Getting back into duck hunting

[1eyeReD]

Hey guys,

For the intro, I moved here from CO couple years ago. Hunting ducks from a john boat or canoe never crossed our minds much in CO. The not-so-numorous small streams, potholes, seasonal flooded areas (managed by the CO Division of Wildlife) and whatnot were mostly accessible via wading. Had a blast learning to waterfowl hunt along the S. Platte River in NE CO as a kid and grew to be quite the waterfowl addict, might I add.

But I moved.. And here I am.

I've gone out a few times to look around the WPAs and WMAs near Ortonville and a little north of there. Everything is so darn cattail choked, it seems almost darn near impossible to get on any water without a duck boat. And it seems everyone has a duck boat except for me. This is new to me..

Anyway, I'd like to ask. Not for anyone's hotspot, but some direction. I'd like to take my wife duck hunting, but because she's nervous about a duck boat. So I'd like to get her on some ducky locations where we can just hike in just like we did in NE CO. So far, I don't know of any streams that are shallow enough to safely wade that hold ducks or any ponds that are prairie style potholes that we can walk up to. I don't mind cattails around the ponds as that is normal. It just seems wayyyy thicker up here in MN.

So my question is: Where can a guy start in this state to find that particular type of duck habitat. Shallow wadable water where cover is available but not overwhelming... Species don't matter. I'm willing burn gas and scout a ton, but would hope to narrow it down a particular region.

Any help is appreciated. If you're more comfortable sending a PM, I'm all ears.

Thanks,

[mulefarm]

Come to the Delta banquet in Waconia on the 16th. There will be a lot of avid duck hunters there and I'm sure you will get some valuable info. www. WestMetroDeltaWaterfowl com to order tickets

[Proskier2038]

Having a duck boat is not essential for MN, but it definitely helps. If your interested in finding a boat, look into some online classifieds. I picked up a 14ft boat for $50 a few weeks ago. I received several emails from others selling similar boats, so there's definitely an abundance of cheap watercraft available in the metro area.

If you are trying to avoid the "boat" issue, then your options are much more limited. I don't know any "spots" off hand, that fit your description, but you may run into issues in many areas retrieving birds, if you don't have a canoe, boat, or dog. I have used a fishing pole rigged with a bunch of hooks to retrieve ducks from larger water, but this is very time consuming, and you spend more time retrieving than anything else.

I know of some places near Duluth that you can access with only waders, but the action is slow, and its a bit of a drive As for the ortonville area, lots of water, and lots of birds if the timing is right, so maybe scout some ponds to see if they are wade-able... There are many that are not that thick, especially later in the fall,(I pheasant hunt the area, and have no issues getting to the water in hiking boots for the most part.)

Hope this helps

[kingkobbla]

1eyered all I want to say is congrats on getting back to duck hunting. I started again about 5 years ago and it is a blast!! You will love it!

[Gordie]

You can start to look on the DNR HSOforum for one then look at the recreational compass it will give you a lay of the terrain to start you can also find out what state land is huntable. There are lots of areas with in a hour to a hour and a half of the cities to hunt in just about evrey direction.

Welcome back to the sport of water fowling.

[1eyeReD]

Thanks guys. Very helpful. I was thinking about heading back out west later in the year to see if things change with how thick the vegetation is. Either way, gotta get on it before the season. I will have to burn some gas in the next few weeks here.

[Finlander]

Been hunting waterfowl since 1968 and the places that are wadeable from shore are tough to find. Also, alot of the potholes, marshes, and lakes, are mostly muddy so having a boat is the way to go in Minnesota. I always wear waders to get the boat into the cattails and landing the boat at the access. Wading to put decoys out are a bonus most times, but mostly when there hasn't been alot of rain and the water level is low and it's not real muddy or alot of loon doo-doo!

Also, get a good push pole with a good duck bill end on it as these are a must for any boat during the duck season. And if you hunt WMA's you cannot put an outboard motor on it as they are illegal to run on them, so get some good oars to get around.

Good Luck!

[puddleduck]

I agree with Finlander. I have been hunting ducks since 1962 (sorry Finlander, got you beat there). I have only hunted two spots in Minnesota that I could hunt with any success at all without a boat and those two were on private property. I currently own property on a river and I can walk in and hunt. But, just like fishing, the ducks are down the river about a half mile. Glad to hear you are back. Dang, I love ducks and duck hunting. Here I am sixty ---- and my wife says that I remind her of the commercial of a little boy before Christmas when he says, "I'm too excited to sleep." I hope that feeling never goes away. I intend to do this for another 15 years. Good luck my friend.

[puddleduck]

Okay, I screwed up. I intend to do this for another 25 years. I hope my Grandson will want to hunt so he can help me out when I am 80+.

[Gordie]

Okay, I screwed up. I intend to do this for another 25 years. I hope my Grandson will want to hunt so he can help me out when I am 80+.

+1

[1eyeReD]

"I'm too excited to sleep." I hope that feeling never goes away. I intend to do this for another 15 years. Good luck my friend.

puddleduck,

That is what this is all about. I hope the feeling never gets old. The indescribable feeling of "being there" when you hear sound of ducks cutting through the air overhead into your decoys at early light, the whistling wings in the twilight sky, the crispy autumn morning air, the anticipation for a good morning hunt - There is nothing like it. Man, I'm ready to get back (polishing Beretta A390 Silver Mallard and with hunt maps all over coffee table).

[Feathers Rainin]

There are spots like that around Ortonville. If you have time and money go to ND. Tons of ducks, accessisng land is easy and there a ton of spots you don't need a boat. License is about $100, lodging is cheap, other than the license your big expenses are gas and shells.

[mallardnwalleye]

If you aren't going to buy a boat go to ND west of the RR valley and east of the Missouri River. Scout day 1 and hunt the rest.

I reccomend betting a canoe or small boat.