How to Scout for Ducks (Like a Pro)
Scouting trips can seem daunting for first-timers. After all, heading to the hunting grounds to gather information about the behavior of ducks in the area isn't easy. So, here are six things to remember when scouting ducks that can increase the chances of coming back with key information about the local duck population.
1. Research the Hunting Ground Beforehand
As part of the pre-hunting season preparation, one of the top priorities for every hunter should be to learn as much about their hunting ground as possible. This includes learning about:
- Topography and terrain
- Water sources
- Vegetation and plant life
- Weather patterns
- Wildlife behavior and migration routes
- Legal regulations and season dates
- Human activity
- Wildlife conservation areas
The more that hunters know about the area that they will be hunting in, the less they'll wonder where to find ducks on their hunting ground when the hunting season begins. What's more, when you know what to expect, coming up with a strategy and making adjustments on the fly will also be a whole lot easier.
2. Set Clear Goals
Another great way to increase the chances of a successful scouting trip is to set clear goals before heading out the door. While hunters should always adjust to what happens when they're on the hunting ground, having a set of goals to accomplish during the trip is a great way to stay focused and not waste time.
For example, one of the main goals of a scouting trip should be identifying where ducks rest, roost, feed, and loaf. From there, hunters should also figure out where they can set up their blinds to get a good view of the ducks without rousing attention.
Hunters may have different goals depending on the grounds, their experience, and more. However, since the time hunters have scouting is limited, it's best to set goals so that they can use their time more wisely.
3. Look for Feeding & Loafing Areas
When on a scouting trip, one of a hunter's top priorities should be finding the feeding and loafing areas of the local duck population. The reason why these areas are so important is because the ducks are almost always guaranteed to be there. That way, duck hunters can just come, set up camp, and start hunting.
To find the duck's feeding areas, duck hunters should familiarize themselves with the diet (and what it looks like) of the local duck population. Most ducks tend to feed on aquatic plants, such as pondweed, wild celery, widgeon grass, and various submerged vegetation. They also enjoy invertebrates, grains and seeds, small fish, and decomposed plant matter.
With this information at hand, one can easily see how ducks tend to stick to wet areas for their feeding needs. However, if there are no water bodies around, that's not a problem for the ducks as they are great at adapting their diet based on the available resources nearby. In such a case, ducks tend to look for agricultural fields, especially those growing grains and seeds like corn, barley, oats, wheat, and rice.
As far as the loafing areas are concerned, ducks tend to prefer open and shallow water as well as areas with tall enough vegetation where they can stay covered.
4. Analyze the Terrain & Look for Cover
It may be intuitive for some hunters to find the loafing or feeding area and set up their camp at that same spot. However, this may not be the best approach because scouting and hunting aren't about finding an "X" on the map. Instead, scouting gives hunters the opportunity to learn more about an area and determine the best places to set up camp.
The weather conditions during a scouting trip will likely be different than what hunters experience during the season. This is why it's best to adjust and change cover spots depending on what the weather dictates and the flight patterns of ducks in the area. And the only way to know where to go depending on the weather conditions is to know the area and what it has to offer.
5. Use All Resources Available
One of the best ways to learn how to scout ducks is to learn from local duck hunters. Doing so in real life is the best way to go about it, but it's also the most difficult. The majority of veteran duck hunters like to hang out with other experienced duck hunters and rarely take newbies with them.
In other cases, they may reject your request simply because they don't want to reveal their hunting spots to any other hunters in the area. Still, hang around duck hunting Facebook groups in your area and see if any local duck hunter would be happy to take you on a scouting trip with them.
Another way waterfowl hunters can follow the guidance of other duck hunters is from the comfort of their own homes. With advancements in technology, many duck hunters now actively make videos and write blog posts where they share key tips and tricks on the topic of duck scouting.
For hunters looking for a place where they can follow the scouting and hunting guidance of experienced duck hunters, they can find great resources on Duck Hunting TV on ROKU and Android TV.
6. Leverage Technology
Unlike decades ago, when duck hunters had to do everything themselves, modern-day duck hunters can take advantage of technology to obtain key information when scouting. Some examples of technology that is widely used by duck hunters during duck scouting sessions include GPS trackers and video/photo cameras.
That way, duck hunters can have eyes in many places at once, making obtaining key information about the local duck behavior and flight patterns much faster and easier. Unlike before, duck hunters no longer need to cover thousands of miles, saving them a substantial amount of time and resources.
