Duck hunting is addictive. There is not like experiencing a group of mallards making their final approach over your decoy spread! In my opinion a good duck hunt is as much fun as any type of hunting on earth. However, duck hunting can be a very expensive hobby. There a number of costs associated with duck hunting. Decoys, wadders, calls, blinds, and duck boats are just a few examples of expensive equipment. Some people even spend thousands of dollars each your on leases. Others spend thousands on their duck dogs. Make no mistake, its great to have all that cool stuff previously mentioned! However, if you are not able to afford all that cool stuff, you can still get a taste of the excitement and joy of duck hunting.
If you cannot afford all the cool gear the traditional duck hunter uses, you can still kill ducks. Few people realize the potential small ponds offer for duck hunting. Small ponds can be offer some outstanding duck hunting.
In this post we will share three tips for having a successful duck hunt on a small pond.
- Choosing the right pond to hunt
- Choosing the Right time to hunt a pond
- Tips for the hunt
Things to keep in mind and Expectations
Duck hunting ponds can provide exciting fast pace action. However, not all ponds produce ducks and not all ponds produce on a routine basis. Also, most of the ponds I hunt are hit and miss. Often pond hunts will only last for an hour or two. I hunt primarily in Louisiana. I can tell you from my personal experience, most of the ponds I have hunted only produce wood ducks. There are exceptions and there are plenty of farm ponds in Louisiana that produce mallards and gadwalls if hunted at the right time during the season. Depending on where you hunt, you could experience a mix bag. If you hunt in the Midwest you can potentially have world class hunts on ponds.
Just keep in mind, hunting ponds will not always produce world class duck hunts in every part of the U.S. I know several people that hunt in the panhandle of Texas that experience some of the best duck hunting in the world by hunting in layout blinds on the banks of small farm ponds. There are also outfitters in Kansas and Oklahoma that pay thousands of dollars each year to lease farm ponds for duck hunting. Having world class duck hunts on ponds largely depends on what region of the country you hunt. However, for the most part, hunting ponds are great for hunters that don’t have the means or money to buy all the expensive gear. They are also great for someone looking to experience some excitement and fun on the weekend during duck season.
Choosing the right pond to duck hunt
When I began my duck hunting career many years ago I had the privilege to share a blind with one of the most respected duck hunters in the state of Louisiana. He would always tell us young hunters, “The key to killing ducks is to hunt exactly where the ducks want to be”. You have to hunt where the ducks want to be if you want to consistently kill ducks. If you want to kill ducks on farm ponds, you will need to figure out what ponds produce ducks.
Scouting is critical to finding a good pond to hunt. I like to begin scouting by looking for ponds located near large bodies of water and waterways such as large creeks. Typically, ponds located near large waterways offer refuge and food for ducks. Once I find a few ponds located in prime locations, I use binoculars to observe any duck activity from a distance. If I find a pond with ducks I watch the pond for a couple days to see if it continues to hold ducks. Some ponds only have ducks once or twice a year. This is why I recommend you watch the pond for a couple days before the hunt so you can confirm the ducks are routinely visiting the pond. If the pond consistently holds ducks, obtain permission to hunt the pond.
Here is a little tip that can really save you time. Once you find a pond that consistently holds ducks and you have obtained permission to hunt the pond, place a trail camera overlooking the pond. By using a trail cam to monitor the pond, you can get a great idea of when the ducks are visiting the pond.
Knowing when to hunt a pond
Knowing when to hunt a duck pond will help you save a lot of time. Like mentioned previously, trail cams can help you understand what time of the day the ducks visit the pond. Keep in mind ponds typically will only have ducks visit for a short time each day. Knowing when they visit and how long they are at a pond will help you plan accordingly for the upcoming hunt.
Time of year is another key factor for success hunting ponds. Based on my experience, late duck season seems to be the best time to hunt ponds. Ducks experience hunting pressure for months at a time. Often ducks will seek ponds during late season because a large number of ponds are rarely hunted in most parts of the country.
Pond hunting setups
Pond hunting setups should be keep simple. In fact, in most cases I do not use decoys. If ducks are consistently using a pond, why should you use decoys? In my opinion, small ponds do not require decoys. However, if you are hunting a pond over an acre in size, you might need to use a dozen or so decoys.
Concealment is key for duck hunting any body of water. Ponds are no exception. Make sure to be completely concealed when hunting ponds. You might need to make a temporary blind depending on how much cover is around the pond.
Calling ducks while hunting a small pond often will not improve your success. In my opinion, when hunting small ponds you will have better luck by not calling. However, hunting larger ponds at times will require some calling.
Summary
Duck hunting ponds can be an excellent alternative to the more traditional methods of duck hunting. You can simply hunt from the bank of a pond without having to use decoys or expensive boats. All you need is to be concealed and have an idea of when to hunt the pond.
Remember to always follow your local hunting laws. Always obtain permission to hunt private property. Be responsible and respectful when hunting on private property you have permission to hunt.
I hope this post encourages you guys to try some pond hunting. If you would like other useful tips and tricks for duck hunting check out our duck hunting page. Go to Americsnhuntingsafari.com the select Ducks! We also have a page dedicated to cooking wild game and a page for you guys that love to fish.
Thanks for reading!