Tips For Duck Hunting

​During your duck hunting adventures, there are several tips that you can employ so that you can give yourself the best possible chance of a great catch. Ducks are mostly hunted in marshy areas, therefore it is imperative that you have the right gear if you are aiming to have any success in your waterfowl hunting. Making sure you have the appropriate equipment is key to ensuring success. Doing some research before you start your duck hunting trip is recommended, just to get a feel for the area and the type of tactics that you could potentially use.

Our Top Duck Hunting Tips​:

​1. Choose The Right Waders

​Waders come in different sizes. It is necessary for you to buy the right size so that you can easily move along the marshes. Waders will protect you from the cold water. There are different types of waders available in the market such as neoprene, breathable etc... Waders made out of durable material and will give you the necessary protection for spending several hours in the cold water trying to lay decoys. Make sure to spend your money on a good pair of duck hunting waders that are well reviewed and rated by people who actually use them!

2. Deploy Decoys Appropriately​

​There are areas where ducks tend to be more attracted to; ensure you set your decoys for maximum effectiveness. Try to deploy them in areas where they can be easily seen by the passing ducks. You may be hunting in areas where there are typically not a lot of waterfowl around. You can try to create some attention in the area by laying the decoys out tactically. Make the duck decoys appear as natural as possible so that the ducks will feel like they are about to land where others have landed. If you lay the decoys well, you will be well on your way to attracting lots of waterfowl to the hunting area. Remember, birds feel safer when they can see other "birds."

​3. Use Concealment Gear​

​Bringing the ducks in is only the beginning of your challenge; you need to make sure that you conceal yourself well to avoid spooking these flighty creatures. Ducks have strong eyesight and can easily spot you before dashing away. Your gear should be well camouflaged so that each time you aim you are not detected. It is very easy for you to scare away the ducks if you start aiming out in the open with no concealment. To make sure you are as concealed as you can be, go the extra mile and apply face paint.

4. Keep ​Your Boat At Distance

It is easy to conceal yourself and the shotgun, but it is much harder for you to conceal the boat. You can try and paint the boat in camouflage colors, but it is good practice to leave it at a distance before you move to a place where you can start aiming at the ducks. Your choice of the boat should be well thought out. Try to buy a boat which is well designed to maneuver in the marshes as you take aim at the ducks. When it comes to painting your boat, try to use camouflage patterns which match the surroundings. They are necessary for you to avoid cases where you can distract the ducks and make them run away.

This might sound like obvious advice, but if you paint your boat in camouflage colors and then sit in the middle of the blue water, you're going to get spotted. Boats can be great for traveling, but for a steady shot and proper concealment, you should drag the boat ashore and cover with a light camo net.

5. Hunt When The Ducks Are Migrating

​The choice of the season when you go out hunting matters BIG TIME. One of the most successful times for duck hunting is when they are migrating. Try to study the pattern of the duck's movements in your area of interest and you will come up with a clear plan and tactics for better efficiency. In most cases, the best hunting occurs late in the morning. It is the right time when many migrating ducks stop to take rests. They will see your decoys and stop nearby to take a rest before continuing. You can take advantage of such periods and increase your chances even more.

​The direction of the wind should guide you in positioning the decoys. Your decoys will move as the day goes on, so set them in positions that will allow you the longest (and widest) shooting time.

8. Apply Gun Wrap ​

​Some waterfowlers forget to camouflage their gun. The strong eyesight of ducks can sense the movement of the barrel and escape from your decoys. It is good practice to ensure that you cover the gun in a white wrap if you're planning on waiting around in marshes ​that are ​covered ​in snow. Always try to choose a gun wrap which camouflages with the surroundings. Movement is often more noticeable than static objects, so try not to rush into a shooting position.

9. Fake Water Holes​

Ducks are likely to be attracted to water holes. For you to attract a lot of ducks to your fields, try to use objects such as large sheets of plastic which you can cut into irregular shapes for you to mimic these water holes. You can also remove big stalks as well as weeds from your field and create an artificial waterhole. Lay the decoys around the water holes so that you can attract more ducks to the area. It is an old trick which has proved to work over the years. Try to make the artificial water holes look as natural as possible.

If you are happy to have your field “well-watered,” you could always flood it to make a real watering hole. Check out this video to see how it works:

As with any type of hunting, "strategic patience" is the key. Give yourself the best possible opportunity of a successful hunt by being prepared with your equipment, hone your skills, and be ready to seize the chance when it presents itself.

If any of these tips have been beneficial or helpful in your duck hunting adventures then do let us know!