Southern Duck Hunting

[dukhntr]

Fellow duckhunters, I need some help. My son has hunted with me for the las 7-8 years. We generally hunt ducks and gees in Sask 1-2 times per year, for a week each time. To say he is an avid duckhunter is an understatement!

My problem is that with playing football for the last two years, he has been unable to hunt ducks at all. So, we need some ideas for duck hunting in the later season such as late November, December and January. We have all gear, decoys etc. Just looking for a place to hunt. Not looking for a guided hunt, unless that is all there is, and we prefer public land.

P.S. We are unable to do the spring snow goose hunt due to him playing rugby.

Any ideas?

TIA,

dukhntr

[jparrucci]

Well if you are planning on hunting in MN, you have to do it in November. For late season hunts it can get difficult without a field or gear for big water, as most of the local ponds/smaller lakes will be frozen solid. The rivers are always a good bet, but again you need the proper gear. Late season Mallard hunts can be a hunt of a lifetime or a complete bust. I've had some of my best and worst hunts then depending on the weather. Once you have a plan of attack, watch for approaching major fronts. The day of and after a major north push seem to be best.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

i'd look at kansas if you want to field hunt. that or missouri.

[wooduck26]

Southern Mo will be a great option. As will Arkansas...there are two or three BIG WMAs in Arkansas that hold lots of ducks...Dave Donaldson, Bayou Meto (pronounced by-a-met-ah) and one other one that escapes my mind....25hp motor or less, no hunting after noon(?) and the number of shells are restricted. Its good timber hunting, and at least a starting point. Early January would be my pick of a time frame.

[MN Greenheads]

Western Mississippi is a sleeper. With all the water down there this year the national forests could have flooded timber. I know of a few people who went a few 10+ years back when it was wet and they couldn't say enough about how many ducks they saw and shot easy limits. I know mildly okay duckhunters who have gone to Arkie and said it was tough hunting unless you hit the weather right or knew right where to be. Private hunting is a good way to go down there if you don't have time to learn the area.

[RumRiverRat]

Arkansas or Southern MO or Oklahoma.

[SledNeck]

I hunt Bayou Meto/Stuttgart area, Ark alot with my buddies that live down there. I would not suggest a do it yourself trip in the timber your first time down there. Theres just so much you have to know that you have to hire a guide or get lucky and have some locals take you out.

[dukhntr]

OK guys, thanks for the ideas. Don't think I want to hunt Arkansas as a DIY trip. Southern Missouri souds good. I hate to admit it but I was born and raised in eastern Kansas! Never hunted ducks there. Hunted a lot of prairie chickens and pheasants. Any ideas about duck hunting in Kansas? Where to go etc? Same with Oklahoma.

TIA,

dukhntr

[wooduck26]

Theres just so much you have to know that you have to hire a guide or get lucky and have some locals take you out.

I fully disagree. First things first you cant be guided on public land in Arkansas....Second common sense will put you on birds, watch the first morning on what part of the woods the ducks are using, next morning, GPS your way back there and have at it....or just walk the woods and jump shoot....Its not rocket science.

[blue_healer_guy]

I would say just enjoy what age your son is and his activities at home. After football etc, you will get your time back. Enjoy his years, even tho he might miss a season or 2.

[SledNeck]

I fully disagree. First things first you cant be guided on public land in Arkansas....Second common sense will put you on birds, watch the first morning on what part of the woods the ducks are using, next morning, GPS your way back there and have at it....or just walk the woods and jump shoot....Its not rocket science.

Ive been going down there since 1999, and yeah "legally" you cant be guided on public land...

Say that you never been there before, GPS some spots (assuming you mean motoring around in the bayou looking for a place where you can see ducks land). Go there the next day and theres someone in every place that you marked a hole, and you try to find other spots IN THE DARK..man that would suck. Or you get back to holes and then you find out its over your waders (lots of water down there this year)...We've had that happen.

Stomping around in waders and jump shooting at least in the areas I hunt there is not really a productive way to get ducks, For one you usually walk by guys set up and they get really UPSET, and 2 I cant ever remember getting close enough to some ducks to get a shot that way, not saying it cant be done.

[brittman]

I would say just enjoy what age your son is and his activities at home. After football etc, you will get your time back. Enjoy his years, even tho he might miss a season or 2.

Completely disagree. Hunting is a better form of father-son activity then either coaching or watching them play ... It is FAMILY time with memories and experiences made together.

Make time for the outdoors ... next for him is college, then job with limited vacation, then a family ... there will always be an excuse.

Do not let a season pass ... that much easier to let the next ones go too...

[dukhntr]

Thanks Brittman. I was trying to think of a reply. To the poster---my intent was to find a place to hunt late season, ie: AFTER football. I believe that the only duck seasons that are open after football are those in southern states, hence the title of my post. Not stated in my original post is that my son asked me to find a place so he can hunt this year.

If anyone has hunted ducks in Kansas or Oklahoma, please shoot me a PM.

TIA,

dukhntr

[MN Greenheads]

Here is one for ya.High plains mallard hunt on the Missouri River in No Dak. early jan late dec. or if there gone from there because of snow go to So. Dak. by lake Oahe in fields w/ guide or the area down by Vermillion. I personally would go No Dak. w/ boat and dekes it's not too far, is an adventure and can be lights out late season. The Pheasants are always a nice filler out there too. Hope it takes some confusion travelling down south might be or maybe I made you more confused. Oh well, enjoy your son and good luck.

[Gordie]

NoDak would be my pic for late season also as I was just out there and there were tons of geese but just couldn't get on the feilds but we got on the ducks bring a boat/motor and you could find your self a new destination for duck hunting.

The next place I would check out would be Mo for duck and geese such as the Stockton Lake area.

Mo River is another spot to check out.

[SledNeck]

Seen more waterfowl in Arkansas this year than Ive ever seen down there. When I got there most stuff was frozen up, but still DUCKS and GEESE eveywhere.