How to Hunt Ducks Without Calling

I didn’t do that by having somebody name for me (at the least not all the time), nor by recording the sounds of flying and feeding geese after which enjoying it over a speaker, as I’ve seen hunters do. No, for years I took my restrict and crammed my freezer with each geese and geese by not calling in any respect.

Going quiet within the duck blind is without doubt one of the extra missed issues you are able to do to be a profitable duck hunter. Whereas there’s no query that calling could be lethal, similar to with turkeys or elk, while you don’t know the way or when to name, you’ll usually find yourself scaring them away. All hope just isn’t misplaced in the event you’re not an professional duck caller. As a result of with the correct setups and technique, you will get your arms on loads of geese with out making a quack.

Scouting is important to all duck searching, however is particularly essential in the event you’re not calling the birds in to land. You not solely have to discover a good, duck-filled waterway, however you additionally have to discover a spot the place it gained’t be essential to name the birds into vary. This could take a bit of additional work as it is advisable to discover the precise proper place to arrange a duck blind.

Usually, when you possibly can name geese in, you arrange in any space of their flyway the place they’ll be capable to hear your calls and be drawn inside vary. Nevertheless, while you’re not calling geese, you must arrange within the place the place they’re almost certainly to land.

This takes a little bit of homework while you’re scouting, as you must watch the geese intently with binoculars or a recognizing scope and observe any areas the place the birds are gathering. These can embody feeding areas in flooded fields or shallow muddy flats surrounded by deeper water. Notice the place the geese are gathering and feeding, after which have a look round for spots with surrounding cowl inside shotgun vary that’s adequate for a blind. Whereas this will likely imply you must be a bit extra selective in your searching spots, it might actually repay while you discover the correct one.

One other spot the place you possibly can often discover geese is any offshoot between a significant meals supply and in a single day roosting areas. Among the best duck searching spots I ever discovered was a small, slow-moving creek that flowed between a cornfield and a lake. Geese flying to and from the sector and lake would usually land or at the least fly low over the creek, giving me loads of alternatives for pictures with out having to make a sound. These little in-between areas could be as giant as a area of flooded timber or as small as a diversion ditch, and each one in all them is value trying out.

Establishing your spot is important for achievement everytime you’re searching silently. Not solely do you need to be carrying the correct camouflage clothes to mix in with the environment, however you’ll additionally need to arrange your duck blind inside straightforward taking pictures distance of the birds. As soon as that is performed, the one different factor you must fear about is your decoys.

Placing out the correct decoy unfold is important anytime you’re duck searching with out calling. You’ll need the setup to attract passing birds’ consideration, whereas nonetheless wanting pure sufficient to land. The simplest manner to do that is by establishing your decoys in a U-shape.

To do that, begin by setting out a cluster of 5 to 10 decoys on the downwind aspect about 10 to twenty yards out of your blind. Subsequent, lengthen out the arms of the U by setting 3 to five decoys out into the water in a line on each side of the unique cluster at 5 to 10 yard intervals in order that your entire unfold is roughly 30 yards vast. Ideally, birds approaching your unfold can be drawn into the middle of the U proper in entrance of your blind.

One other straightforward and efficient setup for these conditions is the J-shape. That is performed by making a single line of decoys off the principle cluster in entrance of your blind, creating a super touchdown spot for birds alongside the hook of the J. In each the J- and U-shape, you can also make your setup look extra reasonable by including rippling or vibrating decoys, or arrange a decoy on a jerk string to the cluster closest to your blind. This can assist the unfold look extra reasonable by imitating feeding or gathering geese.

As soon as your blind is in place and your decoys are arrange, the toughest factor about duck searching with out calling is ready for birds. This goes towards the very instincts of a duck hunter, as you usually really feel like you need to continuously name to make one thing occur. However while you’re searching silently, persistence is a advantage. And when you possibly can wait the birds out, you will get your limits at some stunning instances.

Whereas these first morning and night flights are nonetheless essential to the non-calling duck hunter and must be hunted, you’d be stunned at what number of geese will are available silently at noon. These sleep-in birds are following patterns that may be shaped from each chilly climate, the place it takes geese some time to heat up, and by searching strain, the place geese go away the water earlier than taking pictures mild after which return at noon to feed after most hunters have gone house. These late-flying birds could be the silent duck hunter’s bread and butter and might make these all-day sits in a freezing blind properly well worth the wait.

Over my years of apply, I’ve developed at the least some ability as a duck caller. I may even readily admit that nothing is extra thrilling than seeing a flock of geese activate a dime and commit after a hailing or feeding name. It’s one of the stunning and satisfying moments within the searching world.

Many hardcore waterfowlers consider that having the talents to name geese into your unfold is important to being a real duck hunter and gained’t set foot in any blind the place birds aren’t known as. I can respect that, however on the similar time, I’m a hunter who loves duck meat and can attempt to get my arms on it any manner I can. So, on these robust days come when the birds are being cussed and never coming into what I’m placing on the market, I’m completely satisfied to rearrange my unfold, hunker down, and go into silent mode.