A nice little shoot + 1st band for my hunting partner.

[h2ofowlr]

Had a mixed bag shoot today.  My buddy picked up his first band, so not a bad morning.  Watch mass flocks of ducks heading south.  So, you boys south of Skagit County should have some fresh birds for the weekend.  Probably a good 10-15K were heading south in 200 plus bird flocks.  Finally getting the birds out of Canada.  Should be a good last week.

[TwoFeet]

Way to go on your buddy's first band!  A good friend of mine got his first two weeks ago, and it was a great moment.  Unfortunately it was a pintail hen (had to give him a hard time about it of course), but it was a four year old bird from Alberta.

Been a strange year...  Any ideas on why the birds have been holding up in Canada so late?  I head something about a potato blight, but was just curious.

Thanks H20

[jordano]

good work! keep that up! frustrating that I have baseball and school getting in the way of hunting this weekend but hopefully next week and next weekend I can get out and hunt

[carpsniperg2]

Thants great! Congrats to him. And nice shootin

[T-Rip]

Nice work H20! you confirmed my scouting this afternoon - there are a large amount of new birds that slid back down today. Unfortunately, they're spread all over on this new sheet water we have.

Thanks for the report-

[huntlakewood]

Ok a stupid ? never been duck hunting before and I might give it a try. Just would like to know what is so important about a band. It it a tracking thing where can see where the bird is from or more of a trouphy 

[mr.ktm95]

Thats awesome I hope to get a band someday!

[vandeman17]

You never cease to amaze me man. When I grow up, I want to be just like you. 

[boots]

Ok a stupid ? never been duck hunting before and I might give it a try. Just would like to know what is so important about a band. It it a tracking thing where can see where the bird is from or more of a trouphy 

Sort of like a trophy thing. They band ducks in the summertime and you can call in the info on the band to see where it was banded etc. It gives data on where birds are flying etc.

[h2ofowlr]

Ok a stupid ? never been duck hunting before and I might give it a try. Just would like to know what is so important about a band. It it a tracking thing where can see where the bird is from or more of a trouphy 

It used to be a big deal, still is to me I guess, unfortunatly there are a lot of guys sporting fake bands these days.  It takes from the hard work, lots of scouting and peer luck.  Lots of luck in numbers I guess.  Definately been a weird year on the birds.  Lots of birds held up in Canada.  Several reasons for it, but for the most part it just didn't freeze up hard to push them down.  Even up here, if it freezes up the birds jump to the salt water and sit in huge rafts, it takes those nasty windy storms to get them moving.  This morning it was solid waves of birds heading south.  Probably watched this for two hours straight.  I could be way off on the 10-15K birds, it could have been double that.  That made the morning today, watching all the birds going south.  Lots of birds in the area now.  Every field has them in it, but there is also water everywhere.  You shoot they jump to the next field, so it is a challenge.

[Whitenuckles]

 What a cool hunt! I haven't had it in a while, but watching the look on there faces when they realize the got their first band is priceless. Congrats!

[Hunter l]

Who was it my dad or bricen

[huntlakewood]

Thanks for the info

[JakeM]

Nice shooting! Can't wait for my first band (If I ever get one).