I hunt dove, hog, and deer. I have a 16ft flat bottom boat and fish every weekend, but I have never duck hunted and know nothing about it. I think I am going to build a blind that will cover my boat and try some duck hunting at the lake this year. Any tips and sugestions would be greatly appreiciated. Any one wanna join me PM me and when the season rolls around we'll hit the water.

I am glad to see your interested in the birds, welcome to insanity. Your already on the right track by pming and partnering with another. There is a lot to learn, but it is fun learning.

Don't mention the actual public lake you hunt on because you'll get yelled at on this board. I made the mistake as a newbie about two years ago and highly underestimated the amount of extra time people have on their hands.

Two additional pieces of advice:
1. Worry more about concealment and decoys than being an expert duck caller.
2. If you're ever on a hunt with WAL (Wayne) bring ear plugs, otherwise you won't get any sleep.

Welcome to the sport and the board!

Don't worry about the calling, until you learn just use a teal whistle.

The key to duckhunting is being where the ducks want to be

but learn to call anyway

Scouting to me is one of the biggest thinkings in duck hunting. Then concealment is the second thing. Third, good decoy set. Last season, I had to use the duck call just very little. Like BOBO said,"the key to duck hunting is being where the ducks want to be." I like that saying!

I agree w/what everyone is saying. I've duck hunted 40+ years and it still fires me up and I'm still learning! All I've ever hunted is public and there is plenty to be found. Forums can be a great help and yes I started out the wrong way by asking about specific lakes, a couple of spankings later I understood!
Check out the sticky notes for info, google and use the phone to talk to controlling authorities and game wardens.
Welcome to our nightmare!!

i am new to duck hunting to and found LOTS of public land to hunt and also have a boat i am gunna build a blind on!!! good luck!!

was wondering what do you look for while scouting??? what dont i want??? i have a few diff areas to choose from, none of them have any food plots or anythig growing on them

Congrats you will be hooked in no time. With decoys and calling a lot of time the time little is more. If the are locked up and coming in do not call or move. Very common mistake is to do to much and it turns into a unnatural scenery for ducks. Keep your face down that's the biggest give away. Shiny faces glowing in the sun can be spotted from far away.

Keep the advice coming! I have been designing my blind all day and roaming around home depot looking at different supplies. I did go to Bass Pro Shop and they are pretty proud of duck calls!

Here is my advice!

-Bring more clothes than you need
-Buy a $20 duck call and a whistle, use the whistle, practice on the call until you think you are ready, then use it sparingly and see how the ducks react.
-For scouting, go the day before, or a few days before, see where the ducks are and try to go exactly there....have a back up spot, and a back up back up spot...and so on.
-Buy some burlap and drape it over the boat, park it a couple hundred yards away and hide on the bank...hunting out of a boat has proved to yield far less ducks than off the bank for me, many people will disagree with me
-Have fun and admire the early morning sunrises and scenery this sport offers!

Good luck, and good idea with partnering up with people!

Good luck!" I think all the basics are covered above!! Be sure to keep us updated on your success!!

Better start saving, or have a separate bank account the miss's cant see. And ditch the idea of building a blind on the boat, thats alot of work, and unless you have a dog, climbing in and out of that boat gets old.

The key to duckhunting is being where the ducks want to be [/quote]
Can I get an Amen!

Find all you can on identifying ducks, in flight and in hand. Know the regulations on limits per bird. Hunt, hunt, hunt its the best way to learn.

Flooded vegetation and go to where u see birds. Always have plan B or C in case someone beats u to your spot.

Like Gdogg said. Flooded vegetation. I will also get out and walk around a little. I look for duck foot prints, feathers and droppings. Kinda of let's me know if it's a food plot area or a mid morning rest area. Helps me plan out my morning. I also look at the cover around that area and plan in my head how to build my blind in the morning. Only time I hunt out of the boat is when my lake is totally flooded and not much hiding area to be found, but, I've been know to lay out in the high grass next to the flooded water.

These guys have given alot of good advice. I've enjoyed reading it myself. One thing, never stop learning and always be humble enough to listen to other duck hunters. I've been doing this for over 40 years. The day I quite listening to other duck hunters ideas, that's the day they close the lid on my coffin. Just remember also, each year changes and it helps to keep a journal of your hunts. Ou can look back over the years and just might find a pattern in them.

Its all alot of info to process. I've got alot to learn it looks like. Now I've got to start gettin things!

Fat Cat...I'm just down in Forney and have only been here a year so we have a lot in common as far as not knowing the area. I've hunted quite a bit back in Arkansas and have some extra gear I could get rid of cheap if you're looking (not top of the line stuff but stuff none the less).

I'm looking to hunt public this year along with my lease so maybe we can wonder around Tawakoni at 4AM not knowing where the he!! we are...

It's all about the memories...

good on you asater!!! i have been looking for a "mentor" in north texas!!! guess i dont know the right people!! there arent as many poster here from my area either!! which dont help me!!

samsam, you and me both!

Fat Cat sounds like you are off to a good start, especially since you have a boat to use! I sent you a pm to try and help you out like a member did for me last season. I'm not gonna be useful for info since I've only gone on 2 hunts myself but can say that you're gonna love it so get ready

Find some duck hunting DVD's. Good info and fun to watch.

I also agree with not spending a lot of time on building a boat blind. Use it to scout the day before and transport your gear the morning of the hunt. But hide downshore during the hunt.

You'll be surprised how well you can do finding a spot where you can just stand and lean against a tree.

My first hunt was on a pond and I just sat on the ground in some tall grass. And that day we did awesome!! No calling that morning because we knew we sounded terrible. Just decoys and tall grass, and we had tons of ducks landing all around us. Keep you face down, stay still, and use your ears.

Buy a call now and keep it in your truck. Learn it while your driving around. You'll get some funny looks but who cares.

Here's some more general, and just as important IMO, information.
Don't shoot at ducks unless they are close enough you could throw a rock at them.
The further away you can set up away from any other hunters, the better. Don't get close to other people because you think they might know something you don't...200 yards away minimum if you have the room, but the further the better!!

A good call for not much money is the Buck Gardner Double Nasty II, it's nice, just get that and a teal whistle and call it a day.