Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: BuckeyeMan on January 09, 2011, 08:06:19 PM
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question for whoever can answer
How does the tide affect duck movement? My buddy and I are new to duck hunting in the Skagit area, is there any affect from high/low tide?
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Most of the time they will follow the tide out and back in again.
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You can usually count on the ducks starting to move on an incomming tide. It pushes them off many of the flats. That also depends on where you are hunting and what style of hunting you are doing. If you don't have the weather they will raft most of the day as well. Those that have layout boats can take advantage of those days and do fairly well as the birds will be moving around.
On the lower CR we usually would always go and try to hunt the incoming tides and do very well. I would find out what area you are intending on hunting and see what others do in that area. That may help you out.
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Wind + Incoming Tide = Good Hunting!!!!! Hunt the waters edge and follow it in. Just keep an eye on the ditches you need to cross to get back out. Gets a little hazardous if you don't know the area well!!! ;)
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I'll second what White Tornado said but add that you need to watch your boat so you don't end up high and dry, waiting for the next high tide.
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I'll second what White Tornado said but add that you need to watch your boat so you don't end up high and dry, waiting for the next high tide.
You must have been watching us two years ago on opening day!!!! Had to wait 6 hours for the tide to come back and float the boat!!!! Texted the wife and told her we were having to much fun to come home and then sent her a pic of the boat high and dry on the tide flats!!! Great memories!!! :lol4:
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About 25 yrs ago, on about my first trip to the Nisqually Delta, we got stranded. This was before cell phones. When I finally got home, I explained this to my wife. (Both of us from the midwest). No oceans or tides there. She called BS on me stating that the water just doesn't dissapear. I told her I didn't know where it went but it wasn't anywhere around us. We both laughed about it later when we both learned about the tides.
I saw a boat very high and dry this past Sat at Nisqually. The next high tide wasn't untill late that nite. LOL
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Ditto to the incoming tide and winds, that wind can be a big factor. Oddly enough there are a few places we hunt that are arguably better or at least as good on an outgoing tide but I wouldn't typically hunt a spot outgoing without having seen it a few times first. If you are going to start hunting the tides a lot keep a journal of the height of the tides and where the water comes too at that height. For instance we have a spot that is basically a waste of time on an 8ft high tide and a gold mine at a 10ft, so definitely pay attention to tide swings and heights. Good luck and don't get frustrated because hunting the salt is a learning curve.