DUCK & GOOSE HUNTING Guides, Lodges, Outfitters

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Excellent duck and goose hunting can be found in many locations across the US and Canada.  Be it Canada Geese, Snow Geese or Speckled Belly you are sure to find the right outfitter to show you plenty of action.  You may be looking for an exciting duck hunting adventure with plenty of opportunity to shoot Mallards, Wood Ducks, Redheads, Buffleheads, or Teal.  Waterfowl hunting is a treasured tradition for many hunters.  You will find excellent duck hunting guides on this page, but be sure to check the state/province pages for all the duck hunting guide listings.

Successful Duck Hunting, by Duck Hunting Guide Kyle Van Camp

Duck hunting is, in my opinion, the greatest hunting there is!  There's nothing in the world like the beauty and feeling you get when you arrive at your hunting destination, whether its in that misty marsh or the foggy slough.  I also enjoy deer hunting, turkey hunting, and pretty much every kind of hunting there is in the Mississippi Delta.  But still, there is nothing that can bring you closer or more in the sport like chasing waterfowl.  I'm going to tell you ALL about being successful and having the most fun you can have on your next duck hunt.

First and foremost, you need the right hunting supplies for your style of duck hunting.  Being an avid duck hunter, I have a 4-1 wading jacket, waders, shotgun, shells, binoculars, hunting hat or toboggan for warmth all ready to go long before hunting season.  The day before the hunt I am anxious to get to my spot.  It is important to know the lay of the land and the lay and actions of your quarry.  Plan this out in advance so you have everything ready to go the day of the duck hunt.  So get the coffee pot ready for the morning and set the alarm to wake you from your dreams of those greenheaded quackers invading your duck hole.  Get a good night's rest so you'll be ready for the adventures to come!

It is a good idea to be up early and on your way to your spot at least an hour before day light.  Depending on your location, it may take your truck, boat and ATV to get there.  If your hunting hole holds roosting ducks during the night hours your are in good shape.  You'll want to get there early enough so if the ducks are spooked before shooting time, they will filter back down as if they had not been disturbed.

Before the ducks return, you'll need to put your decoy spread out, depending on your waterfowl species, wind, and other variables.   I recommend using a mixed bag of decoy species.  Many hunters use Mallards alone, since that is what they are after, but I've had better success throwing a few off-ducks in the mix of things, such as Teal, Gadwall, Pintail or Widgeon.  When it comes to placement and wind direction, there are many philosophies.  Some hunters prefer placing their decoy spread downwind to be in a position where the ducks come in from the front side.  Others like putting them up wind so the ducks fly over you, lighting in front of you.  My recommendation would be to lay the mixed bag decoy spread down wind so you never loose eye contact with the birds and you'll be able to react and strategize by what the ducks are doing.   Also, you want to make sure that  your blind set-up is in a place where it hides you from the hawk-eyes of the waterfowl, but doesn't limit you in  your shooting angles and directions. 

Now, after you are done with al of the "to-dos" you are ready to go!  "Where's the ducks," you say.  Look over there...Here comes a group of ducks in the clouds out of range.  This is when duck calling comes to be your biggest advantage.  If the ducks are far away, it's not a bad idea to have a single reed mallard call, because it has a much louder vocal that carries a longer distances than the typical double reed mallard call.  When you have the ducks soaring above and looking down, giving your decoys a look, that's the time to break out the double-reed.  It has a raspier duck-sounding vocal, and when the ducks hear it, they fall in love.  But hold on a minute... Calling can do wonders for your hunt, but it can also completely destroy your hunt.  It's always good to call a little bit, but just don't over-do it.  This is because the ducks are "shy ducks."  They've been shot at for the past few months as they make their way down from Canada toward Central America.  That's when mechanical devices come in real handy.  Give the shy ducks a few light quacks and possibly a few chuckles,  then lay your call down and let Mr. Robo Duck work his magic.   The Robotic Duck sits on either a pole or the water and his wings twirl and spin at the the touch of a remote.  This gadget is an important item to add to your collection. 

When it's crunch-time and you are ready for all your hard work to pay off, it is important to maintain your composure.  If you get too excited and start blasting, you may miss the quarry you have worked so hard to romance.  Take time to pick your shots and be safe and courteous to your fellow hunters.  The trick to increasing your shooting accuracy is to follow through the bird and lead him, depending on how he is flying.  It really takes a lot of practice.  Sporting clays are a good way to hone your shooting skills.  Each state has different regulations and licensing requirements, so check with your pro hunting guide or state agency for details.  Using steel-shot bullets ranging from #2 to #6 is generally accepted. 

Finally, the most important detail is having a good time.  It is truly a pleasure to duck hunt with good friends, but sometimes the pleasure is just in enjoying the beauty of the ducks coming in to your decoy spread or coming in right at dusk for their routine roost.  After an exciting day of duck hunting, another reward is cleaning, preparing and dining on some of the best-eating birds there is!  There are some excellent recipes online for duck, so be sure to check them out!