Wow. Just got back last night from a work trip to Washington state that included two days of hunting. We were supposed to hunt Thursday afternoon and have duck and goose hunts each day Friday and Saturday. We got into town later than expected Thursday, so that turned into a scouting day. The guys I was with have a lease, so we checked that out to find all of the ponds "punched". Friday promised to be a hell of a good hunt.
When we got to the ponds, we were welcomed with a thick fog that produced a few fat northern mallards at first light. Over the course of what turned out to be an all day sit, we scratched out 22 ducks with 4 guns. Mixed bag of mallards, widgeon, pintail and woodies. The weather changed considerably no less than 4 times throughout the day - from clear and mild to cool and foggy to cool and windy. This was their very first hunt on this particular hole, as it was created just this year. They are in the first year of this lease as they used to control the adjacent property until it was bought by another group. Water control is their primary concern right now, with planting of corn planned for this off-season.
This was NOT the hunt the guys were hoping for and they spent a lot of their time apologizing, saying that it was a 2.5 outta 10 kind of day. I'll take the invitation for a return trip as soon as I can make it work. They are used to hunts that would be exceptional on our scale. Limits are the rule. Again, it goes to show that you have to be where the ducks want to be.
We got a call late Friday afternoon that a particular alfalfa field had been holding 400 geese for two days and we should hunt that Sat. morning. They have killed over 100 geese from this same blind already this year. After hooking up the decoy trailer, we got to the field, set up, and watched geese go from the grain fields to the water all day long. Again, it was a tough day and we managed 3 geese on 4 guns. The only 3 that came into the decoys died. We had two groups that worked and worked, but wouldn't finish. Our host was getting calls that the geese were working like this for everybody in the area.
These guys live for this stuff. They've grown up in the area and hunted like this their entire lives. I'll definitely get back there and try it as soon as possible. Good times in the blind with friends is like no other.
A few pics...
The hole
Strap at mid day
My buddy with his band
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