The weather finally provided enough of a break for heading offshore to set a big oldsquaw rig on a few hundred birds we had spotted feeding the ledge this past few weeks. Birds were diving in 60-90 feet of water so we had to get creative on the dekes and longlines. Dawn broke and the long-tailed ducks consistently buzzed the rig all morning. Alot of hens and juvies were passed on, but our hunter from North Carolina held strong and before too long took a few dandies. Pat McGruder at Avian Arts, Dallas has some amazing taxidermy work planned for these prime drakes.
There isn’t anything better this time of year than a crisp morning in the blind waiting on the sea ducks to fly… and all the while the crab pots soak and fill with delectable winter Dungeness Crab. After the hunts we pack up the gear and trophy birds from the morning shoot then head back to cabins and shop, put on the boil pot of fresh Bay seawater and give those crabs a little Jacuzzi. This last group of hunters from Minnesota polished off a nine crab lunch in record time. The smiles say it all… It’s good living in the Pacific Northwest!
Our first significant storm of the season blew in today as the tail end of a whopper that hit Coastal Alaska dipped down into Salish Sea waters on its way out. The incoming storm made for a dramatic sunrise over the decoy rig this morning. Before the majority of heavy rain and wind hit, our crew was safely off the water with our birds by mid-morning. Heavy rain and wind over 45+ kts affected the area throughout the afternoon and early evening hours. Temps were near 60 degrees w/ sun the day prior… what a difference a day can make in the weather around here this time of year!
Those beautiful black and white ducks from the North have arrived ! Barrow’s and American ( Common) Goldeneye ducks showed up in many of our hunting areas this week. Characterized by their distinctive flight noise both species of “whistlers” make for great sport on the wing and handsome trophies for the taxidermist. Watching a flock of these birds drop into the decoys is something every waterfowler should enjoy.
Jewels of the Pacific Northwest, the harlequin duck is one of the most prized waterfowl species. A unique sea duck– the blue plumed harlequin combined with dramatic white stripes, spots and red flank feathers are a sight to behold. Wintering harlequin duck populations average approx. 10,000 birds in Salish waters thus wildlife managers and sea duck hunters are conservative with harvest rates. Here in Washington we have a unique opportunity as the only state within the lower 48 to hunt these birds with consistency. Local populations of wintering harlequin ducks on the Olympic Peninsula are the highest in the state and opportunities are very good for our hunters. Our guide services focus on each of our hunters taking a prime drake over the hand carved harlequin decoy rig on their hunts with us.
In between squalls this morning the boys spotted something peculiar as a migrating flock of robins pecked their way for bugs out on the house lawn. Mixed in with the other dozen or so birds was a truly “white” robin. Spare a few black markings on the wing tips and around the eyes it was a snow white bird. This would be the second leucistic bird of the year for us– Maybe it’s going to be another cold winter !
A crisp Fall morning out on the saltwater with our first hunter today. Joe tagged out on a primo drake harlequin just after first light so we decided to pull the rig and move to hunt the openwater for scoters. He took a nice surf scoter right off the bat and the first bufflehead drake of the season. A couple flocks of oldsquaw were buzzing the rig and just before the tide change he takes a second drake surf was sporting a bonus! Per the USFW report this surf scoter drake was banded in WA as a wintering bird in 2005.
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.
The third weekend of September is always a fun one as in Washington State the game department allows youth hunters ( under 16 ) to get the first shot at gamebirds and waterfowl before the general openers in October. Luck would have it that my two boys were invited to a hosted youth hunt that Saturday with a couple other eager young hunters on a private grain field in the Sequim Valley. A foggy September dawn broke early as we hunkered in the well camo’d layout blinds waiting on early migrating mallards and geese. With guns a blazing these youths knocked down a few good birds and before the dust settled with temps warmed into the mid-70’s Elliott had his first Canada goose and the makings of a great stir fry dinner that night !
We always welcome every other August when the warm sun is out and droves of pink salmon, aka humpys arrive down the Strait and North Puget Sound on their way to spawn in central and south Sound rivers ( these salmon run every two years ). Averaging 5-11 lbs Humpys can put up quite the battle on a fly rod or a light spinning rod rigged with a buzz bomb lure. Today was no exception as my boy Elliott and I found consistent schools of 50 –100 fish breezing and jumping all along the East side of Whidbey Island and the shipping lanes. Continue reading →
David and Tiffany Drewry | P.O. Box 763, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0763 | (360) 379-0906