Basic Guidelines to Waterfowl Hunting in the Field

About five years ago I really got into waterfowl hunting. A good friend of my dad’s had a crazy passion for it and had us curious about the process. He finally took my dad and I out on an early goose hunt, and we were addicted. Over the years (with plenty of trial and error) we have went through and found what we felt were the best techniques for waterfowl hunting.

We found the best time of the day to hunt was the mornings. Though it can be a very early morning at some points of the year, we find it to be the easiest option. Generally the birds will be feeding in the same field morning and night, unless something has spooked then from that area. So it makes it easy to scout the night before and set up that next morning.

An important step to a good waterfowl hunt is scouting. You should go out a few hours before sunset to see where the waterfowl are feeding the best. Just like any other hunt, you need to be sure the land is not posted. After dark when the birds are done feeding, it wouldn’t hurt to mark your spot with a small ground flag so that you have a good idea where they will be landing the next morning.

You need to give yourself plenty of time that next morning to get to your field and set up. Its better to have too much time then not enough. It helps to be organized and have everything you need ready the night before your hunt; this can really cut down your set up time.

Depending on the type of field you are hunting in, you may need to arrive early to stuff your blind to match. We have found pea fields and stubble fields are usually where the birds are eating around here.

Pea fields can be a little harder to hunt, due to the fact that there is less coverage then a stubble field.

Birds are fairly smart, and when they get close to your set up, they will really analyze what they’re coming into. Making sure your blinds are well stuffed so that they blend will be a hefty factor in your

hunt’s success. We generally aim the blinds with the wind. When birds fly in, they like to land against the wind. If you are set up not according to the wind, you may get them to come in from unexpected directions.

Decoys are your next step; many people have different opinions on decoy set ups. We always remember to leave a nice “pocket” in front of us where the birds can aim to land. This pocket is important as well.

Make sure that it is fairly close to the start of your blinds, and large enough for a group of birds to see from the air.

These tips should really be able to help you on your hunt. I know many people around here have an interest in field hunting for waterfowl, but they really don’t have a clue where to even get started. I

hope this can help you gain an interest in getting out there. Try some of my tips and let me know how you feel about them!