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Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
#2858087
12/21/11 02:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43
Aceman
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43 |
I admit that after 3 real seasons of duck hunting I am still fairly new and have a lot to learn. I have fully emersed myself in the passion that is duck hunting. I make calls, paint old decoys to fit my needs, and I have a boat fully dedicated with blind to hunt from.
My problem is this. Even though I have had a fair season and not been skunked but once or twice this year I would love to get on birds on a consistant basis. I usually hunt public and I do my homework. I read all I can to learn and I do some scouting.. But what do I look for? when birds are not around I am finding it hard to identify key areas. I understand vegitation and depth are things to look for but what are some other things you guys look for?
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: Aceman]
#2858263
12/21/11 03:30 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,450
Aggieduck
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,450 |
Spent shells and well built blinds it must be a good spot. For real though, just getting out and seeing where the water is at and where the ducks are is about all you can do. If there aren't many birds in said area more scouting wont make them show. I like to look for shallow areas off the main lake.
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: Aggieduck]
#2858304
12/21/11 03:42 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,203
Rob Robertson
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,203 |
I find post season scouting a waste of time. You never know what the lake levels are going to be the next season. We might have no water or we might be in a flood.
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: Rob Robertson]
#2858424
12/21/11 04:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,464
HardWired
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,464 |
Fish....it's the off season for a reason.
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: HardWired]
#2858604
12/21/11 05:10 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 911
GigEmAggies
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 911 |
Fish....it's the off season for a reason. X2
They're not looking for one thing right....they're looking for one thing wrong.
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: GigEmAggies]
#2858786
12/21/11 05:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 745
Kenny Powers
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 745 |
Best way to scout is right now then go back tomorrow and hunt.
Guns dont kill people.....bullets do.
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: Kenny Powers]
#2858939
12/21/11 06:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43
Aceman
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43 |
I hear all that. I said I have a boat dedicated to duck hunting. Well I also have a boat dedicated to bass fishing also for the off season. Lake Falcon is where I try to use all my vacation at..I admit I am fisherman first but the length of season demands my time be spent holding my Mossberg and not my GLoomis.
I was just wondering if I was missing something in the process. Water levels can kill just about everyones season if they change the conditions. I just see many on here that hunt public and do consistantly better then I do..even in the same general areas as far as I can tell.
Last edited by Aceman; 12/21/11 06:33 PM.
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: Rob Robertson]
#2859018
12/21/11 06:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928
FowlDreams
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928 |
I find post season scouting a waste of time. You never know what the lake levels are going to be the next season. We might have no water or we might be in a flood. X2, however I do use the offseason to find new places I've never been to before and find potential hunting spots. Then go back and check them out in season. Also to add to Rob's post. Just because you find ducks somewhere in say February doesn't necessarily mean there'll be ducks there in November. Ace it sounds like you've got all the tools maybe just need to put in a little bit more effort than you already are.
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: HardWired]
#2859026
12/21/11 07:01 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
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Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Fish....it's the off season for a reason. Im usualy already chasin BIG blues by last week of duck season...gota love it...and hogs
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: FowlDreams]
#2859027
12/21/11 07:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43
Aceman
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43 |
Ace it sounds like you've got all the tools maybe just need to put in a little bit more effort than you already are.
Tools I have and don't think I am making to many "rookie" mistakes. I am sure the areas I frequent make a difference also. But in the end I can agree that more of an effort will pay off..Hopefully
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Re: Scouting? what do you look for in the offseason?
[Re: Aceman]
#2859101
12/21/11 07:23 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,464
HardWired
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,464 |
I just see many on here that hunt public and do consistantly better then I do..even in the same general areas as far as I can tell. They are not doing that from any off season scouting, that is short term scouting. OR, as Fowl said, finding different places during the offseason that look promising. On the otherhand, just because a place looks "ducky" doesn't mean a thing to the ducks.
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