Finding free duck hunting spots is really not that difficult in today's day and age. Today, there are many designated public places for hunting, and finding good duck hunting spots is not that hard at all. Pay special attention to watershed areas between two refuges or large duck concentration areas. Most game animals seek out these “edge habitats” because they … The goal of anyone who sets out to develop a waterfowl oasis should be to fill a duck’s belly and then give them a great place to loaf away the day “without harassment.” Good cover is good cover regardless of the size of your duck hunting … Ownership can be learned by knocking on doors in the area or by checking tax records in the local courthouse. This can be done with minimal equipment but increased “expenditures” of time and scouting effort. However, scattered across the country are thousands of small, isolated, hidden holes which ducks also frequent, perhaps not in large numbers, but large enough to support some quality shooting for enterprising hunters who locate them. Acre for acre, the Central Valley of California supports more wintering … This collection of public waterfowling hotspots may help you plan a successful hunt this season. Take binoculars for viewing and a GPS to mark potential hunting spots. But, they are out there, and hunters who beat the bushes can locate them. The next is actually making the effort to locate and take advantage of them. Try looking for … These destinations aren’t secrets, and most can be found on the websites of state agencies or the U.S. These are spots where ducks get used to feeding and loafing without being disturbed. Knowing a hole exists is one thing. Indeed, finding ducks' hidden holes takes initiative, time and some serious detective work. Stay Flexible. Figuring out how to get to it is another. Access to public land is crucial for the recruitment and retention of waterfowl hunters and other conservationists, who will ensure 80 more years of conserving wetlands and associated habitats. The key is finding these spots, then test-hunting them to see which consistently draw birds. Waterfowl hunting can be an expensive hobby on this weeks how to tip Cabela's Pro Staffer, Jon Lewis gives us some budget duck hunting tips. Take a good pair of binoculars for better long-range viewing. Duck Hunting Nation Knowledge. Migration Alert: Late Arrivals Improve Success Rates for California Hunters, Migration Alert: Chesapeake Area Hunters Report Mixed Success, Bird Numbers as Season Winds Down, Migration Alert: Pacific Northwest Hunters Prepare to Wrap Up Inconsistent Regular Season, Top 20 public duck and goose hunting destinations in each flyway, 20 Public Waterfowling Destinations for 2017, 20 Public Waterfowling Destinations for 2016, 20 Public Waterfowling Destinations for 2015, 20 Public Waterfowling Destinations for 2014. Pressure and competition in these areas - both public and private - is typically heavy, and ducks quickly learn to avoid decoy spreads and seductive calling. Pay special attention to watershed areas between two refuges or large duck concentration areas. Small backwaters off large rivers might be the best micro spots. The best times to scout are dawn and dusk, when ducks are on the move. These include reservoir backwaters, farm ponds, watershed lakes, beaver sloughs, oxbows, swamps, creeks, wet weather holes and other off-the-beaten-path waters. Pay special attention to finding access points where boats may be launched or where you can enter on foot. Hunting ducks and geese on public land requires strategy and knowledge of the area, but locating these destinations is only the first step. Keep detailed notes on what you learn. Small aircraft with a pilot typically rent for $100-150 per hour. If you can shoot across its entirety while sticking to your ethical range, you’re doing well. These … (For information on ordering USGS topo maps, call 1-888-275-8747; or visit the USGS web site. Ducks often roost on larger waters and then hit tiny bays and bayous to feed and loaf during daylight. Shooting over them a morning or two a week won't burn them out, especially when the migration is on. If you see ducks settling into a spot, you can get an accurate reference for where they're going. Managing your … Here's 20 public hunting areas you may need to visit. … Throughout the country, most duck hunting is done in high-profile areas where big concentrations of birds draw large crowds of hunters. One of the main deterrents for waterfowl hunters is access, yet in each flyway there are scores of top-notch public waterfowling locations. One of the main deterrents for waterfowl hunters is access, yet in each flyway there are scores of top-notch public waterfowling locations. Make Your Own Duck Hunting Honeyhole By John N. Felsher A swirling black cloud appeared over the horizon above the seemingly endless grass. Look for … Then, it's a simple matter of asking permission and hoping the owner says “yes.”. Also, take your maps on the flight, and mark areas that look promising. Soon, the swarm broke into numerous black specters. Read more. Prime spots near refuges and on established flyways are bought or leased up. Aerial photo maps may also show hidden duck holes. In other words, if you have only one or two hunting spots, and they're not producing, you're stuck. Plus, when the migration is on, you can actually see ducks, so you will know beyond question which places they prefer. Most of us have lost many if not most or all of our favorite hunting spots over the years to developement and/or posted signs. Read more. But if you have a half dozen or more spots in different areas, odds are good that at least one will be holding birds. Use the map above as a guide to help you in your search for good hunting grounds. Truly, the duck hot spot you've been dreaming of might just be over the hill or beyond the next tree line. Use this compilation of public hunting opportunities to help you plan your next great waterfowl hunt. They also reveal access to these places: logging trails, railroad beds, stream courses, etc. If you have a beaver pond, low area that floods, or a spot that you can regulate the water level with the use of a pump and blocking a culvert, you can have awesome waterfowl hunting. Where you are on the map does not affect the positions of the ducks at all. Pitching decoys. While some duck hunters think that big lakes and rivers hold the key to good waterfowling, the truth is that smaller wet spots can often be just as good. So last week- on a more moderate amount of coffee- I hit the road and finally put my theoretical duck hunting strategy to work. The best way to approach scouting is like a military planner designing a campaign or a football coach drawing up a game plan. Still, it is possible to hunt the fringes and find small holes and groups of birds that other hunters overlook. When birds circulate to find food or rest areas, they frequently do so along creeks or rivers adjacent to their desired line of travel. And when you locate one, circle around in the plane to find the best access to it. Sooner or later you will find a place which suits you. These destinations aren’t secrets, … As you accumulate leads, obtain maps of these target areas. They usually won't give up their secrets!) It all … The first spot that day yielded two wood ducks, of which I … It's only fitting that we celebrate 80 years of Ducks Unlimited's conservation mission by featuring 80 public waterfowling hotspots. Initially, I recommend you hunt … For serious duck hunters looking for new spots, there is no better investment than the money spent to hire a plane. Along the entire river on the wise side of the map, best going from south to north, because the ducks are likely to head either go north or northeast to the other water bodies. Of all scouting methods, perhaps none is more effective than renting an airplane and checking potential hunting spots from overhead. Read more. When the home page appears, click on “Maps, Products & Publications,” then click on “Map Information.”) There are also several Web sites that provide detailed maps on-line. Call state wetland managers or wildlife biologists and ask where you can find good public … If you’re limited in decoys, calling experience, or overall hunting opportunities, small water is a good thing. Competition on public areas is severe. The fifth step will be to hunt with experience. This compilation of public waterfowling destinations provides just a glimpse of the hunting opportunities that are available throughout North America. Most of us will tell you we came by our best spots … Hunt With Experience. These maps are great for studying before a scouting trip and also for quick reference in the field. If you can find public hunting land with several habitat types all in close proximity, you should be able to find wild game. If you spot a flight, try to follow it to see where the birds are going. First, try to get leads on potential areas by talking to game wardens, biologists (especially those who fly aerial duck surveys), county agents, commercial fishermen, mail carriers, school bus drivers, etc. BROAD RIVER WMA Even though the majority of draw waterfowl hunting is located along the coast, Piedmont and Upstate duck hunters don't have to drive two hours to find good public-land … The marshes from Clewiston and Moore Haven north to the city of Okeechobee on the Big Lake are well-renowned for quality duck hunting and with good reason. There’s at least one spot where we (relatively) reliably found each of the 19 species. Next comes in-the-field scouting, typically driving through the country during fall or winter and watching for ducks. You begin with a grand strategy, then you build in contingencies. We've compiled five destinations in each flyway to act as a guide to accessing these public hunting areas. The first step is recognizing that such opportunities do exist. United States Geological Survey (USGS) topo maps offer a wealth of information, showing swamps, marshes, oxbows and other small waters that ducks might use. Because of this, we waterfowl (and deer) hunters tend to be secretive about our spots. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hunters in such places typically don't see many birds, but it won't take many to fill out a limit when they're working close. These can be obtained at local USDA Farm Service Agency offices. Above, Sure-Shot Game Calls head man … This collection of destinations may provide you with a blueprint for your next public-hunting adventure. Consider yourself a sleuth trying to solve a mystery, and be creative in turning up possibilities. Make the most of your flight. Most local flight centers offer this service. In an hour of flying/scouting, you can look at a lot of territory, and you will discover places that you never dreamed existed! They won't fall into your lap! There is a steady stream of advice out there about how to hunt public areas (or even how not to), but there is little information on where to hunt. Just type “topographic maps” into your search engine. Productive public waterfowling exists in each flyway. Iowa Avery pro-staffer Travis Mueller has a busy life filled with the duties that come … Migration Alert: Southeast Missouri Hunters Continue to Deal with Tough Conditions. So, how does a hunt… Central Valley of California. County road maps will help a hunter navigate through backcountry areas. Again, find good cover, … Indiana probably doesn’t rank high on most hunters’ lists of waterfowling destinations, but residents have opportunities to pursue their favorite quarry.. Hunters will find … The last step in scouting is learning who owns the spot (if it's on private property) and asking permission to hunt it. The more options you include, the more latitude you have when you need to make a move. In other words, a hunter must plan carefully, then carry out an on-going and systematic search to uncover such places. In summary, finding a good place to hunt ducks is harder now than ever. (Don't bother seeking information from other duck hunters. Carry a camera, and photograph your discoveries. Check for these at county highway departments. I find the best time to hunt them smack dab at 11-12 AM in the morning. Read more. Starting your search If you do not spot any ducks in the first lake, do not fear, keep searching through bodies of … Try exploring a bit and try setting up at different locations.