2024 Waterfowl Season

[Mikey The Cat]

Weather (mild) has a lot to do with what I'm not seeing here, I believe. An abundance of food to my north, both cultivated and natural, plays a role. I think there are more 'off-limits' places between me and the coast; that is, private properties with good habitat on which hunting isn't permitted. Mini-refuges, if you will. But that doesn't explain what I'm not seeing on the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge or as I drive by the Proclamation Zone on Willapa Bay. Some birds, but not what I'd normally see this time of year. BUT every year is different. Another week or two, and things might change radically; however, temperatures here are supposed to push 60 by the weekend (12-7/8), so I'm ... well, at least I can run my new Stihl 461 and work on 2026 firewood! It's certainly not over yet though -

[hdshot]

Weather (mild) has a lot to do with what I'm not seeing here, I believe. An abundance of food to my north, both cultivated and natural, plays a role. I think there are more 'off-limits' places between me and the coast; that is, private properties with good habitat on which hunting isn't permitted. Mini-refuges, if you will. But that doesn't explain what I'm not seeing on the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge or as I drive by the Proclamation Zone on Willapa Bay. Some birds, but not what I'd normally see this time of year. BUT every year is different. Another week or two, and things might change radically; however, temperatures here are supposed to push 60 by the weekend (12-7/8), so I'm ... well, at least I can run my new Stihl 461 and work on 2026 firewood! It's certainly not over yet though -

Looking at my phone weather Edmonton shows in the low 40’s this weekend.  Sounds like weak polar vortex that allows systems to the south hammering California, New Mexico, and Colorado with record precipitation leaving the duck factory high and dry because the winter jet stream is having the same wave characteristics of the summer jet stream.  Hope they are wrong but the predictions for normal winter over the Canadian prairie, even long term doesn’t look bright.  As we all know weather is almost everything 24/7/365 for the waterfowl chase.


Found this website and shows jet stream prediction and temperature. 

https://www.netweather.tv/charts-and-data/global-jetstream#2024/12/04/1200Z/jetstream/surface/level/overlay=jetstream/orthographic=-113.28,42.72,172

[h2ofowlr]

Did my loop today.  It was 31F in Mt. Vernon when I left and 46F in Ferndale, mid day.  Got back home at 4:00 and it was 38F in Mt. Vernon.  Lots of birds up north.  Just need some cooler weather to push them down.

[hdshot]

I90 is currently junkyard with many accidents with a death reported near Ritzville I got stopped in for a bit on a scout trip to Burbank.  Be careful if heading out to the blind tomorrow morning in E Washington. 

[Wetwoodshunter]

I put hunts in the last 2 days in a couple new spots. The birds showed up in force. If I knew how to shoot I may do better.

FYI, I cracked open a case of Blindside 3” in #2 steel. I have as many bruises on the birds as shots that penetrate.

[metlhead]

Later season birds got lotsa fluff. Larger pellets really grab and need more energy than the min required. Keep the shots under 35yds and pellets will blow through.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Today was EPIC. We were done at 9:15. Couldn’t take the boat due to wind so we hunted the “training pond” with my A-frame blind. I also had my first triple cupped at 20 yards landing gear down.

Appa retrieved his first goose followed by seven more and a lone greenhead.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Later season birds got lotsa fluff. Larger pellets really grab and need more energy than the min required. Keep the shots under 35yds and pellets will blow through.

I am planning on shooting the rest of this case then switching to BOSS. My thoughts are they have more pellets, more knockdown, and would lead to more birds taken.

If hunting steel are you saying a #3 or #4 would penetrate better? I’m often having to follow up on cripples.

[mboyle0828]

Been having luck with #2s, #3s, and #4 steel still. Even dropping the larger ducks stone cold. All shots within 40yds

The smaller the shot size the more pellets on target. So #4s have more pellets than #2s

[mboyle0828]

Today was EPIC. We were done at 9:15. Couldn’t take the boat due to wind so we hunted the “training pond” with my A-frame blind. I also had my first triple cupped at 20 yards landing gear down.

Appa retrieved his first goose followed by seven more and a lone greenhead.

Looks like you had a great hunt! Good shooting!

[metlhead]

I've been shooting my 20s exclusively for 5 years now. The BOSS 5s were very good loads but realized I had no need for them as all my shooting is well under 40 yds. Got spendy also. Shooting only 7/8 oz, I needed to maximize pellet count to keep a dense enough open pattern at typical ranges. #4 Steel has enough energy beyond my farthest shots. Seems to penetrate very well and seldom do I have feathers pulled into the meat. Also found shorty Upland Steel 6s  by Federal, my quail/chukar loads, do extremely well and anchor mallards at 35yds. Smaller shot seems to pattern very well for me. Definately not a good choice for pass shooting.

[Wetwoodshunter]

I've been shooting my 20s exclusively for 5 years now. The BOSS 5s were very good loads but realized I had no need for them as all my shooting is well under 40 yds. Got spendy also. Shooting only 7/8 oz, I needed to maximize pellet count to keep a dense enough open pattern at typical ranges. #4 Steel has enough energy beyond my farthest shots. Seems to penetrate very well and seldom do I have feathers pulled into the meat. Also found shorty Upland Steel 6s  by Federal, my quail/chukar loads, do extremely well and anchor mallards at 35yds. Smaller shot seems to pattern very well for me. Definately not a good choice for pass shooting.

Thanks I really appreciate this response. I may pick up a few boxes of #4 in steel and see if that works better. We have been shooting them as they decoy in. I’m newish to waterfowl and just figuring it all out as I go. With the boat, dog, and scouting I think I’m already 3x the ducks I took all last season.

[hdshot]

I put hunts in the last 2 days in a couple new spots. The birds showed up in force. If I knew how to shoot I may do better.

FYI, I cracked open a case of Blindside 3” in #2 steel. I have as many bruises on the birds as shots that penetrate.

Sounds good, on my scouting trip Saturday to Burbank the winter flock of ducks was very small even in these ideal conditions and surprisingly didn’t even see a goose.  About 10 years ago almost couldn’t see the water on the no hunt side with all the fowl.  Very disappointing and was hoping my gut feeling was wrong but ended up actually worse.

[JBG]

I've been shooting my 20s exclusively for 5 years now. The BOSS 5s were very good loads but realized I had no need for them as all my shooting is well under 40 yds. Got spendy also. Shooting only 7/8 oz, I needed to maximize pellet count to keep a dense enough open pattern at typical ranges. #4 Steel has enough energy beyond my farthest shots. Seems to penetrate very well and seldom do I have feathers pulled into the meat. Also found shorty Upland Steel 6s  by Federal, my quail/chukar loads, do extremely well and anchor mallards at 35yds. Smaller shot seems to pattern very well for me. Definately not a good choice for pass shooting.

Thanks I really appreciate this response. I may pick up a few boxes of #4 in steel and see if that works better. We have been shooting them as they decoy in. I’m newish to waterfowl and just figuring it all out as I go. With the boat, dog, and scouting I think I’m already 3x the ducks I took all last season.

Not sure if they've fixed it but if you shoot a Benelli and want to shoot BOSS you may need to replace the hammer spring.  I personally do not like BOSS.  I've had great results with the hevi-metal which has 30% bismuth and then also shooting TSS duplex loads: 3steel/8TSS with a 20gauge and absolutely crushing birds.  The TSS is a hand load so it keeps costs down somewhat.

[ducks4days]

I've been shooting my 20s exclusively for 5 years now. The BOSS 5s were very good loads but realized I had no need for them as all my shooting is well under 40 yds. Got spendy also. Shooting only 7/8 oz, I needed to maximize pellet count to keep a dense enough open pattern at typical ranges. #4 Steel has enough energy beyond my farthest shots. Seems to penetrate very well and seldom do I have feathers pulled into the meat. Also found shorty Upland Steel 6s  by Federal, my quail/chukar loads, do extremely well and anchor mallards at 35yds. Smaller shot seems to pattern very well for me. Definately not a good choice for pass shooting.

Thanks I really appreciate this response. I may pick up a few boxes of #4 in steel and see if that works better. We have been shooting them as they decoy in. I’m newish to waterfowl and just figuring it all out as I go. With the boat, dog, and scouting I think I’m already 3x the ducks I took all last season.

Not sure if they've fixed it but if you shoot a Benelli and want to shoot BOSS you may need to replace the hammer spring.  I personally do not like BOSS.  I've had great results with the hevi-metal which has 30% bismuth and then also shooting TSS duplex loads: 3steel/8TSS with a 20gauge and absolutely crushing birds.  The TSS is a hand load so it keeps costs down somewhat.

Ive has a ton of issues with BOSS shells getting humid and not working, its a huge let down for a shell marketed for waterfowl hunting. If going bismuth the hevi metal is a much much better bet.