Struggling

[Meattoeat]

Second year out there, and man it’s been rough.

Beginning of the season seemed to do okay, but since mid November haven’t really
Had a single bird, which is hard as my dog just got back from the trainer and really want to get him on a duck.

Anyone else in this situation? How are you dealing with it? Really
Trying to get the pup on a real bird on a real hunt by the end of his first season.

I’m out of western wa, Puyallup area and hunt local and a few places 2hrs away really don’t care about the drive. Just struggling to get on any birds this year.

[7mmfan]

Many of my usual spots have been slow this year as well. No real cold weather, lots of rain = tons of sheet water an flooded fields for those birds to keg up in. Once they find a safe spot, they stay there. Need a big cold snap and a dry spell to freeze some of the sheet water and move them around.

[Meattoeat]

Many of my usual spots have been slow this year as well. No real cold weather, lots of rain = tons of sheet water an flooded fields for those birds to keg up in. Once they find a safe spot, they stay there. Need a big cold snap and a dry spell to freeze some of the sheet water and move them around.

Looking like just a bad year
To be trying to get my pup out.

I will say though it’s been a lot of learning l!

[Mfowl]

Scout! As stated, lots of water and spread out birds. Cover ground, check some new areas, use OnX, maybe ask permission from a landowner.  Looks like more moisture on the way too! I am not counting on any cold snaps before the end of the season the way things have been.

[7mmfan]

I'm far from experienced though, so take my observations lightly. I have one area I hunt and that's it, and it has been slower than normal as well. All water related. Other guys may have different, and probably better, input. Good luck in the last couple weeks!

[h2ofowlr]

I have had a really good year.  Having said that my normal spot that I hunt I have only hunted like 9 times this season.  It just hasn't held the birds.  I have had to do a lot of driving to get on birds and stay on them.  Scouting has been key this season.  I have also been hunting with some other guys that are as die hard duck hunters as my self, so we have been coving a lot of ground.

[Chesterdog]

I think your concerns are valid.  A rough year can have a detrimental effect on a dog especially the first few seasons when the dog is learning what to expect in the blind and on a hunt.  (you don't want him associating camo with shivering cold and boring). I'd bring some bumpers and throw him a few marks from time to time between lulls so he doesn't lose interest.  H2ofowlr is right.  Hook up with other guys having success, or change tactics till you get that dog on some ducks.

[ctwiggs1]

I took about 10 years off of hunting my parents farm regularly.  There are a LOT more birds this year than I remember before. 

If getting your new pup onto birds is the priority, maybe see if you can book a last minute trip with one of the outfits around Moses Lake or Potholes.  Even a duck taxi might be a good fit.

[WSU]

Seems like decent amount of birds around the south sound. As was said, there are tons of flooded fields. Do some scouting to find some birds.

[DrakeKill]

just to echo what's been said already: scout!

I'm having a better than average year both in number of species and total harvest; geese have been fantastic, but I'm certainly putting in my road time.

The number you put on your odometer directly correlates to the number of birds you'll harvested.

Here's my tactic:

On hunt days If I'm not done already, I start picking up at about 10 - win, loose, or draw. Too many guys wanna claim "hardcore" and burn up the hours just sitting on a spot trying to scratch out a few birds. Pick it all up and get in the truck! Always have boots, work gloves, glass, gps/onx/gohunt, and a pen & notebook. Write down everything every time you go out, not a journal and certainly not a hero story book, you're collecting data - the thing should be almost tabular. Add in all the weather and water data from your preferred sources and what happened during your hunt when you get home and keep that in a safe place for future use. I've got almost 2 decades worth of this stuff, and its paid dividends. (pro tip: learn excel charting and pivot tables to make best use of your data) Take some time to learn how to count birds too, email biologists from wdfw for pointers on that (or Audubon folk, ornithologists, you get the idea). Too many guys see a flock of birds and spew out a number that doesn't make for very good data. You can't look at bird, even in the hand, and tell if it's "new" -  but the size of the raft of divers & coots in a particular slough week over week does tell a particular story. Know the food: take time online and learn about the crops, aquatic plants, invertebrates, and mussels - not only learn how to identify it but what makes it thrive for a given region. **I look for this more than I look for birds, when I'm out and about**.

When you're on the road, take the time to get out of the truck and put boots on the ground. If you didnt get your limit earlier (or just wanna "try" a spot or two), jump shooting is a great way to learn an area. Put on your gloves and boots and go climb through those russian olives and see what that bank looks like first hand, break a sweat if you need to.

Stop at every single boat launch you drive by during scouting, every time! Duck hunters are easy to spot, and they tend to give up a lot more information in person than they do online.

Use the boat to scout too, there is so much stuff you just cant see from the road.

[Meattoeat]

Been scouting a lot local, but not much public land to scout, which oddly means tons of ducks ahaha.

I’m trying to watch what they’re doing and hoping birds down the road are doing the same. I may have to try and book a trip, but I’m looking at not even bringing the shot gun and focusing on the pup, which makes it hard when it’s just my wife and I. She’s newer than I am. But I’ve got the veterans hunt at the beginning of February to try too. Fingers crossed

[ctwiggs1]

Always bring the gun!

[vandeman17]

Only a few weeks left in the season but if you can make it over for a saturday to central washington, you can always hunt with us. I have my dog but would be happy to give your dog first go on any downed birds and have mine as backup

[JBG]

I would go the Duck Taxi route if i were you.  I think you can pay them to ferry you out to a blind, you can do your thing, then they will come pick you up.  OR go the full guided route.  At this point if you are having this much trouble finding birds which a lot of seasoned hunters are you should get in touch with a guide.