Hunting Ducks in Flooded Timber

In states without coastlines waterfowlers can still take advantage of fine hunting by hitting the rivers and flooded timbers. Backwaters off the major river systems like the Mississippi and Ohio provide some of the most outstanding duck gunning found anywhere. Ducks uses rivers as migration highways. In most states, numerous potholes, rivers, creeks, bayous and swamps provide excellent waterfowl hunting, usually close to home.

Once, it was 65 degrees and real foggy, Caruthers said. I found a hole in the timber. I got a little lost in the fog before I set up, but the good thing about fog is that when you hear birds, just quack a few times and they will come. They don't really like to fly in fog and set down as soon as they get a chance. I put out 11 decoys. It was 6:44 a.m. when I got set up. By 6:59 a.m., I had my limit of greenheads and wood ducks.

River Ducks Can Be Anywhere

On a long river system, ducks may land anywhere. Hunters must go to the ducks. Unlike rice fields where ducks congregate to feed, ducks traveling down major rivers appear and disappear quickly. Wood ducks remain fairly predictable, making their twice-daily flights between feeding and roosting areas. However, as river conditions change, mallards and other ducks may vacate an area within hours.

Hunters have to do their scouting, McEacharn said. Scouting is the number one tip. Scout before the season and during the season. If you have the option of moving, do it, but stay where the ducks are.

Three variables move birds around river systems food availability, water levels and weather. Simply put, ducks go where they can eat and they need water to land. A hard lasting freeze could ice over shallow water, pushing ducks farther south.

Follow fronts and watch where that freeze line is, McEacharn recommended. Birds move around according to that freeze line. That's where the major concentration of birds will be. We could have thousands of birds coming in today and gone tomorrow.

Where Do Timber Ducks Feed?

Ducks don't always land in flooded timber to feed. They often feed in nearby bean fields and land in timber to hide and rest. However, the swamps do offer some food sources.

In late season, their food sources such as grain fields disappear, McEacharn said. We hunt tupelo and cypress swamps with willows, oaks and occasional pecan trees mixed in. Acorns and small pecans are excellent food sources for ducks. Small native pecans are not real big like pecans you buy in a store. Ducks love them. If you have an area with flooded oaks, move into it because birds feed on acorns if the water is shallow.

To feed, ducks need water in which to land. In an area with too much water, they can land anywhere, but may not be able to feed. Most river hunters prefer low water conditions. That concentrates birds into smaller areas. In some cases, low water may force hunters to set up blinds along major waterways instead of in backwaters and oxbows because that's where sufficient water remains.

Water level means everything to ducks on a river, McEacharn explained. Puddle ducks tend to like three feet of water or less so they can feed. In areas we hunt off the Mississippi River, water is deeper. Sometimes birds are going to be feeding in shallows; sometimes they will be in deeper water resting and preening. Follow the shallow water. That doesn't necessarily mean hunt in shallow water. Birds may land in six to 10 feet of water and work back into the shallows. Maybe the shallows are too thick for them to land so they land in deeper water and swim back in.

Weather Also A Key To Success

Weather also plays a major part in waterfowling success. Larger ducks like mallards tend to head toward flooded timber on brighter days because they can see what lurks beneath the tree line. Extremely cold weather could send more ducks to rivers where currents break up ice and keep the surface from freezing. Many shallow flooded soybean fields, ponds or backwaters could freeze in extremely cold weather.

We change tactics during cold weather or warm weather, Caruthers explained. In real cold weather, ducks come to the river to find water. The banks are frozen; the shorelines are frozen and bean fields where they feed are frozen. We would set up in deeper, more open water because that's where they would come.

While most people hunt timbered areas from boats, sportsmen on foot can still take a crack at waterfowl, especially wood ducks. Some areas offer great hunting along creek bottoms or near secluded forest ponds. Hunters may find them just a few hundred yards off roads or follow creek channels through upland timber.

Some sportsmen use their boats to reach prime hunting areas and then slosh through shallow water to hunt. They hide their boats a hundred yards or so from their stands. Sometimes, birds see the boats and veer off, hopefully putting themselves directly over hidden hunters.

Most stand hunters pass-shoot at ducks, especially woodies, at first light. Some sprinkle a few magnum decoys between trees. Occasionally splashing or gently kicking the water adds a little realistic animation to decoys and simulates the sounds of ducks feeding or landing.

Elaborate Blinds Not Needed

For stand hunting, sportsmen don't need elaborate blinds. Well-camouflaged hunters can crouch down in available cover or lean against a tree.

In a flooded timber situation, so much stuff can hide a hunter, McEacharn said. Ducks have too much stuff to look down on tops, thickets, trees, and brush. They are concentrating on landing in tight pockets and may not see hunters next to the brush. On a clear day, water glistens and ducks can't see well in the shadows. The most important thing when hunting standing timber is keeping still and wearing a facemask.

Nothing spooks ducks more than a shining face peering out from behind bushes. Therefore, in small potholes hunters sometimes defy conventional wisdom to better conceal themselves. Hunters on large water bodies tend to arrange their decoys so that ducks landing into the wind fly toward their blinds, bringing them within range. That's not a factor in tight flooded timber.

Many hunters set up their decoys with the wind in their faces so ducks fly over their more concealed backs to land. With their backs toward the hunters, they won't be able to see them as well. When they get within range surprise!

For such close-in shooting, hunters don't require full chokes, large diameter pellets or magnum loads. Quickness counts more than range and power. Unlike open marshes or rice fields where hunters can see ducks flying over the horizon, in tight timbered potholes hunters cannot see ducks 50 yards away. Ducks appear instantly through thick cover; hunters must react quickly or miss opportunities. If they don't, ducks disappear just as quickly.

Under such conditions, many hunters prefer more open chokes and larger loads of smaller shot sizes. Number 4 or 5 steel works for these 20-yard to 30-yard shots. Some hunters might even opt for number six shot if they can find such steel loads.

Most people can take the challenge of timber duck hunting close to home with little investment. Such hunting opportunities could add a few more ducks to the pot this winter and maybe a few more stories to tell around camp fireplaces.