That old saying real
estate agents use, “It’s about location, location, location, ” applies
to duck hunting, too.
You don’t need to have lots of decoys or be a skilled caller with an
expensive call when most waterfowl hunting opens statewide on Oct. 2,
but you will need to scout for good hunting spots and get permission in
advance if you hope to hunt on private land. With a good hunting
location secured, you’re on the way to a successful hunt.
Another smart move is to partner with an experienced duck hunter the
first few trips out. That covers location and experience.
Here are some additional tips on calling and decoys for beginners. Keep
in mind they are coming from a guy who uses a $15 call, an old shotgun
I know like my own hand, a pair of well-worn waders and about 15 decoys.
CALLS AND CALLING My favorite walnut double reed call runs about
$15. It’s easy to blow, with a nice, “duckey” sound. A wide range of
calls are available now, and you can hear many of them on the Internet
before you buy.
If you’re hunting with experienced hunters,
ask for tips on calling and
practice their particular call.
Most calls are for hen mallards, but others may sound like drake
mallards, pintails, or wood ducks. The hen mallard “highball” call is a
classic to call attention to your decoys and use when a circling flock
is headed away from you.
You can spend $150 for a duck call if you’re inclined to, though I’m
never going to do that. However, some hunters thoroughly enjoy
learning about the craftsmanship and skill that goes into a hand made
call and the process of perfecting their calling skills.
Finally, to avoid educating ducks on your location, don’t call when
they are looking at you or are directly overhead.
DECOYS Many hunters use decoys that look like mallards, or they toss in
a few pintail or teal decoys. If you’re hunting diving ducks, mix some
decoys with white on them into your set up.
With decoys you need to decide size and whether you want a weighted
keel or water keel for stability. A decoy with a water keel is lighter.
A water keel stabilizes the decoy, though the decoy will not right
itself if it lands upside down when tossed in the water. I mostly use
standard water keel decoys because it cuts down on the weight I have to
pack. I mix in some magnum or larger sized decoys. The magnums, being
larger, may help in catching the attention of distant ducks.
When placing decoys take into account that ducks generally approach and
land heading into any wind. Some guys swear by placing decoys in
a certain pattern. I use the “twin lump” arrangement, two groups of
decoys with an opening between them where cooperative ducks are
supposed to land.
With 40 years of duck hunting under my belt, I’m living
testimony you can succeed at duck hunting by sticking to the basics and
not spending a lot of money.
--Montana Fish, Wildlife &
Parks
http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/
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