Duck!

This year I decided that I was going to take up duck hunting.  I have been hunting for only a few years and mainly stuck with big game- deer, bear, and turkey, but seeing as I live along a wide creek, a mile upstream from the Susquehanna, that is frequented by mallards, teals, wood ducks, and Canadian Geese, it seemed to make sense.

 So of course this means a trip to Bass Pro Shops in Harrisburg for some gear!  Who would have thought there were so many options for decoys.  I used the tried and true method to select mine; what was in stock that I also could afford.  (Read as explain to my wife my attempt to remain budget conscious) I also figured since it was early in the season, I would limit my purchase to one family group  ( one box) containing 4 mallard drakes and 2 hens.  That was what I was seeing on the water, so all the blogs and magazines said that is what I should put out.  Seems easy enough for a newbie like me to understand.  Maybe this whole duck hunting thing wasn't going to be so bad.  I did end up going back that afternoon to purchase more decoys.  Both posts of my deck are now surrounded with 2 dozen decoys, but hey, they're needed, right?!

Then I started researching calls and my head started to spin.

Single reed, double reed, or reed and a half?!  Which brand?  What style? Acrylic or wood?  I settled on what seemed to be the easiest to use and was on the lanyard of many of the people I was researching for advice; the Haydel DR-85.  Ok, I have decoys and now a call, time to learn how to use these new tools.  Where did I seek advice...YouTube.  I was surprised by how little junk I had to sift through to get the education I needed with opening day just around the corner.  I quickly learned the basic quack and HOW to do the feeding call (Tic Ka, Tic Ka...) which ending up being well out of my abilities with only two days to go.  So with a passable quack and being able to string 5 quacks together, it was time to hunt!

I set up on a small sand bar that is just to my left in the picture above.  That placed me 20 feet out into the creek with a great view upstream and down.  The creek is flowing from behind me in this photo and a small eddie is formed in front of the sand bar where the ducks really seem to enjoy feeding.  This has to be just about the perfect spot and it is 150 feet out my back door!  So opening day arrives and I am up an hour and a half before sunrise.  I get settled in, locked and loaded with my Benelli SuperNova 12 gauge for the action to start.  As the sun rose, there was a mist on the water and a beautifully colored sky allowing me to clearly see the ducks flying.

Just about a half-mile downstream, about the place where the tree line on the right side of this photo ends, is another group of hunters.  These guys have been hunting there for two years prior and always put out a big spread as they are only a half-mile from the Susquehanna River.  Last year as they started shooting, the ducks started to fly up and land right here, so I was more than happy to harvest there left overs.

The action was fast paced for the first hour and a half.  I was getting ducks to come in on my decoys and even using my variation of the come-back call to get ducks turning around to set up on my spread.  What I did learn was patience!  I was shooting WAY to early to be effective.  Finally, with the last group of ducks I could see just about over the other hunters, I laid on the call hot and aggressively.  The group turned and came within shooting range.  I waited until I thought I should shoot and then forced myself to wait a little longer then...BAM!

Success!  My first green-head on opening day of my first duck season!  I am hooked on waterfowling now.  Nothing is better than seeing a group of ducks or geese responding to your calls and decoy set up. What a challenge.  Even if the action is slow, as it was on other days, or mistakes are made, which many have been, it is a great way to start or end your day sitting over a decoy spread enjoying the great outdoors!

Be safe and happy adventures!