Fish, Fur, Fowl: Whistling wings and other things
Published 6:07 pm Friday, April 25, 2008
By Ed Oldham
Nothing like heading out to your duck blind early in the morning and watching the sunrise as you hear whistling wings circling over head. Only a few more minutes until legal shooting hours start and your partner next to you is wagging his tail anticipating that first shot.
You blow into your duck call to work the kinks out. Your dog’s ears perk up and you check your shotgun one last time.
Just then, you see the first flock coming in off the big water. You talk to them with your call: “Hey fellas, come on down, the water is great.” They listen and the wings begin to cup as they descend out of the sky looking for any signs that something isn’t right.
Closer and closer they come and your heart is racing now. They are a group of mallards so you grab your gun, snap the safety off and fire. A duck comes spiraling out of the flock, you take another shot and one more falls before they scatter out of range.
Your dog sees them in the water and bounds in their direction with a big splash. He has the first one and is on his way back and with a gentle tap on the head and a “Good boy,” he heads off for the other one.
These are the images that waterfowl hunters live for. There is nothing better so that is why they brave the harsh weather.
Duck hunting this year has begun like it does every year. The action starts off hot and then cools down as hunters wait for colder weather to drive the big northern flocks out of their summer breeding grounds.
The Skagit flats is the most popular waterfowl spot on the west side and anyone that has hunted there on the weekends can tell you it gets busy. If you can get a day off during the week, I would highly recommend giving it a try then.
The snow geese have been filling farmers’ fields and often fly low enough over public land to give hunters a chance to drop a few.
Waterfowl hunting is by far the most popular sport right now but there are a few late seasons opening this month as well.
On Nov. 15, the late rifle black tail season opens again in select units. Be sure to check your regulations for the specific units that are open. Nov. 15 is also the end of the black bear season that I really did not hear a lot of things about.
Beginning Nov. 21, archers will also have the chance to get out for their late deer and elk seasons. With cooler weather and easier stalking conditions, you could have a better than average chance of bagging one.
If hunting is not your thing, areas 8-1, 8-2 and 9 are now open for winter black mouth fishing. In area 9, you can keep either a hatchery or wild fish and Lagoon Point has been putting out some decent numbers. You might even catch some late silvers or a chum as well.
The Skagit River has also been yielding some nice silvers and the chum fishing should get better as the month progresses. From a boat try back trolling a K-13 Kwikfish. If you are banking it, a jig under a bobber has been working lower in the river for chums. Try several different colors as they can be picky at times and once you find a good one, stick to it.
