Hunting Handbook

Teach me how to duck hunt?

I want to learn how to duck hunt. Im 16 and have hunted whitetails, exotic's and dove. But I have been dieing to hunt ducks. So here's my dilemma. I dont have a boat or dog and dont have the money for either of them, like I said Im 16. :) haha So here are my questions How do I plan a trip? Where do i go? (State parks?, WMA's?, public land? what does it all mean?) What do I need? How do i hunt/RETRIEVE the ducks with no boat or dog? Im gonna have to hunt WITHOUT a dog or boat so how do I know where to go, so I walk out in the water? Im moving to Fort Walton beach, Florida this summer (around Pensacola) so wheres a good place around there? Wheres a good place to go in south alabama? I just want to know how to go out and hunt them without a guide. Im tired of having to do that, I just want to hunt! Please help or direct me to who can. thanks!

Public Comments

1. Years ago I knew this guy who hunted ducks like this: He would get up early in the morning, with his shot gun and a large grocery bag filled with chunks of bread and stand on the edge of the water and throw bread and yell, HERE, DUCK, DUCK, DUCK DUCK!!!!! the guy got ducks OK but I dont think this is leagal............
2. If you can find open fields... small ponds.. a way to walk in and hunt.... to retrieve them use a fishing pole with a treble hook and large bobber..... Where there's a will there's a way!! You'll figure it out... Ask around and try to talk to other hunters... You need to talk with some game and fish officers in Florida... Good Luck! I hope you get to hunt...
3. Get together with ponytailed guy in birkenstocks...wait a minute that is a u, not an i I have hunted duck without a boat or dog. Where I hunt in Northern CA most hunters do not have a boat or a dog. You will need a set of camouflage chest waders and a camo shirt and hat. You will need a couple dozen decoys with anchors, cords and a decoy bag. Ducks land in shallow water where they can feed. that is where you set your decoys. You retrieve them by wading out. As for areas to hunt, start with the state fish and game website. If you want to learn to call, get this video from the duck commander website http://www.duckcommander.com/store/duck-commander-1/music-and-videos/the-art-of-commanding-ducks-2-dvd.html If you do a google search, you can find loads of info.
4. Dru is right on. I grew up without having all the fancy stuff, or money to spend so I did exactly what Dru is talking about. I hunted bends in the creeks and river where the water was calm and small farm ponds you could just about shoot across. I would belly crawl as far up as I could and listen. You can usually hear the ducks if you give it a minute or 2. If you here some close, just pop up like you were in a blind and let em have it. I've taken dozens that way. I got a lot of squirrels, rabbits, pheasants and quail walking from place to place as well.
5. Dru is the man! I too hunt on flats dotted with small and large ponds. Flat wet lands. Can cross creeks, depth limited by whether I wear rubber boots of knee high or longer. Graduated to chest waders later in life. And it was chest waders that almost ended said life when I attempted to cross a creek far away and new to me. I added a large automobile inner tube and paddle and a hand powered air pump I stashed away under a bunch of willows and increased my duck hunting area. Now-a-days you can buy the things from Cabellas with electric motor and fish finder and tackle holders! Like Dru, I carried a fishing rod and spinning reel with 12 to 15 pound line and lots of extra swivels and treble hooks. I carried a pocket knife to whittle willows into floats to tie on line and hooks. I even used a willow that had three branches shaped like a treble hook one time to snag, retrieve ducks I had shot that landed on ponds. Pond is small enough, I just walked to where the wind would blow the ducks to and picked them up there, You can make a duck call out of a used shot shell. Poke a hole through it near the brass portion. Blow over the top of it. Move your tongue side to side while blowing. Make a high pitch warbling sound many species of ducks are attracted to, at least here in Alaska. Or buy ready made duck calls for the ducks you hunt. And practice! The ducks don't know if you are a beginner or experienced duck caller. Or maybe they can figure that out! At any rate, calling is the only way you can learn, and starting young is the way to become expert at your more aged years or some progression of time like that. Some of my friends do not remove entrails out in the field. I do as soon as I can as the ducks taste better! And begin cooling internally and not overheat in their warm feathers and "cook" making meat more gamey tasting. I pluck feathers too waiting for ducks to come to me as I have to pluck them anyway. But you have to leave feathers on a wing for game officials to identify sex and species of duck you shot. And I do not have to go through the hassle of disposing of the guts and feathers at home. Efficient too. Me. I mean. (bragging) And with all outings, leave information with someone at home so if ever needed, search/rescue people will go right to you. Instead of endangering people looking for you needlessly elsewhere.