The 72-year-old from Draper called it quits on the Utah waterfowl hunting season opener around 10 a.m. after taking just one bird in the foul weather.
"There must have been a lot of birds somewhere because there was a lot of shooting," Newbold said. "Our guns must not shoot as high as the other guys'. There are a lot of them punching holes in the sky today."
Many hunters at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area on Saturday were pulling the trigger on birds they had little chance to hit. It is a common occurrence on opening day, which traditionally draws out most of the state's once-a-season duck hunters.
Newbold, and many of the waterfowl hunters missing from the scene Saturday, knows he will have plenty of other opportunities with 106 days left in the 2007-08 season.
State wildlife officials report that hunter pressure and success was down across northern Utah marshes for a couple of reasons.
"It has been a pretty solid down pour and the birds just don't move around as much when its raining like this. Clear, windy days really get the birds moving around," said Rich Hansen, manager of the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. "Last week's storm system also moved about 50,000 to 60,000 birds on their way. We were sitting at about 150,000 to 160,000 birds until that system came in."
An average of 15,000 to 20,000 hunters pursue waterfowl in Utah each year.
Casey Brady of Riverton made it to the marsh a little later than normal, but quickly made up for it by dropping ducks with his first two shots.
The 17-year-old was late because of a change in plans when his father woke up sick Saturday.
"I had to talk my mom into letting me come by myself," Brady said. "I didn't want to miss opening day, but I wish my dad could have been here. He is the one who taught me all this stuff."
Brady planned on returning to the marsh again Saturday evening and then again on Monday because there is no school on Columbus Day.
"Maybe my dad will be able to come then," he said.
Division of Wildlife (DWR) conservation officer Rick Olson was working the marshes for the 21st year. He said the rain Saturday morning seemed to have an impact on the waterfowl.
"It seems to be a little bit slower. We didn't have that big barrage right at the start. We didn't get that initial big cloud of ducks," he said. "But the shooting has been pretty constant since it started."
Olson was pleased that he didn't have to hand out one citation for shooting before the season officially opened at 8 a.m.
He heard the first shot fired about 10 minutes early, but most hunters didn't start until about three minutes before the scheduled opener.
"That's pretty good compared to some years," Olson said.
Conservation officers did write citations and warnings to hunters who did not attempt to find downed birds in thick cover, for shooting at cormorants and for not having HIP (Harvest Information Program) numbers on their licenses.
Tom Aldrich, waterfowl program coordinator for the DWR, says a wet autumn is good for countering drought, but it means fewer birds staying in the state during the waterfowl season.
"With every storm we get more birds moving out than birds moving in," he said. "If we start seeing storm after storm coming through that will be bad for hunters. Long lazy falls are best for duck hunters."
