New Duck Hunter Advice

[pieeater]

I'm up in nor cal so we have grizzely, sac, grey lodge, etc up here. If I was to apply now I would put in cards for my wife and two boys also. That would up my odds a little putting in 4 cards a day instead of one.

[runway1]

Do all the NWRs have the same process? Where can I go to learn the process?

[crackerman]

Do all the NWRs have the same process? Where can I go to learn the process?

All NWR in ca that allow hunting have CA DFW manage the reservation systems (99.9% sure).

For more infor here is a letter that explains alot of stuff from FW
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=70409&inline=1


And look at the bottom line from the FAQ on the DFW website

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/huntingfaqs.html#WUGBH

[lewdogg21]

I have a question. What type of duck is Daffy?

He's a g-damn spoonbill...


Since a guy pm'd me I'll throw out what comes to mind and hopefully it stimulates more questions.

The public refuge system is a great low cost place to learn. Sure it can be a bit daunting and you won't get much sleep the night before but if you are having fun who cares. Each refuge may be slightly different so do your research and call them with any questions before showing up to hunt.

The can have assigned blinds (steel tank in the ground) or free roam. A big key people miss on ducks is covering up the blind and yourselves. Typically any blind will have the natural grass/cover around it beat down and it can turn muddy. Allow yourself enough time BEFORE shoot time (or in the case of an afternoon hunt before the evening flight which is near dusk) to cut long grass, johnson grass, whatever is around (but don't cut it right next to the blind) to cover up the mud and "close the hole" of the tank you are in. Bring a pair of hand clippers or something to cut cover. Just don't set it down or you will probably lose it. Paint the handles and clippers blaze orange to help prevent losing them. I painted my silhouette stake hole puncher blaze orange b/c we lost so many of those dumb things when they were painted brown.

For example. If it' a 3 man tank and only two of you are hunting take the two blind covers and turn them sideways to make the opening that you are standing in smaller. Now don't make it so small that you can't come up out of the hole without hitting yourself on the blind or getting hung up. Then cover the blind covers (Leaving the center one in place) with that grass and stuff. The idea is that when the ducks look at the blind it will just look like every other grassy mound or whatever. Be sure to coverup every part of the metal blind with grass/folliage. After each time you shoot, get out of the blind, etc. brush it up again. If ducks are flaring get out of the blind and try to figure out what they don't like. Your blind, face, dog, etc. maybe showing.

Next thing is either wear a mesh facemask or paint your face. I don't paint my face b/c I'm a male model for vogue . Actually I just don't like face paint. A humans face is like blaze orange out in the marsh and it shines really good (which is a bad thing).


If you can do these two things each time you will be a lot further along than a lot of guys I've seen who spend $ on private blinds.


As far as ID'ing birds. Get a pocket guide. The refuge may have them, Du, CWA, or somebody may be giving them out somewhere. You have to know what you are shooting or you could get a fat ticket. STUDY pictures so you can ID the birds on the wing. In time you will learn to ID them by their shape, wing beat pattern, and how they fly. That will keep you from tripling on sprig.

As far as calling buy a call with a CD so you can practice in the car on the way to work or wherever. If you can't make the noises it's ok and probably better you don't ruin others hunt when you sound like daffy. Once you can make the sounds you then need to learn to read duck body language which comes in time. Also don't call at every duck you see. There are birds that will not come no matter what you do. I don't care if your Jeff Foiles and hunting over bait like he was caught doing.

When hunting the refuge if you are in the free roam area don't set up in the same small pothole or right next to somebody else. Nothing is more maddening than trying to work birds and somebody else is right next to you trying to sky scrape something.

When you are leaving the parking lot to walk out remove your jacket and lash it to your pack. If you have a walk more than 5-10 minutes you will warm up find and not be a ball of sweaty mess when you get to the blind. Neoprene waders do not breath at all and once you are sweaty you will stay wet.

If you intend to hunt when there is any chance of inclement weather be sure to have a WATERPROOF jacket, not water-resistant. The worst weather is typically the best duck hunting weather. If your jacket/gloves aren't water-proof you will be cold, wet, and miserable. Also wear a camo hat. The bill of the hat helps shield the sun, rain, and the ducks from seeing you.

As far as decoys go you can read online about the different placement ideas. Basically you place your decoys to attract ducks and where you place them will help determine or encourage the ducks to land where you want them too. If ducks are landing out of range you will need to change up your decoys. You probably only need 1-2 dozen max decoys for the refuge. Get a good decoy bag. The cheaper ones are a PITA to carry over long distances. Keep your decoys mud free, clean, and the paint good. The greenhead gear ones are pretty good for cheap. Just hit them with some FLAT clear coat with a few coats before using them every year to help protect the paint. I personally am a big fan of G&H decoys. My dad bought many dozen over 20 years ago and he did some repainting a few years back and they still look great.

If you jump ducks off a pothole in the Am they very well may come back and trickle in throughout the day. That's of course if you don't shoot at them when you jump them all. If you jump geese they won't come back that day regardless.

Try to find a buddy to help carry the decoys and other stuff out there. Plus it's more fun and your odds go way up since you can position yourselves apart.


Oh and another thing. If you knock a duck down and it's head is still up or it's swimming away or in an attempt to get away shoot it on the water. If it makes it to the cover you run a high % of not finding it even if you have a dog. If it's head is hanging below the water and it's still swimming around in circles leave it. It's a natural duck attractor. If a single duck comes into the decoys and lands you may elect to leave it. Congrats as you now have the best decoy in the world. His buddies may dive right on in and then you can shoot all of them.



This is pretty rambling as I'm just typing what comes to mind. Hopefully it helps generate questions and further the discussion.

[lewdogg21]

One other thing. Try not to shoot your own decoys and don't shoot somebody elses. When a wounded bird is down in the decoys let it clear the decoys before shooting it again unless it will get out of range before it clears the decoys or will escape into the cover. I used to do this and then I had to fix them all. I was young and stupid.

[taperxz]

This is pretty rambling as I'm just typing what comes to mind. Hopefully it helps generate questions and further the discussion.
__________________

Actually that was pretty good! spot on average day in the blind.

[Barbarossa]

Tips:
Buy a face mask. It will keep the skeeters off you in the early season, and will help avoid the #1 new duck hunter mistake. Don't flash your face at the ducks they will flair away.

Don't call when birds are right on top of you.

Shoot the ducks in the bill not the body. You will likely be behind the bird anyhow.

[Moonshine]

The reason why deer hunting the the most popular sport is simple: it is the most accessible. All that is needed is a rifle, a truck, warm clothes, and a place to hunt. Duck hunting (according to a federal study) is one of the least popular hunting sports. This is due to it being highly inaccessible to new hunters because there is such a huge array of gear, specialized techniques, and know how needed to even get into land where the ducks are.

[lewdogg21]

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/hunting/2013/10/minimalist-waterfowler-how-take-more-ducks-and-geese-less-gear?cmpid=enews10242013&spPodID=020&spMailingID=5814432&spUserID=OTcwNzUwMjYyNAS2&spJobID=343737343&spReportId=MzQzNzM3MzQzS0

[lewdogg21]

If you are free roaming and the ducks are landing adjacent to you and no one is over there then MOVE. If they are coming to your spread and then suddenly veering off that is called flaring and something isn't right. Check to make sure all decoys are upright, blind/people/dogs are brushed up good and no shiny surfaces or non-natural colors are showing.

This includes shiny gun barrels, thermos, shiny dog collar, spent shells laying in the water/ground, etc.

Also you need to be QUIET! Sound is amplified when you are higher up. So if you and your buddy are bsing in normal talking volume the birds will hear and probably stay away. Whisper.

As soon as the decoys are set (before shoot time) go over which way is 12 o`clock, 3, 6 and 9 oclock. This is very important so when you say "pair of ducks at 12 o`clock coming in" your buddy won't be facing the wrong way. "Ducks right here!" means only that they aren't coming up out of the earth like the undead risen. Also have one shot caller. One guy who is responsible for saying "take em" "cut em coco" (anybody know what that's from?), etc. Don't just raise up and start shooting while your buddy is patiently waiting.

If there is wind ducks will typically land into the wind. Position your decoys just upwind of your location so the "hole" where you want them to land is in the best kill zone for you and your partner. If a duck or pair lands outside the decoys and stays out there (Common tactic for mallard pairs) you may need to jump that duck off the water or else ALL other ducks will go right to them and you will get no shooting. If this consistently keeping happening, pick up your spread and move to that spot provided it won't encroach on someone else's hunt.

When watching ducks work follow with your eyes, you need to be as still as possible. I read something recently that talked about how ducks/geese can see better than we can in some aspects and I believe it. keep your hat brim low and watch the ducks out of the corner of your eye. When they fly by and are going away you can move your head to keep tracking them. If they swing by or are coming in with their feet down get ready b/c they are cupped and committed meaning they want to land. FWIW everyone I hunt with wears a facemask now. If you show up without one you are like the 3rd wheel when Kate Upton and I are at the club and she's grinding on me.


I had somebody pm me thanking me for the info before so I'll just keep doing this when I think of enough meaningful stuff.

[ysr_racer]

I think Bass Pro has free seminars. Raahauge's in Corona has duck ponds, and it's close to OC

http://www.raahauges.com/hunting.php

[Wideflange]

Duck hunting is probably the most expensive hunting sport there is next to out of State big game hunts. Expect to spend thousands to get started and then even on public land $1,000+/year to feed your addiction.

Is it worth it though? ABSOLUTELY. My wife has a t-shirt that says "love me like you love duck season"

^ this times 10. If you get the bug, you'll be looking into trying to cash in the 401k

[Che762x39]

I'm also a first-time duck hunter. I have most (possibly all) the gear I need, I think. My main concern is how to properly set up decoys, use the calls, and identify the birds. To make proper identification easy, is it reasonable to just shoot at mallards? Are there any state/federal wildlife areas that do not get regular flights of mallards?

The public land near San Jacinto, you very sheldom see mallards mostly teal and mud hens which is another story.

[Che762x39]

I think Bass Pro has free seminars. Raahauge's in Corona has duck ponds, and it's close to OC

http://www.raahauges.com/hunting.php

Raahauges is good. You will have some shooting and they will be fast movers. You will get a shot at mallards there, no pun intended.