Puget sound duck hunting

[Jmax]

Hi all,

I am new to waterfowl hunting and have been looking to find decent places to hunt. I have checked out Spencers island and headquarter unit with not much luck at either place. I have been using a canoe and trolling motor to get back into places in HQ unit to get away from the crowd. Any suggestions on good places to check out? I live Lynnwood so have been looking north and south for places to go. Thanks for the help!

[lokidog]

Years ago I hunted the Snohomish River, would put in at Snoho or down in Everett.  There are a few places to set decoys or you can just sneak along and jump shoot.

[rtspring]

Go north , sloughs arourd Everett hold ducks. I hunted that alot when I was stationed there.  Along the freeway ..  Im sure it still accessible by boat.. 

[Jmax]

What about Skagit or oak harbor area?  I have heard there are some places up that way.

[lokidog]

Lots of people hunt Skagit, not sure many do it in a canoe though.  I don't hunt it so don't know if it is canoeable.

[NW-GSP]

Be patient, there has not been a good enough amount of bad weather to push the ducks down into this area.
Headquarters can be a good spot. Learn how to set up your decoy spread cause it does make a big difference. On public land the more decoys you can set up the better your chances.

[jgoetz]

I will bust this out again....

[jgoetz]

Most of the reports I have been getting from up and down the I-5 corridor is that the hunting is tough right now.  Lots of 3 bird days for most guys.  Not bad, just not real great.  Last week we had a huge push of birds stop up by us and were rafted up on one of the lakes and refused to move.  Nice to see ducks.  But when the raft numbers in the thousands no matter how many decoys you put out you will not be successful. 

[Jmax]

Thanks for all the input I will stay patient and continue to try at skagit bay as the weather gets cooler. Also Since eastern Washington is the best choice for duck hunting...If I were to make the drive what area/place should I go to in order to get some good hunting?

[lokidog]

Potholes Lake is the only one I have hunted over there, but I think it gets hit pretty hard on the weekends.  There is a little (used to be anyways) boat launch on the north end of the lake.  We only got a couple as the guides had huge spreads that we couldn't compete with easily.  With a canoe, you can also access a lot of the smaller seeps lakes if they are open to hunting.

I forgot, I did hunt Moses Lake one weekend, did well one day but only cleaned out a bunch of fish eaters the second day. 

[MC37493]

jgoetz is spot on, I haven't been over east since october but been hunting areas in snohomish/skagit county everyday and the skies are empty for the most part. 

But this cold front should push some ducks down.

[jeepster]

It's been a horrible season

I haven't even bothered putting all of my decoys out this year..... Snowgoose has been just as bad.... No wind.... No rain....all of the birds rafted up out in the bay..... Everything flying way too high.....

Check out the samish island hunt site.... Lots of ponds that are wade able....

Things should get good this week....

[Colin]

Lots of people hunt Skagit, not sure many do it in a canoe though.  I don't hunt it so don't know if it is canoeable.

Don't know where abouts on the Skagit ppl hunt but I take my canoe out up there to salmon fish for *censored*s and giggles in the summer. I usually put in at the bridge where hwy 20 meets Cascade River Rd theb float down to Howard Miller State park. It gets a little bump in the summer in a few spots but I haven't turned my canoe over yet. I prolly wouldn't do it in the winter though. Could be deadly especially with chest wadders on.