Adventures Outdoors'
IN WISCONSIN
Opening Day Duck Hunt
By Rick Spoerl
Although Wisconsin doesn’t provide the early teal season like many states, its season does start quite early. Personally, I wish it opened later because of the huge flocks of mallards I see nearly every year after duck hunting closes. The Blue Wings have mostly gone south by the opener. A couple of frosty nights and they’re out of here.
Wisconsin’s duck hunting changes throughout the season. The early part is mostly warm with opportunities at only local ducks. The middle of the season brings in some migraters, but it’s still mostly locals-- very educated locals. And finally the late season, with mostly migraters moving through.
But let’s talk about the early season-- where to hunt and how to hunt.
Lakes are great for late season, but the early part of the year mostly holds only a few local ducks that learn quickly to stay out in the open water. A lot of fields are not harvested yet and hay fields don’t attract as many ducks as geese. Farm ponds can be pretty good if you can get permission, but even still, the ducks you shoot at will quickly learn the deal.
Big marshes are your best bet for the early season. Many ducks are born in the marsh and there is cover and food everywhere. Small winding rivers are also good. Early scouting trips in the morning and evening will give you an idea of their flight path. While out on these scouting trips, leave the dog at home. You want to sneak around in camo, observing where the ducks go and where they’re coming from. Dogs may spook them, distracting the ducks from their normal routine.
At this time of the year, most ducks aren’t in full plumage and look rather drab. Try using all hen decoys. If you’re hunting strictly wood ducks, then certainly use drakes. Wood ducks are very colorful at this time of the year. You want to look the norm. Spreads of a hundred decoys aren’t necessary and can actually hurt you. Try using small groups of five to ten, maybe three groups of hen mallard decoys.
If you’re in an area where there is a potential goose flock, then by all means stick a goose decoy or two alongside your duck spread. I have shot geese during the early goose season using as few as three decoys. I’ve also shot geese on duck hunts with just one goose decoy next to the duck decoys.
When opening day gets here show up early on the marsh. At least two hours before it opens would be best so you can get the spot you want. Also, while scouting, don’t pick out just one area-- it might be taken when you arrive on opening day. Have several back-up areas in mind.
As far as calling goes, don’t go crazy. A couple quacks on the hen mallard call, a tweak on the drake call, or a couple whistles on your wood duck call is all that’s needed. Ducks don’t make a lot of noise early in the year.
While waiting to put out decoys, you can read, fish, or have breakfast (maybe even a little dog training exercise). Always bring a retriever training dummy along. Once, while waiting on the marsh for noon, I made my brother Ryan and myself bacon and eggs. Playing card games or Nintendo is also an option. Maybe even just enjoy the wildlife. Whatever, just make sure you arrive early. In some of the more heavily hunted marshes, like Horicon, you may even want to arrive before daylight.
If you want to get away from the crowds, try hunting a small river for wood ducks. The wood duck is number two in Wisconsin’s harvest, only behind the mallard. Find a river that is heavily wooded, with many bends and oak trees nearby (wood ducks love acorns). Many times I have found their crops packed with the nuts. If you can’t find a river like this, look for small sections of a river with this type of habitat. Look at topo maps to find the ideal areas, then look for access points.
You can use your bow deer or turkey camo outfit to sneak into these areas, stand next to a tree, drop a couple drake wood duck decoys in the water, make a couple squeaks on a wood duck call and get ready to hammer them. The wood duck call is the easiest call to use: tweet… tweet… tweeet… is all there is to it.
I have even popped a couple teal and mallards hunting these small rivers. Geese will also sometimes land in these places, or even tickle the treetops, giving you some pass shooting; so don’t forget your mallard and goose call.
My advice: Hunt the big marshes or small rivers this year-- the state is covered with them and they’re public. Scout a couple of times before you hunt, use hen mallard decoys in small family flocks, a couple geese off to the side, go easy on the calling, and get some birds. Good luck!