I have an area on a beaver swamp that I would like to improve the duck habitat. I started hunting it in 2016 and at the time it was the creek run as the flood of 2015 washed out the dams. Since then the beavers have rebuilt and it is flooding again. The water is very clear in which you can see the bottom in thigh deep water. Most of the water is between your shins and upper stomach. As for a food source the whole swamp is covered in smart weed and there is a good deal of duck weed. I do not know much about invertebrates for ducks but the little research I have done the natural food sources mentioned should have some of them in there. I thought about draining and planting some type of crop for a food source but I do not think that is much of an issue and prefer to promote natural food sources. It seems that the biggest issue I have is not much open water. The area I hunt is about 10 yards wide by 60 yards long, there are a few spots that are a bit wider but that would be about the average I would guess. It is the largest area of open water on the property I have permission to hunt.
In 2016 I killed a few mallards and wood ducks in the swamp. Last year we killed a couple mallards and wood ducks again. Did not have much luck the first segment of the season this year, but had mallards, teal, and other ducks circling as the bigger water sources in the area were being shot, as well as impoundments. I am pretty new at duck hunting other than just with friends here or there but am trying to learn and YoungbuckTX has helped me a lot. It seems that the best year I had was when it was just the run of the creek which makes me think that I do not have enough open water to make the ducks, besides wood ducks, comfortable.
I am not sure I added enough information so if there is a question you have that may give you more information then please ask and I will do my best to answer. Thanks for any help.
2016 December:
2017 November:
2018 November:
Bookmarks