2011/ 2012 Waterfowl Opener
The waterfowl season opened with a bang today as the boys and I set out to enjoy the family tradition of hunting local sea ducks. Unlike most of the puddlers that are still in a moult of brown feathers- the surf , whitewing and black scoters have migrated in with full breeding plumage. Well before shooting light we launched the tender boat then after a short run the crab pots were put down to soak while we set a rig of longlines with floating decoy “sleds” and custom painted scoter dekes near an offshore shoal. At the first crack of light a few young birds had already lit in the decoys and we knew it was going to be a good morning. More “scotes” followed and after getting some of that early season rusty shooting out of the way we all got some birds down including a triple from a flock of high flying whitewings that dumped in for a closer look. Back to the launch with a bucket of Dungeness crabs and a strap of sea ducks– what a great start to the season and only a glimpse of what’s to come.
David and Tiffany Drewry | P.O. Box 763, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0763 | (360) 379-0906