duck hole photo project

[JDgator]

Beginning in September, I took pictures of my different duck holes. I did the same thing in January. Over the weekend, I went back and took pictures again standing from the same spots.

It is amazing to see how different the places look in early summer compared to fall and late winter!

I hunt public land, so I'am not any posting pictures (sorry, cyber-scouters). But the differences are surprising.

Now, I also compared duck harvest numbers for each spot, and time of year. Some holes got worse, some got better as the season went on. Looking at the photos has helped resolve some of the mystery.

It seems like the places that did worse were highly dependent of thick natural vegetation for cover or as a foodsource. I think that later in the year, the ducks were able to see me better, and flared off. Plus the food must be gone.

My spots that did good in later January were all timber holes, or were freshly flooded by rain.

Have any of y'all done something like this to better understand your duck holes?

Thoughts?

[deltadukman]

I might have to check that out too. I'm sure the vegatation changes at Crossgates Lake WMA. I'll post up my findings.

[eastwoods]

ducks need food - plain and simple - you have food you'll have ducks - I think they can smell it or see it or something - you can kill them every day if there is a lot of food for them. Every so many years like one in ten in a really dry year, they will need a drink and a water hole devoid of food will be outstanding.

timber in my opinion is a place to relax out of the wind, socialize, and eat a little. Ive killed mallards with large red oak acorns lined up straight down their esophagus, but very few. Now woodies eat a bunch of acorns, usually pin oak and willow oak.

[JDgator]

Ive killed mallards with large red oak acorns lined up straight down their esophagus, but very few.

Interesting. I thought acorns were food choice #1 for mallards. I thought thats why the flooded timber flats in arkansas offered such great hunting.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

In the days of old acorns were the primary food source. Naturally flooded timber from winter flooding in the miss. alluvial valley was the primary habitat for mallards. They have switched over to grain fields because obviously there are a few of em in the delta regions.

[JDgator]

I'm doing this cause I want to be a better duck hunter. I 've come to realize that I don't know as much about their natural dietary habits as I should. I have a new-found respect for those of you who take the time to really learn their habits.

Its seems like too many guys lease a field, kill some ducks, and think they are experts without learning a thing.

This will be my fourth year duck hunting, and I feel humble b/c I still have so much to learn about waterfowl.

[eastwoods]

Like I said, this is my opinion. Mallards don't eat large red oak acorns all that much, but they do eat them cause I've killed them with large red oak acorns lined up down their esophagus.

One other thing to remember IMHO that if it is warm, mallards actually prefer weed seeds or technically moist soil plants like smartweed, sedges, baryard grass, beggar ticks and from time to time coffee weed and even once or twice I've seen em hit cuculburs (sp?). Late in the year I've seen em hit snails hard.

Now when it get's cold they go for grains entirely. They say it is carbohydrates their after.

Anyway, this is my opinion, but moist soil plants are best early in the season.

Of course if you can flood a standing ag crop like rice or corn that is absolutey the very best.

[Tedl10]

I've actually thought about doing this. Pretty good idea bud.

[Anatidae]

I'm doing this cause I want to be a better duck hunter. I 've come to realize that I don't know as much about their natural dietary habits as I should. I have a new-found respect for those of you who take the time to really learn their habits.

Its seems like too many guys lease a field, kill some ducks, and think they are experts without learning a thing.

This will be my fourth year duck hunting, and I feel humble b/c I still have so much to learn about waterfowl.

You're on the right 'track' (good approach). It'll pay dividends when things get tough. When that happens, most folks go buy another gadget, or a bigger gun, or more equipment. Even if they know how to use the stuff, it won't do any good until you find and stay with the birds. You can't kill ducks CONSISTENTLY, if you don't know where to look for them and what to do when you find'em. That may even mean that you leave'em alone for a while.

You get out of it what you put into it. You'll do well with your attitude. Kudos!

[JaMak84]

If you have a duck hole you're leasing or a place where you're allowed to do some management, this is prime time to be doing some disking. The top three natural food sources for waterfowl are barnyard grass, sprangletop, and annual smartweed (pink blooms). When those foods are gone, ducks will utilize nut sedge, dock weed, and even ragweed seed. If you're looking for a great way to feed the ducks without putting a big dent in your wallet trying to plant stuff, then manipulating natural vegetation is the way to go. If your hunting public land, your up a creek as far is management is concerned, but keep your eyes open for these types of vegetation. If you get a chance visit your local USDA/NRCS office and see if they have a copy of the "Wetland Management for Waterfowl Handbook". It'll tell you anything you'll ever want to know about food management for ducks, and it's got a key in it to help you identify the most common wetland plants.