10 Mistakes from a duck hunting guide | How to duck hunt 

Now that you know some of my mistakes, let me see some of yours!

All great points man. Here in California, we get ducks that skirt our decoys 50-60 yards all the time. Its frustrating.... unless you really know how to throw out a 1 hitter quitter (and lead) at that distance repeatedly. Our furthest decoys are set as far as 40-50 yards, so I might move them in off of your insight.

Excellent! I live and hunt in interior Alaska. Big public marsh, solo hunting, no competition. Biggest mistake I make is hurrying to set out decoys, rather than waiting and watching to see where the ducks really want to be. Now I put out a much smaller spread being ready to move when the ducks show my where the "X" is ...

As a brand new duck addict , this is the go to channel for me. God bless 🙌 thanks!

Good points all, but let me ad a caveat to the "be able to see" advice. If being able to see all around you means you'll be turning around to see where the birds are, then don't. Being able to see means being able to see about 90 degrees to the right and left of your spread. That's all you need; just keep still, keep facing forward, and wait for them; they'll either come in or they won't, being able to see them won't change that. Being quiet and motionless is more important than seeing where the ducks are. Many has been the time when a bird or flock has circled behind me, out of sight, and I just wait facing the spread. Most of those times, within about 30 second, they will suddenly show up, hanging/drifting into the decoys. Joel's advice on moving when the ducks call for it is SO critical. He's right: if two flocks pass your spread up and land 100 yards away, IT'S TIME TO MOVE DOWN THERE. It's never easy, but if you want to kill ducks, you cannot be where the ducks don't want to be.

if the wind direction changes significantly you may want to move your decoys to get the best shot. Depending on how well you are hidden you might not want the ducks coming in straight at you since it will be easier for them to see you. Number one dont set up looking at the sun or where the sun will be regardless of the wind you may have to compromise spread or blind location if possible depending on sun and wind. When picking a new permanent blind location try to hunt from boat etc a few times first to choose best location but if you can't then pick for sun at back and general north and south winds at least in my area these are predominant.

5 got me this year. Like you said when you think it’s good go more!

This is my first year duck hunting. I'm in Oklahoma, I've been twice and luckily haven't made any boneheaded mistakes, but I also haven't seen many birds. My main obstacle is trying to find a place to go. Appreciate all of your content.

First group or two of the year, we always call the shot too early. Everyone is so amped up and you would swear the birds are right in your face, but as soon as the hatches open it seems the birds are instantly 30 yards farther than we thought. Happens every year!

Great list, I can relate to them all. I think patterning your shotgun is important also. I've had friends knock birds dead one day and couldn't hit the broadside of a barn the next due to changing the shells they were shooting. Great vid as always 👍👍👍

#10 tip is crucial to sea ducks! Those jokers are tough even after they are down. If they are not belly up keep shooting!!

Yeah I can relate to all those . Especially about moving to decoys around I don't know if I'm lazy or I think I'm just lazy

Dont take shots over 15 yards, #6 kill ducks so use #4's and 2's. Swater loads are cheap when a duck is 20.00 in the grocery store. Don't put decoys in water with moving ice. Dont tie a bunch of decoys to one anchor in a river, had a log come through my decoys and pick up a long line and I watched 12 decoys go by by once. Keep extra flappers on hand when hunting small rivers and check the pole every once in awhile, also have lost two flappers that fell over in the river. I also have had a flapper fall over and retrieved someone else's flapper. Dont use mushroom weights or texas rigs in moving water good way to loose an expensive spread the first few years you hunt rivers you learn alot best river anchors for decoys are the old fashioned shop wheels made out of steel somehow they get stuck on everything just like they did in the shop.

Great tips!!

Yes seems I have done all of those thinhs you have named off. I just had a wood duck done about two years ago and went cheap as well boy was I disappointed. There was also a time in my younger years where I went hunting with a buddy of mine. We got to the spot I went to get my gun out and no gun I forgot it in my truck back at his place.

Excellent list.

I always bring a walking stick especially when the ground was wet when the farmers harvested and there are deep ruts. Then leave it in the blind when I need to go out to adjust decoys or help my dog find a bird.

Very good points!! Keep up the good work!

I learned the carry your gun while going after a bird the hard way, not only because of the bird you are going after but I have shot an amazing number of ducks while standing in the decoys. In addition I would say carrying enough ammo when going after a bird, particularly geese if you are on water with any real depth. A Canada goose can dive and stay under a long time and cover an amazing amount of distance while underwater.

Not taking the gun is one that bites all of us. Lesson learned. Great video. I was just curious now that we are coming into spring are there any tips to help the ducks and geese have better nesting habitat?

For years I'd hunt with the wind at my back, problem is the ducks are landing looking directly at the blind. I find I get closer shots with the blind crosswind to the dekes so landing ducks are not looking directly at the blind.

Always taking the gun when looking for birds or calls of nature (LOL) is hard lesson to learn. I learned mine when I ended up losing a mottled duck (what we call black mallards in Louisiana). I had made several circles in the area where we saw it fall. Well I looked back and there it was low to water and sneaking off. I could not get to it and the people in the boat could not see e it to shoot it once it was away from me. From then on the gun comes with me on retrieves. Make sure to carry a few extra shells when doing this also.

Moving to often when hunting out of a kayak.

Joel, after watching your top 10, I gotta admit “I don’t know what I don’t know”. I recognized a couple similar mistakes: 1. Sticking out for too long; 2. ALWAYS take gun; (lesson learned....) 3.hunting a bad blind I think many guys don’t really realize when they are making some of these mistakes repeatedly or they would change things up... I will keep these in mind and hopefully improve from my mistakes that I hadn’t thought were mistakes... Cheers!

Definitely fall victim to the 1 more pass mistake especially when I shoot public. If those ducks are in range you take em, I’ve had countless times of circling them in for a closer shot and some other hunter shoots and there they go. 🤬👍

One more pass LOL yep! Am I the only one who is interested in hearing more of the story about not locking the wench on the boat trailer?

Those mounted ducks 😂 similar thing happened to me! Never again!!

At the top of my fail list is being well concealed and keeping my face covered or painted... next is taking shortcuts with decoys... dumb thing to do...

My three, 1) Set up for wind but forgot the sun rises in the East ! No fun being blinded watching for birds 2). Before my dog I’ve been busted picking up down birds during the most active time in the morning...just wait to pick them up, they aren’t going anywhere. 3). Not having backup spots ready just to have a plan B and C.

I have been guilty of #4 a few times. I don’t know what is it? Whenever I go to retrieve or move decoys or just pickup, big groups show up. Last year opening day, shot one and it fell on the opposite side of the pond. Went to retrieve, wading in the swamp, (this time I had my gun). I got there. It was wounded got up and started running back towards the water. Took a shot, swatted it flat in the middle of the pond. I was out of breath sat in the cat tills to catch my breath. A group of four showed up and started working at 20 yards above my decoys. My guns action is open, I’m searching the front pockets of my waders frantically (as if I’m looking for a lost dime lol), I have no shells on me !! My blind bag is across the pond!! I watch them circle and work for a good minute then the flared off. I was so pissed!!!

1.My biggest mistake is in scouting. Several times I have scouted a field or daytime loafing slough, just once, then the next day no birds show up when I'm all set up with decoys and blind. I think waiting to see if the birds use the spot repeatedly over 2 or 3 days is time better spent before hunting that spot. 2. Waiting too long to stand up and shoot, then the bird is going away by the time I have the gun pointed at him - a poor shot angle for steel shot. I need to stand up sooner as the first duck commits feet down to have better shot opportunities.

To add to the kill your cripples advice; don't hunt with cheap guys who won't "waste" shells on wounded swimmers. I once ran myself out of shells trying to kill other guys' cripples. My lab was working himself to exhaustion in cold water and these guys refused to clean up their mistakes on bad shots. That only happened once.

I used to never see birds and never scout but was a hell of a shot. Now I scout and see birds all the time and can’t hit shit tho 😂😂

I built my first blind this year and my biggest mistake was "thinking it will get better, there will be more birds tomorrow." I know now that I have to move and can't just hope and pray for it to get better.

Worrying about calling in more ducks while I’m out retrieving my bird instead of keeping my eye on the bird floating down the current. (No dog)

Dont forget your ammo !!!!!

Brushing in blinds plus do you paint your face?

thats why they call it hunting... what would you have to talk about if you never set up wrong or made mistakes?

Waiting too long to shoot is mine as im a new duck hunter

My most often mistake is probably not having enough facepaint on.

8 and 4 are my worst

Over calling and not waiting for them to come back and set wings

1. Watching working ducks too much and moving too much.. 2. Not watching working ducks and allow the ducks to come in where you aren’t expecting. 3. Watching the duck fly away that surprised you and missing the flock that flies in 10 seconds behind it.

I learned the hard way on the cheap taxadurmist.man it sucks

Biggest mistake to avoid on public land,,,, getting mad at the other guy who set up too close. Remember most of us only get a few days a season. Chances are he feels the same way you do. If there is time give a quick holler and see if you cant hunt together instead of flaring each others ducks.

I forgot my gun 650 miles away

Forgot my gun so I had to throw rocks

Who's the shaky hand guy?

I follow all of these suggestions...I don't follow all of these suggestions...#3 drives me crazy.

I got a huge list that would sound like a rant. So instead of offending anyone or giving advice ill ask another more peculiar question. We as hunters try to learn new stuff all the time but in actuality we go set up and over time we come to an idea about how things work and work on that idea over and over trying to make the magic jigsaw puzzle. Its a feeling thing that we can express in a 1000 ways because each time something is slightly different yet the same as last time we did it. That pink and purple poca dot decoy in the middle of the teal is the ? State thing hear. Or the flappers being exactly 39° off of the sun. Or the orange hat. Everyone has there good luck charm and way of thinking about hunting. Truth is I've called in geese sitting in a card table chair with hand made decoys that looked like crap. And I've shot ducks over flambeau decoys in a red plaid shirt. But if you want to buy 9 million dollar decoys and 200 dollar calls and wear ghilly suits hey more power to ya, it doesn't make you a better hunter. Not harassing a guy in the parking lot, inviting someone to hunt with you, not shooting over a guys head after ducks because he busted your spot, and not getting upset and just going home because the lot was full when you made reservations those things make you a better hunter. In 30 years of hunting I've seen more piss poor sports about hunting than I care to remember but when you find yourself in these positions remember its like playing tennis sometimes the courts are full, sometimes you pick up play, sometimes you and your friends have the place to yourself, sometimes you find balls etc... waterfowl hunting is a sport have good sportsmanship! And that's the big mistake i see alot people not treating hunting as a privilege of being a sportsman.

You can’t shoot them at 10 yards if you shoot at 40 yards. Get the shot you want. Wait for it.

My biggest mistake is getting into duck hunting. Goin to be living under a bridge one day.

Face masks!!! No gloves on your call hand!!!

Talking too much

Keep shooting until their feet stop kicking. Hunt diver ducks one time and you'll know puddle ducks are pushovers compared to the toughest duck ever to fly-the bufflehead. I've seen them take 3, 4 and even 5 rounds and get away.