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John N. Felsher's Waterfowl Hunting Adventures
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Many rivers
run through
duck hunting
paradises
run through
duck hunting
paradises
David McEacharn and Mike Caruthers fire on ducks from a covered
War Eagle boat blind in flooded timber off the Mississippi River near
Delhi, La. Boats give river hunters excellent mobility.
War Eagle boat blind in flooded timber off the Mississippi River near
Delhi, La. Boats give river hunters excellent mobility.
Not every hunter can afford a rice field or flooded timber lease, but
rivers provide many public places that offer excellent shooting.
For centuries, millions of ducks followed rivers on their semi-annual
migrations. Rivers funnel birds into their winter wetlands. Besides offering
navigational aids, abundant fresh water in rivers creates excellent duck
food from acorns and other morsels. Thick brushy banks and overflowing
backwaters provide outstanding cover from predators.
On rivers, boat blinds allow sportsmen vastly increased mobility and
versatility. Boat blinds enable sportsmen to adapt to rising or falling water
or move with the birds as conditions warrant. Hunting in a different location
each day, even if only a few feet away, confuses ducks that might grow
accustomed to popular blind locations.
On one occasion, we placed about six decoys in a pothole between the
trees, really just a wide spot in the swamp bordering an oxbow lake. With
the decoys set, we secured the boat against some brush and erected the
blind frame. Then, we stretched camouflaged Army netting over a rigid
aluminum frame, completely covering the boat and motor. The device
came up on both sides and formed a pyramid-like tent. We could see the
ducks through the netting, but they couldn’t see us. When ducks came
within range, we dropped one side and started shooting at surprised birds.
Still well before shooting hours, wood ducks already began to fly.
Woodies generally fly the same patterns each day as they move from
feeding areas to roosting areas and back at dawn and dusk. We heard
them whistling through the dark trees. Several flocks of wood ducks burst
unexpectedly from the trees in the dim light as shooting hours began.
Soon, empty shell casings danced in the swirling current.
After the sun penetrated the thick canopy, several mallards passed
tantalizingly close. They circled and circled as we called and anxiously
waited beneath the camouflaged netting. Wary after months of living as
targets, they didn’t quite commit to landing and disappeared into the
swamp. With the river inundating surrounding swamps, ducks could land
almost anywhere.
Wood ducks generally prefer small potholes and thick cover, but
mallards often land in more open water or flooded timber. While wood
ducks fly predictable patterns, other ducks may appear and disappear
quickly. As capricious as the rivers they frequent, ducks might prefer one
slough today and another tomorrow. Hunters must remain flexible and go
to where ducks land.
After watching several more mallards head to other potholes, we
packed up, cranked the outboard and moved a short distance. Hunting
from a self-contained boat equipped with a built-in blind allowed us
excellent mobility. Within minutes, we tossed the decoys and began
hunting from our new spot. Before long, greenheads with orange
outstretched feet began back flapping into our hole.
On shore, hunters might hide among driftwood piles, fallen trees or
other natural cover. Some people stand in flooded timber at the edge of
the channel. Birds may materialize quickly from any direction in a river
pothole and vanish just as quickly. Hunters often must spot ducks, aim and
fire in seconds.
Many rivers flow through outstanding duck habitat such as flooded
bottomlands, potholes, swamps, lakes, oxbows, beaver ponds and sloughs.
Sandbars, logjams and other obstructions usually create slack spots in
main channels where ducks can land without fighting strong currents.
Frequently, ducks seek river backwaters and secluded ponds to escape
intense hunting pressure on large lakes or rice fields. Hunters on rivers
commonly find themselves alone with the ducks.
On major channels, hunt the downstream sides of islands, sandbars or
bends where current flows lightest. Points, especially those growing with
cattails, bullwhip or other native vegetation, offer excellent places to hide.
They also allow sportsmen to take advantage of winds blowing from several
directions. Surrounded on three sides by water, hunters can envelop
themselves with decoys and pick off birds landing into the wind from
multiple directions.
In cold weather, shallow backwaters, fields or ponds may freeze,
preventing ducks from landing. However, river currents help prevent
freezing, possibly giving ducks their only landing options. Pockets of ice-
free slack water on a flowing river running through an otherwise frozen
countryside could provide some of the most outstanding shooting anywhere.
Oxbows off the Arkansas, Red, Mississippi and other major rivers offer
excellent hunting at times. Water bottoms typically belong to the state and
are therefore open to public hunting, but sportsmen should check their
local regulations before throwing out decoys.
rivers provide many public places that offer excellent shooting.
For centuries, millions of ducks followed rivers on their semi-annual
migrations. Rivers funnel birds into their winter wetlands. Besides offering
navigational aids, abundant fresh water in rivers creates excellent duck
food from acorns and other morsels. Thick brushy banks and overflowing
backwaters provide outstanding cover from predators.
On rivers, boat blinds allow sportsmen vastly increased mobility and
versatility. Boat blinds enable sportsmen to adapt to rising or falling water
or move with the birds as conditions warrant. Hunting in a different location
each day, even if only a few feet away, confuses ducks that might grow
accustomed to popular blind locations.
On one occasion, we placed about six decoys in a pothole between the
trees, really just a wide spot in the swamp bordering an oxbow lake. With
the decoys set, we secured the boat against some brush and erected the
blind frame. Then, we stretched camouflaged Army netting over a rigid
aluminum frame, completely covering the boat and motor. The device
came up on both sides and formed a pyramid-like tent. We could see the
ducks through the netting, but they couldn’t see us. When ducks came
within range, we dropped one side and started shooting at surprised birds.
Still well before shooting hours, wood ducks already began to fly.
Woodies generally fly the same patterns each day as they move from
feeding areas to roosting areas and back at dawn and dusk. We heard
them whistling through the dark trees. Several flocks of wood ducks burst
unexpectedly from the trees in the dim light as shooting hours began.
Soon, empty shell casings danced in the swirling current.
After the sun penetrated the thick canopy, several mallards passed
tantalizingly close. They circled and circled as we called and anxiously
waited beneath the camouflaged netting. Wary after months of living as
targets, they didn’t quite commit to landing and disappeared into the
swamp. With the river inundating surrounding swamps, ducks could land
almost anywhere.
Wood ducks generally prefer small potholes and thick cover, but
mallards often land in more open water or flooded timber. While wood
ducks fly predictable patterns, other ducks may appear and disappear
quickly. As capricious as the rivers they frequent, ducks might prefer one
slough today and another tomorrow. Hunters must remain flexible and go
to where ducks land.
After watching several more mallards head to other potholes, we
packed up, cranked the outboard and moved a short distance. Hunting
from a self-contained boat equipped with a built-in blind allowed us
excellent mobility. Within minutes, we tossed the decoys and began
hunting from our new spot. Before long, greenheads with orange
outstretched feet began back flapping into our hole.
On shore, hunters might hide among driftwood piles, fallen trees or
other natural cover. Some people stand in flooded timber at the edge of
the channel. Birds may materialize quickly from any direction in a river
pothole and vanish just as quickly. Hunters often must spot ducks, aim and
fire in seconds.
Many rivers flow through outstanding duck habitat such as flooded
bottomlands, potholes, swamps, lakes, oxbows, beaver ponds and sloughs.
Sandbars, logjams and other obstructions usually create slack spots in
main channels where ducks can land without fighting strong currents.
Frequently, ducks seek river backwaters and secluded ponds to escape
intense hunting pressure on large lakes or rice fields. Hunters on rivers
commonly find themselves alone with the ducks.
On major channels, hunt the downstream sides of islands, sandbars or
bends where current flows lightest. Points, especially those growing with
cattails, bullwhip or other native vegetation, offer excellent places to hide.
They also allow sportsmen to take advantage of winds blowing from several
directions. Surrounded on three sides by water, hunters can envelop
themselves with decoys and pick off birds landing into the wind from
multiple directions.
In cold weather, shallow backwaters, fields or ponds may freeze,
preventing ducks from landing. However, river currents help prevent
freezing, possibly giving ducks their only landing options. Pockets of ice-
free slack water on a flowing river running through an otherwise frozen
countryside could provide some of the most outstanding shooting anywhere.
Oxbows off the Arkansas, Red, Mississippi and other major rivers offer
excellent hunting at times. Water bottoms typically belong to the state and
are therefore open to public hunting, but sportsmen should check their
local regulations before throwing out decoys.
Mike Caruthers shows off
two mallard drakes and
other ducks he shoot in
flooded timber off a
Mississippi River oxbow
near Delhi, La.
two mallard drakes and
other ducks he shoot in
flooded timber off a
Mississippi River oxbow
near Delhi, La.
