How To Duck Hunt

Andrew Knox

I will walk you through a duck hunt in Eastern Washington.

    Hunted Ducks for 14 Years Member of the “Mallard Ranch” How many of you have played “Duck Hunt” on Nintendo? I am going to show you what actually happens on a duck hunt.

Setup

 Scout potential hunting spots  Wake up early and dress warm  Setup Blind and put out Decoys

Setup: Scouting

 Make sure you have permission to hunt there  Ducks tend to keep same lifestyle pattern  Conditions/ Hunting Pressure matter

Setup: How to Dress

   Warm base layers Waterproof Waders Camouflage outermost layers  Bring Ear Protection

Setup: Build the Blind

 Finding hunting area in dark, can be tricky  Choose location near the water  Build it with natural materials

Setup: Put out the Decoys

 Attracts ducks to location  Use between 2-4 dozen decoys  Right in front of blind

Setup: Decoy Spread

The Hunt

  Ready, Set, Wait!

 Attract ducks by calling  Shoot when they come in range Have your dog retrieve them

The Hunt: Calling

 Makes ducks aware of you   Opens up a dialogue between you and the duck “Convinces” them to choose your spot

The Hunt: Shooting

  Use a shotgun Wait until the last second to jump up and shoot  Aim ahead of them

The Hunt: Retrieving

 Wait until the bird has fallen to say “fetch”  Help guide the dog towards the bird.

Post Hunt: Clean-up

 Pick up decoys, shotgun shells and trash  Leave the area like you found it.

Post Hunt: Prepare Ducks

   Pluck off feathers or Cut off breast meat Many ways to cook Don’t over-cook!

    Better idea of how to Duck Hunt Peaked your interest Understand ducks on Lake Umduckum Questions?

Bibliography

   Levi Meseburg, Hunting Guide at MarDon Resorts: Duck Taxi Services. November 24 th , 2007. Rick Nemecek, “Decoy Spreads: Freshwater marsh spreads.” Ducks Unlimited, Inc. “Viewed on February 6, 2008” http://www.ducks.org/Hunting/Decoys/121/DecoySprea dsFreshwaterMarshSpread.html

“Steps to Build a Simple, Temporary Duck Blind” Ducks Unlimited, Inc. “Viewed on February 6 th , 2008” http://www.ducks.org/Hunting/HuntingTips/2837/Stepst oBuildaSimpleTemporaryDuckBlind.html