2024 Waterfowl Season

[bear]

Been an amazing start to the year!  Quick limits almost every time out!  Took the opportunity yesterday afternoon to take my pup out for his first hunt.  He had to swim several hundred feet to the blind and was in about 8” of water up in the blind(more than I’d like for him as a beginner).  But he did great.  By the second duck he pretty much had it figured out. Only had about an hour to hunt and had a gun issue that limited me from getting a limit but I think it was enough for him for a first time anyways.

[bear]

[metlhead]

HOOAH! Great to hear stories bouts dogs figrn it out so quick. One can almost see that light bulb illuminate and the dog's response to a good job is priceless. Both ends here. New pup is about ready to come alive. The seasoned 10yo veteran dog has perfected his art but is stoic and ready to complete his task. Upland stil brings out the excitement

[Wetwoodshunter]

I am going out in the morning with my 6 year old. I packed the blind in, seats etc. after work.

I jumped them off the pond but they came back around.

[mboyle0828]

I am going out in the morning with my 6 year old. I packed the blind in, seats etc. after work.

I jumped them off the pond but they came back around.

Good luck tomorrow!

[hdshot]

Been an amazing start to the year!  Quick limits almost every time out!  Took the opportunity yesterday afternoon to take my pup out for his first hunt.  He had to swim several hundred feet to the blind and was in about 8” of water up in the blind(more than I’d like for him as a beginner).  But he did great.  By the second duck he pretty much had it figured out. Only had about an hour to hunt and had a gun issue that limited me from getting a limit but I think it was enough for him for a first time anyways.

Glad to see someone getting some good action! I emailed the refuge well over a 100 miles away from me and appreciate their honest response but tells the story of my area. 

It’s been really slow.  I’d wait a couple more weeks. The October numbers are online for McNary and Umatilla, and you’ll see they are low.

[mboyle0828]

We’ve been having good luck on the Westside. Lotsa pintail around though

[metlhead]

Brought a newcomer out to the X

[Wetwoodshunter]

Today was a lot of fun. I took my son out. We got to the place at 5:30. Still setting the decoys up we had two groups of mallards come in and out of our life. After a bit more time and now in the blind I stoned a drake as it was passing over the pond. It dropped right in the center. This was the first time my dog had ever seen ice, he whined a little at the edge of the pond not knowing what to do and then crashed his way through for a 40 yard retrieve.

My son wanted to be out of the blind a little bit after that. He was walking around with a stick smashing ice at the edge of the pond when another group of mallards came in. My shotgun was in the blind 10 yards from me. We were as busted as the ice my son was focusing on.

Back to the blind my partners took a nap. A flock of widgeon dropped in and my gun went click! I ejected the casing, seems the primer may have rusted from leaving it damp in a bucket. I figure it’s good to learn that on a no pressure hunt like todays.

After I inspected my remaining shells and reloaded another group dropped in an hour later. 3 shots, 3 misses but then one bird started losing altitude and landed in the stubble 300 yards away. I lined my dog up and sent him across the stubble. At 200 yards he looked back, I signaled to go and he kept going. The bird saw him coming and floundered around trying to get away and he nabbed him and sprinted back so proud.

I could have shot a limit today, but this was way more fun.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Bonus bird today. We were looking for a pair of mallards and my dog started working harder. Followed him a litttle and this guy flushed at 15 yards.

[hdshot]

Looked at DU reports over the past few weeks and hunters are still reporting in Canada eh!  :😕

[mboyle0828]

Dang Canadians. They always take all our birds 

[ducks4days]

Looked at DU reports over the past few weeks and hunters are still reporting in Canada eh!  :😕

that means the season hasnt even properly heated up yet

[mboyle0828]

that means the season hasnt even properly heated up yet

Looking forward to the first freeze!

[metlhead]

Don't wait for that freeze! Wanna smoke em tommorow?