For Duck Hunters It Is All About Location

Jim Hansen, MT FWP Central Flyway Coordinator

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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.