New Hunter Tips

[tpksunshine]

My plan is to do ground blind, so no boat needed.

Once you have your blind built, walk a couple hundred yards away in multiple directions and see what it looks like from a distance.  Ideally, you shouldn't be able to tell it's there.  If you can see it, you can be sure the birds will.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to employ that method this year. Been skunked a few times in the past. Any tips on how to 'dress' blinds on refuges'? Not allowed to use 'live' grass. Do I pack something in, or hope to grab dead stuff around the current blind?

Whatever is near your blind will look most natural

One thing that is often overlooked when concealing yourself is your face, especially on sunny days. I like to use a little face paint to help break things up but I still try not to look directly up at birds that are coming towards you. If you ever get a chance, have someone in your blind and stand a little ways from it. When they look directly at you their face is one of the easiest things to pick out. Now imagine looking down from the air into a sea of water and land and having a random glare of a face looking up at you? My ugly mug has flared more than a few birds over the years

I was contemplating employing face paint or a face mask to help conceal my face. Read a bunch of places that hiding yourself, and holding VERY still is some of the most important aspects for blind hunting. Thanks for the tip!

Just starting hunting ducks in tri cities last year hard, always hunted them but not like all the time and all over. If I was you I would get a boat or a dog. If you had at least one of those you could get it done if you scouted the day before. If you have both, you are really set up.

I've got the dog. Been working him hard all year. Haven't had a chance to put a bird in his mouth yet though. Hopefully its not too offputting. Haven't been able to get him in the water recently either due to a toxic algae bloom in my area. I hope the frigid waters aren't too offputting. He loves the water in summer times. I'm working up to the boat...just not there yet.

[CedarPants]

My plan is to do ground blind, so no boat needed.

Once you have your blind built, walk a couple hundred yards away in multiple directions and see what it looks like from a distance.  Ideally, you shouldn't be able to tell it's there.  If you can see it, you can be sure the birds will.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to employ that method this year. Been skunked a few times in the past. Any tips on how to 'dress' blinds on refuges'? Not allowed to use 'live' grass. Do I pack something in, or hope to grab dead stuff around the current blind?

Whatever is near your blind will look most natural

One thing that is often overlooked when concealing yourself is your face, especially on sunny days. I like to use a little face paint to help break things up but I still try not to look directly up at birds that are coming towards you. If you ever get a chance, have someone in your blind and stand a little ways from it. When they look directly at you their face is one of the easiest things to pick out. Now imagine looking down from the air into a sea of water and land and having a random glare of a face looking up at you? My ugly mug has flared more than a few birds over the years

Solid advice.  I used to be able to get away with a thick beard, some eye black on the cheek bones and bridge of the nose, and my hat pulled low.

Since having kids though, my beard got scared and turned gray.  So if I tried that same routine now, the ducks would wonder who kicked the crap out of Santa and tossed him in a duck blind.

[tpksunshine]

My plan is to do ground blind, so no boat needed.

Once you have your blind built, walk a couple hundred yards away in multiple directions and see what it looks like from a distance.  Ideally, you shouldn't be able to tell it's there.  If you can see it, you can be sure the birds will.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to employ that method this year. Been skunked a few times in the past. Any tips on how to 'dress' blinds on refuges'? Not allowed to use 'live' grass. Do I pack something in, or hope to grab dead stuff around the current blind?

Whatever is near your blind will look most natural

One thing that is often overlooked when concealing yourself is your face, especially on sunny days. I like to use a little face paint to help break things up but I still try not to look directly up at birds that are coming towards you. If you ever get a chance, have someone in your blind and stand a little ways from it. When they look directly at you their face is one of the easiest things to pick out. Now imagine looking down from the air into a sea of water and land and having a random glare of a face looking up at you? My ugly mug has flared more than a few birds over the years

Solid advice.  I used to be able to get away with a thick beard, some eye black on the cheek bones and bridge of the nose, and my hat pulled low.

Since having kids though, my beard got scared and turned gray.  So if I tried that same routine now, the ducks would wonder who kicked the crap out of Santa and tossed him in a duck blind.

I've decided to grow a full Paul Bunyon beard this year. The kiddos haven't turned it gray...yet. Maybe the facepaint will keep the mask off my face and prevent the inevitable itch!

[vandeman17]

My plan is to do ground blind, so no boat needed.

Once you have your blind built, walk a couple hundred yards away in multiple directions and see what it looks like from a distance.  Ideally, you shouldn't be able to tell it's there.  If you can see it, you can be sure the birds will.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to employ that method this year. Been skunked a few times in the past. Any tips on how to 'dress' blinds on refuges'? Not allowed to use 'live' grass. Do I pack something in, or hope to grab dead stuff around the current blind?

Whatever is near your blind will look most natural

One thing that is often overlooked when concealing yourself is your face, especially on sunny days. I like to use a little face paint to help break things up but I still try not to look directly up at birds that are coming towards you. If you ever get a chance, have someone in your blind and stand a little ways from it. When they look directly at you their face is one of the easiest things to pick out. Now imagine looking down from the air into a sea of water and land and having a random glare of a face looking up at you? My ugly mug has flared more than a few birds over the years

Solid advice.  I used to be able to get away with a thick beard, some eye black on the cheek bones and bridge of the nose, and my hat pulled low.

Since having kids though, my beard got scared and turned gray.  So if I tried that same routine now, the ducks would wonder who kicked the crap out of Santa and tossed him in a duck blind.

I've decided to grow a full Paul Bunyon beard this year. The kiddos haven't turned it gray...yet. Maybe the facepaint will keep the mask off my face and prevent the inevitable itch!

face masks are a pain, especially when calling. I don't go nuts with the face paint like some people trying to look cool on social media. A little bit on the cheeks and nose is all I use