The duck blind is
behind a locked gate on Rocky Ford Creek by an irrigation dam. The pond
created by the dam provides a nice open-water area for ducks. It remains
open a little longer in the winter because it has more flow than other
areas. There is a gravel drop-off area beside the blind. Decoys can
be put out while wearing chest waders, however, a small boat could be
used if needed.
The .5 mile primitive
road from the locked gate to the blind is dirt, rock, and some gravel
and should be useable by most vans and two-wheel drive trucks. A parking
area by the gate is used mostly by walk-in hunters and fishers. A wheelchair
accessible concrete vault toilet and an accessible blacktop parking
space are available. The blind is open to any hunter unless reserved
by disabled hunters. The WDFW Region 2 Office in Ephrata has the key
for the gate. Disabled hunters should call the Office in advance
at (509) 754-4624 for more information.
This goose pit is
in an agricultural field near the Columbia River on the Priest Rapids/Buckshot
Wildlife Area about 1 mile south of Mattawa. There is a wheelchair ramp
down into the ground-level wooden pit blind as well as windows. The
blind is camouflaged with natural materials from the area and is hard
to see until you get close (or know where it is). Follow the driving
directions carefully.
The blind was placed
in a field used by geese to feed as they fly off the river. Hunters
can drive right up beside the blind to unload, if the weather and grounds
conditions are good. There is a direct route from the edge of the road
across the field to the blind. Other hunters hunt this field near the
edge by the river. The blind is open to all hunters unless reserved
by disabled hunters. The WDFW Region 2 Office in Ephrata has the key
for the gate. Disabled hunters should call the Office in advance
at (509) 754-4624 for more information.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
- Driving south
on SR-243 along the Columbia River from Vantage toward Mattawa, turn
right (west) onto Road 26 SW and go about 1 mile to the Priest Rapids/Buckshot
Wildlife Area.
- Follow the gravel
road into a parking area and turn right between two fence posts onto
a primitive road.
- About 1/4 mile
in you will come to a locked gate. Go through the gate and brushy
area to a planted agriculture field.
- Follow the road
tracks to the left towards an old pump-house structure. With the pump
house on the left side of your vehicle, and while looking west, go
about 3 sprinkler line ditches towards the top of the knoll to the
blind (about 150 yards). The pit blind is at ground level in the agricultural
field. If weather and ground conditions allow it, you can drive cross
the field to the blind to unload.
