Duck Opener 2022

[pickardjw]

Anyone getting out this weekend? Haven't done any scouting yet but I might get out there one evening this week. Looks like it'll be warm but might get out there anyway, maybe look for some new spots.

[Stein]

Probably not, the season is long enough and the older I get the less I want to be involved with hunting rodeos.  I'll probably spend more time this year looking for new access than I do hunting, provided gas goes down a bit at some point.

I haven't bought my license or duck stamp yet, I'm waiting to see what options WDFW puts up when they finally update the website.

[vandeman17]

Probably not, the season is long enough and the older I get the less I want to be involved with hunting rodeos.  I'll probably spend more time this year looking for new access than I do hunting, provided gas goes down a bit at some point.

I haven't bought my license or duck stamp yet, I'm waiting to see what options WDFW puts up when they finally update the website.

Same with me. I will be in the deer woods for the opener and waiting for November before I start getting after the ducks. The opener is fun but not worth it anymore

[Mfowl]

Has Potholes Res started to fill back in yet? In September it was crazy low! Haven't been around since. I won't be in the marsh this opener, gonna sweat it out in the deer woods too since I ponied up for the MS tag. Good luck out there!

[pickardjw]

I've never hunted the opener because I usually still have the deer tag in my pocket, but figure since that's out of the way I might as well hunt the opener to say I've done it.

I have some friends that usually make a big trip out of it to Potholes but someone's brother decided to get married on the 15th (doh!) so they're out this year.

[CP]

I don’t even hunt on weekends since I retired.  I’ll wait until midweek when the rest of you are at work.

[Platensek-po]

I’ve never hunted the opener before. But this year the weather sucks for deer. It’s hot and bright at night. Plus I found a good little beaver pond loaded with ducks and geese so gunna take my son there for the opener this year and see how we do. If the weather doesn’t change deer season is gunna be rough

[metlhead]

Got my spot and it is loaded with birds. Even got some bluewings sitting on it. Party of five will be another great shootout and an afternoon of fishing. Stay safe.

[salish]

I'm an upland hunter, but also a duck hunter wannabe. Last year I bought some used dekes and have just about everything I need, but I haven't been duck hunting in years. I always buy the necessary waterfowl licenses/stamps because I want to be able to shoot at a duck if I encounter one while hunting upland, but that hasn't happened yet. I hope to try for some ducks this year.

[2MANY]

Got my spot and it is loaded with birds. Even got some bluewings sitting on it. Party of five will be another great shootout and an afternoon of fishing. Stay safe.

John Tornow would be proud.

[metlhead]

JT was more of a mushroom fella

[h2ofowlr]

Yes, I will be out.  Scouted the last several days and I like what I have been seeing.

[hdshot]

Dodgers stadium has more geese on their field than my fields I bet. Unbelievable event tonight with that poor specklebelly.

[pickardjw]

Got out last night and spotted a few ducks. Water levels are lower than I'm used to but...also never duck hunted this early in the season. Might actually make a few of my spots easier to hunt.

[metlhead]

Good morning to everyone out there in the blind. 30 minutes till another season really gets going and we are committed til February. Lots of duck chatter, the dogs are antsy, the new 20 is running smooth. Stay safe

[Gobble Gobble]

Got one hen Green Wing Teal and downed a second that I wish we had a dog to sniff out. It went down in the brush but must have swam off into the flooded timber. My first lost bird. My son and I spent 30 minutes looking for it and watched other ducks landing in the decoys as we looked. We got to the gate at Toppenish Robbins unit at 2320 and was the 5th group in line. one person had been camped out since at least Tuesday when I saw him. Other groups were hammering the birds but not our blind.

[pickardjw]

My first spot was a bust. Missed my one shot at first light. Second spot...you woulda thought WWIII broke out! But the birds were flying so...I set up so I could miss three more times. I need more practice with this new shotgun.

Forgot my ear plugs so I stuffed a couple nicotine pouches in there. Did a decent job.

[metlhead]

Great morning with lots of birds. Mostly a teal shoot with a few mallards tossed in. 3 birds short of the party limit and two silvers to add on the bbq. Lots of valley geese to prepare for. Wasn't that heat crazy?

[Mikey The Cat]

Five Canadas and a GWT. Slow but good company. Lower Columbia islands (OR) got shot up all morning; Grays Bay had a little bit of shooting. Wife said Puget Island sounded like ammunition was being given away for free! Relatively quiet on PI this morning. Guides must have slept in...

[salish]

My first spot was a bust. Missed my one shot at first light. Second spot...you woulda thought WWIII broke out! But the birds were flying so...I set up so I could miss three more times. I need more practice with this new shotgun.

Forgot my ear plugs so I stuffed a couple nicotine pouches in there. Did a decent job.

My dad was a smoker so growing up in the 60's he would sometimes improvise with shredded cigarette butts in his ears.

[Gobble Gobble]

Fortunately, we were only 10 minutes from home when I realized I had forgotten the earplugs. 20 minutes later we were back where we left off with another 30min drive ahead of us. We were the 5th group in line of only 5 available blinds. Glad we got there at 2310 the night before the opener. One guy had been camped out since at least Tuesday when I say him chilling in the shade of his camper. There were 2 other RV's there when we showed up. Glad I got the disabled blind reserved for this weekend so I don't have to show up till 0500 when the gate opens [insert happy dance no sleeping in the car].

[h2ofowlr]

Fortunately, we were only 10 minutes from home when I realized I had forgotten the earplugs. 20 minutes later we were back where we left off with another 30min drive ahead of us. We were the 5th group in line of only 5 available blinds. Glad we got there at 2310 the night before the opener. One guy had been camped out since at least Tuesday when I say him chilling in the shade of his camper. There were 2 other RV's there when we showed up. Glad I got the disabled blind reserved for this weekend so I don't have to show up till 0500 when the gate opens [insert happy dance no sleeping in the car].

My ears are still ringing from the opener.  I should have used plugs.

[hdshot]

Fortunately, we were only 10 minutes from home when I realized I had forgotten the earplugs. 20 minutes later we were back where we left off with another 30min drive ahead of us. We were the 5th group in line of only 5 available blinds. Glad we got there at 2310 the night before the opener. One guy had been camped out since at least Tuesday when I say him chilling in the shade of his camper. There were 2 other RV's there when we showed up. Glad I got the disabled blind reserved for this weekend so I don't have to show up till 0500 when the gate opens [insert happy dance no sleeping in the car].

My ears are still ringing from the opener.  I should have used plugs.

At least you probably didn’t get your bell rung like this guy in his pit blind! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=unEF8YJzuEk&t=1s