Florida's duck hunting season invariably is best during the last couple of weeks, when cold northern wind and snow drive waterfowl into the Sunshine State.
That's the case right now, as state hunters are targeting birds through the end of the Florida season that extends through Jan. 31. But while more migratory ducks are in Florida now than a month ago, birds enjoying the state's open waters are ultimate survivors. They've flown the gauntlet from Canada through the big-corridor flyways and likely have been hunted and shot at throughout their travels.
So hunting ducks late in Florida's season can be a tough test to dupe the eyes and senses of wildfowl that have pretty much seen it all from hunters. But there are some things gunners can try when birds flare and shun your hunting spots.
"First thing I check is my camouflage when I've got ducks that won't settle into my decoy spread," says Harold Knight, well-known game call manufacturer from Cadiz, Ky. "The blind has got to blend in with its surroundings, and everyone — and I mean everyone — has got to have complete camouflage. Even with camo, there can be no movement in a blind. None. I hunt with a lot of people who aren't regular waterfowlers, and many times they'll be looking up and around while a flock of gun-shy ducks is circling just out of shotgun range overhead.
"I tell everyone in a blind real quick to be still, especially when ducks are working and someone is calling. Only one guy has to watch working birds — the guy calling. He's also the one who tells everyone when to rise and shoot. Sounds kind of bossy, but if everyone is turning and looking there's just too much movement and at least one duck in a migrating flock is gonna see it so they won't come in."
One thing about camouflage that not enough hunters consider is concealing their shotguns with it, Knight says. Shotgunners often wave around guns in a blind a lot more than they think they do. Best way to prevent that is to keep guns low in a blind until they're raised to shoot at the very moment ducks settle into shooting range. Knight likes firearms that are camouflaged either with a permanent camo finish, or with quality camo tape. If using tape, don't forget covering a flashy receiver, which usually is highly polished and can catch the sun's rays like a mirror, which alerts ducks from long range.
Another important part of duping ducks, says Knight, is blind selection. If the wind and hunting site allow it, always have the sun at the back of the blind, so it shines in the eyes of decoying waterfowl. Avoid setting a blind where rising sun illuminates hunters trying to hide. The slightest hunter movement in a sunlit hunting blind is sure to be seen by skittish ducks, particularly seasoned late-migrating birds. Further, it's difficult to spot approaching waterfowl when gazing into the sun. If you must hunt with the sun in your face, go extra hard in building a natural camouflage blind and wearing complete camo (especially caps to shade the eyes and face). Often if a blind is shifted just a bit, it can be set in morning shadows, which helps conceal hunters. If a blind can't be moved, consider leaving it and standing to the side of a decoy spread in shadows and out of a landing waterfowl flight lane.
Don't be shy about moving a blind in the middle of a hunt, especially if it's a boat blind. Never forget to keep retrievers out of the watchful sight of decoying ducks. Dogs should stay down and away from holes in blinds. Black Labradors have a natural coat of camo, but a big, active Lab can still draw attention, especially in field hunting. With lighter-colored dogs, like yellow Labs and golden retrievers, it's even a bigger problem. I have an English springer spaniel with a lot of white in her coat, and though she minds well and I keep her on a lead in a blind, I put a camo dog coat on her. It helps keep her warm, and conceals white "flashes" of dog movement from the watchful eyes of waterfowl.
Proper decoy spreads are important to duping ducks, with "C," "U" and "J" shaped rigs pretty standard. Separate decoys by species, mallard clusters here, diver decoys away from puddlers, and each type in their own depth water. If there's a problem with ducks shunning the spread, try opening larger landing areas for waterfowl, which can make a huge difference.
Watch birds work your decoys carefully, and if you notice they "flare" from a certain spot, wade into the decoys to see what's amiss.
Good decoy movement is a hallmark of a great deke spread. A little wind is all it takes, but make certain decoys swing freely on lines so they act lively in the slightest breeze. Any decoys that sink a bit or tip over, see to them pronto. On still days if you can impart decoy movement, your spread will stand apart from all other hunters, and ducks will love it. Rigging "dance lines" to a couple of decoys in a spread and hauling on them from the blind as waterfowl work can add realistic deke movement. There also are a number of mechanized decoy accessory items like the "Mojo" line that add movement for spread realism.
Floating spent shotgun shells, especially red ones with shiny brass bases, can catch the eyes of wary ducks. Pick up all the ones you shoot and stow them out of the way for proper disposal.
In hard-hunted areas it sometimes pays to have a "contrarian" mindset about duck hunting. If most hunters employ many dozens, sometimes hundreds of decoys, at times you may be better off by setting out only a dozen or so. Same is true with calling. If everyone uses mallard calls, try pintail or widgeon whistles. Overcalling is a problem on almost all public hunting areas. Try light, occasional calling, or no calling at all. In high wind, loud calling seems best, while on calm days soft calling is better. Sometimes, two or three callers working simultaneously is good. If that doesn't work, reduce the chatter and the volume, perhaps to no calling at all.
Finally, no matter how expert you are at setting decoys, building blinds or calling, if you're hunting a spot ducks don't find as desirable as one over the horizon, you can't expect birds to pour in to your spread. This can change from day to day, according to wind, weather and water conditions.
So if you see birds continually traveling west, for example, scout west, too. Spend as much or more time scouting as hunting. Pinpoint where birds want to be, set up there and most of your problems are solved.
References
- ^ bob@mcnallyoutdoors.com (jacksonville.com)
