Upping your waterfowl game

[gallion_t]

Mostly a hypothetical question, but im always looking to improve my hunting. I'll use myself as the starting point and im curious what people would do to improve my stats and also encourage others to post where they're at and what they want to do to improve.

My stats:

Been duck hunting 3 years pretty seriously
No boat
No dog (to many non hunting dogs to add another to the house)
In the Tri Cities hunting public land
Almost always hunt solo
Scout at least the day before I hunt, sometimes more
~ 5 dozen decoys and a wind spinner

I know the biggest thing is to be where the ducks want to be. That seems to be easier said than done. Ill scout, see where ducks are hanging out and hunt there the next morning and then they dont seem to want to come in. That is of course if someone hasn't beat me too it. That's just part of the public land game though. Ive also noticed that since im hunting the river the birds like to raft up in the deep water.

So what would you do to improve your hunts? Not all of these are financially options.

-Find a hunting buddy to double scouting efforts
-Get a boat/kayak to open up access to more areas and hopefully get away from people more.
-Do guided hunts to hopefully pick the guides brain about what to look for and how to work birds
-Look to lease some land (no clue where to even look for this)
-Keep grinding and learning a little by little.
-Something different that I havent thought of.

While I always love advice and tips on how to reduce the learning curve, the main point of this thread is to get guys talking about what changes theyre going to make for this next season. So let's hear it! What are you going to do differently next year!

[JBG]

Getting a boat would allow you to offer something in trade to someone who may have more knowledge but no boat.  Otherwise there are tons of boat only areas in your back yard and would open up a ton of options for you.

If birds are around but wont commit to your spread you need to work on your hide.

Wind always helps.

[gallion_t]

Getting a boat would allow you to offer something in trade to someone who may have more knowledge but no boat.  Otherwise there are tons of boat only areas in your back yard and would open up a ton of options for you.

If birds are around but wont commit to your spread you need to work on your hide.

Wind always helps.

Thanks for the advice. I think the hide could be part of its I always try to set up in the reeds or on shore with brush in front/behind me, but I feel like it could be better.

Do you have any changes/upgrades youre hoping to make for next season?

[rainshadow1]

You're in the Tri's, I definitely agree about the boat! It'll open up over double what you're looking at now... besides, you can fish!

Just a thought that popped into my head... you found places holding ducks... the next day isn't the only day you'll find ducks there. You see them using it, it's a good spot. Write that one down! You're getting more experience than hiring an outfitter for a day will get you, they usually hunt their leases. You're doing some great scouting.

Again... the boat! Just paint it camo!
(I parked a Bananna Yellow 14' Livingston in a channel once and hiked 1/2 mile into a spot... had a good shoot! Then went back and headed out... rounded the bend right next to it and found some very discouraged hunters... "Man, they were dropping in here right and left yesterday! I don't know what's going on today!" Yeah, I didn't tell them!)

[Special T]

The 3 major points in waterfowl hunting are  location, concealment and presentation. The most heavily weighted is location. If you are on the X you can screw up a lot else. The most successful hunters scout a lot.
 With out a dog or boat your location is limited and in order to retrieve your downed birds you have to be much more selective both on location and the shots you take.x

I personally hunt ducks for the dog.  Ive hunted without one, and once you have one it becomes much harder to go with out your buddy.

For several years I hunted with a couple of guys because I had a dog and could call. They had the boat. I'm a mediocre caller but understand what to call and when to or when not to. If a dog or boat isn't in your future  calling is the best investment in off season time. I think going to the refuge or  water just to observe the birds in your area is time well spent.  How do the other species interact in your area?  In my area within like to sit closer to each other than the mallards.  If you have lots of divers how do you see them in relation to mallards? What can you do to core closely present what is natural? What can you do that loxoxks different than everyone else?

[Special T]

As rainshadow mentioned a hunting/scouting journal is extremely helpful!

[metlhead]

Without private lands, a boat. It will all fall into place after that.

[gallion_t]

Thanks all. Ive been kicking around the idea of a boat lately. However I already have a Bayliner for summer fun that I got before I started duck hunting. Might have to keep an eye out for a good deal though.

As far as the scouting goes I do keep track where I'm seeing birds and where I'm seeing other people have success. As others have mentioned not having a dog or boat really limits the places I can hunt though.

[SuperX]

work on your calling.  A couple decoys and a good caller can be all you need.

[metlhead]

That Bayliner will work. Not ideal, but it will get you where you need to be on the big C. Glass hulls suck for beaching, so anchor up in enough water to keep it floating, at least 150yds from your spot, and walk in. Also works awesome as a kayak platform. See where this is going😉 Calling, camo, and spendy guns are just optional. Build a quality flock of decoys and blend in. It'll happen.

[gallion_t]

What size boat would be ideal? I've been eyeing the beavertail stealth 2000 which would get me into some spots, but obviously I could run very far. Outside of that 14-16 is what I'm kinda eyeing.

As for calling, I do work on that quite a bit. Have a couple sitting next to my computer that I play with while working. I also dabble in making my own.

[Caveman123]

If you are on birds my first guess would be the hide, ive been there too many times where nothing’s coming in and we spend another 45 minutes brushing up and then everything works. My buddies that have coached me in the bird hunting world are also big face mask guys. Do you set your spread according to the wind? That’s been a deal breaker for me as well. I’m no expert myself just some ideas

[Badhabit]

Just camp at the millet fields and shoot your ducks

[gallion_t]

I do have a face mask I always wear to try to hide better. I might need to start carrying shears or something to cut brush for the hide.

As for the wind I try to keep it at my back whenever possible.

[metlhead]

Wind at your back is not optimal. Birds are looking right at you to land. Shooting is easy though. Cross wind with the blocks upwing. Put em in the hole

[mburrows]

Boat x 1000

[Basinguy]

I hunt and live here in tri cities. If you get a boat be carefull where you go. If your serious gps areas when its nice out that way if you run into trouble you won't get hurt as easily. People die or get hurt often duck hunting water over here, ol timers at the docks will tell you stories, hypothermia aint no joke. I make my crew wear wet suits under their breathables because when, not if, when they go under I don't want them dieing.

[h2ofowlr]

Best adivce is scout as much as you can.  Try to get permission if possible and hunt the good days, big migration pushes in front of storms, windy days and hunt the tides.  I like to hunt an incoming tide and I find I hunt just as many afternoons as I do mornings.  I learned the patterns, so I didn't have to get to a spot at midnight or the day before to hunt it.  Some afternoon and evening shoots are as good if not better.  I had purchased a really nice duck boat, but ended up selling it as I was using it 2-5 times a season.  I found the field hunting very productive and I didn't have to watchout for the tides and deal with the salt that way.  Boating opportunity is very dependant on where you hunt or prefer to hunt.  As mentioned a boat opens up more public opportunity for you if you have the time to invest.

[gallion_t]

I hunt and live here in tri cities. If you get a boat be carefull where you go. If your serious gps areas when its nice out that way if you run into trouble you won't get hurt as easily. People die or get hurt often duck hunting water over here, ol timers at the docks will tell you stories, hypothermia aint no joke. I make my crew wear wet suits under their breathables because when, not if, when they go under I don't want them dieing.

Great advice for anyone. Not just on the Columbia. Ive been operating boats for about 20 years and I like to think im pretty safe/smart about the water and weather, but you can never be too careful.

[JBG]

I hunt and live here in tri cities. If you get a boat be carefull where you go. If your serious gps areas when its nice out that way if you run into trouble you won't get hurt as easily. People die or get hurt often duck hunting water over here, ol timers at the docks will tell you stories, hypothermia aint no joke. I make my crew wear wet suits under their breathables because when, not if, when they go under I don't want them dieing.

Have you looked into some of the camo dry suits Predator gear makes?  Might be more functional

[Basinguy]

JBG - Predator wetsuits - had no idea they were something. They look cool but probably not comfortable.

That week were it was like 5 degrees it was no joke. One day my boat froze to the trailer. It actually broke the bunk off the trailer because it was froze to it to get it in the water. The motor had it's own heater too because the pee line would freeze quickly. The deck of the boat would have inches of ice stuck to it from going in and out. Not to mention, theres not a soul out there, so if something happens, you better be ready to survive for hours if not days. I was a costie and when it gets like that, I get serious, I pack for the worst. NO cell service on a lot of the water in the tri cities too.

[gaddy]

No joke on the Columbia. If you end up with a boat, make sure you have a depth finder and check out the ares you want to set up or stash the boat. Scout out areas during the warm months.  With out a dog you are going to need shallow areas to retrieve, or your heading for the boat constantly. Done That !! With a boat and a dog it opens up a bunch of area you (and every one else) can't walk into and gives you more options.

[GOcougsHunter]

If your goal is limits in marginal areas... Stay out all day.  Many times we have had the first hour be hot and then cool way down.  I stay in the blind and shoot singles randomly throughout the rest of the day.  Most hunters get bored and head back in.  Staying in the blind will kill more ducks than sitting back at the truck complaining about how slow a day it is.  Ducks fly all day.  To beat the boredom, bring a radio and listen to a football game.  Take up whittling.  Bring a book.  This same tactic works for deer.  I have killed a few animals in the early afternoon on very slow mornings.

[follow maggie]

I’m going to chip in another vote for a boat. It’s doesn’t have to be anything big or fancy, just something that gets around. I picked up a 10’ Jon boat from bass pro. One person can move it around, it fits in my pickup & gets around w/ a minnkota. I use my humminbird w/ gps to know where I am & where I’m going in the dark.

[gallion_t]

I've been browsing boats. I feel like I want something in the 14-16 foot range. Not sure if or when ill pull the trigger though. I just can't wait for the season to start.

[fowl smacker]

I've killed a lot of ducks and geese over my 27 years of hunting for them.  I agree with the above about a boat to open up more areas.  Sounds like you have a decent spot or two though if you're finding birds now.  If you end up not getting a boat for a while, and are able to get a layout blind, I would highly recommend it.  Concealment is our #1 priority after finding birds, and a layout is a GREAT way to conceal and keep a low profile.  Most have stubble straps, use them with brush and grasses that surround you.  #2 is your movement.   Ducks have amazing vision, even if you're in a normal blind with brush in front and behind you, usually your top is open, or mostly open.  If you're fidgeting around, those birds are gonna see right down into your blind and pick up on it.  Remember, just because you're tucked down behind a blind in front of you, doesn't mean those ducks can't see you from above.  #3 decoys. If you've got ducks already wanting to be in your area you don't need 5 dozen decoys set out.  I've killed a ton of birds over a dozen or less.  Set up for the wind and give them a pocket of some sort to land in.  I'm also a fan of jerk cords, especially on non windy days.  Learn when to use it and when not to and you'll get way more birds to commit more easily.  #4 calling.  This goes along with decoys and if you're already in a spot birds want to be.  In most cases less is more, especially on public ground where EVERYONE  is calling, and let's face it, a lot calling badly.  If you're hunting distant passing birds then calling is a little more important because obviously you need to let them know you're there.  Good luck this upcoming season.  You'll always be learning.