Duck Hunting Help

[chrisk]

I want to try and hunt a couple times as well

[Dirt Napper]

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.

The answer is no, I wouldn't be able to. I'm starting to realize this is going to a pretty tough undertaking for a novice. I was just more curious than anything, and looking for a way to enjoy the place during the colder months. Thanks for all the advice. I think I'm In agreement that hiring a guide will likely be a better starting point.

[Radman]

When placing your decoys make sure you are aware of wind direction, on the coast during the winter months it will be out of the north or southeast for the most part. Brush in your blind and try to conceal yourself as well as you can. It would not hurt to get a pintail whistle and a diver call, practice before you go out in the field. On the coast it does not take much calling to get the divers to come in so be selective on when you are calling. No lead shells, I carry a duck ID card with me every hunt. As far as equipment Tackle Town in Rockport will have EVERYTHING you need,, that store is awesome. When you are walking in and out of the water (retrieving ducks, placing decoys) shuffle your feet. Nothing will end your hunt and ruin a week like stepping on a stingray.

[Bill]

Phil Robertson said the most important thing to kill ducks isn’t your decoys or calling but hunting where the ducks are flying. There’s truth to that.

If you can’t call well, you’re better off not calling at all.

That’s the best advice I’ve got.

[friscopaint]

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.

Keep it simple and hide good. I have Lifetime decoys and they move fantastic, gave away my Avian X ones. I use a whistle or call only to get their attention. Also had Higdon "bubbler" we called it but it finally gave up and need a new one, it's great for still days and gives movement to spread. Lifetime decoys move in very little wind. I did keep my avian X teal to fill in the shallow waters near banks. I have mix of mallard and widgeons not that it really matters but I like decoys of different sizes. Have some Lifetime canadas too we put in deeper end to get occasional goose attention and ducks land right there with them. Have some canada silos we put in grass out behind us, they move some I think they are Higdon's also. Nephew and I killed 8 greaters opening day last year and limited out on ducks. He's big into it and trains small labs and he likes to call but he is very good at it and only does if they aren't committing, some are just on a mission elsewhere.

We normally have to set up with sun at our backs but if cloudy our west side is better spot to cover the pond but have to deal with what you have at that day. We try to leave open spot for them to land but they just as often land right in the spread or way past it and swim back towards them, every bird is different. Once in Oklahoma buddy and I had a dozen decoys out and birds would look but keep going, we pulled all but one decoy and they came in, don't be afraid to change things up if getting passed over but chances are best that they spotted you or just something they didn't like or like earlier they are headed to a specific spot. I've laid on back in fields in Oklahoma and watched thousands flying shy high straight to south and no amount of decoys was going to deter them.

[friscopaint]

The answer is no, I wouldn't be able to. I'm starting to realize this is going to a pretty tough undertaking for a novice. I was just more curious than anything, and looking for a way to enjoy the place during the colder months. Thanks for all the advice. I think I'm In agreement that hiring a guide will likely be a better starting point.

Limits are much simpler now and really only need to worry about pintails, redheads and canvasbacks and mallard counts and they are all easy to ID when in range. Last year was our first in N. Texas to kill Red heads on my pond, normally few divers other than ring necks and they don't count for anything.......when on a hunt in Oklahoma I killed divers I had no idea what they were and sent picture to wife to look up, not that it mattered against the limit was just curious.