Duck hunting is the art of hunting geese, ducks, or any other waterfowl to eat and sport as a game. Duck hunting is usually done by a hunter who is well-trained in the use of a rifle and bow and arrow. For starters, it’s important to be well accustomed with the fact that in a single session of duck hunting, you don’t just use one technique. You’ve got to apply a mix of so many so you can be the most effective that you can. If you do duck hunting as a sport, things can get quite competitive, particularly when there are other duck hunters as well.
There are different methods and techniques that are employed in duck hunting. Some of these are enumerated below. This list can help you have a good start in applying various tactics to your advantage.
1. Camouflage
When it comes to duck hunting, you’ve got to blend well with the surroundings around you. That way, the ducks won’t even suspect your presence. The best way for you to do this is to camouflage with natural vegetation. This is a classic, old, and tried and tested way to be successful with hunting ducks.
If you’re on a duck boat, you’ll need to hold camouflage materials. Here, you can use a stretch cord. You can line the sides of your boat with it. Then, hang around natural vegetation such as cornstalks or bulrushes. In doing so, you can effectively conceal the presence of the boat.
2. Be Precise in Using a Gun
The method that’s more commonly used is through using a rifle, or any other gun. A gunner is equipped with a rifle that has a scope and the ability to target individual ducks. A gunner can use a wide variety of ammunition from buckshot to pellets. A gunner must know the different types of ammunition and know how to load it so that the duck hunter can have the best shot.
To be successful at duck hunting, a gunner should know how to use the scope of his gun. This includes the elevation controls and windage controls. Knowing these controls is important because of the large variations in elevation on a variety of duck decoys. One must also know how to use the windage controls. A gunner also needs to learn how to use a magnifying glass to see the target better.
There are several other pieces of equipment that a gunner must know when to duck hunting. A gunner must also know how to clean his gun after each duck shoot. One needs to know how to change out the cartridges. Gunners must also know how to load their gun in and out of its case.
3. Master the Art of Selecting a Duck Decoy
An important skill that every duck hunter must learn is how to select a duck decoy. A decoy from DecoyPro is made up of a variety of small ducks that are easy to identify by the hunter. Each duck decoy is unique because of its coloring. Some ducks have bright red heads and tails, while others are orange. A gunner will have to pick the right color to help his or her duck hunter find the right duck decoy.
There are many different types of duck decoys available and there is not one type that will be the most effective at attracting ducks. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that there are at least four or five decoys to use while duck hunting. If a hunter chooses a decoy that does not have much color or appears dull, there is a good chance that there are fewer ducks in the area.
After choosing the decoy, it is time to put the decoy into the tree stand. There are some stands that are taller than others so they can cover a larger area of land. Some hunters like to use the stand they have on their property. The best way to use a stand is to set the stand on a tree that is out of the way so that the hunter doesn’t have to worry about a decoy.
4. Locate the Best Spots
It’s a fact that there are certain spots that are naturally magnets for ducks. Learning how to identify these spots can help make you more successful in duck hunting, as you’re guaranteed that you won’t go home empty-handed. Here are some ways for you to identify the best spots for duck hunting:
- Ask the area or conservation manager which places draw out the most birds;
- Check harvest reports for some of the birds that have the best track record;
- Look for these spots in advance during the non-hunting period, so you’re sure that ducks and other watery fowl flock to that area.
Conclusion
Duck hunting is a skill that is learned and can be enjoyed. Learning the different ways of duck hunting will increase the quality of a hunter’s day. This type of hunting can be done by using any type of rifle and bow and arrows and will be done by many hunters around the world. These tips may only be a few, but they’re more than enough to give you that excellent start. Now you can head on and enjoy duck hunting.
