Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: OltHunter on December 04, 2008, 11:43:41 AM
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been looking to do a little sea duck hunting soon to mix it up. just painted up some decoys and got a good boat. i've gone out on invited hunts on floating blinds in padilla bay and samish bay for brant with a few sea ducks mixed in.
i was wondering if any of you that had some experience sea duck hunting to share ways and what you look for when scouting out a place to set up? i know the guys with the blinds and could just set up next to those but would like to start looking for spots on my own but don't really know what to look for. i know on the floating blinds, it seems like they were set up along the path of the birds as they flew from one area to another and would fly close enough for a shoot but weren't decoying.
i would assume i would need some binoculars, look for the flight paths the ducks take and set up in the path close to a food or resting spot. do they generally take the same path and feed in the same areas everyday or does it vary? is it better to set up closer to shore or where they feed or along a flight path out farther from shore? how many and what formation are best for decoys? i'm not trying to target any specific species, just trying to get a bunch of shooting in. these are questions i'm sure i will get answered after time, but thought it couldn't hurt to get some experienced insight from anyone willing to share to speed up the process. thanks
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I have never hunted sea ducks, only seen it on tv so I couldnt give any advice.
I know of a guy out of Mount Vernon who was at one time guiding sea hunts by the name of Dane Swanson.
I just looked in my old phone to see if I could find his number and cant, I dont even remember what he called his company. I will do some searching and see if I can find anything for you, it might help if you go out with a guide once to get an idea.
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I'm sworn to secrecy on a few spots so I won't disclouse them....but I can give you a couple idea's....alot of developments(especially on Camano Island) have public boat launches....leave your gun at home and start looking for feeding birds and resting areas...document them along with weather at the time and tide level you will eventually know where the birds are on certian tides and in certian weather....most guys want calm weather to sea duck hunt so the decoys stand out at long distance and the flying birds are easy to see.....Good luck......
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thanks for the info fellas, one more thing, what's your advice on setting up? it seems like any place is okay but i would imagine i would want to stay out of the ways of shipping lanes and keep a good distance away from shoreline houses. any laws or unwritten rules you could share. thanks
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Some areas may be safety zones....go to the county seat you are hunting in and get a map of them.....unwritten law, Keep your back to any houses and your decoys in front of you and don't shoot towards shore.......
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Avid sea-dukker here. I can help you get any/all of them easily. Contact me and we can set up a day
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sea duck shoot sounds like it would be a blast. ive done it a couple times with limited success