I have wanted to hunt the Pot Holes area for the past few years. I'd like to take a boat up there and scout around during the summer. I am in hopes
of getting some knowledge from this board before I go however. First, can you run a prop outboard or would it be better to run a pump? Is there a refuge or no-hunt zone? Are there public boat launches? How far are motels from where I could launch. Thanks in advance for any info.

I've hunted and fished the potholes area since I was a kid, I'm 28 now and have alot of knowledge of the area. If you want to hunt the main resevoir, you don't have to run a jet as long as you know all the channes in the dunes. If you don't know were to go run a depth finder your first few trips out and you'll be fine. Another good idea is to go on a trip with the Duck Taxi guide service out of the Mar Don resort. They have hunted the dunes for 25 yrs and are excellent guides. They will show you all the ins and outs of the dunes area.

The Columbia Wildlife refuge is behind the dam,it gives the birds a place to rest without being pressured. There are a bunch of public launches in the area and a 2 motels at the resort, they have about 25 rooms and hunters and dogs are welcome. It's kind of hard to scout the dunes in the summer because it won't be anything like that in the winter.

Or for more info check out this,

http://refugeforums.com/refuge/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&forumid=36&x=14&y=11

For those that may not like me posting this, piscatoral pursuits has been reccomended many times on the site above

The potholes are tough to scout in the summer because they let out so much water during the hunting season that it is totally different area when you hunt. We use a GPS unit and mark waypoints to our hunting spots so that we have a route to follow when we head out before daylight.

A great place to stay, launch, and fish from while you are scouting is Mar Don resort. We leave a travel trailer and our sled there all season so we just drive over, sleep, and get up at 4:00 am to kill some ducks! It is fun.

You may want to post when you are heading over to scout this summer. I will be heading over there to camp and do some fishing, so maybe we could hook up.

Thanks fellas, I am thinking just after Laborday as the best time for me now. Sounds as if sled and gps are the way to scout. Should be able to tell were high wster marks are.