt the A.M.
I normally get up at 2am to hunt Nisqually or just after midnight to hunt the lower Columbia. If you want a decent spot, gotta get up early, get in place and use your flashlight so others are aware of your presence. Unless you know some areas that no one else hunts which I do not.

[JLS]

Duck hunting public land is an early man's game.  I've arrived as early as 0100 hours before to make sure I got a spot.  Keep trying, you still have a week left!

[ICEMAN]

No kidding, I have set up dekes and then taken a long nap waiting on other hunters and light... Usually  keep an led light burning in our blind or boat to keep guys at a distance. It works most of the time.

[JLS]

No kidding, I have set up dekes and then taken a long nap waiting on other hunters and light... Usually  keep an led light burning in our blind or boat to keep guys at a distance. It works most of the time.

Right there with ya bro, snoring in the blind

I'm hunting a private spot this week, I'll get to sleep in

[ICEMAN]

No kidding, I have set up dekes and then taken a long nap waiting on other hunters and light... Usually  keep an led light burning in our blind or boat to keep guys at a distance. It works most of the time.

Right there with ya bro, snoring in the blind

I'm hunting a private spot this week, I'll get to sleep in

Really sucks when it is raining and blowing and you know you are probably going to soak thru before shooting light. But I keep going back...

[h2ofowlr]

Get up early or do an evening shoot or hunt the tides.  If you hunt the tides, choose the incoming tide as it will push the birds around and can make for great late morning or afternoon hunts.

[ghosthunter]

Yeah use to play that game one time I went out to samish at 12:30 to get the pond I wanted a guy showed up at 7am and crowded within 50 ft of me. He knew I was there.
I carry a couple of cheapo bike blinkers. When I get to my spot I turn them on so other hunters can see me.

Sleep in and go out at 10 am.Lots of guys leave by then.

[LeftCoastLoren]

A fishing pole with a big plug/hook also works for those deep water retrieves. I feel your pain, hunting public land can be a pain. But like the others on here said, If you don't have private land to hunt on you don't get the luxury of sleeping in without risking this happening on a regular occasion. Also even if you do go out before everyone there is always the chance that some jackwagon sets up right next to you and blows terrible calls all morning long or shoots at your working birds... Public land hunts, gotta love em...

[fethrduster]

I remember launching a boat at 11pm one November day years ago so my friend and I would be first to get a popular boat access only spot on the Columbia.  We figured we would bring a heater and just sleep in his boat just off shore from the blind.  It was a little camo'd 14" sears twin hull fiberglass boat, a real luxury set up if there ever was one, since we had two guys, 3 bags of dekes, and a smelly 90lb lab.  The only problem was, about 10,000 mallards all around us had the same idea, and their constant quacking prevented us from getting even an hour of sleep, not to mention it got really cold, even with waders and parkas on and a little heater.   We had a great shoot with limits and all, but by 1pm the next day, I could barely function I was so tired.  Was it worth it just to shoot a bunch of ducks?  Not really, since I wasn't able to drive safely home for 3 hrs.   Maybe it depends on how much you like eating ducks.  They are definitely fun to shoot though.

[SnowDog]

Yeah use to play that game one time I went out to samish at 12:30 to get the pond I wanted a guy showed up at 7am and crowded within 50 ft of me. He knew I was there.
I carry a couple of cheapo bike blinkers. When I get to my spot I turn them on so other hunters can see me.

Sleep in and go out at 10 am.Lots of guys leave by then.

I strongly recommend afternoon hunts. Most of the spots a open by 1:00PM and evening can be just as good or better than eamry mornings. Some WFQH sites are a good bet in the later afternoons.

Cheers!
SD