duck hunting on a river??????

[Cody Gruchow]

im going upnorth to park rapids area for duck opener. we will be hunting on the shell city river. its a very shallow river. we found this corner when fishing that looks like it can be a real hot spot. is there any certain way to set up the decoys on the river? the current isnt very strong. i havent ever hunted for ducks on a river so this is new. are there certain ducks that stick to rivers? when we were up there camping and fishing we seen tons of wood ducks. any info would be appreciated. thanks

[HD]

The creeks and rivers around here, we just float and shoot. No decoys required.

But, if we wanna shoot over them,
We have one big eddy that we hunt, mostly just set them in small pods, like family groups.

We get quite a few woodies and mallards that way, but that's about it.


Hunter

[Go Big Red!]

I have read in the latest Field & Stream, September 2009, page 43 (not yet tried this myself, but I'll summarize the best I can) to put "a small group of loafing birds off the main current and downsizing the spread to 6 to 18 blocks with an emphasis on casual, content posture.  Go natural."  I assume you are to use less dekes and it pairs or sets.  It reads on "place one swimmer on the blind side of the spread ( I assume one that moves gently with the current, add more rig line I think), one in the middle, and a pair 15' behind the main rig, as if they're trying to catch the flock."  It says to watch the last pair as ducks seem to land nearest them.   

Hope this helps.  We have hunted with small groups of decoys and the ducks do usually land nearest the back of the spread for us.  We set up for straight river water, not on a corner.  Let me know how you do.

[Benny]

I used to hunt the Leech river down stream from Federal dam setting up in the logans just off the river a few yards.
Did real well for a few years till people started comming up river from Mud and Goose refuge.

I suggest tweeking the decoy rudder so that the dek kind of pulls one way or the other to get rid of the wake behind it when weighted straight on.
Ducks don't leave a wake like a dek does in a river.

Also make sure to use enough weight, the river current is stronger than a wave from wind and will wash a dek down stream if it breaks loose.

Lost a few deks to that in the past.

Benny

[Cody Gruchow]

well its a big corner and turns into a small marsh off the corner so i dont think there is much current, but i could be wrong. red i just got a feild and stream in the mail so it be the one your talking about ill check it out when i get home from work. i get those wrap around weights and split those in half for the marsh i hunt on so i dont know if they will be heavy enough. may have to bring some with me just in case. i was going to cut my spread nearly in half 18-20 decoys with multiple species. i hear ducks lock onto darker colors like black duck decoys from farther away...is this true?

[dakids]

Its been about 15 years since I hunted the crow river between lester prairie and hwy 33 between nya and new germany Cody.  I always walked the river in hip boots if the water was low enough or floated it if the water was higher.  Mostly woodies and teal.  If you are mobile try to stay tight to the bank on the inside of the turns where it is usually shallower and be ready to shoot as you round the corner.  Some ducks will sit on the downed trees in the rivers.  Be carful not to shoot to many ducks with one shot. When you jump them they are usually sitting pretty close together and will get up at the same time.  I have shot many doubles and triples this way.

I prefered walking up stream.  downed ducks come to you instead of floating away from you.

On smaller rivers the ducks will cut over land on the corners of the river if they are following the river.  I have sat on these peninsulas and pass shot all day without ever putting out decoys.

Good luck, shoot straight, and be safe.  Rivers are a different beast.

[Cody Gruchow]

we were just gonna float in one spot, because i know other people hunt the same river also and i dont want to step on anyones toes.  this is all great info keep it coming

[Go Big Red!]

On smaller rivers the ducks will cut over land on the corners of the river if they are following the river.  I have sat on these peninsulas and pass shot all day without ever putting out decoys.

Good luck, shoot straight, and be safe.  Rivers are a different beast.

Very true.  They seem to move a heck of a lot faster too, maybe a visual thing since the trees scatter the shore line. 

CG-  Pass shooting will be key is this adventure as dakids pointed out.  Keep pounded them until they completely fold, we have lost a few ducks after they hit the water and dive down.  Beyond that, stay very well hidden and eyes wide open with the passing shots.  Depending on the width of the river/marsh, you may want to re-evaluate the choke you shoot.  Wider spread with a more narrow river has been good for us, especially when pass shooting.

[fubar]

Just sit in the park and when the kids turn around to get more bread to feed them  give em hell with a metro barrel. i think there is a nice old bridge there also you can just set up there and waterswat when they float under it. jk. i would put a big u accrost the river with random decoys going upwind.

[kenhuntin]

If this is a spot on a stream where you seem to jump ducks most everytime you go there do not expect it to be a long lasting shoot. Usually these are small family group hangouts and once the shooting starts the birds that are left quit coming. I am gonna warn because it sounds like others are floating the stream that you should be very cautious about where you stand in relationship to the decoys and where an eager hunter may come to see them.  Stay out of the line of possible fire. Floating tends to train people into sudden quick shooting and you do not want to be on the business end of a shotgun held by an over zealous shooter. Always expect to see others floating by.

[Cody Gruchow]

dont really wanna pass shoot but we might. we are just gonna tuck the boat back into the reeds and set-up the decoys and see what happens. we are expecting others to float by, not to many i hope, and i really hope no one pounds my decoys cause that will  me off. especially if there water swating them.

[Go Big Red!]

Pass shooting is, in my mind, going to happen anyways since some ducks are hell bent on getting out of there as fast as possible.  At the same time, the may have been shot at in those river sections/areas and they just seem to know better.

[Cody Gruchow]

well were ever you are your going to be pass shooting every now and then. but we will have to see, im going to have quite a few black duck decoys in the spread. lots of wood ducks and mallards some pintails and some teal. maybe a redhead or 2.

[Go Big Red!]

well were ever you are your going to be pass shooting every now and then. but we will have to see, im going to have quite a few black duck decoys in the spread. lots of wood ducks and mallards some pintails and some teal. maybe a redhead or 2.

We mostly see woodies, a few teal, and then mallards as the season continues on.  The colder it gets, the less woodies and teal obviously.

[Cody Gruchow]

ya but i like to set up multiple species

[Benny]

Remember to seperate the woodies a little from your Mallards and teal, they are some what of a loaner but will stay close because the mallards are usually skittish and will flush at the sound of a paddle hitting the water.

Black duck hens will fit right in with the mallards but the drakes will stay to the side as well.
Teal love every one but I always try to keep them together as well.

And I never mix divers with the puddlers with out a good space between them, and I put them out in the deeper water as well.Those large white and grey blue bills will draw attention if they are out in the open water.
Benny

[Go Big Red!]

ya but i like to set up multiple species

Absolutely, set up with a mixed back.  Adjust though as it gets colder and you see less and less of a species, then remove it completely.

[Cody Gruchow]

by november i just have mallards set out, but by then im done duck hunting because its time to focus on deer hunting

[Flyway Customs]

we have floated in the past from henderson to jordan now thats a coon float and a very long float. you can shoot a ton of woodys when the rivers high, anybody here floated that section of river.