2020 Duck Hunting

[BlackGun]

I once had an obsession for duck hunting. But I have not went in almost two decades. Sold the boat and 100 decoys. I still have a couple dozen and the rest of the stuff. Thought about doing a hunt this year.

Who duck hunts and what are you seeing this year? I have no idea what the seasons are anymore.

 

[B00ger]

My father and I have hunted out of Kitty Hawk for the past 30+ years. Started with him when I was around 9-10 years old. We now go every year after thanksgiving and my second daughter Sarah has started going with me.

We hunt through a guide service run by Vic Berg from Outerbanks Waterfowl. Known him forever and my dad hunted with his dad back in the 80s.

This year it was a bit slow the first day, no birds in Oregon Inlet that we saw. Popped a merganser when it popped up before we knew exactly what it was. The next day we hunted up in Currituck and it was much more productive. Still not a ton of birds due to beautiful warm balmy weather, but we put 8 in the blind before we pulled out around 1:30. We don’t do full days because my daughters bladder can’t hack it, and she’s a bit young for a full day. Probably would have gotten a few more.

We shot a ringneck, some teal, and a few blue bills.

The later seasons seem to be more productive these days as the birds appear to be coming down later.

I also, as an aside, insist that anyone near Kitty Hawk head over to Josephine’s Italian restaurant. Best Italian I’ve ever eaten, good drinks, nice waitresses, and a tiramisu that would make you slap yo momma.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mack270]

I go a fair amount. Would probably hunt every open day in January if I could. Tend to do a lot of swamp hunts close to home but when the birds are down I hit the coast as much as possible.

The season comes back in on the 19th and doesn't go out this year until Jan.30th. Limits have changed drastically in some cases.

As for seeing. I've seen as many wood ducks as I've ever seen in the swamps this year. No other types yet though. I'm in SE NC so my perspective is a bit limited.

 

[BlackGun]

I would hunt Pamlico and Albermarle every year without a guide in the shore grasses. Usually in a cove. There was an island I crossed to one year but it was dangerous water in 17’ aluminum john boat. I also used guides when I hunted Lake Mattamaskeet. Never killed more than two birds on the lake. They all piled up on the north end by the thousands.

I hunted lakes in Tenn, northern Alabama TVA water, Reelfoot Lake, and a couple hunts in Arkansas. All different types of hunts. Never had much luck in Altlantic flyway hunts. When you get 100 birds circling decoys a flock of 6 seems small. Last time I hunted ducks was in Arkansas with my friend who is a guide in winter and a golf caddy the rest of the year. Hunted rice fields which were constantly getting ducks overhead and all mallards. Reelfoot Lake, Tenn was unique. No action until midday and hunted a pothole in the middle of cypress trees. 750 decoys on all sides of the blind. Usually one or two groups of ducks and 5 of us would limit out.

 

[Downeast]

Hiring a guide is the way to hunt the coast. They have the blinds, the waters, and the birds. There is no way you can haul enough corn to compete with them. 😉
And the bag limits have followed in step with the salt water fishing regulations. You can shoot one of this duck, two of this duck vs catching one of this fish, two of this fish. I agree with you that the Atlantic flyway pretty well sucks for duck hunting. Mallards are down to two, with one hen. Scaup are 1 until Jan 9, at which time you can kill 2 until the end of the season. Lake Mattamuskeet is a big mud hole to the point that we no longer even put in for the lottery. Some of the Hyde impoundments still kill birds if you get an in or have the money. We just got back from Kansas and I saw more ducks and geese in a day than I'll see here the entire season. Your best bet would be to find a few swamps or small watersheds and hunt woodies. The limit is three which is not bad. Mix in a few guided hunt days at the coast and you will have a good time. I would not suggest investing in boats, blinds, decoys, and other gear. It just ain't worth it. I've hunted Tennessee (Reelfoot Lake), Louisiana, North Dakota, Maine, Washington state, and now Kansas. Next year we are planning a trip to either the Great Salt Lake of Utah or the Laguna Madre area of south Texas. It's a shame NC can't compete with any of them.
Good luck!

 

[BlackGun]

I wasn’t hunting but visiting my son and grandchildren in eastern Kansas on Thanksgiving for a week. Due to covid he couldn’t go more than an hour distance from base. Hopefully next year we will get to do the duck and pheasant hunt. With a restriction of only two mallards I am not going on any hunt this year. I di agree with you @Downeast about buying a boat again and decoys. That will buy a bunch of guide services.

@Downeast did you hunt kansas with a guide? What county did you hunt?

 

[Downeast]

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