Duck Opener 2022

[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