Hunting the salt

[AKBowman]

I've heard a lot of talk about using the tides when hunting the salt. What's your favorite method of using the tides to your advantage when hunting out near the salt?

[T-Bone]

I hunted tdal marshes for over 20 years before relocating to E.WA.

Before hunting a tidal area, go out on a low tide to see the lay of the marsh BEFORE the high tide comes in. Tidal ditches and marsh depressions become invisible when under saltwater. I watched many an ignorant rookie go for swim or even momentaily disappear beneath the water because he thought the marsh under the water was as flat as his back lawn. Obviously, you need to wear a good pair of waders; even hip boots just won't cut it.

Once you know the lay of the marsh at low tide, attempt to hunt it on an incoming, preferably mid-morning, high tide. The ducks will generally come in with the water; so you want to hunt the water's edge or the water itself as the high tide comes in. If the high tide isn't too extreme; you can hunt it all the way through slack tide until it starts to pull out. The birds will become nervous with the moving water and fly at this time, as well.

I liked to set my decoys on the dry marsh of low tide and wait for the incoming high tide to float them. As mentioned, on the right high tide I would wait it out; however, if the rivers had been flooding and the tide was really running...I'D GET OUT, ASAP!!!

Thus, NEVER HUNT A TIDAL MARSH W/O KNOWING THAT DAY'S TIDES!!!

Good luck, I learned all of the above on my own. Hopefully, those tips will help you to enjoy yourself.

Tom  

[AKBowman]

I hunted tdal marshes for over 20 years before relocating to E.WA.

Before hunting a tidal area, go out on a low tide to see the lay of the marsh BEFORE the high tide comes in. Tidal ditches and marsh depressions become invisible when under saltwater. I watched many an ignorant rookie go for swim or even momentaily disappear beneath the water because he thought the marsh under the water was as flat as his back lawn. Obviously, you need to wear a good pair of waders; even hip boots just won't cut it.

Once you know the lay of the marsh at low tide, attempt to hunt it on an incoming, preferably mid-morning, high tide. The ducks will generally come in with the water; so you want to hunt the water's edge or the water itself as the high tide comes in. If the high tide isn't too extreme; you can hunt it all the way through slack tide until it starts to pull out. The birds will become nervous with the moving water and fly at this time, as well.

I liked to set my decoys on the dry marsh of low tide and wait for the incoming high tide to float them. As mentioned, on the right high tide I would wait it out; however, if the rivers had been flooding and the tide was really running...I'D GET OUT, ASAP!!!

Thus, NEVER HUNT A TIDAL MARSH W/O KNOWING THAT DAY'S TIDES!!!

Good luck, I learned all of the above on my own. Hopefully, those tips will help you to enjoy yourself.

Tom  

Tom- THanks for the tips. I've hunted ducks for a long time but always just inside of tidal effected areas so never really had to think about it the way you have. Appreciate the help.

[ICEMAN]

Great advice. Nothing scarier than frantically trying to "unstuck" a boat in goo....been there, done that....

[h2ofowlr]

Definately look at the tide books as many guys have not been able to get back in, due to low tides and I watch the site in there grounded vessels.  When you get into the grasses, the tide usually cuts good ditches in the ground.  They get very deep.  I rescuded a duck hunter last year, that couldn't get back to shore.

[h2ofowlr]

http://www.saltwatertides.com/

[saylean]

Be careful in the salt flats. The guy who taught Hunters Ed in Stanwood when I was a kid died from getting stuck in the mud with waders on....couldnt get out...tide came up...game over.

[AKBowman]

Be careful in the salt flats. The guy who taught Hunters Ed in Stanwood when I was a kid died from getting stuck in the mud with waders on....couldnt get out...tide came up...game over.

yeah the tides in Cook Inlet where I grew up hunting ducks has some of the most extreme tides in the world...and you dont want to get caught in that mud either. Good to know the flats around here are no joke. I appreciate the heads up!