Duck hunting in Texas requires a great deal of resourcefulness. Although advancements in technology have introduced modern gadgets to make it easier, there are still various tested and tried techniques that are useful for hunting today.
1. Using moving decoys
You don’t have to invest in an expensive motion decoy to be successful in hunting ducks. Hunters from long ago didn’t have motion decoys. They instead used jerk strings or pumped their legs vigorously in the water to send ripples through to their spread. If you find this too tedious, use an electric trolling motor on a painted wood frame to provide a continuous but silent motion for your decoys. It will also help to ensure that the water doesn’t freeze.
2. Stir up mud
When ducks are feeding in shallow waters, they upset the bottom as they wade through the muddy bottom. The water therefore appears muddy. Clear water therefore appears unnatural to birds flying above. Stir up the water in your spread to make it look muddy.
3. Make the birds come to you with a fake water hole
A fake water hole was one of the most common tricks used by duck hunters in the old days. It saved one the need to wade into waters or compete for hunting grounds with other duck hunters. All you need is a plastic sheet that has been cut into an irregular shape. This is done to mimic the natural shape of depressions of water in fields. Look for a depression in a field and lay your plastic across it. Place weeds and twigs around the edges of the plastic to give it a natural look. Sprinkle some water on the plastic to make it shine and give a reflection. This will appear like a water hole from the air. it is an especially great trick when everything else is frozen.
4. Use sleeper decoys
Cloudy, warm or still days usually see less frequent flights by ducks. They will tend to sleep or be lazy on such days. It would therefore make sense to use sleeper decoys. The chances of real ducks joining these decoys on these still days are high.
Texas duck hunting can be a great opportunity to test your ingenuity. Take some time to learn more about ducks and find different, new and interesting ways to lure them to you. You’ll have a more successful hunting season.
Bay Flats Lodge is a unique luxury accommodation that offers excellent duck hunting adventures. Located on along the Gulf coast in Texas, it is the perfect spot for a duck hunting trip.
