Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: hdshot on July 03, 2025, 07:10:22 PM
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Just had to cancel my first trip ever of sockeye fishing on the Columbia or anywhere because the days I had planned on going are now closed as of today! The days open a limit of 2 sockeye. To make this waterfowl related it looks like we might be able to bag 3 pintails per day 7 day per week most weeks during the waterfowl season to compare.
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I like your resilience. :tup: :tup:
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Hen pinners make great live decoys
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But only 3 geese
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Bummer bouts the goose limit decrease. Any reasons? Last season had crazy cackler and dusky numbers along the coast.
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Main reason for goose season decrease is population declines among some species of cackling geese and lesser Canadas. The big Western Canadas are doing fine.
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Got a link to the numbers? From Willapa to Tillamook I've seen huge increases in numbers. Willamette valley seems to have strong numbers.
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Last couple seasons I have seen more and more pinnies in the basin
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Got a link to the numbers? From Willapa to Tillamook I've seen huge increases in numbers. Willamette valley seems to have strong numbers.
I don't have a link, but you could email Kyle Spragens with WDFW to ask for the numbers. The data presented at the last WAG meeting and may also be in the meeting minutes on the WDFW website.
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Thanks
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I like your resilience. :tup: :tup:
Everyone has to be resilient especially the local businesses that depend on that fishery. I had to pivot from planned spending for gas, food, license, and lodging around Brewster area and instead took that time and money to Yellowstone.
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Bummer bouts the goose limit decrease. Any reasons? Last season had crazy cackler and dusky numbers along the coast.
My former hunting partner would likely tell you in capital letters stop being negative and go kick rocks. But you would have understood like me and saved a rock because he probably already took enough kicked rocks off his head.
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If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase "former hunting partner," I could probably buy a new shotgun. I understand you got burned by him at some point in time, but do you think maybe it's time to move on and go out and have new experiences, make new friends, and hunt new places? I'm not trying to be mean, but you talk about it in every thread, to what end? What do you want us to say? Sorry that he burned you?
I'm sure you have far more hunting experience than I do, but in my time hunting I have come to notice two types of outdoorsmen, the complainers and the do-ers. Seasons change, new people move into spots, land gets sold, diseases, predators, whatever it may be, things change and there are always people who complain about it, blame WDFW, blame someone else, etc.
On the other hand, there are people who are resilient and continue to be students to the outdoors and find new spots, hunt harder, try new strategies, and take ownership in their success. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the first group, I do myself at times. But I try my best to be a do-er, like I see many other men and women doing on this forum. You've obviously been eaten up by this hunting partner thing for a long time, and I'm honestly sympathetic to it, but at some point you gotta let that go into the past and think about the possibilities of the future. That's my best attempt at a pep talk, and I've been thinking about it for a while, since I always see your posts. Best of luck.
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Excellent perspective and advice, Youngfowler! :tup:
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Great perspective youngfowler. Hdshot has been beating that dead horse for several years. Time to move on.
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If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase "former hunting partner," I could probably buy a new shotgun. I understand you got burned by him at some point in time, but do you think maybe it's time to move on and go out and have new experiences, make new friends, and hunt new places? I'm not trying to be mean, but you talk about it in every thread, to what end? What do you want us to say? Sorry that he burned you?
I'm sure you have far more hunting experience than I do, but in my time hunting I have come to notice two types of outdoorsmen, the complainers and the do-ers. Seasons change, new people move into spots, land gets sold, diseases, predators, whatever it may be, things change and there are always people who complain about it, blame WDFW, blame someone else, etc.
On the other hand, there are people who are resilient and continue to be students to the outdoors and find new spots, hunt harder, try new strategies, and take ownership in their success. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the first group, I do myself at times. But I try my best to be a do-er, like I see many other men and women doing on this forum. You've obviously been eaten up by this hunting partner thing for a long time, and I'm honestly sympathetic to it, but at some point you gotta let that go into the past and think about the possibilities of the future. That's my best attempt at a pep talk, and I've been thinking about it for a while, since I always see your posts. Best of luck.
Unfortunately it’s all of us that have been burned which in turn does no good for our sport. That is why hunters are so reluctant to share spots when I was not with his new friends hunting a spot he once gave up on. My experience just is proving why we are reluctant to even people who want to start. I understand established hunters don’t want that exposed but it helps the new ones wanting to start hunting and understanding of the roadblocks why hunters encourage but don’t act.
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Great perspective youngfowler. Hdshot has been beating that dead horse for several years. Time to move on.
Basically shows why my former hunting partner can do dumb things to other hunters because of statements like this. Never accused of him being stupid but he definitely understands what stupidity will say unfortunately.
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Headshot,
Have you ever considered starting a thread on the topic of your former hunting partner?
Clearly most people don't want their threads derailed by your repetitive references to how you were wronged by your former hunting partner. I'll go so far as to say that it tends to derail lots of Waterfowl threads.
Perhaps you could start your own thread on your former hunting partner. That way, people that want to hear about it can check input and people that don't want their threads derailed will also be happy.
You could post frequent updates on your thoughts regarding your former hunting partner. Maybe a lot of folks would patronize your thread. I don't really know. But I do know that it would keep other Waterfowl threads from getting derailed.
Please consider starting a thread and keeping your comments on the matter there.
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Headshot,
Have you ever considered starting a thread on the topic of your former hunting partner?
Clearly most people don't want their threads derailed by your repetitive references to how you were wronged by your former hunting partner. I'll go sk for as to say thst it tends to derail lots of Waterfowl threads.
Perhaps you could start your own thread on your former hunting partner. That way, people thst want to hear about it can check input and people that don't want their threads derailed will also be happy.
You could post frequent updates on your thoughts regarding your former hunting partner. Maybe a lot of folks would patronize your thread. I don't really know. UT I do k ow that it would keep other Waterfowl threads from getting derailed.
Please consider starting a thread and keeping your comments on the matter there.
I did start this thread. Carried over to the new goose seasons and limits from others which is cool with me and went from there.
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If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase "former hunting partner," I could probably buy a new shotgun. I understand you got burned by him at some point in time, but do you think maybe it's time to move on and go out and have new experiences, make new friends, and hunt new places? I'm not trying to be mean, but you talk about it in every thread, to what end? What do you want us to say? Sorry that he burned you?
I'm sure you have far more hunting experience than I do, but in my time hunting I have come to notice two types of outdoorsmen, the complainers and the do-ers. Seasons change, new people move into spots, land gets sold, diseases, predators, whatever it may be, things change and there are always people who complain about it, blame WDFW, blame someone else, etc.
On the other hand, there are people who are resilient and continue to be students to the outdoors and find new spots, hunt harder, try new strategies, and take ownership in their success. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the first group, I do myself at times. But I try my best to be a do-er, like I see many other men and women doing on this forum. You've obviously been eaten up by this hunting partner thing for a long time, and I'm honestly sympathetic to it, but at some point you gotta let that go into the past and think about the possibilities of the future. That's my best attempt at a pep talk, and I've been thinking about it for a while, since I always see your posts. Best of luck.
Also another sad fact that you left out is my former hunting partner is very negative towards our public lands because he told me no guarantee he would hunt with me because I’m only limited to public lands. People with full time jobs kind of have no time to scout and he even said it worked out well for him because he now has personal scouts.
Then you tell me to go get friends when you won’t offer? Wow, guess that’s another reason why you are going to have to get fingerprinted to buy those shotguns very soon.
But bigger issues is lack of birds and areas for the general public that depend on traffic areas. Looks like early season will be very good for early season standards but the migration for ducks especially mallards looks in question.
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If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase "former hunting partner," I could probably buy a new shotgun. I understand you got burned by him at some point in time, but do you think maybe it's time to move on and go out and have new experiences, make new friends, and hunt new places? I'm not trying to be mean, but you talk about it in every thread, to what end? What do you want us to say? Sorry that he burned you?
I'm sure you have far more hunting experience than I do, but in my time hunting I have come to notice two types of outdoorsmen, the complainers and the do-ers. Seasons change, new people move into spots, land gets sold, diseases, predators, whatever it may be, things change and there are always people who complain about it, blame WDFW, blame someone else, etc.
On the other hand, there are people who are resilient and continue to be students to the outdoors and find new spots, hunt harder, try new strategies, and take ownership in their success. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the first group, I do myself at times. But I try my best to be a do-er, like I see many other men and women doing on this forum. You've obviously been eaten up by this hunting partner thing for a long time, and I'm honestly sympathetic to it, but at some point you gotta let that go into the past and think about the possibilities of the future. That's my best attempt at a pep talk, and I've been thinking about it for a while, since I always see your posts. Best of luck.
Also another sad fact that you left out is my former hunting partner is very negative towards our public lands because he told me no guarantee he would hunt with me because I’m only limited to public lands. People with full time jobs kind of have no time to scout and he even said it worked out well for him because he now has personal scouts.
Then you tell me to go get friends when you won’t offer? Wow, guess that’s another reason why you are going to have to get fingerprinted to buy those shotguns very soon.
But bigger issues is lack of birds and areas for the general public that depend on traffic areas. Looks like early season will be very good for early season standards but the migration for ducks especially mallards looks in question.
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Also another sad fact that you left out is my former hunting partner is very negative towards our public lands because he told me no guarantee he would hunt with me because I’m only limited to public lands. People with full time jobs kind of have no time to scout and he even said it worked out well for him because he now has personal scouts.
Then you tell me to go get friends when you won’t offer? Wow, guess that’s another reason why you are going to have to get fingerprinted to buy those shotguns very soon.
But bigger issues is lack of birds and areas for the general public that depend on traffic areas. Looks like early season will be very good for early season standards but the migration for ducks especially mallards looks in question.
Okay, I'll bite.
I don't know about that negativity towards birds and areas. In my mind, we're in the good old days of waterfowl hunting. We have a liberal season and bag limit in the pacflyway, we have organizations conserving acres of breeding habitat by the millions, we (albiet maybe temporarily) saved public land from a sell-off, it's not all doom and gloom. There's all sorts of folks who work full time and are still happy and successful in their hunting outings, myself included. I largely hunt public land and mainly hunt weekends and am able to have 100-150 bird seasons at this point in life, which you may or may not consider to be successful, but it's good enough for me. Think positively. Enjoy the sport.
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YF, we've prolly crossed paths if yer SW WA and puttin down over a hunrd birds a season. Full time work myself just means more miles scouted behind the windshield and Onx. Opporunity abounds for those looking. Best of luck to you and another awesome upcoming season. Don't feed the troll.
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Also another sad fact that you left out is my former hunting partner is very negative towards our public lands because he told me no guarantee he would hunt with me because I’m only limited to public lands. People with full time jobs kind of have no time to scout and he even said it worked out well for him because he now has personal scouts.
Then you tell me to go get friends when you won’t offer? Wow, guess that’s another reason why you are going to have to get fingerprinted to buy those shotguns very soon.
But bigger issues is lack of birds and areas for the general public that depend on traffic areas. Looks like early season will be very good for early season standards but the migration for ducks especially mallards looks in question.
Okay, I'll bite.
I don't know about that negativity towards birds and areas. In my mind, we're in the good old days of waterfowl hunting. We have a liberal season and bag limit in the pacflyway, we have organizations conserving acres of breeding habitat by the millions, we (albiet maybe temporarily) saved public land from a sell-off, it's not all doom and gloom. There's all sorts of folks who work full time and are still happy and successful in their hunting outings, myself included. I largely hunt public land and mainly hunt weekends and am able to have 100-150 bird seasons at this point in life, which you may or may not consider to be successful, but it's good enough for me. Think positively. Enjoy the sport.
I don’t use public land term as loosely. People like us general public hunters need parking with reasonable access. If you boat hunt is a no brainer that opens up many more options for public area but goes beyond reasonable for a lot of folks. Here are the stats for an area with good access with parking and only a little over 2 birds per hunter and many are not mallards because species not defined. Weird to see Mcnary almost have a better early season than late season with almost no ice last season. Live close cool, but people like me driving over 300 miles round trip for those sad stats are not going to find hunting freinds.
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Great perspective youngfowler. Hdshot has been beating that dead horse for several years. Time to move on.
I watched a guy dragging a dead horse a few days ago. So that still means I beat the dead horse while you still support Trojan horses that call themselves hunters?
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Also another sad fact that you left out is my former hunting partner is very negative towards our public lands because he told me no guarantee he would hunt with me because I’m only limited to public lands. People with full time jobs kind of have no time to scout and he even said it worked out well for him because he now has personal scouts.
Then you tell me to go get friends when you won’t offer? Wow, guess that’s another reason why you are going to have to get fingerprinted to buy those shotguns very soon.
But bigger issues is lack of birds and areas for the general public that depend on traffic areas. Looks like early season will be very good for early season standards but the migration for ducks especially mallards looks in question.
Okay, I'll bite.
I don't know about that negativity towards birds and areas. In my mind, we're in the good old days of waterfowl hunting. We have a liberal season and bag limit in the pacflyway, we have organizations conserving acres of breeding habitat by the millions, we (albiet maybe temporarily) saved public land from a sell-off, it's not all doom and gloom. There's all sorts of folks who work full time and are still happy and successful in their hunting outings, myself included. I largely hunt public land and mainly hunt weekends and am able to have 100-150 bird seasons at this point in life, which you may or may not consider to be successful, but it's good enough for me. Think positively. Enjoy the sport.
I don’t use public land term as loosely. People like us general public hunters need parking with reasonable access. If you boat hunt is a no brainer that opens up many more options for public area but goes beyond reasonable for a lot of folks. Here are the stats for an area with good access with parking and only a little over 2 birds per hunter and many are not mallards because species not defined. Weird to see Mcnary almost have a better early season than late season with almost no ice last season. Live close cool, but people like me driving over 300 miles round trip for those sad stats are not going to find hunting freinds.
I don’t think it’s the stats that are preventing you from finding hunting friends. It’s your outlook
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Back to the topic....anyone shoot three pintails on the youth hunt? Excited to see some triple-sprig photos here soon!
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I can't wait to shoot three of them. We usually have 3 men in the blind so the goal is to come out with nine pintail at some point. That would make a fine hunt.
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Lots of them the last few years.
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Also another sad fact that you left out is my former hunting partner is very negative towards our public lands because he told me no guarantee he would hunt with me because I’m only limited to public lands. People with full time jobs kind of have no time to scout and he even said it worked out well for him because he now has personal scouts.
Then you tell me to go get friends when you won’t offer? Wow, guess that’s another reason why you are going to have to get fingerprinted to buy those shotguns very soon.
But bigger issues is lack of birds and areas for the general public that depend on traffic areas. Looks like early season will be very good for early season standards but the migration for ducks especially mallards looks in question.
Okay, I'll bite.
I don't know about that negativity towards birds and areas. In my mind, we're in the good old days of waterfowl hunting. We have a liberal season and bag limit in the pacflyway, we have organizations conserving acres of breeding habitat by the millions, we (albiet maybe temporarily) saved public land from a sell-off, it's not all doom and gloom. There's all sorts of folks who work full time and are still happy and successful in their hunting outings, myself included. I largely hunt public land and mainly hunt weekends and am able to have 100-150 bird seasons at this point in life, which you may or may not consider to be successful, but it's good enough for me. Think positively. Enjoy the sport.
I don’t use public land term as loosely. People like us general public hunters need parking with reasonable access. If you boat hunt is a no brainer that opens up many more options for public area but goes beyond reasonable for a lot of folks. Here are the stats for an area with good access with parking and only a little over 2 birds per hunter and many are not mallards because species not defined. Weird to see Mcnary almost have a better early season than late season with almost no ice last season. Live close cool, but people like me driving over 300 miles round trip for those sad stats are not going to find hunting freinds.
I don’t think it’s the stats that are preventing you from finding hunting friends. It’s your outlook
My former hunt partner told me no guarantee he would hunt with me because I’m pretty much limited to public and he wondered off to others with all the private. He said it work out well for him, but didn’t mention for you or me.
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Mcnary when should have been open. Might not be selling hunt permits, didn’t risk it and phone recording says they are on furlough.
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Looks like McNary is a free for all! Headed that way tomorrow.
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Looks like McNary is a free for all! Headed that way tomorrow.
How was it?
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Killed a lot of mallards.
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Killed a lot of mallards.
Who killed a lot of mallards? You sure didn’t post a bunch dead mallards from Mcnary.
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You are correct. I did not post dead mallards
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You are correct. I did not post dead mallards
You did post lots of dead mallards at McNary. Anyway thanks for confirming the truth no free for all at McNary and that you were not there.
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Busted! Got me. I was actually at home pouting that my ex partner didn't have the 'same' feelings for me and booted my my loser butt to the curb! Suppose I'll chow down on some mallard bites and cry.
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Got done crying and took a good buddy's son out for some coastal bounty
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Busted! Got me. I was actually at home pouting that my ex partner didn't have the 'same' feelings for me and booted my my loser butt to the curb! Suppose I'll chow down on some mallard bites and cry.
The main problem with your post is a Father might not of been able to take his son or daughter hunting in today’s circumstances. Then those young hunters might have read your post about a free for all with lots of dead mallards and could now believe their Dad lied to them with negative feelings towards hunting now.
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Busted! Got me. I was actually at home pouting that my ex partner didn't have the 'same' feelings for me and booted my my loser butt to the curb! Suppose I'll chow down on some mallard bites and cry.
The main problem with your post is a Father might not of been able to take his son or daughter hunting in today’s circumstances. Then those young hunters might have read your post about a free for all with lots of dead mallards and could now believe their Dad lied to them with negative feelings towards hunting now.
Omg really?? This is your take now? Get out and hunting and stop crying
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Busted! Got me. I was actually at home pouting that my ex partner didn't have the 'same' feelings for me and booted my my loser butt to the curb! Suppose I'll chow down on some mallard bites and cry.
The main problem with your post is a Father might not of been able to take his son or daughter hunting in today’s circumstances. Then those young hunters might have read your post about a free for all with lots of dead mallards and could now believe their Dad lied to them with negative feelings towards hunting now.
Omg really?? This is your take now? Get out and hunting and stop crying
Just be responsible and watch out what you say, simple as that.
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This trollclown is so deadset on telling folks about the end of waterfowling it's hillarious. Anybody need an excuse to kill plenty of birds just get out there on your public land and bang away. Canada will make more
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For the “low numbers” this year hunting has sure been good.
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For the “low numbers” this year hunting has sure been good.
Dang!
Nice work.
You guys continue to prove that sitting home and complaining doesn't get it done.
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Love doing duck and upland combos. Headed to Yakistan this weekend to hunt witb SIL. Ladies are shopping. Got a great spot that is usually loaded with mallards and woodies. It's the quail I'm most excited for.
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For the “low numbers” this year hunting has sure been good.
Dang!
Nice work.
You guys continue to prove that sitting home and complaining doesn't get it done.
Sad part is college athletes are now making millions of dollars now and I definitely but some blame on youngsters not entering the hunting world trying to catch the dream of athlete money. There was some big news lately that the state of Michigan reported has lost over 200,000 deer hunters over the past 10 years. No matter what you call it the stats are not going our way.
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NIL money is ruining duck hunting??
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If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase "former hunting partner," I could probably buy a new shotgun. I understand you got burned by him at some point in time, but do you think maybe it's time to move on and go out and have new experiences, make new friends, and hunt new places? I'm not trying to be mean, but you talk about it in every thread, to what end? What do you want us to say? Sorry that he burned you?
I'm sure you have far more hunting experience than I do, but in my time hunting I have come to notice two types of outdoorsmen, the complainers and the do-ers. Seasons change, new people move into spots, land gets sold, diseases, predators, whatever it may be, things change and there are always people who complain about it, blame WDFW, blame someone else, etc.
On the other hand, there are people who are resilient and continue to be students to the outdoors and find new spots, hunt harder, try new strategies, and take ownership in their success. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the first group, I do myself at times. But I try my best to be a do-er, like I see many other men and women doing on this forum. You've obviously been eaten up by this hunting partner thing for a long time, and I'm honestly sympathetic to it, but at some point you gotta let that go into the past and think about the possibilities of the future. That's my best attempt at a pep talk, and I've been thinking about it for a while, since I always see your posts. Best of luck.
I've been burned at least three times by partners who didn't keep their word. It's cost me money and time in the woods. I now hunt solo and am never disappointed.
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NIL money is ruining duck hunting??
If people were not on the couch watching college sports, then would there be a nil? Sports viewing, fantasy, and betting has exploded especially around fall time. Getting someone’s time is competition and is hunting winning?
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If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase "former hunting partner," I could probably buy a new shotgun. I understand you got burned by him at some point in time, but do you think maybe it's time to move on and go out and have new experiences, make new friends, and hunt new places? I'm not trying to be mean, but you talk about it in every thread, to what end? What do you want us to say? Sorry that he burned you?
I'm sure you have far more hunting experience than I do, but in my time hunting I have come to notice two types of outdoorsmen, the complainers and the do-ers. Seasons change, new people move into spots, land gets sold, diseases, predators, whatever it may be, things change and there are always people who complain about it, blame WDFW, blame someone else, etc.
On the other hand, there are people who are resilient and continue to be students to the outdoors and find new spots, hunt harder, try new strategies, and take ownership in their success. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the first group, I do myself at times. But I try my best to be a do-er, like I see many other men and women doing on this forum. You've obviously been eaten up by this hunting partner thing for a long time, and I'm honestly sympathetic to it, but at some point you gotta let that go into the past and think about the possibilities of the future. That's my best attempt at a pep talk, and I've been thinking about it for a while, since I always see your posts. Best of luck.
I've been burned at least three times by partners who didn't keep their word. It's cost me money and time in the woods. I now hunt solo and am never disappointed.
I understand and now there could be a loyal person with little to no knowledge with youngsters left behind on the couch today because of those who chosen poor ethics back in the past.
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Bettin man myself. I wager that I'm gonna hammer the birds this weekend to yer zero! Man I love bad choices
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NIL money is ruining duck hunting??
If people were not on the couch watching college sports, then would there be a nil? Sports viewing, fantasy, and betting has exploded especially around fall time. Getting someone’s time is competition and is hunting winning?
:chuckle: This is good stuff man. I love it. You know what I think I'll do this weekend? Shoot a limit of ducks on public land, come home, then watch football. Hunting wins and so do those money-grabbing, hunting-ruining athletes!!
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Didn't wanna miss any games this weekend so I took a fella to get it done quick today on some dat barren public stuff
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Didn't wanna miss any games this weekend so I took a fella to get it done quick today on some dat barren public stuff
Haven’t you heard, there are no ducks on public land. That photo must be from 30 years ago!
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30yrs? You ain't even that old and know the spot!