Left to right, Corey Meyer, Brandon Blauwkamp and Tyler Blauwkamp.
Waterfowl tips and suggestions
By Jack Payne
The darkness was trying to give way to the daybreak when the sound of a flock of geese broke the quietness and raised the hair on my neck. A flock was soon made out and they were headed our way. In the locked-up position the entire flock dropped into the large pond a mere eight feet away.
Legal shooting time was still six or seven minutes away. All we could do was hold our breath and hope. When legal time was upon us, each guy tapped the guy to his side and signaled to stand up slowly.
At the same time the fire command was given and the birds were busting from the pond. Only a third of the birds were shot, it appeared that we were all shooting at the same birds or we were all terrible shots.
However, our calling was excellent and the remainder of the flock circled around and dropped into our flock, offering a second chance. Before a shot could be fired a second flock was talking and heading our way.
We used the birds on the ground as live decoys. When the new flock locked up and was dropping into the spread we cut loose. With birds in the locked position and other birds trying to fly, birds were everywhere.
In twelve minutes six hunters had their twelve birds on the ground. With proper planning you can improve your success rate but don’t count on the quick firing that I had. It only happened that fast on one occasion.
An attack plan is required each time going out. An ambush plan is needed to ensure success. After reading this article you should see a few alternatives so making a plan in advance will increase success.
Brian Post, an avid waterfowl hunter who travels across North America while pursuing waterfowl, gave the following tip. “Burnout is a common problem with inexperienced hunters.” Many hunters hit the same field or pot hole time after time altering the roasting and feeding areas. Have more than one location to hunt!
Early season geese love grain fields. Stub corn, cut wheat or oats, it doesn’t really matter. Grain and geese go hand in hand. The right fields will have geese flopping in all day long. Mallards enjoy the same food so don’t be surprised if a combination bag ends up on the dinner table.
Flute calls are music to the ears of any waterfowl. If there is one call to learn and always carry with you then a flute call would be it. Fairly easy to learn and a great call under just about any condition.
Jump shooting is a blast. Locate a number of pot holes, farm ponds, etc. and work one after another. Ducks normally will be the target but small flocks of geese use the ponds far more than what many hunters think.
Keep your movement down. Keep quiet, keep your calling to a minimum and keep your camo pattern in sync with the season.
Mallards love marshes. No big secret here but on any marsh often there are a few small bayous off of the beaten path. Mallards will fly in and out of these small holes all day long.
Planning, planning and more planning is required for the best success over the season. Where to hunt, what to wear and patience. Patience with proper planning will produce a crock pot of waterfowl each season.
“Resting locations or areas where the birds roost should be avoided unless one hunting trip to that location is it for the season,” said Post. The birds need a place to rest without being shot at if a long hunting season is desired. Setting up just a small distance from the roosting areas and you will be rewarded.
“Time in the field prior to the season and during the season,” said Post. You really need to locate some birds prior to your hunt and continue scouting during the season. Locating a couple of good fields, a half dozen farm ponds and a couple of marsh areas away from the crowd will definitely increase your shooting opportunities.
Wood ducks with their striking beauty are a difficult target to hit. A great way to target this beautiful bird is jump shooting around small ponds. Wood ducks love feeding on nuts with acorns and hickory nuts their favorite. Small potholes near these food sources will up your success rate.
Waterfowl hunting gets into your blood in a hurry. Years gone by most hunters thought of a river marsh as the place to be. As you can see, waterfowl can be shot in many different locations with many different set-ups.
