The wind at the point in Burbank was already blowing heavily by the time I got there at 5:00. It was not a light wind, but a heavy wind blowing right in my face. I was left with few options for my spread this morning. I set it up as best I could to entice ducks into landing with some form of tailwind. By 6:05 I was done and the waiting began. More ducks than usual dropped into the decoys right before light. Normally, two or three will torment me. However, this morning I saw at least twelve drop in.
The first sucker swung by my spread for a look somewhere near 7:30. I took her down with one shot, but only wounded her. I retrieved the wigeon hen and sat back down. I watched several large groups of ducks flying up the main channel of the river. Some would get closer for a look at my decoys, but few came within range for me to shoot. Since I couldn't get any ducks to commit, I switched my spread around a little. That worked. Soon a wigeon drake cupped his wings, out-stretched his feet and committed to a landing. I folded him up fairly quickly. He needed a finishing shot, though, which I administered on my way out to get him.
As I settled in after the retrieve, a group of 9 canada geese were on their way in for a look. I was a bit confused by this. I didn't have any of my goose decoys in the water, since they can't be hunted on Fridays here. Regardless, I was going to practice my goose calling (which needed to be done badly). I called to them and they kept coming and seemed to be dropping into the decoys. I kept at it. They kept coming until they stalled out about 30 feet straight over my decoys. They looped back around and looked as though they were fully committed to coming in. I'm not sure if they noticed that there weren't actually any geese in my spread or noticed me watching them but they changed their minds and flew off. Had this been a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, I would have gotten a shot or two at them, for sure.
One highlight of the day came in the form of two birds circling overhead that weren't even legal for me to shoot. Bald eagles follow the migration south, as ducks are a part of their diet. Every once in a while, I'll see one while I am out hunting. However, today was different. Across the Columbia River, I saw two huge silhouettes flapping enormous wings and gracefully diving toward the surface of the water. These huge birds turned out to be a pair of bald eagles hunting. As I sat and watched, their circles shifted closer to me. They eventually ended up almost directly overhead. What a sight! If you have never been lucky enough to see these birds in person, I feel sorry for you. By the time they left the area, they had been within about 200 feet of me. That sight made me glad to have them as our national bird, instead of the turkey.
The last duck of the day was a gadwall drake. By the time I got a chance to shoot him, I had rearranged the decoys a couple of times and put the flapper out in the water. The conditions changed so much this morning that it seemed as though I spent half of my morning rearranging decoys.
Not a spectacular day in the field, but I learned something nevertheless. The decoy spread can't be permanent. It has to be changed when the conditions change. I knew this already, but it was certainly reinforced today.
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