Waterfowl Hunting Tips

Duck Season is just around the corner for many states and in some states the season has already started. Migrating birds are starting to head south. With the seasons getting ready to start we thought we would share some waterfowl opening day tips to keep in mind for success in the field.

Work with Your Dog
As the season approaches, your lab that has been sitting around all summer long is likely a little out of shape physically and mentally. Take the time to get your dog out several times a week leading up to the season. Work with your dog on holding until you release him as well as on retrieves, blind retrieves and casting. Get him swimming in the water during the month before the season starts so that your pup is in shape and ready for the season.  Need gear for your pup? Browse GunBroker.com’s selection of hunting dog supplies.

Scout and Plan for Success
The week before opening day, spend some time driving, scouting and glassing for ducks in the air and where they are landing. The more knowledge you have about where the ducks are and where they want to be will help you decide where to place yourself. Pay attention to the weather and check forecasts. We use Scoutlook Weather to help us plan our hunts. Remember to pay attention to the wind direction so you know where to set up your decoys.

Use an App to help you Plan
Scouting has become easier with the addition of some new tools afforded to waterfowl hunters by technology. There is no replacement for good old fashioned scouting, but a helpful app called Waterfowl Tracker is a great way to document what you’re seeing and to learn from the guys north of you in your migration corridor. One feature provides push notifications when there is severe weather north of your location or when guys in your areas create a harvest report. Similar to the Ducks Unlimited app, we prefer Waterfowl Tracker for its single focus on helping waterfowl hunters track migration.

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By Kevin Paulson – HuntingLife.com