DUCK HUNTING WITH THE TIDE

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DUCK HUNTING WITH THE TIDE

BY: Adam J. Bahr

After a break of nearly 20 years, I decided to bear the elements and start hunting waterfowl. I was raised on the waters of the Mississippi flyway which equates to shallow windswept basins without tidal influences. Now that I live in the Pacific flyway, I am subject to similar or even more extreme weather conditions, highly fluctuating tides, and a saltwater environment. When all of these environmental factors stack up, the outcome can be days of missed opportunities or a canceled trip. Safety should be a top priority in any waterfowlers gear bag. With these factors in mind, here are a few things to consider while hunting on the pacific northwest coast. 

Tides

Undoubtedly, the most important factor while planning a successful trip is the tidal influence of the day and where you plan to hunt. The more I get out into the field on the coast, the more I realize how important tide stage is. Tides become increasingly important when hunting near or on the shoreline. A good example was on a previous hunting trip where I planned to set my equipment and hunt on the shoreline. My plan was to set the decoy strings and be set about two hours before the tide was at max flood. I’m sure you can hunt much earlier into the incoming tide but one observation seems to hold true: the activity of incoming flocks tapers off after the tide starts ebbing. Food location is the main environmental factor which causes the activity to decrease after the tide change occurrence. When the tide retreats, it takes much of the inhabitants with it. Macroinvertibrates burrow into the mud, and immature fish follow the tide into deeper waters. Ducks realize when the tide is coming up the “table is set.” Consequently waterfowl will stage off shore while the tide is low or relocate to more favorable feeding grounds. Contrary to bears and humans which rely on their legs to get them to where they can gather up game, waterfowl utilize the water as well as underwater diving as their most effective approach to feed themselves. 

Parking The Skiff

The golden rule of any successful water fowling has always been concealment. Sea ducks are somewhat of an exception to the rule at least early in the season. Hunting from the shoreline and concealing a boat is a challenge. I believe the further you can separate your string of decoys from the boat the better the odds of convincing incomers to set down on your decoys. If you have ever parked your boat next to the shoreline on the salt you know that the tide can and will leave you stranded. This is exactly why it is easier to hunt while the tide is incoming and not retreating. An alternative to parking the boat is to have a skiff operator who will retrieve any downed game. The “retriever” will simply keep the boat far enough away from the shooters as to not distract the incoming birds and close enough to see what is happening on the water. This system is more attractive for a guide to utilize with their clients on shore. 

Weather

Predominate winds of the fall and winter are from the north which relates to high seas and unfavorable conditions for small crafts. The best approach to planning a trip is to know what is going to happen before it does and plan accordingly. Much of my success has revolved around predicting weather and paying close attention to forecasts, weather buoys, and sea state. The overall best rule to follow is: if you think the weather will turn ugly then it probably will and don't go farther on a calm day than you would on a rough day if the weather might pick up. Picking locations to hunt is a combination of fetch (distance of unrestricted wind blowing which builds wave height), feeding habitat, and luck. While picking a location, try to remember a time when you were getting pounded up while driving your boat across rough seas and you drive around a point where the wind breaks and the waves lay down. Feels like a safe haven right? Well, this phenomenon works the same way in waterfowling. This safety factor is especially true when flocks are migrating through an area and looking for a protected cove to feed in. When picking a location, remember what it will take to get there, how much sea condition you are capable of working with, and lastly where is the safe haven the ducks will naturally flood into.

Safety Equipment

Most government agencies set and follow a strict regiment when it comes to safety equipment and for good reason; prevention of loss of life. A good start is to come up with a float plan. By notifying an individual on shore, your whereabouts is know and not showing up on time will indicate a problem. Float coats, immersion suits, handheld VHF radios with DSC capability are crucial components to a practical personal safety system.

Setting Decoys

Several techniques are available to waterfowl hunters in regards to setting up decoys. While shore hunting the best approach is to use a long line of 300’ or more. I use a 3 pound halibut weight, a cork screw swivel, and attach both to the main line. I motor the boat to the furthest point where I set my last decoy and drop the weight and line to the bottom. The main line, which is kept on an electrical cord spool, is payed out until contact is made with the bottom. I let out enough line to adjust for the tide and current. Next, I use long line clips, a section of line about 4’ and tie the clip to the line and line to the decoy. As I start my way back to shore with the long line, I clip the decoys on while spacing them roughly 4-6’ apart. Lastly, I make my way to the shoreline, strategically set the electrical spool on the shoreline as to secure the string of decoys near the high water mark, and voila, I’m duck hunting. If you decide to drift offshore you can set the decoys out with a small weight suspended from one end of the string which creates drag. A hunter can then drift along side the decoys with a drift sock. Yet another approach which is more ideal for shallow waters is to anchor both ends of the decoy long line string and anchor the boat with a float and clip which allows for quickly disconnecting the boat from the mooring. All of these techniques will work in nearly any coastal hunting scenario and depending on what you are faced with, you will probably end up doing all of them at some point.

Waterfowl hunting in coastal settings, especially Alaska are extreme, and it takes a special type of individual that is willing to subject oneself to the hardships and toils of this type of hunting. The rewards generally outweigh the downfalls and if you are willing to forge your way into the field during this wet and miserable time of year, you will find your quarry will be there awaiting your arrival.