A few questions for a newbie duck hunter

[Zacht_180]

I have about 80 hours on the game (I came from COTW after wanting more content, and am very pleased... though RIP my wallet), and I'm just now getting into duck hunting. I've hunted plenty a pheasants but I know they're very different. I went pretty light with my equipment since I'm just starting out, and have had some success but there's still a few things I'm not quite sure about. I did read the waterfowling page on theHutner Wiki to help me out.

To start, I'm in the Bayou and am currently using an equal assortment of male/female mallard and American black duck decoys (14 in total). The decoys are placed in a large and open area. I also have the duck bind and of course the short and long range mallard callers. It seems that maybe a 1/3rd or 1/4th of the time I can get a flock to break and have a successful hunt. I understand adding more decoys will increase my odds of attraction and getting good kills. I usually use the .22 air rifle or the 20ga semi-automatic shotgun.

Well here are my questions:

- Is there any resource that can help me identify which duck are which while they're approaching based on their vocals and visuals? Hard to tell when they're up in the air for me at lease since I'm new, and I know they all sound different but I have no idea which species is which.

- Can the flock still break even if it is directly above me or if it has passed, or in order for the flock to break does it have to strictly be approaching still?

- Should I be spamming the long-range caller the instant I hear/see the flock, or should I wait until they get a certain distance out?

- Early morning is the best time to hunt, correct? It seems the later the day goes on they just tend to ignore me.

Lastly, not a question, but it would be cool if you had the option to pick up small game and place them in other spots before harvesting them. I just want a big ol' duck pile without having to make the dog do it all the time.

[Bumblewoot]

1) HooCairs has some duck videos as well as other youtubers like DD33. In some of HooCairs' videos he does explain some tips on how to ID them from a far. Pintails do that whistle call and Gadwalls sound like they are laughing at you,

2) The flock can break coming in, over top, or after. I recommend trying the call back caller, but you have to use it at a certain time, but it can help a lot. The decoys attraction is only 100m radius. So the flocks in the distance won't break.

3) you want to spam long range because you want the lure already active by the time the ducks into the attraction range of the call so that it can stack right away with the decoys.

4) Early morning and late afternoon. Someone on the official forum made a chart.

DD33 has a video where he shows 5 or so good duck spots. The one I have found to get the most flocks is in the south west location in his video.

Good luck.

[Zacht_180]

Originally posted by Bumblewoot:

1) HooCairs has some duck videos as well as other youtubers like DD33. In some of HooCairs' videos he does explain some tips on how to ID them from a far. Pintails do that whistle call and Gadwalls sound like they are laughing at you,

2) The flock can break coming in, over top, or after. I recommend trying the call back caller, but you have to use it at a certain time, but it can help a lot. The decoys attraction is only 100m radius. So the flocks in the distance won't break.

3) you want to spam long range because you want the lure already active by the time the ducks into the attraction range of the call so that it can stack right away with the decoys.

4) Early morning and late afternoon. Someone on the official forum made a chart.

DD33 has a video where he shows 5 or so good duck spots. The one I have found to get the most flocks is in the south west location in his video.

Good luck.

Thank you sir! Once I get my next paycheck I may get the rest of my decoys as well.

It's sincerely appreciated.