Duck hunting can be a lot of fun, and even though you’re not hunting big games – you should still take plenty of precautions and know a couple of rules before going on a hunting trip.
It’s fairly easy to start hunting duck, but if your technique isn’t polished and you don’t pay attention to even the smallest details – you might not be able to add the beautiful duck to your trophy rack.
In this post, we’ll focus on some of the most important aspects of duck hunting and we will give you some of the best duck hunting tips for beginners that will increase your safety and improve your hunting technique.
Best Duck Hunting Tips for Beginners
Even if you aren’t a beginner – you might be familiar with the basics of duck hunting, but still, some tips might help you remember or learn a thing or two that could help in the long run.
Guns, Ammunition, and Decoys
If you’re totally new to duck hunting – there are a couple of standard rules to follow such as what type of guns and ammunition to use.
12 gauge shotgun is the standard issue for duck hunters and it’s up to you to decide whether you’d like to go for semi-automatic or pumps.
When it comes down to ammunition, one thing you have to know is that lead shots are not allowed. Steel shots are the most popular option, however, any other non-toxic shotshells can be used. According to the hunting standard – the 3-inch shell is the standard.
As a beginner, you might not know which species you might go after – so when it comes down to decoys, going for the mallard decoys will suit you in many different hunts.
Know Your Species
Duck hunting is not about shooting at any bird you see but it’s all about harvesting the correct species during the season.
You will need to be able to recognize different species but also keep up to date with the season and hunting rules in your area.
Other than learning what duck species look like, learning how they sound as well will help in the long run.
Don’t Look Directly at Ducks
One of the biggest mistakes beginner duck hunters make is that they look up directly at the ducks. If you’re still making this mistake, you should understand that ducks have an incredible vision.
Looking up at circling ducks equals to shining a spotlight at them – and you’ll only end up letting them see you more easily.
The key is to learn how to lookup using your eyes only so you don’t move your neck – however, wearing a face mask can help as well.
Duck Calls
Duck calls are great, but most beginner hunters over-do it which isn’t good at all. It’s important to learn how to call and instead of overdoing it – but usually, the less is better.
Mastering some of the easiest and most important duck calls is a great way to start taking advantage of duck calls.
Duck Blinds Aren’t Necessary
Even though most hunters love having a duck blind – it’s not really necessary. In some cases, it’s far more efficient to use your natural surroundings to your advantage.
If you would like to give duck blind a try – you can always buy one. If the price is a bit out of your range – keep in mind that you can always make your own.
Duck Retrieving
In case you didn’t know, one of the most important pieces of gear for duck hunters is waders because you’ll most of the time be hunting in cold and wet weather so retrieving your prize might not be simple at all.
We highly recommend chest waders since they’re the best choice for duck hunters – but getting a hunting dog and learning how to choose and train your hunting dog is a great choice as well.
Migration Days
Thinking upfront and knowing when ducks migrate can work to your advantage. Waterfowl frequently migrate behind cold fronts, so staying late and taking advantage of strong tailwinds can pay off.
Therefore, when you ensure what are the migration days in your area – don’t leave early on those days.
Instead, stay longer and focus on the best hunting time which is a bit later in the morning. This is when migrating ducks stop to take a rest.
Patience is Key
You shouldn’t spook birds in the dark, however, waiting until the sunrise or even later before going to set yourself up will have a better impact on your overall hunt.
You’ll miss out on some early shooting, but the rest of the day will be far more productive. It might be hard to believe, but since most birds always return in smaller groups – this will just provide more opportunities.
Wrapping Your Gun
If you’re hunting ducks in the winter season, with the number of accessories and hunting equipment out there – you can camouflage yourself fully and conceal your movements.
However, what most hunters don’t know is that they could (and should) wrap their gun. When you think about it – black shotguns against the white background could easily give you up.
The cheapest and easiest way to wrap your gun is to use a white medical gaze. But there are also special gun wraps that will be a lot easier to set up.
Conclusion
Duck hunting might seem like one of the easiest ways to get into hunting, but it’s really not. However this shouldn’t stop you from going after ducks, but you should keep in mind that there are rules you should understand and follow.
However, as you gain experience hunting, there will be things you will get to understand a bit better and the more you hunt – the better you will get.
With these tips, you might be able to understand how duck hunting works a bit easier and this will help you get in the game a bit better.
And sooner than you know it, you’ll be adding a beautiful duck to your trophy with the help of a couple of the best duck hunting tips you’ve found in this post!
