After the first shot, ducks quickly flair downwind from you, making follow-up shots more difficult and increasing the chances of crippling birds.Īs an alternative, I like to position my spread so that ducks will decoy at a crossing angle to my blind. Another disadvantage occurs while shooting.
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First, as ducks approach the decoys, they are looking directly into the blind, making it much more likely that the birds will detect movement by hunters and dogs. Crossing OverĪlthough most waterfowlers hunt with the wind at their backs and their decoys set in front of them, this setup has many disadvantages. The best hunting often occurs late in the morning, when many migrating flocks stop to take a rest. On good migration days, don't leave the blind early. Waterfowl frequently migrate with or slightly behind cold fronts to take advantage of strong tail winds. My hunting partners and I have taken quite a few mallards and black ducks this way over the years. On bitter cold days, you may have to kick new water onto the ice periodically throughout the hunt, but it's well worth the effort. Place shell or silhouette decoys on the skim of muddy water covering the ice to complete the illusion. Standing in the hole, stir up the bottom sediments with your boots and kick muddy water onto the surrounding ice, creating the appearance of open water. Using a heavy axe or maul, break open a 3'x 3' hole. If the ice is too thick to easily break into sheets, try something else. After breaking the ice, sweep the water's surface with the net until you've picked up all the floating pieces. An easy solution is to bring along a large landing net. This not only looks unnatural to the birds, but the floating ice also quickly freezes together again. Many times, however, the ice is too thin to break up into solid chunks and shatters into numerous smaller pieces that cover the surface of the water. If possible, break ice into large solid sheets that can be neatly pushed under the surrounding ice to create a clear, open hole. Fighting IceĬreating open water holes in frozen marshes and lakes is a very effective late season hunting tactic. Turner Wilder, Grantham, New Hampshire 2. If woven carefully, this material will remain in place throughout the season.
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Next, weave vegetation such as cattails, bulrushes, or cornstalks between the cords to conceal the outline of the boat.
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Line the sides, bow, and stern of the boat with sections of cord spaced about a foot apart and secure them in place with four-penny nails, screws, or pop rivets. To hold natural camouflage materials on my duck boat, I use stretch cord that I purchased at a kayak supply store. Nothing beats natural vegetation for concealment in duck hunting. Here are some of the editors' favorite waterfowling tips that have been submitted by DU members from across the nation. DU supporters number more than 1 million strong across North America, and their dedication and support are critical to the success of the organization's conservation programs.ĭU's ranks also are filled with the world's most experienced and dedicated waterfowlers, people who collectively possess an immense storehouse of practical hunting know-how. When it comes to conserving wetlands and other waterfowl habitats, Ducks Unlimited's greatest strength has always been its members and volunteers.