River Duck Hunting Strategies for a Successful Hunt
With dozens of rivers flowing throughout the United States, river duck hunting has become an immensely popular niche within the sport of waterfowl hunting. That said, doing so is easier said than done, as it’s vastly different compared to hunting game in other types of terrain.
To help the average waterfowl hunter make the most out of their experience when hunting game on a river, this article will cover:
● 5 expert tips that every duck hunter should take advantage of
● The best rivers for river duck hunting in the United States
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But before we get into the nitty-gritty of river duck hunting, let’s take a quick look at the best conditions for hunting waterfowl on a river.
Best Conditions for Duck Hunting on a River
Each type of river offers waterfowl hunters a different set of opportunities and challenges. However, two particular types of river conditions are deemed the best for hunting river ducks. They include:
Frozen Waters
As the winter approaches, the low temperatures that come with it start to lock up most of the waters up north, forcing birds south. This time of year presents waterfowl hunters with some of the best opportunities to hunt game.
The reason for this is because most birds that head south flock in a pack and tend to stick together. What this means is that if a hunter knows the river and sets up camp in the correct place, there will be plenty of action throughout the day. Despite the many advantages of hunting ducks on frozen waters, it’s also worth mentioning that doing so can be dangerous.
Always stay vigilant of the temperature and the thickness of the ice. Make sure to bring plenty of waterproof clothing and equipment, and most of all, think of a way to stay warm without raising suspicion.
Shallow & Sandy Waters
Waterfowl love shallow and sandy waters. This type of terrain offers them plenty of food, shelter, and an area to loaf up and socialize. This presents waterfowl hunters with the unique opportunity to have a very active session of hunting game. To increase the chance of hunting ducks in shallow & sandy waters successfully, experts advise duck hunters to:
Use the sandbanks if there are any
Spread out and increase the number of decoys
Opt for camouflage clothing & blind
Use natural cover where possible
Pay attention to the speed of the flowing water
With all that in mind, regardless of whether you hunt on a frozen river or one with shallow & sandy waters - almost always - the same rules apply. Keep reading to find out the 5 best tips (according to experts) for duck hunting the river.
Waterfowl hunts on a frozen river compared to a shallow river.
5 Expert Tips for Hunting Ducks in a River
Hunting ducks on a river is different to hunting ducks on a dry field. That’s why it’s crucial for any hunter who wants to learn how to hunt ducks on a river to learn from the experience of other river waterfowl hunters.
The creators of Duck Hunting TV have done a lot of hunting on the river, which you can see on Duck Hunting TV. And the expert tips that will be shared below come directly from them and their experience.
Spend Time Finding the Birds
Before setting up camp, scout the river thoroughly. Some things every river duck hunter should look for include roosting spots, feeding areas, and flight paths. Having some basic insights into the behavior of the waterfowl in the area will help with choosing the most optimal hunting location.
If you’d like to read more on scouting waterfowl, feel free to refer to our comprehensive guide to duck scouting. It’s a fantastic resource filled with great information.
Don’t Be Afraid to Bust the Birds
While scouting the river on a boat, there’s always a chance of coming across a large group of waterfowl socializing on the water. Many hunters would suggest avoiding busting the pack as it might scare it off for good, but experts suggest otherwise.
Busting the birds is often a good idea when looking to move the birds to a different part of the river. So, don’t be afraid of trying it out and seeing how it works out.
Use As Many Decoys As Possible
Ducks and waterfowl in general are social birds, and they’re far more likely to be attracted to a certain area on the river if there is already a large presence of their kind (or in this case - a large group of decoys).
So, it’s widely recommended for river hunters to put in the effort to create a realistic spread that mimics the natural gathering of ducks. That way, actual ducks that are flying nearby will be more inclined to flock to the area.
Recommended decoy layout for river duck hunting.
Set Up Your Blind On the Sandbar
Although hunting game on the river bank works - most ducks and geese prefer to loaf on the sandbar. There are many reasons why that is, but the biggest reason is safety and distance from potential danger.
Setting up your blind alongside your decoys on the sandbar itself will give hunters a great opportunity to be in close proximity to the waterfowl when they do land on the sandbar. There is one thing to keep in mind though - using a blind that blends in with the sandbar and the local environment is key - or else, waterfowl might sense the danger and not come by at all.
Don’t Hesitate to Use Spinners
Many river waterfowl hunters tend to stay away from using spinners when hunting game on a river. However, motion decoys can be a great addition to your set-up as they’re far more likely to attract the attention of any passing ducks.
The reason why this is - is because ducks are drawn to motion, especially when they see other birds of their own kind engaged in an activity that they’d want to participate in. By all means - try out using spinners and see if it works for you. Some hunters report that it doesn’t, but there’s no concrete evidence that supports these claims.
Most Popular Rivers for Duck Hunting in the USA
The United States of America is home to hundreds of rivers that are great for hunting waterfowl. However, there are some that are far more popular among waterfowl hunters. The three most popular duck and geese-hunting rivers include:
Mississippi River
Hunters have been hunting ducks on the Mississippi River for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. The Mississippi River stretches over 2,300 miles from northern Minnesota down to the Gulf of Mexico. Being the second largest river in the United States, it’s home to an extremely diverse waterfowl habitat, making it one of the most popular rivers for waterfowl hunting in the country.
Depending on the timing of the fall migration, hunters may come across a large number of duck species, including Mallards, Northern Pintails, Wood Ducks, Canvasbacks, and Redheads. Some other types of birds that hunters may see when hunting ducks on the Mississippi River include Canada and White-fronted geese, Tundra swans, and Blue-winged and Green-winged teal.
Ohio River
The Ohio River stretches for just under 1,000 miles and serves as a natural border between four states in the Midwestern United States, including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. The reason why Ohio River duck hunting is so popular is because of its sheer size and the variety of terrain and species that inhabit it. It's not uncommon for duck hunters in the area to come across Mallards, Wood ducks, Gadwalls, Teal, as well as diving ducks.
One thing that’s worth mentioning is that Ohio River duck hunting is subject to state-specific regulations. So, every hunter that wants to hunt in this body of water needs to adhere to the rules set by the state that they’re in. Anything from bag limits and the permitted species can vary, making research before heading out the door crucial.
Cache River
Originating from Illinois and Arkansas, the River Cache stretches just over 200 miles and is part of the White River System. Although it’s quite short (compared to the rivers above), hunting ducks on the Cache River is still extremely popular.
The reason why hunting ducks in this part of the country is so popular is mainly due to the extensive wetland complexes of the river. They include a mix of bottomland hardwood forests and cypress-tupelo. These two types of habitats alone provide waterfowl with the perfect conditions for resting and feeding, attracting tens of thousands of birds each year.
Some of the species of waterfowl that inhabit this part of the country include Mallards, Wood ducks, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, and various other migratory waterfowl.
Conclusion
Hopefully, after reading this article, you now have a better idea of where and how to go about hunting waterfowl on a river. The thing that every duck hunter needs to remember though, is that learning how to duck hunt a river properly comes with practice, so staying patient is key.
One thing that every river waterfowl hunter also needs to remember is to research the river, make sure they have the correct hunting permissions, and that all local regulations are strictly followed. That’s the best way to have a blast while practicing our beloved sport ethically.
