Duck Hunting Successfully

Duck hunting is not just a man's sport. There are many women and families who enjoy this sport too, preparing well in advance of the season. For many places, this season usually starts in the fall when the birds are migrating south for the winter, but make sure when it is in your location, and make sure you have your license before you go out shooting. Duck hunting is a sport, but it is not all about the hunting, it is also about providing food for the family for the winter months ahead.

While ducks are normally thought to be found on lakes, ponds and rivers, they can also be found in corn fields right after the corn has been harvested. The ducks love to feed on the remaining corn, but that doesn't mean you can use corn to attract ducks to an area. Duck hunting is a sport and as such it has its own rules and regulations, and these do vary a little depending where you live. For instance, ducks cannot be killed while they are sitting still - there is no sport in that. The duck has to be flying, which can make shooting dangerous.

In fact most seasons there are human deaths due to hunting accidents. Even family members and best friends are killed or injured fairly regularly, so it is vital that you know the rules and regulations, and also know how to use your duck hunting gun. Taking a shooting course as well as a first aid course is also an excellent idea, and not just to deal with gunshot wounds, but to know what to do in case of a fall, or a drowning, a broken bone, a heart attack, etc. Accidents and health incidents do happen to us all, and it is better to be well prepared to deal with them responsibly.

There are quite a number of supplies that you need for duck hunting. Since many countries have banned lead shot because of its toxic effects on the environment, steel shot is now used, but this is lighter and tends to be less effective. This means that you need to get closer to the birds to start with. Camouflage clothing is a good idea for this, and because the hunting season is the fall, warm waterproof clothing, including hip waders are suggested. Many duck hunters use boats to get close to the ducks rather than use duck blinds, or stand in the cold water, but it depends on your preference.

Duck decoys are used by most hunters, but they have to look realistic, and be grouped naturally, or the ducks will not get close. Most states have a bag limit on the number of ducks you are allowed to shoot at any time, so be aware of this. Enjoy your duck hunting, but be a true sportsman about it, and follow the rules and regulations of this sport.