Duck Hunting Help

[Dirt Napper]

I know there's a bunch of you duck hunting guys here. I've got a place in Rockport, and have never duck hunted. Is it possible to do an easy DIY duck hunt? I'm reallly just trying to figure out how to go out on my own with an opportunity to shoot a couple ducks. I've got a fishing boat, so we've got the ability to get out there. What's the best way to have an opportunity to shoot some ducks? I'm more interested in the experience than shooting a bunch of ducks. Thanks in advance.

[DUKFVR]

Buy you about 4 dz pintail decoys. Look for where the birds are and set up on an island etc. Hide good and Should have no problem killin a few redheads down there.
Try to set where birds are feeding or resting on the water. We never had any problems killin birds on the bay there.
Just scout till u find where or close to where they want to be. Follow all game laws and know your ducks. We were checked every hunt we ever made down there.

[TX CHICKEN]

I hope someone chimes in to offer help. I moved to SE Texas 12 years ago the duck hunters were the most uptight group of guys and not willing to help a newbie. I offered everything from paying for everything to trading whitetail hunts. I did a few guided teal hunts and they were a blast.

[Tex21]

Id get some redhead and Pintail decoys to start with. Take the boat out and find where the birds are then setup the next morning in that area.

As far as calls down there a 5 in 1 whistle would be hard to beat. You can call teal, pintails, etc off that one whistle. Rogers sporting goods should be having a sale on decoys if you would like to get some for cheaper than normal.

[slayr]

If you’d like, shoot me a PM and I’d be happy to help you out however I can. I’ve only been in Rockport for a year or so, but have been duck hunting for a bit.

[hoythunter02]

We got on a duck lease this year out of El Campo. First time on a lease so hoping it all goes well. I’ve only duck hunted with guides. I’ve got a lot to learn and hope to do so this season.

[Sasqy]

Just run the ducks down in your boat !
Have someone drive, while you shoot from the deck while going 30 mph. Most ducks can’t fly that fast. This is a must, in order to have the full duck hunting experience. For best results, do it at night, while the ducks are sleeping.
PS this might not be completely legal.
matter of fact, it’s not legal at all. So please use discretion.

[salth2o]

Buy you about 4 dz pintail decoys. Look for where the birds are and set up on an island etc. Hide good and Should have no problem killin a few redheads down there.
Try to set where birds are feeding or resting on the water. We never had any problems killin birds on the bay there.
Just scout till u find where or close to where they want to be. Follow all game laws and know your ducks. We were checked every hunt we ever made down there.

Take this and any other advice this man is willing to share. He is one of the resident duck slayers.

He has helped my son immensely.

[js4242]

Adding on to the above from DukFVR. Sound advice from him. He's a menace to teal during the early season. Follow his thread when it pops up. Whistle or actual call...remember its not a kazoo. In fact, don't call unless you have been told by someone with experience you can actually do it. Less is more and do NOT call/whistle when the birds are coming at you. You already have their attention if they are flying your direction. Calls are made to make them look at your spread or turn them when they are going away. Unlike deer hunting, wind should be at your back and not your face. Birds land into the wind. Cross wind will work as well. Outside of being where the birds want to be, IMO the hide is the second most important detail. This includes getting your boat away from you. Don't park where you are hunting. Don't move a lot. Use your eyes to look for birds and not your head. Looking up at working birds is a sure way to get them to flare. Decoys - set up some on the left and some on the right so you have "hole" for the birds to land. Don't flock shoot. Pick out a single bird and stay on it until it drops. Don't sky blast. Other than that, follow the laws, enjoy the sunrises and sunsets.

[S-3 Ranch]

I hope someone chimes in to offer help. I moved to SE Texas 12 years ago the duck hunters were the most uptight group of guys and not willing to help a newbie. I offered everything from paying for everything to trading whitetail hunts. I did a few guided teal hunts and they were a blast.

Yep they’re pretty uptight, I remember about 40 years ago spending part of my summer helping a guy willing to show me the ropes by helping him build some blinds and spruce up a few, only to come back and find them burned down .
best advice I ever got was scout where the birds are and come back portable and have lots of patience with the Fudds who think they own the entire bay
we have a piece of property in tivolie we let F&F hunt if you have a smaller boat and don’t mind driving from rockport and setting up early

[Duckologist]

Just run the ducks down in your boat !
Have someone drive, while you shoot from the deck while going 30 mph. Most ducks can’t fly that fast. This is a must, in order to have the full duck hunting experience. For best results, do it at night, while the ducks are sleeping.
PS this might not be completely legal.
matter of fact, it’s not legal at all. So please use discretion.

This is how it's done!!

[friscopaint]

I hope someone chimes in to offer help. I moved to SE Texas 12 years ago the duck hunters were the most uptight group of guys and not willing to help a newbie. I offered everything from paying for everything to trading whitetail hunts. I did a few guided teal hunts and they were a blast.

Duck hunters on internet are some of the most pretentious snobs there are. I love getting on Texas Hunting Forum with a bunch of mallards on tailgate and bragging on Ray Roberts, their heads explode, even better if I mention Indian Creek.....

[hopedale]

Hopefully someone that hunts the coast will offter to take you on a trip with them. But, the next best thing would be to go with a guide service.

Sam Schiwart rungs https://www.saltitudeoutfitters.com/duck_hunting.html in Rockport. Give him a call and let him know you're more interested in learning rather than getting birds. I'm sure calling about this time of year, he will find a way to help you out.

A Guide service will lessen the learning curve.

[CEO]

Are you able to identify ducks while they are flying? I really enjoy duck hunting, but have only been with guides a couple of times. I've got no idea what is flying until someone tells me.

[nhk001]

Best to scout out a spot before hand. I don't know much about hunting in Rockport, but I'm sure it's gonna be more of a diver hunt. There's plenty of redheads and scaup in that area. They like open water. Try to setup on the edge of the shoreline of the bay. Watch out for the mud, I know up here in Matagorda the mud can be a b***h. You'll sink two feet in two inches of water. Also, technically the blinds built out there are public, so you can hunt them. There's a chance someone that built the blind might show up and it could turn out bad, I just avoid them and set up the the grass.