Get duck boat or quit?

[hdshot]

Where do I start?  I would never wish the season I had on no one.  This year was the worst season I have every had but did see it coming down to this in the last 10 years or so since each year gets worse.  My goose hunting spots have hit rock bottom so I though well lets go back to the duck blind this year and have some success for once.  Oh my was I wrong very wrong, my old spots have turned into a ghost town.  Had 2 weeks vacation in December went 5 times and not a shot one and very little action in the air as well.  Since I will talk about negative I did have a good day in the wind in November but almost poked my eye out in the blind.  Limped back alone with all my gear and a hunter pulls up to me and thinking help at last, but asks me see any pheasant?  But I can't be to hard on him because a million other hunters were watching the show.  Also the last week of season got a couple of limits in the wind.

So now I have learned my spots can produce in weather which I never needed before to get ducks.  Yes I was not smashing limits back then but at least getting birds and seeing clouds flying around in fair weather.  Of course I just can't drop and go when a bad weather day shows up and good timing doesn't happen very often. 

Now I am putting some hard thought in getting a duck boat for the public drink.  Done some research and our state of WA doesn't advertise OK to hunt areas very well once off the refuge.  The cost of one is unbelievable and want a safe boat.  Never shot a gun or hunted from a boat before.  I do boat in the summer but doesn't count.  Only spots I know are the blinds way to far from the parking lot for most hunters which boat hunters can beat me out any ways. 

I am on my own so far on this one since people at work are afraid to add new people to their boat hunting party.  Can't blame them because I have been stabbed in the back before friends taking friends so they are tight lipped. Don't even know how they did this year.  Would getting a boat make it much easier to have success when I can go hunt with out the wait for weather?  How easy is it to end up in a spot closed to hunting?  Or should I just give up hunting?  About 90% quit right now and in my mid 30's.     

[alecvg]

My advice.  Get over it.  Don't quit, if you can't afford a boat, don't buy one.  Just go out and have fun.  It isn't about getting limits everyday, its about having fun. 

[h2ofowlr]

What side of the state are you thinking about hunting?  I have a nice duck boat and never used it once this season!  Hunted walk in locations.

[hdshot]

What side of the state are you thinking about hunting?  I have a nice duck boat and never used it once this season!  Hunted walk in locations.

I hunt the e. side.  But you kind of helped me out with my boat question.  This is my 2nd post you can PM me about it if you want.  I don't know how this site works on PM's for newbies.

Thanks alecvg,  I know it is not always harvesting but darn 20 ducks and 5 geese for the year.  Last year was better but not much.  One thing is I forgot how good those green heads taste.  Super Bowl, two under glass!

[Stilly bay]

get a boat and soon you will find a new group of A$$ hole hunters to deal with. sometimes it seems like the boat hunters are worse than those on foot. sometimes -depending on the area- you can get away from the crowds but its not a solid solution to your predicament.

if you can afford a good safe boat and you are really that burnt out from dealing with other hunters then I would say you could also afford to lease a chunk of private land or join a duck club .

if its any consolation I feel your pain. welcome to washington hunting 2012 its only going to get worse.

[stickbuck]

If you can afford to spend $500-600, go buy a marsh rat and you'll be set. It's perfect to throw an electric motor on or just use the paddles. Perfect for acing out guys in those tough to get to places. Don't quit!! 

[92xj]

I hunt the east and had an alright season.  I have a 1860 war eagle that I hunted out of or used to get to spots 40% of the time.  All the others were walk in.  I will say that the places I boated into made me appreciate having the boat and justifying the purchase.  Heck, I even boated into areas that I could walk but a 3 mile boat ride with all the gear is a hell of a lot nicer than a mile walk in with all the gear.  I wouldnt say I would have killed less ducks this year if I didnt have the boat, but the areas I did hunt where you can only boat in were good hunts and I killed birds.

[hdshot]

get a boat and soon you will find a new group of A$$ hole hunters to deal with. sometimes it seems like the boat hunters are worse than those on foot. sometimes -depending on the area- you can get away from the crowds but its not a solid solution to your predicament.

if you can afford a good safe boat and you are really that burnt out from dealing with other hunters then I would say you could also afford to lease a chunk of private land or join a duck club .

if its any consolation I feel your pain. welcome to washington hunting 2012 its only going to get worse.

I have been thinking freelance sask this fall.  But thinking a truck bed full of ducks and geese in a few days just doesn't seen all that cracked up.  Thats if I can even find them. 

[Ellensburg]

No way in hell would I buy a boat for hunting if I were you. If you are already thinking about giving up the sport, I don't think that buying a boat will be the cure-all. Thats like someone who gets frustrated with their golf game and buys a  golf cart and new clubs to help them enjoy the sport more.

Its a big investment for someone who is already so discouraged.

My advice would be to go about your daily life and see how you are feeling in August/September. If the hunting season isn't on your mind and you feel like you could do without....

If you are like me and you are counting down the days til' opener, then it proves that you really have a connection with the sport.


Good luck, and I hope that you make the right decision for yourself.

[ICEMAN]

Great advice ellensburg.

[Special T]

Nothing beats scouting for making hunting better.    Several people on here have built this boat, and i plan to this summer.
http://www.hybridduckboat.com/files/   Gasman has a writeup on his build. You can put up to 10 hp on these guys...  I hear ya on the clowns hunting... We had a guy, last day that set up 75 yards from us pass shooting. He f-ed up more birds swinging on us... We made sure to return the favor by shooting at the edge of our range at all birds... Makes you glad you humped out a dozen snow floaters and 5dz duck decoys to hunt the high tide on the salt.   

I've hunted the potholes with a buddy in his boat, and had Jack wagons set up 200 yards away, so boats don't really solve the problem.  Shallow draft boats make access better because they eliminate bigger boats, and allow you to get theere quicker than foot hunters.  Hope that helps.

[SurfingScooter]

A boat is a must have.

[rtspring]

You don't need a boat. You need a secluded spot that gets little pressure. I also agree with the previous post that you don't need to kill a limit every time you go out. I like being outdoors and wathcing the sun come up, Best part of the hunt in my mind......

gl, Hunting is what it is, make the most out of what it offers you...


RTPSRING

[WSU]

It seems to me that you need to find better areas to hunt as opposed to buying a boat.  A lot of people get hung up on hunting areas that used to be good.  Sounds to me like its time to go find a new area since the one you hunted in the past no longer produces.

[seth30]

Not trying to thread Jack, but I feel the same way about elk hunting and after a few months the fever comes back.  Hopefully the fever comes back with your waterfowl hunting.