I have consistently seen ducks in what I refer to as "un-huntable deep water" this season. And I'm not talking about 50 or 200 ducks....I'm talking a LOT, LOT, LOT of them. These spots range from 8 feet to well over 40 feet deep but usually the average has been 14-25. Mostly flooded trees, willows, oak, and pecan.

Personally I've always focused on hunting spots that are inches-to-3 feet or so. Mostly use the boat as transportation to-from.

As for hunting "deep water" I've tried boat blinds in the past -- they usually flare birds due to non-similar materials available to cover said boat blinds. The other challenge is wounded and or / multiple birds lost when the dog is trying to retrieve birds at 50+ yards. And then decoys...I have a few tricks for this but nothing stellar few deeks on a jerk cord.

Here are a few thoughts running through my head...

1) Are these birds roosting / loafing
i.e. doesn't matter can't hunt them anyways
2) An ultimate boat blind might work if the correct materials were used
i.e. dead tree branches etc. instead of fast grass & reeds
3) Personal sized layout boats would be effective.


give me your thoughts...

I say you sit in a tree stand. Just don't fall out.

LMAO...this actually crossed my mind.

Layout boat, gang rig, meat packer coat dyed gray, camo will flair them

there is no telling where ducks wanna be on any given day
sometimes deep water
sometimes shallow water
who knows

In wet years you will have more and more sheet water and other feeding depth habitat. This also means many of the usual lakes or areas you see ducks are too deep.

A common trend this year is ducks roosting or loafing in or around their usual areas but way out in the middle. With the high water they will move off into the fields and feed in the evenings or even through the night. In the morning they filter back to the loafing area and congregate far from shore and in large groups as a defense. They are only there to rest, so no need to be close to shore or shallow water. They will actively avoid structures because of this.

If you actually want to hunt them out there, got to go with what Jeff said. Long lines, gang rigs, layout boats.
Better yet, go find where they're feeding.

Late season they loafed on this type of water because of abundance. The mallards in north Tx have consentrated on sheet water/ flooded grass to feed on- esp late season. My hunts were dramatically better pre split- which has never happened before. Again- I had seed early until it was eaten- now it's pretty skinny. My holes had 50-75 mallards and pintails on them in N Tx last year- this weekend 6. Too much water but still 10% above last year- very few ringers taken- I am planning on hunting solo w old lady this weekend