This was not your typical family duck hunt. The Princens are members of a private hunting club located in Duvall.
The Heckman Hunting Club was established in the early 1930's. The club has a limited membership of 20 member/owners. Joey's Grandfather became a member back in the 1950's and the family has been involved ever since.
The club sits on a 200 acre site that originally was a dairy farm. The club owners have put a lot of work into the land the past several years with vegetation enhancement and crop selection to aid in the survivability in all types of ducks. They have also to date, installed approximately 20 Wood Duck boxes.
The Heckman Duck Club is bordered by the Snohomish River to the East. The entire area is a duck hunting haven. Travis Brewer and the guys at Banded Hunts also own a large chunk of land that boarders the property on the South end and the West is bordered by land owned by Ducks Unlimited. Like I said, "Duck Haven".
The morning started off getting introduced to a couple other club members who were there for the morning hunt. Of all people to run into; Nick Kester, of All-Star Charters. Apparently Nick has been hunting out at the club for years with a long time member and family friend.
- Duck Blind
- Heckman Duck Hunt.... With JP 018.JPG (245.74 KiB) Viewed 7410 times
With the amount of rain as of late, the blinds have about 4" to 6" of water in them. No big deal, the raised floors and the seats inside make for a comfortable day.
- Joey looking for the next flight
- Heckman Duck Hunt.... With JP 021.JPG (185.91 KiB) Viewed 7410 times
Joe checking the skies for the next flight of birds. The weather was crazy and we faced just about everything you get on a typical day of duck hunting. At least we were in the comfortable blind and not on the river in the drift boat. I'm pretty sure we would have been cussing about the weather and the crappy Steelheading...
- Multiple Deek-Spreads
- Heckman Duck Hunt.... With JP 007.JPG (205.17 KiB) Viewed 7410 times
The nice thing about a private hunting club are the rules. The deeks are set out early season and can be left for the duration. The multiple decoy spreads are set up with "Jerk Rigs". One good hefty pull on the rope and you get about 12 to 15 ducks moving. Couple that with a few wind ducks and you are open for business. Another rule that I find interesting, more so a club adopted gentlemen's rule; "You must allow the ducks to land on the water prior to shooting." "Once the ducks have landed, hunters will force the ducks to take flight and then they may be shot".
- Duck Blind
- Heckman Duck Hunt.... With JP 014.JPG (194.71 KiB) Viewed 7410 times
The Heckman club members have put a lot of work into their blinds. They have seven total around the lake and they are very well hidden.
- Widgeon Drake
- Heckman Duck Hunt.... With JP 025.JPG (183.98 KiB) Viewed 7410 times
- Captain
- Heckman Duck Hunt.... With JP 026.JPG (197.68 KiB) Viewed 7410 times
This is a photo I took of Captain. He is actually a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. His owner Darrell told me he is a great pointer and does well on pheasants. However, Captain also loves the water and really loves to retrieve ducks. He's not your average pointer and truly a work horse.
- Almost a Limit
- Heckman Duck Hunt.... With JP 034.JPG (225.4 KiB) Viewed 7410 times
Not quit a limit, but not to bad. The hunting was tough. We had a few chances at some small groups of birds that would commit to the lake and we managed a couple each time. Other then that, we had a lot of solo birds and doubles fly by.
Oh well, it was a great day with some great folks and I had a really good time. Joe Sr. said, this was one of the more non-productive days he has seen in a long time. "You can't shoot'em if they don't show"...
Can't wait to get back out there in January, hopefully more birds will decide to show.
