How To Duck HuntHow To Duck Hunt

Andrew KnoxAndrew Knox

I will walk you through a duck I will walk you through a duck hunt in Eastern Washington.hunt in Eastern Washington.

Hunted Ducks for 14 YearsHunted Ducks for 14 Years Member of the “Mallard Ranch”Member of the “Mallard Ranch” How many of you have played “Duck Hunt” on How many of you have played “Duck Hunt” on

Nintendo? Nintendo? I am going to show you what actually happens I am going to show you what actually happens

on a duck hunt.on a duck hunt.

SetupSetup

Scout potential Scout potential hunting spotshunting spots

Wake up early Wake up early and dress warmand dress warm

Setup Blind and Setup Blind and put out Decoysput out Decoys

Setup: ScoutingSetup: Scouting Make sure you have Make sure you have

permission to hunt permission to hunt therethere

Ducks tend to keep Ducks tend to keep same lifestyle same lifestyle patternpattern

Conditions/ Hunting Conditions/ Hunting Pressure matterPressure matter

Setup: How to DressSetup: How to Dress

Warm base layersWarm base layers Waterproof WadersWaterproof Waders Camouflage outermost Camouflage outermost

layerslayers Bring Ear ProtectionBring Ear Protection

Setup: Build the BlindSetup: Build the Blind

Finding hunting area Finding hunting area in dark, can be trickyin dark, can be tricky

Choose location near Choose location near the waterthe water

Build it with natural Build it with natural materialsmaterials

Setup: Put out the Setup: Put out the DecoysDecoys

Attracts ducks Attracts ducks to locationto location

Use between Use between 2-4 dozen 2-4 dozen decoysdecoys

Right in front of Right in front of blindblind

Setup: Decoy SpreadSetup: Decoy Spread

The HuntThe Hunt Ready, Set, Ready, Set,

Wait!Wait! Attract ducks by Attract ducks by

callingcalling Shoot when they Shoot when they

come in rangecome in range Have your dog Have your dog

retrieve themretrieve them

The Hunt: CallingThe Hunt: Calling Makes ducks Makes ducks

aware of youaware of you Opens up a Opens up a

dialogue between dialogue between you and the duckyou and the duck

““Convinces” them Convinces” them to choose your to choose your spotspot

The Hunt: ShootingThe Hunt: Shooting

Use a shotgunUse a shotgun Wait until the last Wait until the last

second to jump up second to jump up and shootand shoot

Aim ahead of themAim ahead of them

The Hunt: RetrievingThe Hunt: Retrieving

Wait until the bird Wait until the bird has fallen to say has fallen to say “fetch”“fetch”

Help guide the dog Help guide the dog towards the bird.towards the bird.

Post Hunt: Clean-upPost Hunt: Clean-up

Pick up decoys, shotgun shells and Pick up decoys, shotgun shells and trashtrash

Leave the area like you found it.Leave the area like you found it.

Post Hunt: Prepare DucksPost Hunt: Prepare Ducks

Pluck off feathers or Pluck off feathers or Cut off breast meatCut off breast meat

Many ways to cookMany ways to cook Don’t over-cook!Don’t over-cook!

Better idea of how to Duck HuntBetter idea of how to Duck Hunt Peaked your interest Peaked your interest Understand ducks on Lake UmduckumUnderstand ducks on Lake Umduckum Questions?Questions?

BibliographyBibliography

Levi Meseburg, Hunting Guide at MarDon Resorts: Levi Meseburg, Hunting Guide at MarDon Resorts: Duck Taxi Services. November 24Duck Taxi Services. November 24thth, 2007. , 2007.

Rick Nemecek, “Decoy Spreads: Freshwater marsh Rick Nemecek, “Decoy Spreads: Freshwater marsh spreads.” Ducks Unlimited, Inc. “Viewed on February spreads.” Ducks Unlimited, Inc. “Viewed on February 6, 2008” 6, 2008” http://www.ducks.org/Hunting/Decoys/121/DecoySpreahttp://www.ducks.org/Hunting/Decoys/121/DecoySpreadsFreshwaterMarshSpread.htmldsFreshwaterMarshSpread.html

““Steps to Build a Simple, Temporary Duck Steps to Build a Simple, Temporary Duck Blind” Ducks Unlimited, Inc. “Viewed on Blind” Ducks Unlimited, Inc. “Viewed on February 6February 6thth, 2008” , 2008” http://www.ducks.org/Hunting/HuntingTips/2837/Stepsthttp://www.ducks.org/Hunting/HuntingTips/2837/StepstoBuildaSimpleTemporaryDuckBlind.htmloBuildaSimpleTemporaryDuckBlind.html