Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: HoofsandWings on December 29, 2013, 11:15:00 AM

Title: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: HoofsandWings on December 29, 2013, 11:15:00 AM
Anyone hunt it? What is it like? What is the blind like?
Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: Odell on December 29, 2013, 11:38:39 AM
It is a cow field with a small sheetwater pond in the back corner. There are three makeshift layout blinds made of wood and painted green. There is no brush on the blinds, they stick out in the dark. The design of these blinds makes hunting from them almost impossible as a 2x4 hits you in the stomach when you try to sit up.

I would never hunt here unless I happened to drive by and see hundreds of birds pouring in. To have any means of success here, you need a massive storm that is blowing birds into the valley and then enough wind/weather or new dumb birds that will make them want to pile in here.

But if you get a bunch of rain and wind, there will be sheetwater all over this valley and the birds will have a million options that don't have hunters in plain site.

This is my experience having hunted it once and driving by several times. Waste of time.
Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: Skyhigh on January 01, 2014, 01:21:45 AM
Had awesome hunts there the last couple of years. Lotsa widgeon! I like the green layout blinds and have had zero problem with hitting any wood objects. Like any spot, the weather conditons have to be a whole lot better than they have this year.
I think folks get these quality spots all wrong..Your not going to go out and kill 3 limits in 45 mins. The quality of it is, that you have the area to yourself and ya dont have some chucklehead setting up 50 yards from ya.

I did kill a limit of birds on a quality spot out of those wooden layout blinds in Whatcom county this year in about 45 mins, so it can happpen but I wasnt expecting it to happen when I went there, unlike most of these new duck dynasty era hunters. Oh, almost forgot, today we killed 6 birds in 5 hours at another quality spot but still had fun. Its all in your mindset!
Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: HoofsandWings on January 01, 2014, 10:10:08 AM
Thanks. Since the Norman site is a few hours away, I wanted to be sure about getting a spot after a long drive.
I am told it is a layout blind. I worry that I can not set up the shooting sticks. I will have to wait until the birds land.
Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: Skyhigh on January 01, 2014, 10:36:52 AM
Just a FYI....With the way this season is going weather wise I would opt for the Fisher Slough reservation site...
Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: hntrspud on January 02, 2014, 02:49:05 PM
Not only that, but I was there yesterday, and if you dont get any new birds in the area the ones left are wise to the spot and hang out in the adjacent fields. The blinds arent comfortable at all, I had an issue trying to figure out where to put the gun. You either hide it next to you and fumble trying to get it out, or you lean it against the blind on the inside and it sticks up. If there was weather I could see it working.
Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: ICEMAN on January 02, 2014, 09:54:12 PM
It is a cow field with a small sheetwater pond in the back corner. There are three makeshift layout blinds made of wood and painted green. There is no brush on the blinds, they stick out in the dark. The design of these blinds makes hunting from them almost impossible as a 2x4 hits you in the stomach when you try to sit up.

I would never hunt here unless I happened to drive by and see hundreds of birds pouring in. To have any means of success here, you need a massive storm that is blowing birds into the valley and then enough wind/weather or new dumb birds that will make them want to pile in here.

But if you get a bunch of rain and wind, there will be sheetwater all over this valley and the birds will have a million options that don't have hunters in plain site.

This is my experience having hunted it once and driving by several times. Waste of time.

Odell, why did you hunt it if it looked so bad?

Hoofs and wings, bring some camo netting and soften up the profile a bit... Good luck!

Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: Odell on January 02, 2014, 10:27:28 PM

It is a cow field with a small sheetwater pond in the back corner. There are three makeshift layout blinds made of wood and painted green. There is no brush on the blinds, they stick out in the dark. The design of these blinds makes hunting from them almost impossible as a 2x4 hits you in the stomach when you try to sit up.

I would never hunt here unless I happened to drive by and see hundreds of birds pouring in. To have any means of success here, you need a massive storm that is blowing birds into the valley and then enough wind/weather or new dumb birds that will make them want to pile in here.

But if you get a bunch of rain and wind, there will be sheetwater all over this valley and the birds will have a million options that don't have hunters in plain site.

This is my experience having hunted it once and driving by several times. Waste of time.

Odell, why did you hunt it if it looked so bad?

Hoofs and wings, bring some camo netting and soften up the profile a bit... Good luck!

Had only seen it from the road and the field had potential. No way to know until you try. Had I seen the blinds ahead of time I would have brought my own layout. Or waited for weather and fresh birds.

If you guys don't like my review you are welcome to spend a few hours watching swans fly by in the most uncomfortable box you have ever been in.
Title: Re: Norman hunt by reservation site
Post by: Kola16 on January 03, 2014, 11:21:47 AM
Odell's review is spot on...
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