I'm a lousy duck hunter

[Jekemi]

I guess I'm just a lousy Duck hunter. I went out 6 times this winter and didn't shoot one single duck or goose. In fairness, I didn't see many ducks or geese. You can't shoot em if you don't see em. But I had one or two shots and I missed. Most were flying so hight that it would have been a total waste of ammo to shoot. So I'll put away the duck hunting paraphernalia and wait until next year.

This spring I'm going to build a fiberglass layout duck boat. That will help me get to some places where ther are more ducks than hunters. Perhaps I can even convince someone to let me near their private lands where the supposedly the ducks abound.

All in all, it was great. I was out there in the wind and rain, huddling in a blind from 5:00 AM to 3:PM, cold and wet. Now that's what I call fun.

[Snowman]

Ah just takes some time to figure them out. I didn't do worth a darn my first year. You'll get it.

[Tealer]

If you don't see them flyin in the area you hunt you need to move. Spend more time scouting. You can't kill ducks that ae not there.

[Longshot_34]

scouting is key.  as previously mentioned, if they aren't in the area it's time to move.

On that same note, having the equipment necessary to hunt other areas is key too.  I don't have a duck boat yet.  So I can only hunt the river and deep into the potholes when someone invites me.  I do a lot of field hunts and walk-ins to small ponds as a result.

[jordano]

hey hang in there man!!! the best thing to pick up waterfowling is try to go with people and talk to people who know what they are doing! you can never know everything. experienced people are the best way to learn.

[banannaclip]

scouting as mentioned above,perhaps permission to on private property works if there is ducks there,check out all public grounds,hang in there,i too have had frustrating times this year,i  dont think there are as many birds this year,mild weather does not help,i just need too shoot more trap,practice,practice,practice,maybe buy  differnt choke,dont stop  on the swing,lead the bird alittle,now is as good as anytime to scout plus you can still carry your gun  you never know when you might hit a good day even as it is this year,goodluck,the most important part is that you enjoy what you hobbys are.

[low97ram]

i feel your pain.  been out just as many times, if not more, and have brought one duck home (and i have a boat..lol).  military keeps me tied up most of the time so i'll just have to take some more time to find more and better spots.  not many good spots down southsound area...have to take a trip north i guess..lol  or maybe they'll let me start shooting from my roof when the flocks of 50-60 geese fly over every night..lol

good luck...hang in there...it's still fun

[teal101]

Scout, scout scout!  If you don't see the ducks go find em.  They gotta be somewhere and its just a matter of finding where they're at.  There are some great shots on lots of public land if you know where to look.  Having access to private land isn't a bad thing either
All but one of my ducks this year have been shot on public land.

[Professor Chaos]

yes you are

[Ragged Outdoors]

You guys couldn't have hit it more on the head.  Scouting is everything!  We won't even hunt a spot anymore without seeing it a day or two before we hunt it.  Too many times you see birds a week prior and by the time you show up, they are nowhere to be found.  If you don't have confidence in your skills as a waterfowler yet, just find where some ducks are hangin' and make a really good hide.  No decoys, no calls.  If the ducks want to be there, they will land there.  They do not need decoys to land next to.

[WSU]

That is the key.  I am not an expert duck hunter by any means.  I can tell you that the people you see posting great hunts on here are hunting spots that the birds want to be in.  If you aren't seeing many birds you are hunting the wrong spots.  I really bad duck hunter would kill a lot of ducks hunting in a good spot.

[h2ofowlr]

It's kind of like fishing.  Some get lucky by just wetting a line, but then theres those that limit almost everytime they go out.  Scouting, weather, reading the birds and being where the birds want to be are key.