FEBRUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER
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2 PICS FROM MODERN RIFLE OPENING DAY IN E. WA
TURKEY, TURKEY, HONK, GOBBLE, GOBBLE,
I hope for the most part COVID is behind us, but winter is hanging on. The latest on the weather front is that the 3rd year in row La Nina in a hang on, maybe for drier season as we move forward. Oregon snowpack is at close to 100% on average for all the water basins, and we are getting a big dump the next day or two which will help.
· Upland bird. Hatches were scattered in E. WA but birds were around, and spooky, wild if you will! Eastern Oregon good hatches of Chukars, but with all the added pressure the last three years, things got worse. The warm weather two summers in a row I believe contributed to this.
· Northwest Goose Permit Zone is open, they are whacking the snow geese.
· Turkeys appear to have had a good hatch in the Spring was abysmal, lots of rain, lots of renesters. The good news is the weather was right the second time around and the bird count looks pretty decent. My reports are that there is a great group of young birds and carryover of older birds in Douglas County and up and down I-5, as last year.
· Deer season in Washington was incredible, both north and eastern reaches. Again, the second season proved to be a better hunt, a lot of deer rolled in at the end of the week due to rain, and that group was 100% successful. First season was a struggle, but still came in at about 75%. Again, we are getting close to being sold out, so drop a call if you are wanting to get in on what appears to be a great season.
· The winter has been the usual in Washington in most places, good survival so far on yearlings and the bucks were around last week.
· Tag deadline is coming up in 3 months for Oregon, not sure where to tell you to go in Oregon it has been pretty lean. So, this year has been an interesting run, to ponder the seasons:
WATERFOWL
Water fowling in early season 22 ‘was not bad, goose hunting very good. As things have progressed in early winter, waterfowl hunting has been as interesting as the weather we are experiencing the last month or so. Huge numbers of snow geese, does anyone remember how they were almost put on the threatened list of wildlife, now they are almost pests. More snow geese getting harvested then dark geese at times. They are knocking out the feed on Sau vie and driving the ducks out sometimes.
TURKEY SEASON 2023 APRIL 15TH TO MAY 31ST. People are booking dates already so get on board, opening weekend, only one spot left, the train will leave the station without you. John McClay will help again along with a couple of other Gents. Hatch was good. Lots of new birds everywhere. Nesting season this year appears to be a better hatch than 2022, which was good. The beauty of having ranches and farms all over Douglas County we are lucky we can spread things out and go where it suits conditions and bird numbers
If you want to hunt this Spring, let us get a date booked. We have lots of people inquiring on dates and already have quite a few bookings. Just like the deer spots, people want to know they can get out and enjoy the outdoors with us.
Again, this year our primary area of hunting is in SW Oregon again this year. We hunt north, west, some east and south of Roseburg. All of your longtime favorite spots in the vicinity of Yoncalla, Sutherlin, Melrose, Days Creek, Oakland, Myrtle Creek, Rice Hill, and Green Valley. And new spots in Oakland, Myrtle Creek, and North Umpqua. We also have some good access in the Junction City area and building more up in the middle valley. We are fortunate to have that kind of access. We are still headquartered at Rice Hill, new owners last year and they are doing a great job taking care of us and our clients.
NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON TURKEY HUNTING
We will be adding some guided hunts in North Central Washington near Republic, WA, some lodge based. This is part of the hunt club we are adding in that area, “Northern Lights Hunt Club.” Also working with the K Diamond K Ranch for rooms and lodging, check it out www.kdiamondk.com
We have plenty of good dates available, so still time to book a hunt. Give me a call or an email. Spring is almost here that means “TURKEY TIME!”
TURKEY TIPS: SLOW movement is next best to no movement. When needing to set up a shot for a bird, you have to move your shotgun if not already in hand, whether the bird was visible working in and no surprise, or if it was a surprise, movement will kill you and not the turkey! Turkeys are so sensitive to movement, like most still hunted game, it is a deal breaker.
SPRING /SUMMER DOG TRAINING
We started training a bit in earnest now as we had 3 feet of snow, but doing fine. Get with me to book space for conditioning and regular training. We will have just few spots available this year.
DOG TRAINING TIP OF THE MONTH -FAQS As dogs and their owners push out of winter into spring, keep close eye on them, they have spring fever too, so they could dart out on the road, pick a fight with the neighbor’s cat, or get so feisty pull you down on the lead. Ease into Spring, like the weather is doing right now.
LINK FOR FIRST AID KIT FOR YOUR DOG: repeated on popular demand!!!
https://projectupland.com/hunting-dogs/12-things-to-add-to-your-canine-first-aid-kit/?mc_cid=e6a27c5736&mc_eid=cf4bea5006 GREAT STUFF!!
FISHING
We recently brought on board a guide for FnM and NLHC, Wade Giesbrecht. He and his cousin also operate a fishing guide service, fishing the Columbia from Lake Roosevelt all the way to Drano Lake. His web site is www.fishthecolumbia.com phone number is 509-750-6809. Follow them on FB https://www.facebook.com/Fish-Intimidators-607975689859315/
He is fishing prespawn Walleye in the Columbia Basin right now around Boardman/McNary. Currently he has seats/days available for Spring Chinook in late April/Early May for Wind River or Drano Lake. More in our next newsletter.
EASTERN WASHINGTON UPDATE
Conditions should be favorable for habitat and the open range if this record rainfall persists. Incredibly dry this last summer, not as suffering hot but warm. Our guzzler management program, which includes filling them, had to take a back seat to for a period as the fire danger was too high to risk moving around in the grass and brush that constitutes our habitat. Luckily enough the spring rains filled them up and they had good water in them right up until about the first part of August, and some carried water right up till hunting season. We have 14 guzzlers and 2 water tanks that we fill and manage, and I am sure the wildlife appreciates them. They are all accessible for both upland, small game, and big game, you don’t need to be a giraffe to drink out of them.
The good news is that winter has been mild to normal. We have good browse and feed availability and fawn survival looks to be average to above normal. In regards to short and long term planning, we are working with a retired Big Game Biologist. He is also deer hunting with us this year. He wanted to hunt deer with us last year, and did join the bird club, loves the place, knows of its prominence. He has said we are doing a good job managing our harvest and the available deer, until catastrophic weather or conditions well up. He believes we have excellent habitat, including fawning and fawn raising habitat. We are looking at small food plots, either this year or next to increase the protein offerings for the deer that do fawn and stay, and for any other deer that might decide to do the same. He also believes with 16 active water sources and the potential to add more (we have identified and targeted 6 more sources) we have a great thing going.
· BIG GAME WASHINGTON – PROSPECTS AND OPENINGS
· ALL OF OUR ADVERTISED HUNTS ARE OVER THE COUNTER TAGS
· MODERN RIFLE WASHINGTON GENERAL BUCK SEASON
· FIRST HUNT OCTOBER 14TH TO OCTOBER 17TH
· SECOND HUNT OCTOBER 21ST TO OCTOBER 24TH
(Further down the newsletter more WA hunts)
Most of our hunts are DIY with a few guided.
We have seen our great habitat continue to improve, thanks to many factors and mother nature. We will continue to work with our customers to customize and accommodate their requests, we have been adding to and improving our base camps every year, and we have acquired more ground as time has passed since 2017, looking at an addition in ground in 2023. And the plan is to increase our great staff this year.
DEFINITION OF A SEMI GUIDED DIY HUNT: You will be assigned a scouted parcel of land for the hunt. The parcel is for you or your groups exclusive use during the hunt period. We will be checking in with you and monitoring your progress and overall hunting experience to keep track of your hunt. Upon your harvest of an animal and field dressing, we will haul your animal out. We are a strictly foot hunting operation and that’s why we have 85-90 % success.
We have many spots filled for rifle season, but we do have some open spots at our Washtucna base ranch for both first and second season. We have a couple of spots available for the Starbuck Ranch, first and second season. Ritzville-Odessa-Lind Ranches we have a few spots available second season. In units and also up Republic, WA, Northern Lights Hunt Club, we have openings see below.
In N. Central WA we have spots available for both rifle seasons with various packages available, and also Bow and Muzzleloader, all OTC tags
https://northernlightshuntclub.com/
General Bow Season in September 1st to the 23rd, same great area, spots available, along with Muzzleloader season in early September 24th to October 2nd.
Late Rut Whitetail Season – Nov. 10 to Dec 15 GMU 101 & 204. This is a great bow hunt, with a number of hunts already sold, so this one need priority if interested. We could be hunting in Snow. It is a 4 day/5-night hunt. We pick up 5 nights at the K Diamond K Ranch /Lodge, with meals. We are hunting relatively small parcels, 60 to 500 acres, and the hunting is really sitting and rattling, grunting etc. We are in great zone for Whitetail, in the San Poi, Kettle River drainages.
It is $2995 per hunter DIY, though we set the blinds, get you to them, and pattern the deer. $3495 for a DIY /Hybrid, we will be more involved in the hunt with making sure you are doing things the right way on a continual basis, fully guided $4495. The Non-Resident License and tag are $434. We aren’t doing a lot of spot and stalk, though some. You have to sit and wait. But with good cell service, most places, and a heater that won’t bother the deer, it can be comfortable and successful. We will haul your deer in after it is field dressed, or help with that, hang it, and help you skin it, or we can do that. Thus, the DIY or Hybrid DIY. Or we do a complete guided hunt.
We put up the blinds, pattern the deer, scout, so that part we help with the DIY. The patience (being in one place for a number of hours, you hear these horror stories from hunters from the West who went somewhere to hunt Whitetail in the Rut, but it is not that bad. In Texas they drop you at 5 or 6AM and don’t comeback until dark, and it can be cold as hell,) the cold (we put heaters in the blinds that don’t bother the deer,) and we don’t have the pressure that all the other areas of the state have, which really is nothing, a few outfitters target Bow Hunting Rutting Whitetail, but definitely a different experience. Over the counter tags are nice.
LAST ROOSTER STANDING SHOOTING PRESERVE-WA
We are doing hunts now, but the pheasant and chukar shortage meant we are taking bookings based on available inventory for this Spring in Washtucna WA preserve. Lots of folks moving back into outdoor pursuits, way better than being bunkered up!! We can get you in this Spring
https://lastroosterstanding.com/
HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON IN THE FIELD
If you are getting this and would prefer not too, let us know. We have added many folks to mailing lists and try to maintain them as best we can.
Jeff
Field N Marsh Outfitters
Mobile 541.490.1300
8170 Cooper Spur Road
Mt. Hood, OR 97041