Duck hunting is the sport of hunting ducks. Duck hunters normally use a 20, 12 or 10 gauge shotgun. Decoys and duck calls are commonly used. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... // Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ... A pump-action and two semi-automatic action Remington 1100 shotguns, 20 boxes of shotgun shells, a clay trap, and three boxes of clay pigeons. ... A decoy is usually a person, device or event meant as a distraction to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for. ...

History

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The Basics

Duck hunting is a sport enjoyed around the world. In North America, duck hunting is very popular, especially in central states where the largest number of ducks are usually found. Most species of ducks and geese are migratory birds, meaning they spend the winter further south (Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mexico, & South America) and the summer months breeding further north (primarily Canada, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan, etc.). The Mississippi River is one of the main geographical features many ducks use when migrating south for the winter, and thus the area surrounding central states bordering the Mississippi is known as the Mississippi Flyway. The best duck hunting in the United States is often found in the states that border the Mississippi River, such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois. Stuttgart, Arkansas has long been regarded as "the duck hunting capital of the world."

Don't be fooled though-great duck hunting can be found in almost any state, and many specifically travel to Mexico and South America for one in a lifetime hunts, where large numbers of ducks and geese spend the winter.

Duck hunting can be very simple. The basic tools a duck hunter uses include a shotgun, duck call, and decoys. Decoys are duck look-alikes; they are used to fool ducks into thinking that there are ducks where you are hunting. Along with decoys, a duck call is used to trick ducks into further thinking your decoys are real ducks by making duck sounds. If all goes right, a shotgun is finally used to make a quick, clean kill.

Ducks can be found and are hunted anywhere from rivers, large lakes, small ponds, flooded fields and timber, as well as dry corn and rice fields.

Shotgun

The duck gun in the United States and Canada is usually a pump action or semi-automatic shotgun, however a number of hunters choose to hunt with break action guns including side-by-side and over-under guns. In the United States, UK, Canada, and many western European countries (France in 2006) all shot used for waterfowl must be non-toxic, and therefore may not contain any lead. Steel is the cheapest alternative to lead but steel has a much less effective range than lead. 30 to 40 yards is considered the maximum effective range for duck hunting. In order to kill a duck or goose with a shotgun the bird must be close. A pump-action and two semi-automatic action Remington 1100 shotguns, 20 boxes of shotgun shells, a clay trap, and three boxes of clay pigeons. ... Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ...

Break action guns are not as popular amoung duck hunters but many like the challenge posed. Each barrel (single barrel or double barred models exist) has one round chambered in it and must be manualy loaded. The shooter is limited to one or two shots.

Pump action shotguns are a simple, reliable repeating design in which the shooter manualy ejects the fired round out of the barrel and chambers the next rounds by sliding the foreward grip rearwards and forewards. This adds time between shots. With some practice, one can be very effective at getting follow up shots. The 'pumping' action becomes second nature.

Many hunters prefer using semi-automatic shotgun. These shotguns are by far the most mechanicly complicated shotguns. After years of engineering, the reliability of semi-automatic shotguns can be as good and even better than some pump models. By firing the first round, some of the power (either harnessed gas or recoil) ejects the fired shell and loads the following round. The shooter must simply pull the trigger and the next round will automaticly 'cycle' through.

Generaly, the faster one pulls the trigger, the faster shots can be made. This aleviates worries and allows the shooter to focus on a follow-up shot. Many beginer hunters may be less effective with a 'semi' because they do not allow themselves to the time to consider where they should be placing their shots. In North America, hunters must have 'plugged' guns. A 'plug' is a device that limits the total capacity of the shotgun to three rounds.

Although steel is the most prevalently used shot, many hunters do not like its poor shooting properies. Steel is less dense than lead, therefore, its effective range is decreased due to a faster decrease in velocity. Many companies have improved steel shot by increasing muzzle-velocity and making more consistant 'shot'.

Many other hunters do not like the properties of steel and completely avoid it. Within recent years, several companies have created 'heavier than lead' non-toxic shot. Brands such as Kent Tungsten Matrix, Hevi-Shot, Hevi-Steel, Bismuth, and many more have created shot that gives more consistent patterns and slightly increased ranges.

Calls

In old times, a duck call was a very simple woodwind instrument. It had a barrel, a sounding board and a reed. Hunters would grunt into the call while saying "hut", "quit" or "ut". With the improvement of calls and calling techniques the best callers are able to use no voice. The most prevalent and hunted duck in the United States, the mallard, makes the well known "quack" sound many associate with ducks. Other species make many different sounds, ranging from high-pitched whistles to very low, grunt-like quacks. The sounding board is the largest part of a string musical instruments body. ...

There are calls for almost all species of ducks. Pintails, teal, wood ducks, diving ducks and other ducks including the calls of both the male, or drake and the female, or hen.

Calling can be highly effective, but at the same time, poor calling will usually cause birds to be wary of the sounds and they will flare off. Duck hunters who are poor callers often educate ducks because they associate shots with that kind of calling, commonly found on public hunting areas, for example Four Rivers Wildlife area near Rich Hill Missouri.

In many species, the call of the drake (male) is different from that of the hen (female). Mallard drakes make a lower pitch, longer quack than the hen mallard. This call is often used while feeding and when a mallard drake is landing. It gives the other birds a heads up. The quack of a mallard drake requires voice and is replicated by humming into a special whistle-like call. This whistle is often called a 6-in-1 whistle, due to the fact that it can replicate six different duck species sounds.

In teal, the drakes make a call of short bursts of a high pitch whistle. The "teet! (pause) teet! (pause) teet!-teet!" or any other order of repetition. This call can be made by blowing short bursts of air into the "6-in-1" whistle.

The majority of duck sounds such as quacking people have heard and are familiar with comes from females, or hen, mallards. Hen mallards are extremely vocal and this is probably why the number one call for duck hunting in North America is a hen mallard call.

Blinds

There are numerous types of structures that qualify as duck blinds. Blinds can be temporary or permanent. They are very effective at concealing hunters and making their movements un-noticed.

For hunting over water, the types of blinds are almost unlimited.

A blind may be constructed out of plywood. Many of these permanent blinds look like a small shack an opening that faces the water and a portion of the sky.

Oftentimes creating a temporary, natural blind as a method of concealment is a hunter's best bet. This is done by using native grasses or marsh vegetation and natural material and simply hiding in a tree, clump of grass or a shrubb. More sophisticated natural blinds may have large logs or branches leaned together or lashed together using rope.

Temporary blinds are common in protected and public areas where a permanent fixture is forbidden. Temporary blinds can be very simple and usually require a three dimensional enclosure to conceal hunters from circling flocks.

With the growing popularity of motorcraft such as boats in waterfowl hunting, many individuals have chosen to use boat blinds also known as pop-up blinds. Boat blinds are used to conceal a hunter when hunting out of a boat. Boat blinds can be hand made or are available from manufacturers.

There are two common types of blinds for land and field based waterfowl hunting: pit-blinds and layout-blinds. The pit blind is a solid structure that is placed into a hole in the ground or on the bank of a waterbody. Lay out blinds allow a hunter to have a low profile in a field without digging a hole. It is made of a metal frame and canvas. The hunter crawls in and lies down in the blind. When birds are coming in the hunter can sit up and shoot.

Clothing

Duck season takes place in the fall and winter where the weather can be and often is extremely harsh. Waterproof clothing is critical to duck hunting. Most duck hunters hunt over water, and they stand in water or in a boat. In order to stand in the water and stay dry the hunter must wear waders. Waders are waterproof pants (usually made of a neoprene like material) that have attached boots and are completely waterproof. Typical waders are chest high, but waist high and knee high waders are sometimes used in shallow water. Duck hunting can be a very cold sport and the hunter must be well insulated from the cold. Ducks also have great vision which requires the hunters clothing to be well camouflaged. Waders refers to a waterproof boot extending from the foot to the chest, traditionally made from vulcanised rubber, but available in more modern PVC, neoprene and Gore-Tex variants. ... Waders refers to a waterproof boot extending from the foot to the chest, traditionally made from vulcanised rubber, but available in more modern PVC, neoprene and Gore-Tex variants. ...

Many clothing manufacturers such as Drake, Herters, Whitewater and Mad Dog have incorporated use of modern apparel technologies to provide added comfort and protection from the diverse weather elements that waterfowl hunters can be subjected to.

Dogs

Duck hunters quite often employ a dog to retrieve downed birds. Most often hunters use retrievers, though Spaniels and some versatile breeds can also fit the bill. The use of a dog provides a number of advantages. As duck hunting often takes place in cold wet locations, the use of a dog frees the hunter from potentially dangerous forays into cold water to retrieve the bird. Such efforts can be dangerous for the hunter, but are managed by a dog quite easily. It also allows for the recovery of wounded birds that might otherwise escape. A dog's acute sense of smell allows them to find the wounded birds. The use of a dog prevents waste and ensures that a higher percentage of birds shot, end up on the table. Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog is a mammal in the order Carnivora. ... A retriever is a type of gundog that retrieves game for a hunter. ... Most spaniels, like this English Cocker Spaniel, are small-to-medium dogs with drop ears and a longer coat. ...

Conservation

Waterfowl are indigenous to marsh and wetland areas, which are shrinking at alarming rates. Wetland conservation and restoration is critical for the continuance of waterfowl hunting. Organizations such as Ducks Unlimited are making a concerted effort to maintain and expand waterfowl and marshland conservation to ensure safety and expansion of this sport.

See also

• Waterfowl
• Ducks Unlimited
• Big Game Hunting
• Decoy

Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ... External links Ducks Unlimited Ducks Unlimited Canada Ducks Unlimited is an international non profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife and people. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into hunting. ... A decoy is usually a person, device or event meant as a distraction to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for. ...

External links

• The Book of Duck Decoys - Sir Ralph Payne Gallwey, 1886 (full text)
• British Duck Decoys of To-Day, 1918 - Joseph Whitaker (full text)
• Duck Hunting Information - A good source of how-to's, articles, photos, and more on duck hunting. (full text)