Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: vandeman17 on January 20, 2011, 02:49:03 PM

Title: Columbia basin
Post by: vandeman17 on January 20, 2011, 02:49:03 PM
Is anybody going out and duck hunting the basin this weekend? My buddy and I are going out on Saturday to give it a go. He was out yesterday by himself and got 5 ducks and two geese. We went out last weekend and saw a lot of birds but had trouble getting them to commit. We tried soft calling, no calling, hard calling, no spinning wing decoy, spinning wing decoy and still struggled. The sneaky little buggars would work our spread but wouldn't finish and they wouldn't flare either. Evidentally we weren't in the X but we almost convinced them it was just as good.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: gaddy on January 20, 2011, 03:22:43 PM
# of dekes ?
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: vandeman17 on January 20, 2011, 03:32:18 PM
We only put out 8. As the season gets older, I put out less and less decoys. Mostly because it makes for better hunting but also because we get sick of carrying them every weekend.  :yike:
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: Madison on January 20, 2011, 03:34:52 PM
I'd be suprised if a jerk cord and some ripples on the water couldnt help you finish more birds.
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: GregFowler23 on January 20, 2011, 03:47:59 PM
Ya sadly i need to agree with madison on that one. But also from my what i have seen, larger spreds in the later part of the season help, mostly because of the amount of water that can be present, more birds in one area can possibly help the commitment.
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: vandeman17 on January 20, 2011, 03:55:13 PM
I have a jerk cord and a pull string decoy that we use but the tough part is that normally its just the two of us so its tough to run both of those and call and be ready to shoot. Instead of floaters, I am considering bringing out a few full bodies to either put on shore or up on the ice but we will see. Thanks for the input.
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: gaddy on January 20, 2011, 04:04:33 PM
try breaking it up a little, a few full bods on the bank & a few floaters close with a couple out to get thier attention. do something they havent seed a thousand times in the season. Ive set up for geese (with floaters) in some weird patterns at the end of season & ended up getting more ducks than usual with no calling
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: vandeman17 on January 20, 2011, 04:11:07 PM
That is something we often talk about but its hard this time of year because there are only so many choices because the limited amount of open water. There is one spot that I might set up that I am pretty sure hasn't been hunted all year. Only problem is that it is surounded by some thick cattails so even with my dog, it could be a tough retrieve if they don't go straight down.  :bash:
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: CountryslickR on January 20, 2011, 07:53:34 PM
Try more dek's...usually we go with less dek's at the end of the season, but his year the more decoys weve had out, the better the birds have been finishing in the basin as well as on the columbia..
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: woodywsu on January 21, 2011, 10:50:04 AM
Forget the duck decoys, bring the bigfoots. Geese have poured into the basin over the last week.
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: mr.ktm95 on January 21, 2011, 08:54:24 PM
^^^ yes there have been tons of geese flying around.
Title: Re: Columbia basin
Post by: BIGINNER on January 21, 2011, 08:57:57 PM
I WANNA SHOOT A GOOSE!!!!  :o  :(   PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN SINCE THE SEASON IS NEARLY OVER   :'(

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