Wood ducks

[Dan-o]

I have hunting access to a little piece of property in the Auburn valley that's a bit of a Wood Duck mecca.
I see Wood Ducks there all the time.
We shoot plenty of ducks off of it.

I've never shot a Wood Duck....    I think just because they're so stunningly beautiful.
I'm an old Wood Duck Softy.     

[Feathernfurr]

Take a trip to the east coast. Maryland to South Carolina and wood ducks are about the only duck you can bet on killing!

[goosegunner]

In my experience, wood ducks are very area specific. find those areas and you will shoot plenty of them. Also they fly right at first light so you better be ready. 

[85yota]

2nd on the beaver ponds. See them on dnr land during deer season on ponds. They seem to like ponds near other little ponds so they can travel back and forth. These are usually a mile or so behind a lowland gate, which basically would a waste of time to duck hunt unless ur specifically targeting woodys. My friend just got his wood duck mount back, 2nd duck he ever shot on some slew up north of everett. Lucky dog

[KP-Skagit]

Beaver ponds/flooded wooded areas near rivers hold them. They are creatures of habit so if you find them once they will probably be there for a while. There definitely seem to be a large distinction between the birds this time of year and the ones that are around in the season. The ones that winter here seem to be a smaller population.

That said....

My first and last wood ducks were shot in a drainage ditch next to a spud field.

Like many, I don't shoot them anymore. When I was a kid I shot quite a few and now 20 years later there still aren't any wood ducks in that area during the season.

[Mallardmasher]

We started with 8 wood duck boxes in our valley, 8 years ago. We are up to 54, with 47 being used this year, a a few used twice. We have started added 8 a year to surrounding swampy ponds in the county, we live in. All west of I5. Started with 7 mallard tubes last year are going to have 14 next year. It will take a couple years for the tubes to be used heavily.

[Shoofly09]

We started with 8 wood duck boxes in our valley, 8 years ago. We are up to 54, with 47 being used this year, a a few used twice. We have started added 8 a year to surrounding swampy ponds in the county, we live in. All west of I5. Started with 7 mallard tubes last year are going to have 14 next year. It will take a couple years for the tubes to be used heavily.

Do you put the boxes above flooded timber?    How high up?

I have a spot with a few wood ducks, would like to encourage more.    When they come in with that high pitch shrieking its unlike any other waterfowl.    Super cool.

[Platensek-po]

We started with 8 wood duck boxes in our valley, 8 years ago. We are up to 54, with 47 being used this year, a a few used twice. We have started added 8 a year to surrounding swampy ponds in the county, we live in. All west of I5. Started with 7 mallard tubes last year are going to have 14 next year. It will take a couple years for the tubes to be used heavily.

Awesome! Thank you! I plan on making a few more in the slow months of darkness for next spring

[C-Money]

We've had them buzz our spread, but we haven't ever connected on one. They are very pretty birds.

[burritosupreme2]

Where do you hunt general?

[pickardjw]

Wood ducks are about all we used to get hunting the Mobile-Tensaw Delta in south AL.

My cousin and his buddies quit duck hunting though. They don't even get many wood ducks anymore down there much less a mallard. Claims they just don't make it that far south anymore in the migration.