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Tag: duck hunting

Duck Hunting – Do We Need To Try It?

Posted by – July 7, 2010

Duck hunting just like coyote hunting can be practiced on private areas, on the properties of hunting clubs or on areas that are the object of leases. The hunting pressure may vary from case to case, but there are variables that may not be controlled all the time, such as the number of birds in a certain area. Don’t get discouraged by the fact that private properties seem more attractive, the birds-per-hunter ratio can be very good on public areas too.

Wetlands generally attract large numbers of waterfowl, and this is where duck hunting is most successful. What a hunter should learn how and when to hunt in such places, because there are rules and regulations that can’t be broken. Coastal marshes, river areas and public reservoirs are among the favorites for duck and whitetail hunts. There are commissions that manage such areas, focusing on lots of issues related to wildlife that are directly or indirectly related to duck hunting.

You can check with the state refuges and management areas to see where duck hunting is allowed and whether there are enough waterfowl concentrated. Restrictions abound on certain locations because the risk of hunting pressure increases alarmingly. Have a look on the Internet websites of state fish and game agencies for duck hunting solutions, analyze site maps, harvest figures and the rest of the details. For expeditions on navigable rivers, don’t overlook to identify the access points where you can launch boats or enter on foot.

Satellite images and aerial photography are sometimes used by hunters to identify the wetlands hidden inside public wildlife areas. You can organize an expedition to such places after heavy rains when the humidity and the water levels attract the waterfowl. You may need to check with Internet websites that provide tips and strategies for duck hunting on public areas.

You’ll thus be able to determine which is the best time to hunt, how mobile you have to be in order to move with the birds and what additional gear you may need besides the basic equipment. Mention must be made that hunting needs may differ according to the season, the climate and the wetland conditions where you choose to practice this game. Both skilled and less-experienced hunters may find such web resources fun and practical at the same time.

The Exciting Sport of Duck Hunting

Posted by – March 29, 2010

Duck hunting is probably the most well-known hunting sports on the planet. It really is as very much a social calling as it will be a hunt, the fact is, representing a entire set of cultural standards and etiquette guidelines that numerous consumers tend not to even give consideration to. It carries a total culture all its unique, from your right dress code to duck hunting dogs and assistants. The community of duck hunting is ripe with cultural significance, but can be features a dark facet and represents a less than desirable element of human nature. Regardless with the stage of view, there does exist a little something to become discovered about duck hunting that may very well shed some light on either facet of the ethical quandary.

Duck hunting is generally a sporting activity approximately the world now, as commercial duck hunting has considering that been banned in most of the made countries. Duck hunting is, in fact, as old as time itself. You can find early indications that ducks and geese had been somehow hunted through the Ice Age. Cave drawings indicate that duck hunting was a sound exercise early on in human existence, providing solution to ducks and swans appearing on cave paintings in Ice Age Europe. There is certainly also evidence of duck hunting in Egypt, as being a mural to the tomb of Khum-Hotpe displays a guy capturing ducks in the stream. Ducks have been also possibly hunted by early guy within a Americas, as earlier Peruvian art indicates.

With this international history, duck hunting enjoys a recognition that spreads around the earth. It is actually particularly trendy in North America, the place the largest number of localized ducks may be located. Most ducks use the Mississippi River like a migratory manual, many duck hunts consider spot along the river make use of it being a guidebook for discovering ducks. Arkansas is mostly a big hotbed of duck hunting, with Stuttgart staying considered the “duck hunting capital within the world”.

Duck hunting is regularly deemed common on the grounds that of its simplicity. The tools belonging to the trade are simplistic adequate, coming from a decoy set to some shotgun and duck phone. The essence of duck hunting is centered close to the trickery of working with the decoy and also duck call in tandem to lure the ducks out and in the air in direction of the decoy. Right after this takes destination, the ducks are in open variety for that hunt and also the firing starts. These hunts consider position all-around rivers, streams, lakes and almost every other bodies of water exactly where ducks is often observed.

There are a lot features that stand in contrast to duck hunting, not surprisingly. Most waterfowl conservation experts agree that the hunting of any method of waterfowl does small to help any circumstance. The reality is, most marsh and wetland places are shrinking at tremendous prices, providing rise the the criticism that duck hunting efficiently diminishes an already diminishing habitat. One can find various organizations that continually spar with duck hunters over this reality.

An individual corporation often is the well-liked Ducks Indefinite. Ducks Unlimited is definitely an international group that stands as the leader in non-profit marshland safety and also the safeguard of waterfowl. Ducks A large number at times works with hunters to safeguard the marshlands and take care of the hunter’s way of existence. The major purpose of Ducks Lots of will be the conservation of localized habitats wherever ducks is usually established, enabling hunters to proceed protected and logical hunts of ducks and enabling the survival of far more ducks by building better spots for them to stay.

However, some hunters overlook this philosophy and also have no interest in any safeguard of habitats. They, instead, pillage the duck locations and hunt ducks that should not be hunted. Duck hunting remains a controversial sport due to the fact of this aspect, however, and will keep on to possess a dark part as extended as hunters stay blissfully ignorant regarding the realities of organizations just like Ducks Unrestricted. Devoid of the cooperation of hunters and marshland protectors, duck hunts might be a thing within the previous.

Sharpen Your Hunting Skills, Without Leaving Home

Posted by – November 21, 2009

cabelas-big-game-hunterMany hunters are known to be fanatics when it comes to hunting, and for those searching for deer hunting land for sale, or for those interested in knowing how to build temporary hunting blinds, or find out about the latest duck calls available there is More than enough hunting information that can be discovered online. What’s more, if you are willing to spend the time to do research, you can get it for no cost in many instances.

But, hunters do not always have a great deal of available time these days, even when it’s the close season, and that’s because of the latest round of deer hunting games to hit the stands. Hunting can become compulsive, just like all other computer games, but the graphics of these games and the level of challenge you experience in the games is quite amazing, and is way more advanced from previously.

The hunting video games that are available today are not the mind numbing like some of the games, but games where thought is needed, and often quickly , as you are challenged to outsmart and outguess what the hunted will do. And for some people, these hunting games are much better than the real outdoors hunting! The hunting games can be played on a games console, or if you have a powerful enough computer, they can be downloaded onto your computer.

That’s a very fast way to get the games. Then you can play the hunting games whenever you choose you want, any time, rain or shine. Outdoor hunting is not at all like this, as you are probably aware. For example, if you are going turkey hunting, you only have certain times of the year that you are permitted to hunt.

You may have to be up at the crack of dawn to go hunting, depending on the distance traveled to the hunting location, of course. And then there is the expense of hunting. This can be huge, depending on your resources, and your need for the latest hunting equipment. You probably need camouflage clothes so you don’t stand out, the shooting weapon or weapons, depending on what you are hunting, perhaps a temporary hunting blind, or permanent one if the land owners or leasers permit. Obviously you need to have a valid hunting permit too, and maybe special footwear depending on the type of terrain you are going to be hiking through.

All of this hunting equipment may cost a pretty penny, and for many hunters, when some new gadget is released, maybe a new blind, then they have to buy it to try it out. So, deer hunting games may be a less expensive option, and one from which you can still gain a good experience at the end of the day. There are even some hunting games that you can play against your hunting buddies, so that the game becomes even more competitive. But watch out, these games can become very competitive! If you are married with or without children, then you may have a tough time balancing your family time with your hunting time. Or if you are in a relationship with someone who is not into hunting, then they may not allow you spending hours playing hunting games! However, if you get them to enjoy the games, then that will greatly help your cause!

Lucky Duck Decoy

Posted by – November 9, 2009

lucky_duck_decoy_combo_mydecoysI want to share my personal lucky duck decoy review as I just picked one up this season.

First of all I seen many websites with the lucky duck decoy advertised on them while I was looking for a realistic motion decoy. I checked around to see if anyone had heard of this type of motion decoy as I didn’t want to buy it then be sorry I did, but no one I knew had ever seen one let alone used one. Curiosity was driving me to be the first to pick one of these types of duck decoys, so after about 3 days of research and looking for the lowest price I made the plunge and bought the combo pack that gave me the remote and carry bag.  I usually shop at Bass Pro Shop for my hunting supplies but they did not have the lucky duck.

For those of you looking for the lucky duck also, I can save you some time, here is the price range and websites,

  • mydecoys.com – $107 – with the Combo pack  $139 CHEAPEST!
  • Cabela’s – $129  – with the Combo pack  $169 (They didn’t have any combos left when I looked)
  • Walmart – $80 They didn’t have any either.
  • Duck hunter.net – $79 They didn’t have any either.
  • dowdlesports.com – $100 – with the Combo pack  $150
  • edgebyexpedite.com – $139 – with the Combo pack  $189
  • academy.com – $80 No combo pack
  • milonajoenterprises.com  – $107 – with the Combo pack  $141
  • thefind.com – $106 – with the Combo pack  $141

I liked the fact that the wings rotated to give a more realistic look but I was a bit worried about it buzzing or just being too loud and surprisingly it is very quiet.  I control the wings with my remote witch is very handy and as for the rang, I was about 80 feet away and it was still working fine. Another key thing I like about it is the light weight, plus I got the carry bag with it.

If your thinking about the lucky duck decoy I would certainly recommend getting the lucky duck combo pack, everything I need is in it.

Another similar motion decoy I found was the MOJO Motorized Duck Decoy. One thing I always wonder was why they called it MOJO? The name is actually voodoo which means magic and it like magic how the wings move. It’s certainly worth a look but I like my Lucky duck decoy and it has certainly helped me out this season.

Decoy Spreads – 4 Key Decoy Placement Points

Posted by – October 23, 2009

Decoy_Spread_UThe best decoys spreads always have a properly placed landing zone and what most hunters don’t real realized is that a properly placed decoy spread requires less decoys. I’ve seen decoy spreads that have had over 600 decoys, and I know I shouldn’t laugh but… on that particular day they never got a thing. Their intention was to increase the size of the spread for realism BUT what they forgot was the landing zone, there was nowhere for the geese (in this case) to land. Mind you while duck hunting I have pulled ducks in with just 1 duck decoy before and I while goose hunting I have see geese land to just 4 goose decoys before too.

Proper placement of decoys is not as easy as you think, a properly placed decoy spread will increase your chances greatly for a successful hunt.

Here are some key factors for you to implement;

1. Consider the species of duck or goose your decoying,

  • Diving ducks like to land at the front of the spread so typically placing your decoys in a V or U pattern won’t always work. I tend to place my duck hunting decoys with three small landing zones, so three  small bunches works fine.
  • Puddle ducks need a clear landing zone and will only land in clam water so use a V, C or U pattern for best results. I will always use a duck call for puddle ducks.
  • Mix different species of duck decoys together for instance I have Mallards, Gadwalls, Pintails, Ringnecks and Teals typically in my duck hunting decoy spreads.
  • Most geese have to see the landing zone so just about any pattern you use brings them in with the right goose calls. I have seen decoys with no pattern at all actually bring in geese in the field but on the water it was a different story, with out a landing zone they fly right on by.
  • Diver ducks fly in large groups where puddles duck don’t usually so you you will need more duck decoys.

    A proper placement of duck decoys means your spread should be set out properly for the type of bird you are hunting. Make sure you place both your diver and puddle duck spread within shotgun range and for the diver duck decoys you should string them out about 100 yards for increased visibility.

    2. Landing zone size,

    The typical landing zone should always start at about 10 yards of  open area at the end of your U, C or V. The open end is on the side where ducks make their final approach. Since ducks decoy into the wind, the down wind edge is always open. As the season progresses and the flocks of ducks become larger, expanding the size of your landing zone will help increase your success and don’t forget to increase the amount of decoys you use as you have to add realism to the spread.

    3. Always scout before the hunt,

    Not only will you know where the ducks and geese will be you will also know what their behaviors are. You can then use this information to help you prepare your decoy spreads. For instance, I scouted three weeks before opening one year and found that there were no ducks at my duck hunting blinds at all. why? Got me… so I changed my location to a bigger pond about 2 miles from my blind because that’s where they were. I also noticed that they were using banks more then normal so I used some resters and this was the magic formula that year.

    4.   Be ready to change things up,

    Watch the ducks and geese to see what their reaction is to the decoy spreads, meaning if they do a fly by more then three times then something is not right and they are not comfortable to land yet. Get out there and change things around, like increase the lading zone size make sure the decoys are naturally spaced but not to close or too far apart. etc.

    The proper use of these key points will ensure proper and successful decoy spreads. Remember that creating landing zones or even small landing zone pockets in your decoy pattern in the shape of C, V, or U is, in my opinion, the most critical strategy for setting up a successful decoy spread.

    Hunting Duck Decoys – A Quick History

    Posted by – October 3, 2009

    Hunting_duck_decoys

    The first record of hunting duck decoys goes back as far as the early as 20th century. Those records show that 11 hunting duck decoys were found in a cave while mining back in 1911. They were found along with ancient artifacts in a Nevada mountain cave that was used by indigenous Americans for probably nearly 3500 years according to archaeologist.

    The hunting duck decoys were made from marsh bulrush mainly but had real duck feathers attached to them. They were dated as being made 200 A.D., and carefully buried in individual wrappings in a pit dug into the floor of the cave. They are still the oldest known duck decoys to date.

    The first decoys to be made in mass quantity came from Salt Lake city, Utah and they were made mainly of rubber although earlier decoys were carved from wood, which was hard to keep a float as they would either tip over or become water logged.  A newer invention for a duck decoy was having them carved from cork, which would float without a problem, and they were lighter to carry out hunting then the traditional wooded decoys. The only problem with cork decoys was that they didn’t last very long. Nowadays these cork decoys can be worth allot of money to antique dealers and decoy collectors.

    Other types of hunting duck decoys were made of Styrofoam and urethane foam but both were easily damaged, not very durable and did not display very much detail.

    With a need for realism and more detail the next type of decoys had to be made to last, be light, durable and detailed with an exact resemblance to waterfowl. Blow molded decoys made of high-density polyethylene now fit the bill and with the many different variations on the market you have many to choose from. Variations now include: Motorized, Wind motion, floaters, resters and magnums (Larger then normal) hunting duck decoys that last allot longer then any other decoy in history.


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