Mastering Small Water: Essential Tips for Duck Hunting on a Pond
Ponds can be found across duck hunting grounds throughout the United States. They offer hunters a unique yet challenging environment to hone their skills and increase their chances of a successful hunt.
Unlike larger bodies of water, ponds are limited in size and require a more intimate and strategic approach, often demanding a deep understanding of local duck behavior and the habitat. To equip you with the right tools and information, this article covers some of the most important considerations for hunting ducks on a pond. They include:
● Scouting for the right pond
● Setting up the decoy spread
● Duck calling
● Knowing when to call it a day
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But before these topics are explored in more detail, let’s first take a look at the pros and cons of duck hunting on a pond.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Duck Hunting on a Pond
As is the case with any type of duck hunting ground, hunting on a pond comes with its own set of pros and cons. To begin, let’s first take a look at the pros before moving onto the cons.
The Pros of Pond Duck Hunting
The primary benefit of duck hunting a pond is that hunters will enjoy a more controlled hunting environment compared to larger bodies of water like lakes or rivers. This can make it easier to set up decoy spreads and manage the hunting area more effectively.
Another great benefit is that ponds offer easier access and better visibility. When hunting on a pond, not only is it typically much easier for hunters to reach their hunting spot (almost never needing a boat), but once they’ve set up camp, they can enjoy more precise shooting due to the visibility offered by smaller bodies of water. This can make pounds a great starting ground for beginner duck hunters.
And lastly, when hunting ducks on a pond, there is almost always a higher concentration of ducks compared to any other hunting ground. This is because unlike a river, which moves and can stretch for tens or hundreds of miles, ponds are a still body of water, meaning that the ducks have nowhere else to go for feeding and water but that pond.
The Cons of Pond Duck Hunting
The main drawback to hunting ducks on a pond is the limited space. Not only do hunters have limited options in terms of where they can set up camp, but that also goes for their decoy spread and overall hunting area. This is especially true for smaller ponds that also happen to be popular among local duck hunters.
Another major drawback to pond duck hunting is the sensitivity of the habitat. Unlike river duck hunting, where once the ducks are scared off they can just flee further up or down the river, the ducks that live on or near a pond have nowhere to go. So, excessive hunting pressure can quickly disturb the local wildlife and habitat, resulting in a decrease in duck activity over time.
And lastly, a lot of ponds don’t offer year round hunting opportunities. If they dry up or freeze over the course of the year, ducks will be forced away, limiting the hunting opportunities during certain parts of the year.
Finding the Right Pond
Scouting for the right hunting ground is key to having a successful hunt. During a typical scout, one can learn a lot about the local area, the local duck population and their behavior, which will go a long way in making the correct decision on whether to set up camp or keep on looking for the right pond.
Finding the right pond for hunting, however, is easier said than done. With so many options to choose from (depending on your location), it’s often easy for hunters to neglect obvious signs that indicate a prime hunting spot. To ensure a successful hunt, it's crucial to pay attention to several key factors during the scouting process.
1. Duck Activity: Look for signs of recent duck activity, such as feathers, droppings, and tracks around the pond. Observing ducks feeding, resting, or flying in and out of the area can also provide valuable insights into the pond's attractiveness to waterfowl. To learn more on this topic, consider reading our duck scouting guide today.
2. Food Sources: The presence of natural food sources is a major attractor for ducks. Ponds rich in aquatic vegetation, insects, or small fish are likely to draw in more ducks. Investigating the types of food available in and around the pond can help gauge its potential as a hunting spot.
3. Water Levels and Conditions: The water level and quality can significantly impact the suitability of a pond for duck hunting. Ponds that are too shallow or too deep may not be ideal for certain species. Additionally, clean, fresh water is more appealing to ducks than stagnant or polluted water.
4. Cover and Concealment: The availability of natural cover around the pond, such as reeds, bushes, or trees, is important for concealing hunters and providing ducks with a sense of security. A pond with plenty of cover allows hunters to set up blinds more effectively and reduces the likelihood of scaring the ducks away.
5. Weather and Seasonality: Understanding the seasonal patterns and how weather affects duck behavior is crucial. Ducks may frequent certain ponds during specific times of the year based on migratory patterns, weather conditions, or breeding seasons. Scouting should take into account the timing of your hunt and how it aligns with these patterns.
6. Accessibility and Safety: Evaluate the accessibility of the pond, considering factors like terrain, property ownership, and any legal restrictions. It's essential to ensure that the pond is legally accessible and safe for hunting. Hunters should also check for any local hunting regulations and obtain the necessary permissions or permits before embarking on their adventure.
Setting Up Your Decoy Spread
Learning how to attract ducks to your pond for hunting is key to a successful hunt and it all starts with getting the decoy spread right. That way, the likelihood of ducks coming within shooting range will dramatically increase.
When setting up a decoy spread, it is essential to maintain a natural appearance. Ducks will instinctively flee at the sight of humans, as they naturally avoid predators. Therefore, if the decoys appear to conceal a person or look unnatural, there is a high chance that the ducks will avoid the area.
To determine what a natural decoy spread looks like, consider the hunting area and the surroundings. If the pond is on the smaller side, keep the decoy spread nice and compact. The opposite is true if hunting on a large pond.
When deciding what type of decoy to use, a mix of mallards, pintails, and teal can represent a variety of duck species, attracting a wider range of ducks and enhancing the realism of the spread.
Additionally, movement is highly effective in pond duck hunting. Using spinning wing decoys or jerk cords can mimic the natural activity of ducks, drawing more targets into the area and increasing the chances of a successful hunt.
The Right Way to Duck Calling
The correct way to duck calling will very much depend on the type of duck species that live in the area. Oftentimes, despite the fact that ponds can be relatively small, hunters will still come across a wide variety of duck species.
That’s why it’s important to be prepared and use different types of duck calls depending on the circumstances. Some examples include quacks and feeding calls. Research shows that the majority of hunters find the most success using basic calls when hunting on a pond.
So, start with soft, intermittent calls to avoid startling the ducks. As ducks respond and start to approach, increase the volume and frequency of the calls. This will simulate the noise that a group of ducks would make when feeding and interacting.
And remember, duck calling is a beast of its own. Mastering this unique skill takes time and a lot of practice. To learn how to bait ducks to a pond and all other types of hunting grounds, consider reading our duck calling guide today.
Know When to Call It a Day
In duck hunting, there is a term known as ‘overshooting’, which every duck hunter needs to be aware of. This term describes the act of hunting beyond what is sustainable or ethical, often resulting in the disturbance of the duck population and the environment.
Overshooting not only risks depleting the local duck population but can also lead to negative consequences for the ecosystem and future hunting opportunities. So, if you’ve made a couple of shots already, there’s a high chance that the local duck population already knows that there is a predator nearby and if you continue trying to bait them in instead of leaving, it may force some ducks to flee and find a new area to settle into.
Conclusion
Hunting ducks on a pond can not only be enjoyable but lead to a successful duck hunt, if done correctly. To increase your chances, make sure that you are equipped with all the right gear and have a good strategy going into the hunting ground when setting up camp, spreading the decoys, and doing the call-outs.
If you’d like to learn the intricacies of duck hunting on a pond, be sure to check out Duck Hunting TV. There, you can watch experienced duck hunters in action and learn from them.
