[krazyduckkracker]

I have never Been so frustrated with anything this much. I am still pretty new to duck hunting and don't know all the tricks there is to it but this is getting ridiculous I have spent more money in gas and gear for duck hunting than I have in any other type of hunting I do. I have tried all possible things I can think of to try and get a bird and I can't even get one with in range. I have no Idea what I am doing or if I am even doing it right. I am one of those people that once I see how something is done I then start to understand by then doing it myself. I don't think I can keep wasting money on this sport if I have to keep going in blind if that is the way duck hunting is supposed to be than I am out. I have scouted spots just like I do for elk hunting and still no success I have put over 1500 miles on my truck in the last 2 weeks trying to find places to hunt and it never fails I end up empty handed. I am so close to giving up and saying screw this and never attempting duck hunting again. Don't get me wrong I enjoy hunting and fishing just like the rest but I have never wanted to give up more than I do now. Sorry for going off but this is getting old

 

[HOT SHOT33]

well dude i dont no wat 2 say ur prob doin everything right just no luck man. Because u no bout a quarter of duck hunting is luck haha. But hey man u gave it a try. O another thing dont spend gas money driving around everywhere, get down on the river and just walk up the bank becaus usually there is places were no one thinks of going and there is usually pretty darn good spots down along the river. But u have 2 willing 2 do it, or u can keep spending money on gas. :beer:

 

[jaemersonke]

I have never Been so frustrated with anything this much. I am still pretty new to duck hunting and don't know all the tricks there is to it but this is getting ridiculous I have spent more money in gas and gear for duck hunting than I have in any other type of hunting I do. I have tried all possible things I can think of to try and get a bird and I can't even get one with in range. I have no Idea what I am doing or if I am even doing it right. I am one of those people that once I see how something is done I then start to understand by then doing it myself. I don't think I can keep wasting money on this sport if I have to keep going in blind if that is the way duck hunting is supposed to be than I am out. I have scouted spots just like I do for elk hunting and still no success I have put over 1500 miles on my truck in the last 2 weeks trying to find places to hunt and it never fails I end up empty handed. I am so close to giving up and saying screw this and never attempting duck hunting again. Don't get me wrong I enjoy hunting and fishing just like the rest but I have never wanted to give up more than I do now. Sorry for going off but this is getting old

Sorry to hear about your troubles. If I were you i would try to join a local ducks unlimited so you can make some friends that can get you started in the right direction. Or you can ask some people online if they would be willing to take you out. There are people asking all the time on here for hunting buddies. It would definitely be worth a try. Good luck.

 

[divers demise]

I would be willin to take you out but I'm in the south of the state (3 miles from utah) but if your willin to drive you can come with Divers Demise

 

[kwaksmackerjds]

well maybe you just need to hide yourself and get a blind

 

[HaydenHunter]

krazy,

PM me your phone number and I will give you a shout. I have all the hunting partners I can use, but I can give you a few pointers about waterfowling in the Panhandle. And don't feel bad. I drove 175 miles scouting yesterday and what I found was depressing. Sometimes that happens. We get frozen out late in the season. There are still birds in a few spots but I doubt it is lights out shooting anywhere in North Idaho.

That said, we have had one of our best seasons with lots of highlights and first-time accomplishments. Don't give up.

 

[Decoy King]

Hey, all you have to do is just keep your head up and keep trying. Personally I think that I just got luck my first year because, that is the best year that I have ever had. So just keep trying and dont give up, like HOT SHOT33 said, just get out of your car get down to the river and walk around and look for places where you havent been yet and scout out spots. Because, alot of times there are gonna be ducks where you dont expect them to be.

 

[Trav28]

Bummer, I'll give you 10 bucks for all your gear. :thumbsup: No sense it going to waste.

 

[krazyduckkracker]

Sorry for the meltdown guys. I haven't been this frustrated since I tossed my turkey call against a tree because that tom I had been hunting stayed hung up 30 yds on Private property. I'm sure there are some spots that I am missing but it is depressing as you drive along some of the rivers and lakes seeing all this great area just to be disappointed to see it posted and alot of that land is owned by people who only use it during the summer. Then some of the spots I have found it is difficult to hunt because the water is deeper than my waders. I am not a huge fan of sitting in my truck for hours driving trying to find places to hunt. I would rather be hunting. Like I said I am still new to this waterfowl hunting. I guess my biggest thing is I don't know what to look for in a duck spot and I don't know where I can and can't hunt in some areas. When it comes to deer and elk hunting I know where the animals like to be and what areas are hunted harder than the rest.I think this could be part of my problem. So If you guys can bear with me and put up with me I would really apreciate it. And again sorry for my meltdown.

 

[duckhunter82]

Hang in there man. Waterfowl hunting is a tough go sometimes. But when you get a good day, all that hard work and frustration seems worth it. Its really hard without a boat since most of the good hunting here in Idaho is on the rivers, but you can still do it. This is my second season here without a boat and I have done pretty well. Well, I have made a couple friends and they have boats, but on my own without them, I have found some good shoots. One thing I have found is don't be afraid to ask permission from landowners even if it is just to walk across their property to get to the river. I have had pretty good luck with people letting me on their land. The worst that can happen is they say no, then you are right back where you were to begin with. As far as what kind of spots to look for, you never know. I have found some spots that look like they came out of a DU magazine, but had no ducks, and some of my best spots I never would have guessed the ducks would have been there.

 

[HaydenHunter]

Got your number and will give you a call.

My first two seasons in North Idaho I had no dog, boat or hunting partners and I shot my share of birds. You are limited when you walk in, but it is doable. Harder in the late season as you have found, but doable. If you are able to buy even a little 14 foot jon with a 9.9 motor, used, for under $1K your possibilities will open up immensely.

 

[elkhunteridaho]

Right now you do not even need a boat, you can go out on the ice and do pretty good. We have an airboat to go on the ice but I see lots of people who have dragged their decoys out on to the ice and so far it seems pretty good, we were out sunday and should of had our limit of geese but between the dog being wound up and some less then steller shooting we were a just a couple short.

 

[elkhunteridaho]

This could have been part of the problem. I guess his rear was getting cold sitting on the ice.

 

[Trav28]

Like my Pappy always says, "That's why they call it HUNTIN' and not KILLIN'. I've been doin' it 25 years and still don't know what I'm doing.

 

[waterfowler20]

Like my Pappy always says, "That's why they call it HUNTIN' and not KILLIN'. I've been doin' it 25 years and still don't know what I'm doing.

I couldnt agree with you more! :thumbsup:

 

[Troutslayer]

I guess my biggest thing is I don't know what to look for in a duck spot and I don't know where I can and can't hunt in some areas.

It's not rocket science, look for ducks. When you find them, go and set up decoys and wait for them to come back.

 

[pintailkiller25]

kwaksmackerjds how many ducks have you shot on the river this here.

 

[kwaksmackerjds]

ive knocked down about 7 and got 5 on the river and 1 goose :beer:but in early seasaon dang i was doing good

 

[drakz]

I'll tell you my little story about the Sport. When I was around 6 years of age I remember going with my Grandpa and Dad and Uncle all the time. I would Venture off with my bb gun shooting tweetie birds. My Father stopped going when I was Just Starting to get old enough to shoot my own gun and I fell away from the sport.

About 4 years ago I got an Itch and starting to get back into the sport. Most of my time on the River Its Just Me. I would go on countless trips with Nothing in the bag and wondered what the heck am I doing. I would be frustrated as heck. I would get my chance on a big honker or a big flock of ducks and Miss. I mean there are times when there is not a thing flying and you wonder why you came out when you got no sleep and your freezing your butt off. You have to make it through this period to become a better hunter. As time passes you learn your spots well and figure them birds out. It Takes time to figure the sport out. Your time will come and you will get your chance.

Duck Hunting is a hit or miss sport. I've seen quite a few birds throughout the season and then one day about a Month ago I saw Flock after flock, I mean this was the Most birds I had ever seen in one day. I thought alright here we go and then the next day I see Nothing. Its been that way ever since that day. The Geese are starting to pile up in the Valley and as you can see a lot of people are trying for them honkers instead. If you are trying to go out and duck hunt right now, it will be frustrating for sure, its that time of the year. Hang in their buddy your time will come. In fact this year is the first year I have ever had ducks and Geese come into my Spread. When it happened I thought hey I must be doing something right. When you get it figured out its very rewarding.