Geoduck,
I dont know what kind of duck you talked to. The Skagit area is one of the best area's for holding ducks due to the farms in the area (grain) on the westside. Wheat,barley,corn holds ducks on there migration southward. Marshland doesnt hold ducks. Marshland lets ducks rest. The reason why Potholes is such a great place to hunt is ag. production in the area along with the many wetlands. No grain, no ducks. Wetlands are not great producers of duck food. Neither is salt marsh. The skagit area is one of the best waterfowl places on the westside. The flyway will change and so will the duck hunting. In a sense the WDFW is walking away from 50 yrs of waterfowling tradition. But i guess thats the change in the WDFW policy now adays. More emphasis on fishing than game. Probably one of the reasons why our state is being thrashed on by the anti-hunters.