Learning to read a duck or ducks' signals in flight has to be the toughest aspect of hunting them.
What they may do one day, they may not do the next.
Any respectable veteran will tell you a duck will teach you something new everyday.
Watching body language and movements can tell you if they are interested or not. A duck or ducks may pass you at 40 yards and you can call, pull a jerk string, push the button on your flapper wing devices, and he couldn't care less. He'll top the trees never to be seen again. Or, he may turn his head, look at your decoys and show interest. That same duck may return in 30 minutes and pitch in while you're fiddling for a can of tobacco.
Ducks may work you from way out and come in close for 8 swings and decide they don't like what they see and head elsewhere, or they may b-line straight for you and pitch without a single pass.
Most of my public duck hunting is done with me and my partner standing right under the tree I saw the ducks light on or swimming around the day before. I rely more on location, a small realistic spread, and my ability to hide more so than I do calling these days.
If I'm hunting public tidal marsh or river I make damn sure they can't see me.
I love watching ducks pitch into a decoy spread more than anything, but have zero hesitation at tree topping a bird I think won't play the game.
I hunt most any ducks and some are more predictable than others.
Ringnecks and teal can more often than not be lit if you stay on em with motion and a call. Big ducks are much more wary. I take the best shot I have before it's too late.
Remember one thing, don't shoot at a duck just because you want him.
Duckman#1 can hit a big duck in the eyeball from 60yards out or straight above him. I've watched him do it. I'm not that good and chances are neither are you. Keep your shots at no more than 40yards max, and you'll likely pick up the duck you shoot at instead of watching him sail 100 yards into the grass, or worse leave unscathed with an education.
Be proactive about improving public waterfowl habitat in South Carolina. It's not going to happen by itself, and our help is needed. We have the potential to winter thousands of waterfowl on public grounds if we fight for it.
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