There is sometimes a conflict between those that want to kill and eat ducks,
and those that want to watch them. In general, if you the birder decide to
enter hunting areas the advice I got from a hunter was to go in the
mid-afternoon, wear bright colored clothing, and stay away from blinds. The
duck hunting season is published each year on the WDFW website, and you can
always go to these areas after duck season closes. I too have been rained by
pellets, both times from hunters on boats who were shooting flying ducks,
and both times I was in a county park. (Bob Heirman). The velocity of the
pellets was about the same as a hail storm. I have twice sent letters
requesting that the Skykomish River adjacent to the park be closed to
hunting but apparently this is too complicated as there are no signs from
the river that it's a park, and random closures apparently do not work. So I
just wear a coat with a hood during hunting season when at the park. Keep in
mind that hunters and hunting organizations have a big influence with WDFW,
much more than recreational bird watchers, and lots of money comes from the
hook and bullet crowd for buying wetlands.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher