collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: West side Lowland ponds in state land  (Read 2448 times)

Offline Jarredhs

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2021
  • Posts: 20
  • Location: Snohomish county
West side Lowland ponds in state land
« on: September 27, 2021, 07:31:10 AM »
New to duck hunting, I am here on the west side. I was wondering if anyone knows if the various lowland lakes or creeks in the national forrest and state land ever hold or attract duck? Also if the alpine lakes higher up hold ducks or geese either? Would it be worth setting up a few decoys and calling or do ducks just follow the rivers? Final question, how far up the rivers can you duck hunt? Do they fly all the way to say skylomish? Or Verlot? The mountains? Where does the hunting stop? Thanks any feed back helps.

Offline cem3434

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+31)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2010
  • Posts: 3185
  • Location: Wetside
  • Groups: NRA, MDF, RMEF, NWTF, PF, RGS, WSF, WSTA
Re: West side Lowland ponds in state land
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2021, 08:50:17 AM »
Welcome to the site.  It looks like you're a north sound hunter, so I cant help you as I have no experience in that area.
The best friend a guy could have asked for. RIP chasing pheasants in heaven Denali girl.

Online Stein

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 12993
  • Location: Arlington
Re: West side Lowland ponds in state land
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2021, 10:33:15 AM »
Only one way I know of to find out.  Waterfowl is so competitive around here that it would be incredibly difficult to get any first hand knowledge of public land that holds ducks outside of the well known spots.


Offline 7mmfan

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 5499
  • Location: Marysville
    • https://www.facebook.com/rory.oconnor.9480
Re: West side Lowland ponds in state land
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2021, 10:40:53 AM »
I'll add what I can. It depends on the type of ducks you are hunting. You may find divers and fish ducks higher up on the rivers well into and through winter, but you are unlikely to find the more desirable puddle ducks and mallards at higher elevation or in the woods and upper river basins. They migrate here for food, so think about what they are primarily feeding on and you can check off lots of places very quickly. Most alpine lakes are pretty sterile in general, so the chances of finding even divers into fall on them is low. 
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.

Offline Bullkllr

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 4925
  • Location: Graham
Re: West side Lowland ponds in state land
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2021, 10:46:11 AM »
I can't speak for your specific area much, but there are some generalities that should apply:

The further up in elevation the less waterfowl/more "local" they will be.
Main flyways/populations are near saltwater and larger valleys.
If there's agriculture there usually are at least some birds nearby.
Good hunting can be found away from these areas, but you'll have to put in time and effort to find small ponds and backwaters that consistently hold birds. :twocents:
A Man's Gotta Eat

Offline metlhead

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 1691
  • Location: sw wa
Re: West side Lowland ponds in state land
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2021, 06:32:16 AM »
Past experience is a few teal and ringers on the opener. Maybe a mallard. After a half hour, it'll be dead for the season.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Tasty Pinks! by The scout
[Today at 04:13:44 PM]


2025 Area 9 King Opener by Stein
[Today at 03:59:54 PM]


49 Degrees North Early Bull Moose by Kdog
[Today at 03:06:42 PM]


2024 DFW Wolf report by Kales15
[Today at 02:13:59 PM]


Boundary Waters walleye trip by jackelope
[Today at 02:13:36 PM]


Area 11 2025 - Well? by Crunchy
[Today at 02:01:11 PM]


Triple Blacktail Pedestal by CaNINE
[Today at 12:17:31 PM]


Good day of steelhead fishing! by Alchase
[Today at 12:07:04 PM]


Rock creek gone? Next? by JasonG
[Today at 11:13:02 AM]


Surprise quality deer tag by jwesterback
[Today at 10:01:53 AM]


EAA Girsan Witness 2311 in 10mm with factory red dot, lightly used. by Dirty Dingus Dave
[Today at 08:51:01 AM]


North Sea Fishing trip by Machias
[Today at 07:55:34 AM]


Looking for Solid 22 LR input by JDHasty
[Yesterday at 09:18:47 PM]


506 Willapa Hills Late Season Antlerless Tag by stur4351@gmail.com
[Yesterday at 08:37:32 PM]


William o Douglas lakes by JWBINX
[Yesterday at 06:02:09 PM]


Idaho general deer area 5. by leonpeon2
[Yesterday at 05:05:38 PM]


2025 Crab! by SeaRun1
[Yesterday at 02:58:28 PM]


2024 Quality Buck coming home by OutHouse
[Yesterday at 12:42:30 PM]


If this is your trap by Ridgeratt
[Yesterday at 09:13:08 AM]


Crabbing at cornet bay? by mikey549
[Yesterday at 09:07:29 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal