Hunt where you see the most ducks when scouting. If hiding a marsh boat in the grass, you may have better luck decoying them on the narrow sections. On the big wide sections, the birds might raft up in the center, far from grass edges where they feel (and are) safer, especially after opening day shooting. On stormy, really windy days they will get in or against the grass on the lee side. Looks like a cool spot, good luck!

 

We hunt a similar spot. We look for setbacks or coves in it and set up according to the wind. Never had a lot of luck hunting the main channel .Tough sometimes finding a spot like described that that's not taken already.

 

Awesome thank you guys! I'll probably hunt the Creeks that go through the grass and look for some cut outs to sit in. I honestly don't know why there isn't blinds in there. If you go down river a mile or so there is a blind every 500 yards. There isn't a boat ramp close to where I took those pics so that may have something to do with it. I don't need a boat ramp tho. There is a sandy beach across the channel so I just back my truck down there and take the boat out of the bed since it's so small that I don't need a trailer. I also heard that depending on the wind the water can get really shallow in there. But I don't see why there wouldn't be ducks in there. Guess it's worth a shot

 

Look for small round coves cut into the corners. Here is a pic from a spot I hunted Saturday. It is about 1/4 mile off the main channel, runs about 3' deep, and tends to hold birds. It looks bigger in the pic, but is at most 100 yards across. The bottom is oyster mud and holds invertebrates ducks like to eat. Spots like this tend to yield a mixed bag of puddlers and some divers for me. I wouldn't just limit yourself to your layout boat. I often will take a low profile lawn chair, and get in the grass and hunt from behind that cover as well.

 

Look for small round coves cut into the corners. Here is a pic from a spot I hunted Saturday. It is about 1/4 mile off the main channel, runs about 3' deep, and tends to hold birds. It looks bigger in the pic, but is at most 100 yards across. The bottom is oyster mud and holds invertebrates ducks like to eat. Spots like this tend to yield a mixed bag of puddlers and some divers for me. I wouldn't just limit yourself to your layout boat. I often will take a low profile lawn chair, and get in the grass and hunt from behind that cover as well.

I'm gonna try to go back out there tommorow. I think I saw a spot that was kinda like that. There was a few small coves In the creek. Honestly I didn't stay out there long yesterday so I didn't get to do to much scouting. Idk if I'm gonna be able to get a chair into the grass but I'll try. I'm not sure what the bottom is like. I just shoved a stick down into the bottom at some spots to see how deep it was. To me it felt like some weeds on top of a sandy muddy bottom. What is the smallest cove you would hunt? Just from looking at the spot on Google Earth I can see a bunch of coves ranging from about 20 yards across all the way to about 100 yards.

 

I did get a pic of some small coves. This one is tiny tho

Just another random pic

 

This looks just like where I hunt near old pungo ferry across from the old marina! We typically hunt out of fixed blinds that are pretty low profile, built back in the grasses. We scout in early summer to find areas with SAV or shellbeds, and build our blinds to hunt those areas. We got a couple blinds setup just to hunt certain wind directions too. It's a lot of work, but with a dozen guys in our club, it's not back breaking for anyone.

Its nice too, the nature preserve shuts down hunting in all but a few small creek arms, and we have those all to ourselves. Its like hunting in a refuge.

 

This looks just like where I hunt near old pungo ferry across from the old marina! We typically hunt out of fixed blinds that are pretty low profile, built back in the grasses. We scout in early summer to find areas with SAV or shellbeds, and build our blinds to hunt those areas. We got a couple blinds setup just to hunt certain wind directions too. It's a lot of work, but with a dozen guys in our club, it's not back breaking for anyone.

Its nice too, the nature preserve shuts down hunting in all but a few small creek arms, and we have those all to ourselves. Its like hunting in a refuge.

That may or may not been where it's at [emoji15] I'll shot you a PM haha

 

Look for small round coves cut into the corners. Here is a pic from a spot I hunted Saturday. It is about 1/4 mile off the main channel, runs about 3' deep, and tends to hold birds. It looks bigger in the pic, but is at most 100 yards across. The bottom is oyster mud and holds invertebrates ducks like to eat. Spots like this tend to yield a mixed bag of puddlers and some divers for me. I wouldn't just limit yourself to your layout boat. I often will take a low profile lawn chair, and get in the grass and hunt from behind that cover as well.

I'm gonna try to go back out there tommorow. I think I saw a spot that was kinda like that. There was a few small coves In the creek. Honestly I didn't stay out there long yesterday so I didn't get to do to much scouting. Idk if I'm gonna be able to get a chair into the grass but I'll try. I'm not sure what the bottom is like. I just shoved a stick down into the bottom at some spots to see how deep it was. To me it felt like some weeds on top of a sandy muddy bottom. What is the smallest cove you would hunt? Just from looking at the spot on Google Earth I can see a bunch of coves ranging from about 20 yards across all the way to about 100 yards.

Some grass areas you can, some you cant. You can make some ways to get in there, but also, don't be afraid to get in there, sit on your knees, and duck low when birds come in. Done that many times as well.

I don't mind hunting a cut that's a 40 yard circle. Any smaller than that, and there better be a reason to hunt it (you're seeing birds there a lot). The issue is, in a small cut, you may get washed out by the grass when the birds look down. They just won't notice you. BUT if you cannot bring in many decoys, then the same can be said for too big of an area. It just takes a few hunts to figure it out.

I do have one hole in a creek that is all flooded marsh grass. The hole is no more than 25 yards across, and it does produce birds. The big difference is, it is a small creek headed towards bigger water. Birds fly up and down the creek to enter/ leave the swamp and head into the tidal flats, so they will pass over it anyways. If you are simply out in a giant section of grass flats, I'd be afraid you would not be noticed at all if you hunted too small a hole.

It just takes practice, and I keep learning more about it each time I'm out.

 

I did get a pic of some small coves. This one is tiny tho

Just another random pic

Those coves are do-able, but personally, I like ones that you have to go 30-40 yards in a small "creek" through the grass to get to. They really POP to a bird over head, compared to a random dent along side a big channel. Regardless though, you can absolutely kill birds along those areas. Just look at the water depth, bottom composition, etc to see if it seems like a place a duck would commonly land. If you are going to hunt an area like that though, I'd recommend using a few geese or brightly colored divers to make your spread stand out.

 

Look for small round coves cut into the corners. Here is a pic from a spot I hunted Saturday. It is about 1/4 mile off the main channel, runs about 3' deep, and tends to hold birds. It looks bigger in the pic, but is at most 100 yards across. The bottom is oyster mud and holds invertebrates ducks like to eat. Spots like this tend to yield a mixed bag of puddlers and some divers for me. I wouldn't just limit yourself to your layout boat. I often will take a low profile lawn chair, and get in the grass and hunt from behind that cover as well.

I'm gonna try to go back out there tommorow. I think I saw a spot that was kinda like that. There was a few small coves In the creek. Honestly I didn't stay out there long yesterday so I didn't get to do to much scouting. Idk if I'm gonna be able to get a chair into the grass but I'll try. I'm not sure what the bottom is like. I just shoved a stick down into the bottom at some spots to see how deep it was. To me it felt like some weeds on top of a sandy muddy bottom. What is the smallest cove you would hunt? Just from looking at the spot on Google Earth I can see a bunch of coves ranging from about 20 yards across all the way to about 100 yards.

Some grass areas you can, some you cant. You can make some ways to get in there, but also, don't be afraid to get in there, sit on your knees, and duck low when birds come in. Done that many times as well.

I don't mind hunting a cut that's a 40 yard circle. Any smaller than that, and there better be a reason to hunt it (you're seeing birds there a lot). The issue is, in a small cut, you may get washed out by the grass when the birds look down. They just won't notice you. BUT if you cannot bring in many decoys, then the same can be said for too big of an area. It just takes a few hunts to figure it out.

I do have one hole in a creek that is all flooded marsh grass. The hole is no more than 25 yards across, and it does produce birds. The big difference is, it is a small creek headed towards bigger water. Birds fly up and down the creek to enter/ leave the swamp and head into the tidal flats, so they will pass over it anyways. If you are simply out in a giant section of grass flats, I'd be afraid you would not be noticed at all if you hunted too small a hole.

It just takes practice, and I keep learning more about it each time I'm out.

This area is off the side of a rather large channel that barges and big ships go though then it goes to a bay (that is already blocked up with blinds) then eventually to the ocean. I'm definitely gonna try to go back out there tommorow and do some more scouting. I remember seeing this Creek open up in the grass to about a 50 yard wide Bay with about 200 yards of grass all around then it turns back into the river or big channel. I may try to find one that's a little larger than that tho.

 

I did get a pic of some small coves. This one is tiny tho

Just another random pic

Those coves are do-able, but personally, I like ones that you have to go 30-40 yards in a small "creek" through the grass to get to. They really POP to a bird over head, compared to a random dent along side a big channel. Regardless though, you can absolutely kill birds along those areas. Just look at the water depth, bottom composition, etc to see if it seems like a place a duck would commonly land. If you are going to hunt an area like that though, I'd recommend using a few geese or brightly colored divers to make your spread stand out.

Right now I have 6 Drake and 6 hen mallard decoys. I'm gonna try to rig some of them up on a jerk rig too. I'll try to get some geese or divers too, geese are common around here anyway. What should I look for on the bottom? Shells? Certain grasses? I guess I'll have to do some more research. I know there is a near perfect spot in this area. I just have to find it

 

I would look into buying you a few geese, and a few more ducks (look at blue bills, pintails, and maybe another cheap pack of mallards). You don't need a ton, BUT a dozen mallards limits possibilities. Some places 6 mallards is enough, other places, 10 dozen is required. Id rather have extra geese though in your situation. It will pull in ducks well, be more visible, and you can also get lucky with a few geese.

 

I would look into buying you a few geese, and a few more ducks (look at blue bills, pintails, and maybe another cheap pack of mallards). You don't need a ton, BUT a dozen mallards limits possibilities. Some places 6 mallards is enough, other places, 10 dozen is required. Id rather have extra geese though in your situation. It will pull in ducks well, be more visible, and you can also get lucky with a few geese.

I'll try to find some cheaper geese decoys. Should I have them mixed in with the ducks or should they have there own spread? I'm assuming 3 or 4 geese mixed in would be good

 

What they said., scout it each morning that you can and see where the ducks like to be. If you are running traffic then out on a point that is right with the wind.

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Looks like some sweet water to me. Scout while you hunt and after you hunt. Pay attention to what kind of birds you see and kill, where they were coming from and going too. Keep tract of the wind and weather when you kill birds and try to set up where you see the most birds flying are sitting on the water and use decoys that match what you see. As far as what's on the bottom ie shells gravel clams what not when you clean your birds inspect what they have been eating and what kind of grit they have in their gizzards that will also help you learn where and when to find the birds in that area. Real windy days you will want to be back in the small water where it won't be rough. Ducks and geese get sea sick too that's why they don't like sitting out in rough water for to long. If you have a sneak boat for duckhunting put you some camo nets are cargo netting over it and use the grass in around you to grass it up you will disappear and be comfy and warm. And always set up with the wind at your back so the Ducks will work into your face and if at all possible keep the sun at your back as well it will help keep you hidden because it will be shining in the ducks eyes when they work your spread. Hope this helps you out bro. Just my .02 cents. Good luck man

 

Looks like some sweet water to me. Scout while you hunt and after you hunt. Pay attention to what kind of birds you see and kill, where they were coming from and going too. Keep tract of the wind and weather when you kill birds and try to set up where you see the most birds flying are sitting on the water and use decoys that match what you see. As far as what's on the bottom ie shells gravel clams what not when you clean your birds inspect what they have been eating and what kind of grit they have in their gizzards that will also help you learn where and when to find the birds in that area. Real windy days you will want to be back in the small water where it won't be rough. Ducks and geese get sea sick too that's why they don't like sitting out in rough water for to long. If you have a sneak boat for duckhunting put you some camo nets are cargo netting over it and use the grass in around you to grass it up you will disappear and be comfy and warm. And always set up with the wind at your back so the Ducks will work into your face and if at all possible keep the sun at your back as well it will help keep you hidden because it will be shining in the ducks eyes when they work your spread. Hope this helps you out bro. Just my .02 cents. Good luck man

Awesome thank you! Yeah I'm using a small sneak boat here's a pic of how she sits right now. Yesterday when I went out I grabbed literally a boat full of grass to attach to the chick wire

when I was out there yesterday I saw a few black birds that had a red marking on there chest as well as some hawks. But, I was also out there around 330 in the afternoon so there wasn't much animal activity. I can't wait to get back out there

 

From all your descriptions of the place, I'd say you're not going to kill many limits of ducks there.

Looks like a great spot for enjoying a day on the water, though.

 

From all your descriptions of the place, I'd say you're not going to kill many limits of ducks there.

Looks like a great spot for enjoying a day on the water, though.

Why's that?

I'm gonna try to go out there today after I get out of class and find a shell bottom and a nice cove

The red is where I was yesterday the blue is where I'm going today. From the map It looks like it could produce.

I also just found out that the very right bank of the river In that pic is the edge of a wild life preserve so that should help

 

Didn't get to make it out there today. One of the bolts holding my caliper on came out and it threw the caliper into the wheel and nocked off all the wheel weights so I had to fix that and now I'm up at the tire shop waiting for them to reballence the tire. I may have time to go up there later today tho. I'm not sure

 

Looking at the last pic you posted of your hunting area. If it was in Louisiana you would do good there so I don't see why you couldn't kill good up where you live in that place.

 

From all your descriptions of the place, I'd say you're not going to kill many limits of ducks there.

Looks like a great spot for enjoying a day on the water, though.

I've killed plenty of birds in places similar to that. They look like they have potential.

Directly north of the red area is a series of small green dried out areas. If those areas flood during high tide, I'd look at hunting those too.

 

From all your descriptions of the place, I'd say you're not going to kill many limits of ducks there.

Looks like a great spot for enjoying a day on the water, though.

I've killed plenty of birds in places similar to that. They look like they have potential.

Directly north of the red area is a series of small green dried out areas. If those areas flood during high tide, I'd look at hunting those too.

I'll have to check out that spot too. Dosnt look like I'm gonna be able to make it out there till next Tuesday tho :/ that pic is just one small portion of a larger area filled with oxbows and curves like that. That big "C" connects to a wider channel

 

You keep talking shell bottom? Are we talking about puddler ducks or divers here? Puddlers are generally surface feeders down to 10-12".. They don't care whats on the bottom as long as there is food on top. I don't see anything but reeds. Probably why theres no blinds there.

If you put out a lifelike spread in a visible spot you will likely pull some birds that are being pushed around by other hunters. Weary birds love places like that because its wide open and safe, if you are tucked in those reeds with that little boat they'll never see you.

 

You keep talking shell bottom? Are we talking about puddler ducks or divers here? Puddlers are generally surface feeders down to 10-12".. They don't care whats on the bottom as long as there is food on top. I don't see anything but reeds. Probably why theres no blinds there.

If you put out a lifelike spread in a visible spot you will likely pull some birds that are being pushed around by other hunters. Weary birds love places like that because its wide open and safe, if you are tucked in those reeds with that little boat they'll never see you.

I'm honestly not sure lol I'll take whatever ducks want to come my way. It's all reeds with very little small trees hear and there. But, on the very right side of that map I posted is the edge of a wild life preserve and that's mostly flooded timber and reeds. This water does connect to a bay a mile or so down river so the water is probably a little brackish so idk if that will effect anything or not. Once I get this boat covered in reeds it should disappear