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I'd like to get some opinions on two different philosophies of a morning duck hunt. We have a small impoundment with good food and are blessed when we have sufficient water. At times we can have a good number of ducks. I love to just sit and watch the ducks pitching, calling, and cutting up almost as much as shooting . At times I hate to shoot and mess up the show. Anyway, I know everyone has experienced that occasional morning where all the birds seem to show up at the same time. You look up and there are birds up pitching, cupped up everywhere. This is where the difference in philosophy comes in. I have learned over the years if this happens I like to let all the birds settle in and land, get set-in and comfy. Then I'll do something to subtly bump the birds and get them up. Not shooting or making a loud noise, just something to get them up. I have felt if YOU shot into a group of 500 you weren't going to kill but 1 or 2 anyway, but you would definitely scare those 500 ducks which probably would not come back. Most of the time the birds will come back , and not all at the same time and usually in smaller bunches. However, I've got friends that I hunt with that think I'm crazy to pass up the ducks, they feel you should take 'em when you get 'em. I could understand this if we were hunting public...because you need to take advantage of every opportunity. Which way do you subscribe to? Thanks, nj

I'm a fan of the "gentle flush" method you are following. Normally they will come back in smaller, workable groups and you don't educate as many birds.

gamehog wrote:I'm a fan of the "gentle flush" method you are following. Normally they will come back in smaller, workable groups and you don't educate as many birds.

+1 your results will always be better

You could have killed 3 or 4 and they birds would have still came back in same groups.....

There is a very old book out by Van Campen Hillener sp? I have read it several times. In it he states never shoot at a flock of birds bigger than six as this will run the birds out of the area.

Seems like you and he agree!

Thanks guys for the thoughts....sounds like most subscribe to the same way that I feel. Like I say.....I see a difference if you're hunting public instead of private. I hunt public also...and are less likely to be as quick to run them all off. Usually, if they have been using a spot for awhile with good feed, some are most likely to return. nj

I have learned over the years if this happens I like to let all the birds settle in and land, get set-in and comfy. Then I'll do something to subtly bump the birds and get them up.

And what years would those be? I still think you are nuts. You have yet to prove this works. There are so many variables involved, you can not say without a doubt they are going to come back in small groups or even come back at all. Let's say the next "hole" over also has food and water and no hunters. Why would they simply not spend the morning there instead? When they all leave, where are they going to go? Just fly around in circling pattern? More than likely somewhere to get shot at and "educated" by someone else. Ducks can pick up and leave at any time with weather being a big contributor. Seems like many on this forum have experienced this over the last few weeks- limits one day, nothing the next. So regardless of public or private, I think you need to enjoy it when they are here because there's no guarantee they will be here tomorrow. Love your reply that most feel like you do - 2 out of 3 is hardly a rousing endorsement.

Been in a hunt like that once.. I shot em when they put thier landing gear down..

dhunter2 wrote: Anyway, I know everyone has experienced that occasional morning where all the birds seem to show up at the same time. You look up and there are birds up pitching, cupped up everywhere. This is where the difference in philosophy comes in. I have learned over the years if this happens I like to let all the birds settle in and land, get set-in and comfy. Then I'll do something to subtly bump the birds and get them up. Not shooting or making a loud noise, just something to get them up. I have felt if YOU shot into a group of 500 you weren't going to kill but 1 or 2 anyway, but you would definitely scare those 500 ducks which probably would not come back. Most of the time the birds will come back , and not all at the same time and usually in smaller bunches. However, I've got friends that I hunt with that think I'm crazy to pass up the ducks, they feel you should take 'em when you get 'em. I could understand this if we were hunting public...because you need to take advantage of every opportunity. Which way do you subscribe to? Thanks, nj

That's what we call "HAMMER TIME" Birds do us like this every time we hunt. Sometimes they keep circling long enough for one or 2 blinds to even get their limit. We don't back off of em never have in over 50 years!
Sure is fun though!

Shoot 'em all. God will send more!

I love to work and land big bunches of ducks but I also like to shoot into big bunches of ducks to see how much green we can get out of it.... SHOOT

i say bust the he!! out of em

Thanks for the comments guys....I guess sometimes it's sure hard pass on a bunch of birds. I guess it's the "old bird in the hand " being worth more than one in the buttonbush. Just not a big thing to me to let one get away ....another will probably be coming along before long....or by the next cup of coffee.

dhunter2 wrote: Just not a big thing to me to let one get away

Not enough killer in ya. I like to watch em work as much as the next guy but when they get within 30 yards, my focus changes! Would really like to see a strapfull of greenheads before the year is over.

If i were hunting in a bountifull area full of ducks and had been shooting my limit for the last couple hunts then i would use this kinder gentler..... gentleman style of hunting...but as for the way my season has been going so far.......Iam gonna bust that @ss when they are cupped up and coming in....