Easy duck hunting
Here's a back-to-basics approach to duck hunting that any hunter can use.
Duck hunting doesn't have to be complicated, and with a little effort, you can successfully find and hunt them.
Waterfowl hunting has a reputation for being expensive, but hunters don’t need to shell out tons of money on a boat or a truckload of waterfowl gear to be successful. That’s especially true in a state with as much public land as Idaho.
Jump shooting is a low-cost option for public land hunts, but it is not the only one. The classic method of hunting over decoys is a good option for public land waterfowl hunters. The excitement that comes with watching ducks work a decoy spread (circling them to see if it is safe to land), the interactive component of calling, and the close shooting provide an experience that many waterfowl hunters live for.
Public land hunters may have to work a little harder to set themselves up for success when hunting over decoys, including dedicating time for scouting, and being willing to put in extra effort to get away from most of the hunting pressure. But for those who are willing to make the commitment, there are many walk-in public hunting spots scattered throughout the state that can produce good waterfowl hunting – and it doesn't take hundreds of decoys.
That includes:
Shotgun
Idaho hunting license
Migratory bird (HIP) permit
Nontoxic shotgun shells
Federal migratory bird stamp
Six to 24 decoys
Waders
Camouflage clothing
Duck call(s)
Eye in the sky, boots on the ground
By finding and setting decoys in a place where ducks already want to be, hunters can eliminate the need for a large decoy spread that might be needed to attract birds from far away.
With smartphone or a computer, you have everything you need to start looking for a potential waterfowl spot. The first step is finding water, and when walking in with decoys, it pays to think small. Using Fish and Game’s Hunt Planner or some sort of GPS mapping tool, hunters should scour smaller rivers and streams for public access points, and search for potentially overlooked pockets of water — creeks, sloughs, ponds, etc. — on all different kinds public property, including those that are more traditionally associated with upland game hunting.
Don’t ignore traditional waterfowl spots including larger rivers, reservoirs, wildlife refuges and Fish and Game’s Wildlife Management Areas and habitat areas. For these, try to identify spots where there is likely to be less hunting pressure, such as areas inaccessible by boat or off the beaten path.
Once you’ve compiled a list of potential locations, it’s time to get out and see what it looks like from ground level, and more importantly, whether the ducks like it.Idaho waterfowlers can put together a successful hunt with nothing more than what they carry in on their backs.
