Last hunt of the season

[CP]

Slow day in the blind yesterday but this guy dropped down out of a passing flock for a closer look.  A slow day in a muddy ditch beats working any time.

[Dustin07]

i feel like i'm missing something here... where were you able to legally hunt yesterday?

[Black Plague]

what are you talking about???...where are you??? did I miss a late season or something?...depredation hunt maybe?

[CP]

Special Late Goose Season in Goose Management Area 2A

Open to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Master Hunters and
youth hunters (under 16 years of age, who are accompanied by a Master
Hunter) possessing a valid 2009-10 southwest Washington goose hunting
authorization.
You will be placed on a list to participate in this hunt if you qualify. WDFW
will assist landowners with contacting qualified hunters to participate
in damage control hunts on specific lands incurring goose damage.
Participation in this hunt will depend on the level of damage experienced
by local landowners. It is possible that some hunters may not be called to
participate.

This season is open in goose damage
areas in Goose Management Area 2A on
selected dates within the following period
from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Saturdays
and Wednesdays, February 6 - March
10, 2010.

[Dustin07]

so you are a master hunter. Cool. I have been thinking about doing that, but not sure i'm ready for the time commitment until I wrap up this degree thing.

[CP]

Glad to hear that your priorities are in order.  School should be first, you will have plenty of time MH or other time commitments later. 

[Dustin07]

yeah I'm too far in to give up now only about 1 year left worth of credits. I'm married and we had our first child last year, so I know I've already spread my wife pretty thin, she's a trooper.


What is your annual time commitment to maintain MH standing? Isn't there a community service requirement? I've emailed the WDFW more than once to volunteer for that type of stuff but never hear back.

[CP]

The initial time commitment is 20 hours of approved community service on top of the time required for course study.  The course is roughly equivalent to an independent study college course. ( see http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/masterhunter/requirements.html )

After certification you need 40 hours of approved community service every 4 years to maintain your MH status.  There is a list of specific projects on the web site:   http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/masterhunter/volunteer_opportunities.html

[h2ofowlr]

I used to do this hunt up until about 4-years ago when I moved north.  I used to do very well on them private fields.  Shot 3 banded geese during it.

They didn't use to place the red tags in the culmen though.  Did they get confused and call it a dusky?

[CP]

No on the Dusky ID – 57 mm on culmen and a 3 on the color chart.  The drive plus the trip to Vancouver to check the bird makes for a long day but it was a good hunt; I hope to do some more next season. 

[h2ofowlr]

I wish they would open the later season to shoot some of them duskies with the red and green collars.  That would be a kick.  We usually see the white collars or the yellow ones that we try to get.  Unfortunately some of them fields are hit and miss.  We used to break out the nice Dave Smith decoys for the late season.

[Dustin07]

what's the limit on a hunt like this?

[h2ofowlr]

It used to be 4, I believe one year they had it at 5.  Probably still in the ball park.