Hunting Ducks in Tidal Area Question

[highside74]

I have access to a tidal area and I've hunted it only a couple of times years ago and only on a.m. low tides. It is a vacation home and the owner has said there is plenty of ducks but he's never paid attention as to when because he isn't there much this time of year. I'm thinking early incoming tides might be better. Does anyone have experience in this type of situation?

[h2ofowlr]

All my saltwater hunts are tidal.  You will want to hunt the water’s edge whether high or low.  An incoming tide will kick up the birds and have them moving.  If low tide, you can use layouts, logs etc to conceal yourself if in the morning.  Otherwise, I will choose a few hours into the incoming tide and hunt through slack tide or until I run out of water and that could mean a mid-day or afternoon hunt.  If you have windy days, those are usually good shoots as it kicks the birds up and gets them moving.
If you must shift decoys frequently a few long lines with a dozen decoys on each line can be good.  Just keep dragging the weights up the beach.  I will run a ballast weight on both ends of the line or a grappling anchor on the high side just to make sure the whole rig doesn't take off.

[duckmen1]

Every tidal area I have hunted has been completely different. But one thing I have experienced over the years. Everyone has talked about the worse the weather the better the birds fly. But it has been completely opposite for me. The birds have always gone in lockdown mode during that time. I have had best success on bluebird days without much wind. Just my experience in my areas. I always liked an incoming to slack tide in some areas. Or last couple hours going into low tide with a bit of the tide change on other areas. Both ways I was hunting areas for different reasons. One I was using the low for a creek channel hunt. The high was trying to bring birds close to timberline and grass flats along feed edge. Every spot differs. But have fun and learn your spot and find what works best. Just be careful in heavy current if using a pup. That can get rough on the pup at times.

[highside74]

Great info guys. I appreciate all the imput.

[metlhead]

Any private access is a great thing. Seems odd, but you mention not many ducks this time of year. What kind of habitat is it? Birds are on their wintering  so spots right now so if is good ground there should be plenty coming and going. Mudflat, gravel beach, marsh? Get creative in hiding and got out on the low tide. Work back with the water and you should be able to pattern any birds real quick. If there are only a few birds due to bad habitat  this could be a once and done till another group moves in.

[highside74]

Any private access is a great thing. Seems odd, but you mention not many ducks this time of year. What kind of habitat is it? Birds are on their wintering  so spots right now so if is good ground there should be plenty coming and going. Mudflat, gravel beach, marsh? Get creative in hiding and got out on the low tide. Work back with the water and you should be able to pattern any birds real quick. If there are only a few birds due to bad habitat  this could be a once and done till another group moves in.

Sorry, I meant the homeowners aren't there much this time of year and they aren't hunters so they haven't payed attention as to when the ducks are there the most.

[KP-Skagit]

High tide, preferably in the am, and wind is the recipe for my spot. Birds typically fly out to feed after high tide.

Granted, we have hunted this spot for decades and no longer even go if the conditions aren't as above. So maybe we are missing out on something...

In my experience you are pass shooting birds that come and look at your decoys. Very rarely do they commit.

[GWP]

Any advantage to using a boat, or is it more hassle than it is worth?

[highside74]

High tide, preferably in the am, and wind is the recipe for my spot. Birds typically fly out to feed after high tide.

Granted, we have hunted this spot for decades and no longer even go if the conditions aren't as above. So maybe we are missing out on something...

In my experience you are pass shooting birds that come and look at your decoys. Very rarely do they commit.

That last little bit helps a lot. I am not an experienced duck hunter and the couple times I've been there the ducks that were there came by but never really committed. The owners made it seem like there are so many ducks you can't believe it. So I figured I better ask some questions and try to put a game plan together so I can go down there and start learning how to hunt it better.

[highside74]

Any advantage to using a boat, or is it more hassle than it is worth?

Maybe a layout style  I've never been on a high tide so I'm not sure. No need for a bigger boat that I can think of.

[highside74]

Sunday is a 6:30is high and Monday is a 7:20ish high. Maybe I'll go see what a morning high tide looks like. Sounds like maybe a mid morning high might be the ticket.

[h2ofowlr]

Maybe bring a kayak with you as well to set and retrieve decoys and birds.  Some of those back water areas can have some deep channels.

[Stein]

Yeah, lots of pass shooting.  I can usually get pins to drop down, but you're one and done.  Teal seem to short stop fairly frequently.  Mallards may or may not give you a circle but rarely dump in.