Been working way too much, minimal hunting, no ducks. Called around and found a guide on the Columbia. Specified that I wanted to add to my collection, not shoot a limit of mallards or wigeons which I’ve shot a bunch of over the years.
Amazing day. Guide beat me to the boat launch buy 3 min, 15 min before the arranged meeting time. We set up on the river in a couple spots, and I had a helluva day. Focused on shooting only “trophy” drakes.
The day started a bit rough, as I shot a gad drake, found to be a mallard. Got better! Next was a Buffy drake, but guide thought we could do better. Then a perfect hoodie drake, another bigger Buffy, then my first ever canvasback drake.
Completed the day with 9 species between the two of us including spectacular scaup, both greater and lesser, ring neck ( never seen that coppery ring before), gadwal, and mallard. 6 ducks to the taxi! We were actually able to watch the flocks with binocs to pick out the mature birds.
Spectacular day!
Trouble uploading pix. Sorry!