not so early morning duck hunters

[BIGINNER]

i'm planning on going duck hunting with my kid this weekend, but i can't go as early as i would like, because,.. well he is 3 and he wouldn't enjoy getting up so early. so i'm thinking about going out around 8 am.  i'm just wondering what my chances are on getting a decent so late in the day spot that doesn't require much walking from the car. (i'm in tri cities) are our chances of getting duck still pretty good? i'm fairly new to duck hunting. only hunted ducks a couple times.  i know plenty of good hunting spots, they just require lots of walking, and with my kid coming iwe can't walk too far.  i'm not really asking for spots, just wondering what my chances are at getting a spot at 8-9am. 

[huntingfool7]

I would do an evening hunt if I couldn't be set up before daylight. 

[JLS]

I would do an evening hunt if I couldn't be set up before daylight.

Kind of what I was thinking.  Set up around 2 PM and hunt until sunset.

[BIGINNER]

I would do an evening hunt if I couldn't be set up before daylight.

Kind of what I was thinking.  Set up around 2 PM and hunt until sunset.

thats works too.  then i can hunt pheasants in the morning     is there a different techneque for evening hunts?

[Echomules]

Don't be afraid of a mid-day hunt with a young tag-along. Just make sure you have a good hide, your little guy will not be staying still, even when the birds are coming in. You most likely will not get as many chances, so the hide will help. I've had plenty of good mid-day, bluebird hunts with my son when he was younger. On bluebird days, set up a jerk cord, something constructive for your son to do and be contributing to the hunt. Remember the good hide. Take plenty of pictures, they will be treasures later. Bring plenty of snacks for your son so that he has fun.

Good Luck!!

[BIGINNER]

Don't be afraid of a mid-day hunt with a young tag-along. Just make sure you have a good hide, your little guy will not be staying still, even when the birds are coming in. You most likely will not get as many chances, so the hide will help. I've had plenty of good mid-day, bluebird hunts with my son when he was younger. On bluebird days, set up a jerk cord, something constructive for your son to do and be contributing to the hunt. Remember the good hide. Take plenty of pictures, they will be treasures later. Bring plenty of snacks for your son so that he has fun.

Good Luck!!

ok, i'm confused now.  HIDE???   

[Dhoey07]

Don't be afraid of a mid-day hunt with a young tag-along. Just make sure you have a good hide, your little guy will not be staying still, even when the birds are coming in. You most likely will not get as many chances, so the hide will help. I've had plenty of good mid-day, bluebird hunts with my son when he was younger. On bluebird days, set up a jerk cord, something constructive for your son to do and be contributing to the hunt. Remember the good hide. Take plenty of pictures, they will be treasures later. Bring plenty of snacks for your son so that he has fun.

Good Luck!!

ok, i'm confused now.  HIDE???   

Make sure you are hidden well, so the birds don't see you or your son move.  Probably the most important thing in duck hunting 

[tdwilson]

I also live in the Tri-cities and spend a lot of time in the duck blind.  As others have pointed out your best bet wold be to hunt in the afternoon if you can't be there before daylight.  Hunted this past Saturday afternoon and shot a limit in about an 1 1/2 hours.  The nice part of afternoon hunting is there are usually less guys out hunting so some of the easier walk-in spots will generally be available.

[BIGINNER]

I also live in the Tri-cities and spend a lot of time in the duck blind.  As others have pointed out your best bet wold be to hunt in the afternoon if you can't be there before daylight.  Hunted this past Saturday afternoon and shot a limit in about an 1 1/2 hours.  The nice part of afternoon hunting is there are usually less guys out hunting so some of the easier walk-in spots will generally be available.

  will do.   i'm guessing my best bet would be around burbank?

[JLS]

Don't be afraid of a mid-day hunt with a young tag-along. Just make sure you have a good hide, your little guy will not be staying still, even when the birds are coming in. You most likely will not get as many chances, so the hide will help. I've had plenty of good mid-day, bluebird hunts with my son when he was younger. On bluebird days, set up a jerk cord, something constructive for your son to do and be contributing to the hunt. Remember the good hide. Take plenty of pictures, they will be treasures later. Bring plenty of snacks for your son so that he has fun.

Good Luck!!

ok, i'm confused now.  HIDE???   

a hide is a blind

[BiggLuke]

Agreed.
If you can't go in the early am, just wait till after lunch.
Evening shoots are sometimes even better.
Plus, there wont be hardly as many hunters.

[Cougar125]

My honest advice to you would be to keep it short and simple.  Take him out, but not more for an hour or so.  Only take a half dozen decoys with you too.  Once you shoot a duck, call it a wrap.  If your son has a good time, he will want to keep going with you, but remember, keep it short and simple.  He'll be eager and looking forward to more trips with you.

[BIGINNER]

Don't be afraid of a mid-day hunt with a young tag-along. Just make sure you have a good hide, your little guy will not be staying still, even when the birds are coming in. You most likely will not get as many chances, so the hide will help. I've had plenty of good mid-day, bluebird hunts with my son when he was younger. On bluebird days, set up a jerk cord, something constructive for your son to do and be contributing to the hunt. Remember the good hide. Take plenty of pictures, they will be treasures later. Bring plenty of snacks for your son so that he has fun.

Good Luck!!

ok, i'm confused now.  HIDE???   

a hide is a blind

   ok.  never heard it refered to as a hide. 

[tdwilson]

I also live in the Tri-cities and spend a lot of time in the duck blind.  As others have pointed out your best bet wold be to hunt in the afternoon if you can't be there before daylight.  Hunted this past Saturday afternoon and shot a limit in about an 1 1/2 hours.  The nice part of afternoon hunting is there are usually less guys out hunting so some of the easier walk-in spots will generally be available.

  will do.   i'm guessing my best bet would be around burbank?

pm sent

[Kola16]

Don't be afraid of a mid-day hunt with a young tag-along. Just make sure you have a good hide, your little guy will not be staying still, even when the birds are coming in. You most likely will not get as many chances, so the hide will help. I've had plenty of good mid-day, bluebird hunts with my son when he was younger. On bluebird days, set up a jerk cord, something constructive for your son to do and be contributing to the hunt. Remember the good hide. Take plenty of pictures, they will be treasures later. Bring plenty of snacks for your son so that he has fun.

Good Luck!!

ok, i'm confused now.  HIDE???   

a hide is a blind

   ok.  never heard it refered to as a hide. 

You're not the only one 

[ShaneTyTrey]

I also live in the Tri-cities and spend a lot of time in the duck blind.  As others have pointed out your best bet wold be to hunt in the afternoon if you can't be there before daylight.  Hunted this past Saturday afternoon and shot a limit in about an 1 1/2 hours.  The nice part of afternoon hunting is there are usually less guys out hunting so some of the easier walk-in spots will generally be available.

Go out to Two Rivers in the afternoon and u will find a spot just fine

[steeleywhopper]

Dont tell anyone, but my favorite time to hit the walk in places are 11am to 1pm. That is about the time that the 4am walk in duck hunters get tired of nothing flying or have shot their 15 shell limit. I have had more great shoots in the middle of the afternoon than in the early morning.

[preacherman]

Hunting afternoons can be great, even on bluebird days, but most guys get flustered and leave if there aren't big passes of ducks. Often in the afternoon they start moving in smaller groups (less than 5), not as exciting, but you can usually do as well or better with small passes. In my area first thing in the morning passes can be in the 100s, but even if you are a stellar shot three out of that pass is rare. Think about 2-3 BIG passes won't fill a limit, 20 or 30 little ones no will no sweat. And I have seen guy pack up because "the birds aren't moving", but they are, just in smaller groups.

What I am saying is get a good spot (well hidden/where the birds want to be), and enjoy a few small passes. My 5 and 6 year olds love it! I often have my wife drop one of them off on site, and we will wrap up my limit. They LOVE it!

[AWS]

I get a lot of good shooting from 9-10AM.  Guys are heading in after a good early hunt and birds are returning to the water after feeding in the fields.  Lots of days I don't head out till after daylight.

[BIGINNER]

whats a bluebird day??       

[JLS]

whats a bluebird day??       

Clear, sunny, not a cloud in the sky.

[dannysdaddy]

I take my 4 year old all the time. do an evening hunt and don't expect too much.  i  think i only shot like 10 birds last year when he was with me.  at this point he is too young to understand and I just want to get him out in the field.  It sure is cool to see the looks on his face when we do get into some birds.

[BiggLuke]

Well said....

[Oldguy]

And don't forger to take some snacks for the hunt! The big thing is to make the outing enjoyable for him, and taking a duck is secondary.