How Crowded Is It Out There?

[Flip]

I recently moved to Washington from New Mexico and I was wondering what to expect out there while duck hunting. My experience attempting to river fish for salmon/steelhead has left me quite frustrated thus far (you can hardly find a place to park at times, let alone a spot to fish). I would rather have less opportunity to get a bird and have a relaxing time than limit out in a combat zone with dozens of hunters.

After crawling these forums a bit ill likely be purchasing a Nucanoe or something similar to expand my options. Do these uncrowded spots exist? or should I prepare for combat hunting?

[NW-GSP]

It's not bad if you hunt during the week.

[jennyfell55]

I've only been duck hunting 2 seasons, but in my experience it's been mixed. Some days on public land it's been just me and my buddy (yes during the week you have a lot better chance of being alone). The other part of it is WHERE you're hunting. I've been on some public land where I had shot flying past me every 30 seconds it seemed, and other places where at most there were 2 other hunters.

[Flip]

Awesome! That's what I wanted to hear. Hunting/Fishing in New Mexico spoiled me on the crowds.

Is the scouting at this time of year still decent?

[hdshot]

Awesome! That's what I wanted to hear. Hunting/Fishing in New Mexico spoiled me on the crowds.

Is the scouting at this time of year still decent?

Avoid opening weekend if you hate combat hunting.  Crowds can be light around X-mas but hot spots will still be taken early. After mamma lets the boys loose after dec. 25th expect many other hunters if hunting is good.  We have many sky busters and decoying is a lost art up here for ducks because hunters don't want to lose their chance to other shots when something flies with in 50 yards. No battery decoys either, example robo duck.

You can scout for locations of public land will help but don't get excited if you see good numbers of waterfowl in the off season.  On the east side conditions are very different from spring and fall.

[AspenBud]

If you're in Bellevue my advice is be willing to drive an hour or two west, east, or south. The closer you are to Seattle or Portland the worse it gets.

If you find areas that produce or that you like, don't make them public on here (I'm sure you already know that).

[Spuddieselwwu]

If you're in Bellevue, check out Snoqualmie Valley (Carnation/Duvall, etc)  or up North in the Skagit/Marysville areas...

Welcome to the site! 

[AWS]

Understand about the public land in NM just came back from coyote huning there.  You will find that if you do some research there is so much public duck hunting alot of it is boat access that you can hunt all you want and ony run into a hunter here or there.  I've been out here about 25yrs and hail from MN and WI and this is a duck hunting paradise.  There are public areas that are a zoo but there is so much more that you can send all day on your own.  I shoot a 20ga SxS and have no problems with high flyers and the ducks decoy just fine.  The hardest thing to learn is tides and flight times and patterns and how the weather affects waterfowl.

In NM there are only so many places that will hold ducks, here there is so much water that finding ducks can be difficult at times even with thousands of ducks around.  One serious storm can flood thousands of acres of fields and will pull every duck in the area to them, a quick freeze will push them else where just as fast.

Good luck

[Flip]

Thanks all. Sounds like I just need to get a little bit away from the Seattle area! Definitely excited for this season, time to get out there and start finding spots.

[h2ofowlr]

If you're in Bellevue, check out Snoqualmie Valley (Carnation/Duvall, etc)  or up North in the Skagit/Marysville areas...

Welcome to the site! 

I would head towards Moses Lake area with a boat to spread out.  The above mentioned get very crowded.  You get used to it or you don't hunt these spots.  It seems anymore the mentality has changed and guys just set up all around you.  I had guys try to set up 25' behind me at one location.  We had to run them off as you couldn't work the birds and they would try to pass shoot them on their approach and swing.  If you think the public is great in these areas you haven't hunted private.

[Odell]

Yeah, I find washington public hunting to be very crowded unless you have nice boat. And then its still common to have to rush early to spots. But maybe I just don't know the spots.

[Carl]

Welcome, Flip. 

We’ve had a few get-togethers for Bellevue/Redmond and adjoining areas folks.  I see one in your near future.    We'll post one pretty soon - I think we're due.

Carl

[BiggLuke]

Are you kidding me!?

Washington is the place man.
7 ducks a day.
That's right 7!!!

the reason is because we have so few actuall duck hunters per capita here.
sure, if you go to a Public hot spot, you'll see a ton of guys and it will be crazy.
Buts that's just if you hit up the favorite EASY access sites near boat launches and stuff.

There are tons of places you can be all alone.
And yes, like some other guy said go in the week, and you'll have the world to yourself.
Go on a weekend, and you better be damn good at calling ducks off all the other pass shooting yahoos.
;o)

[BiggLuke]

I don't mind combat hunting.... because probably the best thing in the world is to come back to the boat launch with 21 greenheads on the bow and everybody else at the launch has crap or has maybe 1-2 teal.
And they're all like"DAAAANG! Where'd you guys hunt at?"
And we're all like "Daaaang! 200 yds from you idiots."

 

Best feeling in the world.

[DUCKDUDE]

THAT IS A PERTTY GOOD FEELING

[BiggLuke]

word.... we need to do some more educating soon.

[fisheral87]

I don't mind combat hunting.... because probably the best thing in the world is to come back to the boat launch with 21 greenheads on the bow and everybody else at the launch has crap or has maybe 1-2 teal.
And they're all like"DAAAANG! Where'd you guys hunt at?"
And we're all like "Daaaang! 200 yds from you idiots."
Best feeling in the world.

Oh man, that is too right. 

[hdshot]

I don't mind combat hunting.... because probably the best thing in the world is to come back to the boat launch with 21 greenheads on the bow and everybody else at the launch has crap or has maybe 1-2 teal.
And they're all like"DAAAANG! Where'd you guys hunt at?"
And we're all like "Daaaang! 200 yds from you idiots."

 

Best feeling in the world.

After a good hunt the only thing others doing parking lot scouting will see is the hen mallard or nothing.  Keep them guessing about bird numbers in the area and not ask questions so they won't follow or try to beat me the next morning.  Or worse they start making their way to your exact spot to not allow birds to rest.