Young Guns take it to Columbia Ducks and Geese (Pic heavy)

[T-Rip]

Took my 2 sons (Max 13 and Dom 10) hunting on the Columbia River this last weekend (11/20 &21). While it was not a barrel burner, it was a memory for the ages. There is a little history to this area we hunted......I used to take these 2 boys here starting when they were about 2 years old. (I got to hunt and Momma got a break)

Well fast forward 8 years since we've been on the west side and now I get to return to these old haunts, smell the familiar mash smells of mud and decaying vegetation, and bring the next generation of hunters to experience the magic of hunting waterfowl......over decoys, wings cupped, and fully committed. Enjoy as we share these personal family moments-













We ended the first session with the wind swithching into our face and killing our am hunt. Total for the first 3 hours was 7 birds.



We stopped for an in the blind breakfast of sausage and eggs prior to picking up our 100+ floater spread and moving to get the wind at our backs for the after noon session.



After our move we had about 3 hours of shooting time left to do some business. We are definately ready for a lab! But the boys were good retrievers.









We ended the afternoon hunt for another 5 birds for a total of 12 for the first day. 10 mallards, 1 widgeo, 1 canvasback.



After a couple of moves, and a full day w/ very little sleep, I was ready to just head back home...Afterall this wasn't red hot hunting - just scratch shooting but the boys had their hits and many misses! Fortunately they talked me into staying for another am shoot before heading home....I'm glad they put the full court press on me -  as you will see in morning 2.









After a slow but steady morning of Ducks and a few heart break misses, we have a single Goose float out over our marsh. I call and get a response, he comes, but not close enough, and circles 3 times checking us out and floats away down stream. The boys were laughing at my grunting into the call to get the call to sound as similar to his call as possible. Once they calmed down, we hear him coming back our direction, OK boys I call out, get ready he's ours.....we'll not so fast but after 3 more wary circles he finally commits and is fully cupped bombing in from about 100yrds up. I call the shot the bird is still coming hard and at 30yards Max smokes him with a single shot of BB's. Dom runs out for the retrieve and to bask in the glory.











First Honker for Max and it was sweet all the way around, now back for a few more ducks before we call it a day at noon and head home.













We had another flock of honks work us and Dad scratched one out.





Time to call it a day, total count 12 ducks (8 mallards, 2 widgeon, 1 greenwing teal, 1 gadwall), 2 canada geese.

Memories forever-









Total weekend count 24 ducks 2 geese......yes I was glad we stayed.

drove back over the pass in heavy snow and ice but were greeted by a happy family



And yes they are learning to clean the birds as well!







Since we hunted before this weather front, we can't wait to see what what the post Thanksgiving shooting will be like.



T-Rip, out-

[carpsniperg2]

That looks like a fantastic day on the water to me congrats to everyone!

[hawksfan75]

Some amazing memories to be had. I'm hoping that my (three month old) daughter will come to enjoy this as much as I do. Now, I just need to learn all about it so I can teach her. 

[Ray]

Great report 

[ducksdoom12]

AWESOME!!! that second picture at the top there with the mallard floating in the water is a cool pic.

[thomasmx]

Is there a website that says where you can and cannot hunt on the Columbia?

[Whitenuckles]

Absolutely AWESOME! What a fantastic hunt. Im sure the kids will remember that for the rest of there life!!! Keep up the great work.

[NWBREW]

Those are great. WOW.....you should put a couple in the pic of the month. Congrats to the young guns.

[gaddy]

looks like a couple of great days with the boys & they scored to boot. nice job.

[Open-sights]

Very, very nice.  Way to go dad!  I want to take my 9 year old out next year for the first time, but he's very small, only 60 pounds and i worry about him beinfg able to handle a 20 gauge recoil; especially one of those light single shot models.  What did your boys shoot on this hunt and how big are they?  Jeff

[WCTaxidermy]

Now that looked like one heck of a time with the boy's.  Great job to all!!!!  John

[h2ofowlr]

Great pictures.  Looks like you guys had a good haul.

[mjbskwim]

OK now I didn't read everything,but did you let them shoot or just use them fro retrievers?
And cleaner/pluckers?

Looks like a great day.My fondest memories are of me and my dad duck and goose hunting.

Great stuff

[T-Rip]

Very, very nice.  Way to go dad!  I want to take my 9 year old out next year for the first time, but he's very small, only 60 pounds and i worry about him beinfg able to handle a 20 gauge recoil; especially one of those light single shot models.  What did your boys shoot on this hunt and how big are they?  Jeff

My son both began shooting w/ single shot 20 gauges. They quickly moved to the over and under stoeger (20 gauge). My 10 yr old shots the Stoeger and has done well w/ it on doves and now ducks - he shot a double w/ it on this trip. I like this O/U due to it resetting the safety everytime they close the breach and it was not expensive (@ $250). It would be perfect for your son  -  and easy to shoot.

My other son shot my old Benelli SBE and at 13 yrs old and 90 lbs, loves the fact that there is little kick to it.

[jordano]

great pics! thanks for sharing and congrats to the young guys!

[Blacktail135]

 Great post and pictures. Whats in the wok and whats the plan for the carcasses in the red pot?

[T-Rip]

Great post and pictures. Whats in the wok and whats the plan for the carcasses in the red pot?

This is Maria, Tobin's (T-Rip) wife:) My rockstar husband and boys go to great extra lengths to clean all of the animals they kill so we can use all the parts of each animal. THe red pot is my stock pot and I make bone broth in it. Some say bone broth will bring a dead man back to life.To make it, put the carcasses, necks and all, even the feet( just rinse them and slice them down the middle to expose all the joints) in the stock pot. Fill it about 1/3 - 1/2 full with bones, etc. You can add the gizzard and heart too which are some of the heathiest parts of the animal. The promitive people prized these parts of the animal for their health benefits as well as strenghtening properties. Fill the pot with water and about 1/3 cup of unfiltered apple cider vinegar. This will pull the marrow and minerals out of the bones. You want to use bones AND joints The joints have gelatin in them that are very good for your joints. The bones have the minerals which are good for your bones. Basically, each part of the animal is good for the corresponding parts of us:)  It is one of the most delicious and healing foods you can eat. Add one onion, a bulb of garlic, some celery and carrots and even some greens, like kale, collards, etc and some good salt such as Himalayan or Celtic salt, there is also a brand called Real Salt that is good... The salt and vegetables provide many electrolytes making bone broth very hydrating as well. Bring to a boil and then gently simmer for 24 hours. Chill the broth and allow the fat to harden on the surface. Remove excess fat. This is great for frying as it does not break down under heat as most vegetable oils do. We also use deer and elk bones and parts to make broth.  

This is the best food to eat to keep from getting sick and when you do get sick. It is medicinal. We drink it every day. An ideal breakfast is hot bone broth wtih some lightly steamed brocoli and an egg or two dropped into it and then stirred around like an egg drop soup.

My favorite part about bone broth is it's rich flavor. More often than not, good French food gets it's amazingly rich flavors from bone broth or 'stock'

So much for a straight forward answer to your question.....Food for thought.

Maria

[ser300wsm]

WOW, looks like a great time. Love all the pics, thanks for sharing... 

[Blacktail135]

 Thanks for the detailed reply Maria. Sounds really delicious. Will have to try that this weekend. 

[bowman]

Do you eat the feathers too?

[mjbskwim]

Well after that recipe,my dogs are SOL with their dog treats.
I freeze the necks and such for them,but the broth will definitely be tried

Thanks a ton.

[Malardman]

That's a great hunt,especially with the kids, that gives me a lot of memories of hunting with my old man when I was younger. Can't wait till I have kids of my own!!

[money794]

congrats kids for the northerners!

[sakoshooter]

Good to see the young folks being taken out.

[Happy Gilmore]

Finally! Another person who duck hunts with a Whaler!!! From what I can see of the hull and side railing it looks like about a 1987ish 15' Sport?

I have a ducked out 1974 13' SS with a 50hp. Best duck boat I've EVER been in. 3 big men and two dogs can lean on one side and it doesn't move or feel like its gonna flip. They are great in the Burbank sloughs, heavy but draw less water than most aluminum boats due to high bouyancy....Great pics by the way- you guys look awefully bundled up compared to the wifey! 

[T-Rip]

Finally! Another person who duck hunts with a Whaler!!! From what I can see of the hull and side railing it looks like about a 1987ish 15' Sport?

I have a ducked out 1974 13' SS with a 50hp. Best duck boat I've EVER been in. 3 big men and two dogs can lean on one side and it doesn't move or feel like its gonna flip. They are great in the Burbank sloughs, heavy but draw less water than most aluminum boats due to high bouyancy....Great pics by the way- you guys look awefully bundled up compared to the wifey! 

I have a 17' mantuk w/ a 90. Works well floats in 12" of water while hauling mass amounts of decoys. It is very stable and safe in a river that can get very nasty fast.

[Happy Gilmore]

Finally! Another person who duck hunts with a Whaler!!! From what I can see of the hull and side railing it looks like about a 1987ish 15' Sport?

I have a ducked out 1974 13' SS with a 50hp. Best duck boat I've EVER been in. 3 big men and two dogs can lean on one side and it doesn't move or feel like its gonna flip. They are great in the Burbank sloughs, heavy but draw less water than most aluminum boats due to high bouyancy....Great pics by the way- you guys look awefully bundled up compared to the wifey! 

I have a 17' mantuk w/ a 90. Works well floats in 12" of water while hauling mass amounts of decoys. It is very stable and safe in a river that can get very nasty fast.

Nice! Now its time for a couple cans of green paint! LOL! I started hunting the islands around 1991. Gave up on them about 2004. Know the area well. Spent my summers in Finley next to the river and Aunt lived in downtown Burbank for many years then right above the refuge.

[gadwall]

That looks like a fantastic day on the water to me congrats to everyone!

great pictures.  I have hunted very close to there in the past and had some awesome shoots.

Gadwall

[Crispy]

I love that you're able and willing to take the time to set the shotgun down and get these great pictures.. Most of us probably don't take the time (I sure don't) or risk getting our cameras wet.

With your attention to detail and making the whole experience worthwhile (e.g. breakfast in the blind) your sons probably have a lifelong waterfowling addiction on their hands! Lifelong memories, at the very least.