Is the good duck hunting over when winter arrives? Hardly! In fact some hunters have their best success in the late season. On this episode I share tips for successful duck hunting in the coldest late season conditions.
Take Aways
- Frozen water pushes ducks south. This is good and bad for late season duck hunters.
- It is bad when your best hunting water freezes but it is good because it focuses ducks on the little open water that remains.
- Not all ducks fly south. If they can find open water and food, some ducks will stay year round.
- To hunt late season ducks you need to find or create open water or open fields.
- Where you are in the country factors into duck habits and hunting strategy more than anything else. I cover several strategies for different climates in the episode.
- Late season ducks and geese have their heaviest feathers and thickest fat which means it can take more to bring them down.
- Consider stepping up your shot size or using something with more knock down power, like bismuth.
- Staying dry and warm are not just important for comfort but safety. Falling into the water when it’s 20 degrees is very dangerous.
- Never risk your safety to retrieve a bird, and always have a plan to retrieve birds in deep water.
- Listen to the episode to hear the late season duck hunting tips.
