Info about hunting the Salt

[jordano]

Hey I was just wondering about hunting out on the tide flats. I have done it a couple of times with little success. I'm not looking for spots or anything like that, but how do birds generally move when the tide is up or low... do they fly better when its going out or coming in? I am just not sure how the birds respond to changing tides and things like that? Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you much,

Jordan

[Professor Chaos]

they go to the edge of the water...

[dadada]

the bird move with the tide tide going in = birds coming in unless the weather is crappy they always tend to move in

[WDFW-SUX]

deer love see weed its the salt!

[h2ofowlr]

I would go to the WDFW site.  Many of the tide flats are private or leased in the waterfowl areas.  Those leases or ownership run the mean tide which is 0.0 ft.  You can cross it when traveling in the boat, but cannot anchor up or your illegally tresspassing.  If your used to using sneak boats and paddling around popping birds, the law makes it illegal to shoot out of a vessel unless it anchored, hence you are then trespassing.  This applies to Padilla, Skagit and Samish Bay.  Best attach an anchor to your stealth boat.

[SnowDog]

If your used to using sneak boats and paddling around popping birds, the law makes it illegal to shoot out of a vessel unless it anchored, hence you are then trespassing.  This applies to Padilla, Skagit and Samish Bay.  Best attach an anchor to your stealth boat.

I'm still a noob hunter, but I read the hunting regs and here is what it says regarding hunting from a boat.

Page 21 of the WA State Migratory & Upland Bird Hunting Reg's...
It is unlawfully to:
Hunt wildlife from a vehicle (except
authorized disabled hunters) or from a
boat propelled by a motor, unless the boats
motor is shut off and progress due to the
motor has stopped.

I want to make sure I understand this 100%. Is there another law that requires the boat to be anchored?

Thanks!
SD

[PatoLoco]

See page 26 of the regs- northern puget sound hunting method restriction.

[Meats]

Hunt the incoming tide 

[jordano]

I would go to the WDFW site.  Many of the tide flats are private or leased in the waterfowl areas.  Those leases or ownership run the mean tide which is 0.0 ft.  You can cross it when traveling in the boat, but cannot anchor up or your legally tresspassing.  If your used to using sneak boats and paddling around popping birds, the law makes it illegal to shoot out of a vessel unless it anchored, hence you are then trespassing.  This applies to Padilla, Skagit and Samish Bay.  Best attach an anchor to your stealth boat.

thank you for the heads up! that is much appreciated!

Thank you all for all the great info! It helps a ton!

[AKBowman]

I would go to the WDFW site.  Many of the tide flats are private or leased in the waterfowl areas.  Those leases or ownership run the mean tide which is 0.0 ft.  You can cross it when traveling in the boat, but cannot anchor up or your legally tresspassing.  If your used to using sneak boats and paddling around popping birds, the law makes it illegal to shoot out of a vessel unless it anchored, hence you are then trespassing.  This applies to Padilla, Skagit and Samish Bay.  Best attach an anchor to your stealth boat.

thank you for the heads up! that is much appreciated!

Thank you all for all the great info! It helps a ton!

It is good info but keep in mind a couple of things...the areas that are available to walk in hunt on the flats are limited. Not necessarily because of the size of the area but becasue of the size of the huntable area.The tide guts limit to where you can go. Once the tide starts coming up you need to get on the shore side of those things cuz once they are covered up you could be swimming back. Also once the tide starts coming upyou can go from no water to water over your waders quickly.
I shot a limit in about an hr last year and had to leave half of my decoys out there b/c the tide and waves were coming over my waders. If you hunt on the weekend it is impossible and rediculous with the amount of people