Duck Hunting: More Sneaking Up on Wild Ducks

Basics on sneaking up on wild ducks have been presented in earlier pieces. One of the things to look for in sneaking up on ducks is, as mentioned, the `ripples' (waves) from their movement on the water. By looking for (and finding) their ripples, one can determine their approximate location without being seen. Recall that ducks and geese have good vision, and the normal response of wild ones, upon seeing a human, is to leave. So, if that is the kind of duck you want to see, that is, one leaving, you can afford to be seen. Otherwise, stay out of sight; be sneaky.

A real pleasure to being sneaky is that sometimes you will sneak up on other things. I have sneaked up on `ripples', thinking for sure I was coming up on some unsuspecting ducks, to instead observe raccoons, muskrats, beaver. Sometimes looking for ducks one will encounter deer, moose, or other bigger creatures. One time when I was just learning to call geese, I called in a coyote. One time I snuck up on the riverbank to sneak up on a hunter who was sneaking up on my decoys! And sometimes I have snuck up on ripples to discover that they were from the wind, or the stream itself, or maybe just `uncategorized' (ripples). In any event the whole act of sneaking spawns adventure or marvel of some kind.

If you `sneaks in undetected' you position yourself to be witness to fascinating things. While ducks and geese are often in flocks, within the flocks they are paired. It not be obvious at first look, but as you patiently observe their movements and interactions, you will discover in fascination, that a big glob of one hundred birds is actually a group of fifty pairs. (And when one of the opposite sex gets to close to one's significant other, he gets chased prompt off.) initially determining pairs is more obvious with most duck species due to the marked difference in plumage male versus female - but look! - even with species such as geese where the plumage and size are nearly identical (male and female) - they are paired.

With geese especially it is obvious that for each family group (dozen or so) there is one bird at all times who functions as `lookout'. I think the role gets passed around, at to some extent, or perhaps just between `parents'. With ducks it seems the females fill this role. They are the hardest to sneak up on, it seems, and also the hardest to see.

Along these lines I generally hunt more mid-day, in contrast to early morning or near sundown. By mid-day the birds are more settled, for one thing. But, more importantly, the lighting is better. Better lighting means better pics. It also means I might be able to see them more easily, before they see me.

Getting in close (undetected) you will get to see birds play, bath, romance, chatter. On one occasion I observed a hen mallard bark like a dog. It was one of the most bizarre experiences I have ever had. I looked around to see `the dog' that had also sneaked up. (But there was none.) I think it was a matter of the hen getting tired of unrelenting romantic advances of her male friend, which she, at least temporarily, put to an end by chasing him off. Sometimes in fog I have heard them collide in flight (or near collide). (But I have not seen one fall to earth from such a collision.)

During the migration you will also observe fascinating things. During the other times of the year the ducks (and geese) fly around in `singles', pairs, family (and maybe family reunion, or `regional') groups. And if flying any distance at all generally form some kind of `V'. If you watch, you will see that they `trade off' flying in front. And, also, when a bird falls out of the V, they really have to struggle to catch up, and sometimes don't. During migration, or as migrating birds fly to and from their feeding and resting places, they may form groups of hundreds, or even thousands. A `V' of birds may be a mile wide. They may swarm into a field for food like `bees'. It is during these times when they are particularly vulnerable (to hunters), as their need for food clouds out their need to not get shot. During such times I (if I am hunting, just) watch.

Another thing that gives me kind of a chuckle with puddle ducks: the first one in the group to take to flight (usually a female) will be dry. The ones behind (her) will be all wet from the splash of her wings on the water on takeoff.

Traveling one of the main roads in an area I often hunt I spotted what looked like some ducks on a stretch of creek I had permission to hunt. The highway and traffic where such that I couldn't pull over (to look closer), or park, so I continued driving to crossroad, and at a safe place parked. Once out of my vehicle I called my wife on my satellite phone to say I had `got into some stuff' and would be a while coming home. Then I started the sneak. Eighty yards from target I shed my shoes. The soft, wet earth was cold, but also soothing. Closer. Slowly closer. At thirty yards I spotted some ripples, and adjusted my final approach. Ten yards. I came up on the water. Nothing. `What the ...?!' I looked up and down the creek and banks. I was sure I had spotted ducks, and seen their ripples. Maybe they had left without notice when I was finding a place to park, and call home. And what about the ripples? Maybe, just maybe, they were just ... ripples.