Who else is pumped for opening day?

[moocher97]

Got out today to scout my spot that usually doesn't hold birds usually till early November to find 110 geese and 600 +/- mallards and quite a bit of pintails and after checking the forecast it looks like a weather system is moving in this weekend. pretty stoked!!!! have you guys gotten out scouting?

[270Shooter]

Already been killen em on the yakama rez, opening day we shot 4 limits of mallards only 2 hens and we got 2 banded greenheads. Today just one buddy and I went and we shot our limits and I shot a banded green.

[NW-GSP]

I am excited. Looks like good bird numbers this year.

[h2ofowlr]

I scouted last week.  Didn't over the weekend.  I am sure the wind storms pushed a fair amount south.  I will check it out again in the am.

[hntrspud]

I'm stoked! Scouted a few times. Just ready for it to start. Just need to change the lower unit oil, and I'm good.

[CP]

I’m ready.  I’ll be driving 3 hours to place I’ve never seen and have no idea if there are any ducks or geese there or not, but I’ll be hunting.

[Commando]

I am pumped! I've never been able to make a opening day before.this will be my first real hunt in years, I've been doing alot of jump shooting. I've got a lab that's looking for his first real hunt to. Can't wait to get him some birds!

[bowjunkie]

heading out friday im stocked also just came into 10+ dozen goose decoys and 6 dozen snow geese and am going to try my hand at some geese at some point this year

[moocher97]

The best part is once my spot has ducks in it they stay there year round. Got up to about 2,000 last year. I even picked out a spot to put the blind on the X you could say. I'm going g to use 3 1/2 dozen ducks and 6 geese. Getting up at 3:30 the morning of.

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[h2ofowlr]

I will get ready for it on Friday evening.  Scouted again this morning to see what the wind storm pushed in or out.  Saw a lot of ducks. 

[asmith]

Yep, I'm pumped.  Just spent over $500 at cabelas on new waders and a case of shells.  I'm ready to go!!

[moocher97]

Yep, I'm pumped.  Just spent over $500 at cabelas on new waders and a case of shells.  I'm ready to go!!

I feel ya on that. Just spent 220 on some new waders and about to order a case of ammo. What waders did you get? I got the frogg togg 5mm neoprene with 1200 gram thinsulate boots. Tried it on and felt good but have never tied these kind before and hope they hold up.

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[asmith]

I got the cabelas supermags, 1600 thinsulate.  A little pricey but I've heard good things.  I'll be hotter than hell the begining of the season in those.

[moocher97]

Can't go wrong with those. Those are usually what I've gotten but decided to try something else because a lot of the time I have to do a lot of walking in waders and the frogg toggs arnt as bulky as the cabelas ones. I usually suffer in the beginning days of duck hunting but who wants to spend money on two sets of waders? Gotta love duck hunting a lot.

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[Linder]

Scouted last weekend and built/brushed a blind in a hurricane. Plenty of ducks and geese flying around all day. Looks like another system is moving in this weekend too so we are getting pretty pumped.

[Pnwrider]

My new boat won't be done in time so I opted for a deer hunt on 4k private acres. Would have loved to be getting some green heads!

[moocher97]

Got the blind all brushed up and hauled more wood to make a roof . had multiple sets of ducks trying to land on top of me while setting up. In the middle of the day! If Saturday is anything like today limits are inevitable!



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[Commando]

Moocher I know where that spot is. I hunt it regularly. From what I hear you may want to get up earlier the 330.

[moocher97]

Is it that obvious?!?! Was planning on 2:30. I hunted this spot almost every weekend last year maybe I've seen you?

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[JODakota]

This is exactly why Washington waterfowling is such a pain. 2:30am to head  to the blind??? I wish I wasn't leaving ND next year.

[moocher97]

I understand fully . it's not even worth it in some situations. But gotta do watcha gotta do.

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[JODakota]

I understand fully . it's not even worth it in some situations. But gotta do watcha gotta do.

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Oh I hear ya, the waterfowling can be good and worth it, sometimes it just sucks that you have to spend the night to get a good hunt.

[Commando]

If only obvious if you hunt it regularly. I think I've run I to you there before, towards the end of the season last year. I think you had a yellow lab?
Yeah it does suck to get there that early that's one of the reasons I like going to this spot later in the year when the weather turns. All the far weather guys won't be out

[moocher97]

I can see what you mean by that. I have a black lab . I've ran into a few hunters but not many. Have you ever hunted there with a kid? I've seen that group in a few times. I usually hunt more of the inside or actually on the other side of the point . would like to talk to you more about the spot in pm if that's all right?

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[Commando]

Guess I haven't seen you there before. I know the kids you are talking about I thought you were one of them. Sure man pm sounds good.

[Tealer]

I'm gonna sleep in. May hunt Sunday but I doubt it. I'll get to hunt 90 days the first two weeks rarely excite me.


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[h2ofowlr]

I'm gonna sleep in. May hunt Sunday but I doubt it. I'll get to hunt 90 days the first two weeks rarely excite me.


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Calling BS on this one.     You can line your call lanyard with bands in the first two weeks where you are at. 

[Commando]

Dang must be nice to get that many bands that fast. I am still looking for my first one.

[CP]

I’ve never got the whole band craze.  They rattle around and are cold on a lanyard.  I give mine away – back in the day before the internet I mailed them to the address on the band for research. 

I used to see a lot of bands on snows and blues in the Pacific flyway but I don’t get many anymore.

[Tealer]

I'm gonna sleep in. May hunt Sunday but I doubt it. I'll get to hunt 90 days the first two weeks rarely excite me.


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Calling BS on this one.     You can line your call lanyard with bands in the first two weeks where you are at.

I seem to do better on bands in nov.  though last year I shot more goose bands then duck.


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[McCRIZZLEY]

I am so pumped. I get the  band craze too, still looking for my first. I don't think I would carry em around on my calls though. Weather is looking good for this weekend... Alot of the smaller ponds I generally frequent are still dried up though.

[Tealer]

Don't get the band craze. They are just pieces of tin.


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[asmith]

Had to go out today and warm up the shotgun, after some quail.  Put 3 on the ground and missed 10x that many, lol.  I'd say the shotgun is warmed up and ready for tomorrow.  The shotgun operator on the other hand might need more warming up

[JasonARGY]

Hoping to get something going as this will be my first try ever. Not having money for waders or decoys or knowing where to go seems to be quite the obstacle right now but I'm feeling optimistic. Having never had duck before, even one or two will be quite the accomplishment for me.

[Chukarhead]

Hoping to get something going as this will be my first try ever. Not having money for waders or decoys or knowing where to go seems to be quite the obstacle right now but I'm feeling optimistic. Having never had duck before, even one or two will be quite the accomplishment for me.

If you don't have waders, don't plan to swim, and don't have decoys or a trained retriever, it's probably best to sit on your shotgun until you have someone knowledgeable and ethical to show you the ropes.  Otherwise, you'll end up creating some very antisocial habits (pass-shooting WAY too high, for example).  Waterfowling is not a casual endeavor, and experienced, knowledgeable, ethical hunters are unlikely to welcome you with open arms in the field if you're not all of the three.  Decoys and waders can both be acquired cheaply, but you'd be best off buying decent waders and looking around for an aging waterfowler in your area.  You schlep the decoys, clean the ducks, brush the blind, bring the sammiches, and your mentor teaches you the craft.

[scottcrb]

Hoping to get something going as this will be my first try ever. Not having money for waders or decoys or knowing where to go seems to be quite the obstacle right now but I'm feeling optimistic. Having never had duck before, even one or two will be quite the accomplishment for me.

If you don't have waders, don't plan to swim, and don't have decoys or a trained retriever, it's probably best to sit on your shotgun until you have someone knowledgeable and ethical to show you the ropes.  Otherwise, you'll end up creating some very antisocial habits (pass-shooting WAY too high, for example).  Waterfowling is not a casual endeavor, and experienced, knowledgeable, ethical hunters are unlikely to welcome you with open arms in the field if you're not all of the three.  Decoys and waders can both be acquired cheaply, but you'd be best off buying decent waders and looking around for an aging waterfowler in your area.  You schlep the decoys, clean the ducks, brush the blind, bring the sammiches, and your mentor teaches you the craft.

[SquirrelHunter]

Hoping to get something going as this will be my first try ever. Not having money for waders or decoys or knowing where to go seems to be quite the obstacle right now but I'm feeling optimistic. Having never had duck before, even one or two will be quite the accomplishment for me.

If your ever down near jblm ill get ya started with 1/2 doz decoys (free), might even have a duck call laying around. Not the newest but they work. Ive been in your boat before, had a friend show me the ropes and now I look forward to opening day every year. Also post in the open seat thread, some good guys in there thatll help people out.

[McCRIZZLEY]

Small ponds with no reeds will be your friend without a boat, dog, waders or swimming.

[moocher97]

Could still use a fishing rod with a snagger special to get birds

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[JODakota]

Hoping to get something going as this will be my first try ever. Not having money for waders or decoys or knowing where to go seems to be quite the obstacle right now but I'm feeling optimistic. Having never had duck before, even one or two will be quite the accomplishment for me.

If your ever down near jblm ill get ya started with 1/2 doz decoys (free), might even have a duck call laying around. Not the newest but they work. Ive been in your boat before, had a friend show me the ropes and now I look forward to opening day every year. Also post in the open seat thread, some good guys in there thatll help people out.

Wow, hell of an offer. Your a good man!

[JasonARGY]

Hoping to get something going as this will be my first try ever. Not having money for waders or decoys or knowing where to go seems to be quite the obstacle right now but I'm feeling optimistic. Having never had duck before, even one or two will be quite the accomplishment for me.

If you don't have waders, don't plan to swim, and don't have decoys or a trained retriever, it's probably best to sit on your shotgun until you have someone knowledgeable and ethical to show you the ropes.  Otherwise, you'll end up creating some very antisocial habits (pass-shooting WAY too high, for example).  Waterfowling is not a casual endeavor, and experienced, knowledgeable, ethical hunters are unlikely to welcome you with open arms in the field if you're not all of the three.  Decoys and waders can both be acquired cheaply, but you'd be best off buying decent waders and looking around for an aging waterfowler in your area.  You schlep the decoys, clean the ducks, brush the blind, bring the sammiches, and your mentor teaches you the craft.

This is the main reason why I don't want to just go out alone as the last thing I want to do is ruin someone's hunting day. Not having any hunters in my family or any friends that hunt, it will be hard to find someone that will take me but i've met quite a few hunters at my local archery range and I think I might be able to bribe my way into tagging along even unarmed. I've thought about posting in the Open Seat thread but I want to at least own some waders so I'm not as much of a burden. I'll probably look around for some cheap used ones to at least get started for now.

I am going to also look into a fishing setup for retrieving ducks. I'm guessing this will be the most inexpensive option as I already have a small two piece pole that can almost fully fit in a backpack.

SquirrelHunter, that is very generous of you and I greatly appreciate that. I rarely leave town but I would love to set something up as I should be making a trip east some time in the near future. I would like to at least offer you something, at the very least a twenty dollar bill.

[SquirrelHunter]

Appreciate the offer but put your 20 towards other equipment you might need. You might think about getting a cheap kayak (sports authority had a nice one for 199) instead of waders. Solves a couple issues, givea a way to retrieve ducks and also allows you to access areas you wouldnt be able to from shore. Also gives you a way to chase down any decoys or wounded birds that swim away.

[NW-GSP]

Appreciate the offer but put your 20 towards other equipment you might need. You might think about getting a cheap kayak (sports authority had a nice one for 199) instead of waders. Solves a couple issues, givea a way to retrieve ducks and also allows you to access areas you wouldnt be able to from shore. Also gives you a way to chase down any decoys or wounded birds that swim away.

I agree. A kayak will open up a huge amount of area you can hunt.