Field Hunting Ducks

[Lip'em]

Just curious about how popular field hunting ducks is in Minnesota. Know lots of people that deploy this technique on trips to the dakotas but don't really know how many people try this in Minnesota. And I am not just talking about guys that happen upon ducks while goose hunting but rather guys that go out and scout for ducks in fields and have success on a regular basis.

So anywhoo, some things to discuss: how much scouting?, how many decoys?, areas of the state?, etc. etc.... Thanks to all who respond!

P.S. Anyone have room for one more in their field someday this fall???

[Rost]

Funny you mention this. I hunted water almost exclusively growing up in MN. Now that I live in SD, I hunt fields and haven't got my waders wet in 2 years.

The easiest way to scout for a good field is to simply check the area surrounding the water you'd usually hunt.

[Farley]

Not having to get in a boat is pretty nice, also just drive your truck out to wherever you are hunting and unload, when you're done just drive the truck out and load back up.

Like Rost said, find them on the water first, then find out where they are feeding.

[poutpro]

I do a lot of field hunting for mallards. There are areas that are always good, so I just got and find the nearest corn or, if the corn isn't off, wheat field in the area.

[delta hunter]

the first month of the season I usually stick to water, or once the birds really start moving! When mallards become more flocked up it because a little easier to locate them. See when I started field hunting mallards a couple of years ago I put alot of miles on the truck and alot a time away from the family. There was one problem that I ran into was that I was hunting them like geese, not saying they are really different from geese, but a person can run traffic alot better with ducks then geese!! Has long as you put a good enough amount of decoys out and mojo's to get there attention, you shouln't have any problems. Basically it comes down to being a hero or a zero!!

[carpshooterdeluxe]

if you know where to find em, theres great field mallard hunting in minnesota to be had. its definetely hit or miss until the migration comes (if it even comes during the season), but even early in the season a guy can have success if he puts on the windshield time. we plan on field hunting sunday morning specifically for wood ducks that have been working our goose fields. some might think its a big waste of time to set up a spread of goose dekes and layout blinds just for two woodies and two geese a piece, but im on a quest for some drake woodies for a nice mount.

[RiverRunner]

DuckSlayer,

Some good advice posted by others here. Definatly a good idea to pattern your gun. As a rule of thumb Imp Cylinder in steel generally shoots more like a modified. Modified with Steel shoots more like a full choke. Theres a reason why a lot of Choke Manufacturs put the label Imp Cylinder with Lead and Modified with Steel. This is due to the steel being harder and not colliding as much with a more open choke I shoot a imp Cylinder when the ducks are 20 to 35 yards. If the ducks aren't decoying as well or my shots are 30 to 45 yards I switch over to modified. Pattern your gun at 30 and 40 yards and that will tell you the best option.

Later

[guppie]

We shoot a bunch of woodies every year with one mojo and a dozen mallard silos and either stand in the corn or use layput blinds and it works great. the hardest part is waiting for legal shooting time cause they come about 10 minutes early, then once the shooting starts it only lasts for about 15 minutes then its all over but what a blast trying to hit them! But for mallards or when trafficing the ducks we will set out the same spread but with 2 dozen mallard shells and a few goose decoys for visability

[fishingguy]

Been hunting fields for a few years. The hardest thing about hunting ducks in fields is the scouting. It works best for us to have 2 people in a vehicle. Mallards are not near as easy to keep an eye on as geese while driving. I would loose them and many times not pick them up again. So now we scout with 2. The spotter never takes they're eye off them until they hit the ground. Then its glass them and call for permission.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

i will agree with that; its really tough to follow ducks off a roost to a field; especially in the evening if they are flying towards the sun. we always try to scout with two in a vehicle as well. mostly because i cant drive, talk on the cell, flip pages in the plat book, and glass birds at the same time. at least not safely!