Bob Humphrey
After the first few hours or days of duck season, waterfowl get wary. Popular waterways known to hold ducks year-round seem to be the first to feel the pressure. The birds are still out there — somewhere. You have two choices. You can wile away the hours setting over duck decoys and waiting for them to come to you, or you can get out and go after them. Here’s a few ideas on where to start your quest for quackers.
Likely Locations
Once you leave the comfort of the duck blind behind, you next have to decide where the ducks are most likely to be. There are several possibilities to consider, and it could be that you have to check them all. Waterfowl can scatter across farm ponds, beaver bogs, backwaters, flooded fields, salt pannes, ditches and slow-moving water. Hunting these locations can be an adventure and provide some of the best waterfowl hunting you have all year.
Farm Ponds — Most farms have ponds, and while many might seem a more suited place to spend a summer afternoon with a worm and a bobber, they also attract waterfowl when they have been blown out of their usual haunts. Man-made ponds are even better because they often have a dike, which makes perfect cover for you to slip within close range.
Beaver Bogs — Nature’s engineers are also good friends to ducks and duck hunters alike. They’re continually creating ideal duck habitat and few if any hunters may be aware of newer ponds. Even satellite photos may not have the most recent ones, so get out and scout. You might even consider a drone, or even a chartered flight to check out the local area for some potential honey holes.
Backwaters — Folks who hunt waterways typically target the main stem and its bays, inlets and eddies, but you just might find a few hidden gems back from the bank. Over time, channels change creating oxbow ponds where the still, shallow water grows good duck food. Receding floods sometimes leave enough water behind in the riparian corridor to create handy hideouts where ducks can be unmolested.
Flooded Fields — Somewhat similarly, floods or heavy rain often leave standing water in fields. As a bonus, some of those fields may hold remnant crops and as is normal agricultural practices, hunting is legal. Jump-shooting can be more challenging as you’ll have to use topography and what cover is available to conceal your approach.
Salt Pannes and Ditches — Coastal marshes are often pock-marked with small salt pannes and drainage ditches where ducks feed on plants and marine invertebrates like snails. Aerial imagery will give you a duck’s-eye view to better target your approach.
Slow-Moving Waterways — Most hunters use kayaks, canoes and boats to get to and from their blinds and perhaps to retrieve downed birds, but they also make a handy and stealthy conveyance for jump-shooting. Leaving a spare vehicle at the haul-out, they put in a ways upstream and float down with a shooter in the front and a paddler in the back. Hug the bank and be ready for ducks that might be around every corner.
Any one of these bodies of water can be your next honey hole. If you take the time to scout ahead of time, your plan B or C may be next week's plan A. If you take notes on the body of water, what time of year it held ducks, what the weather was, what the wind direction was and how much water was available, you can use that information next year if the hunting in other areas is slow.
Tackle and Tactics
The tackle and tactics you use to spot and stalk waterfowl differ from duck hunting from a blind. Your gear should keep you warm and dry but let you easily walk across a field or down a creekbank. Your approach and shooting tactics are different from hunting out of a blind, but vitally important to putting a mess of mallards in the cooler.
Go Light — With this run-and-gun hunting style, you can ditch the decoys, the blind bag and the chest waders. The more rubber you wear on a spot and stalk, the more uncomfortable you will be. All you really need is a bandolier or a pocket full of shells, your favorite fowling piece and enough camo and concealment to get you close.
Into the Wind — When cover and topography permit, try to approach from upwind. Ducks won’t smell you, but they’ll most often take flight facing into the wind as it’s much easier for them to take off. You may notice ducks trying to turn into the wind. Birds trying to turn into the wind are much easier to shoot than those that decide to fly with the wind. Be sure to mark your birds, as they can end up anywhere on a windy day.
Get ’Em Up — While legal, ground-swatting or skillet-shooting waterfowl isn’t considered sporting or ethical. Make sure you're in range and then flush the birds and shoot when they take off. A flying bird offers a bigger target. Besides, that’s why they call it “jump-shooting.”
Pick Your Shot — In the confusion of flushing ducks, it’s sometimes difficult to pick out an individual target, but you should try. Flock-shooting usually ends up with less than desirable results. Ensure you and your hunting party know where other hunters are at all times. Shooting can be fast and furious, but it can be fun and safe for everyone with a little planning.
Retrieval — Dogs are the best retrievers but can make sneaking difficult. Throwing a few stones or sticks in the water might create enough ripples to move birds to shore in smaller ponds and potholes. Wind is always a plus as it will eventually move the birds within reach. Or, you can leave the dogs in the truck and carry a small, collapsible rod and reel combo and a bass plug to catch your birds.
Spot and Stalk Success
Some waterfowl hunters call it puddle jumping — others prefer the term spot and stalk. Regardless of what you call it, you don't have to sit in a duck blind watching a decoy spread all day. You can always go find the ducks. Even duck hunters who don't have a dog can still enjoy duck hunting. They just have to go to where the ducks are. Whether you're after teal, mallards or Canadian geese, these tips and strategies can put you on waterfowl while others are left to sit in the duck blind.
